Jet Airways links up the Buddhist circuit with Bangkok-Gaya-Varanasi flights
12 Aug 2009
Leading Indian private carrier, Jet Airways, has announced plans to connect Bangkok with Gaya and Varanasi, two important Indian cities on the famed Buddhist circuit, with twice weekly flights, starting 6 October 2009. It said the services will operate twice weekly on the sector - on Tuesdays and Fridays respectively.
These flights will allow people from the Southeast Asian region, who are primarily Buddhists, to go on the famed Buddhist pilgrimage route.
Effective 6 October 2009 to 24 October 2009, 9W69 will depart Bangkok at 0845 hrs, arriving in Gaya at 1015 hrs. Flight 9W69 will then depart Gaya at 1145 hrs, arriving in Varanasi at 1230 hrs.
Flight 9W70 will then depart Varanasi at 1400 hrs, returning to Bangkok at 1845 hrs.
However, effective 25 October 2009 to 27 March 2010, 9W69 will depart Bangkok at 0830 hrs, arriving in Gaya at 1015 hrs. Flight 9W69 will then depart Gaya at 1145 hrs, arriving in Varanasi at 1230 hrs.
Flight 9W70 will then depart Varanasi at 1400 hrs, arriving in Bangkok at 1835 hrs.
While Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world, Gaya is home to the famed Mahabodhi temple, a UNESCO heritage site, and the site where, according to Buddhist traditions, the Buddha attained enlightenment.
