Pretshila hill, Gaya, Bihar

Pretshila Hill, Gaya

Pretshila stands 8 km from Gaya, in the region of Bihar long called the Land of Moksha. The name means the hill of spirits, from pret, a soul that has not settled, and shila, rock. It is sacred to Yama, and a small temple to him stands at the summit. The hill is also known by the names Shri Ram, Laxman and Sita.

Why Pind Daan Is Performed Here

The Garuda Purana holds that ancestors come to Gaya Dham to receive pind daan from the crevices in the Pretshila rock, and return to the spirit world afterwards. During Shradh Paksha families make the offering on the rock itself for exactly that reason. It is the vedi families turn to when a death went unmarked, or when the departed is believed not to have settled.

Lord Ram and King Dasharatha

Shri Ram is said to have performed the Shradh of his father, King Dasharatha, on this hill. A tank at the summit near Yama’s temple, the Ramkund, is said to be where Ram himself bathed. Two lines carved from Brahma’s thumb were for many years visible on the mountain.

The Hill and the Climb

The mountain is climbed by stairs. There is no ropeway, and anyone unable to manage the steps goes up by palki, carried by the bearers who wait at the foot — this is how most elderly pilgrims reach the top. At the base are three cellars named Sati, Nigra and Sukha. Pind daan is also performed near the banks of the Bramhakund.

Getting There

Pretshila is reached from Gaya easily by private car, rented cab or the electric auto rickshaws available locally. Come early in the day: the climb is hard once the sun is up, and during Pitrupaksha the stairs are busy from before sunrise.

Arranging the Rite

Pretshila is normally performed as part of the wider Gaya circuit rather than alone, alongside Vishnupad and the Falgu, with a Gayawal Panda taking the Sankalp in your name and gotra. Our longer arrangements include it with the other principal vedis. See the Gaya pind daan guide for what each package covers, or send us the ancestor’s details on WhatsApp and we will tell you which rite fits.