What is the connection between Gaya and Bodh Gaya?

Gaya is the ancient Hindu tirtha for ancestral liberation, while Bodh Gaya (13 km away) is the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. They are two distinct sacred cities with different spiritual traditions and purposes. However, many pilgrims visit both on the same trip, combining the Hindu tradition of honouring ancestors with the Buddhist tradition of seeking enlightenment. Both represent Bihar’s extraordinary concentration of sacred sites.