Rama, along with Sita and Lakshmana, are stated to have visited Gaya for offering pinda-dana to their father Dasharatha.

In the Vayu Purana, it is stated that Gaya was the name of a demon (asura) whose body became pious after he performed rigid penance and secured blessings from Vishnu.

It opened up with the Shaishunaga dynasty founded by Shishunaga, who exercised power over Patna and Gaya around 600 BC.

The period of Hindu revivalism commenced with the coming of the Guptas during the 4th and 5th century A.D. Samudragupta of Magadha helped to bring Gaya in limelight.

It is believed that the present temple of Bodh Gaya was built during the reign of Dharmapala, son of Gopala.

Gaya is also the birthplace of eminent [1] nationalist and the first Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Dr. Anugrah Narain Sinha.

[2] Subsequently, in May 1981, Magadh Division was created by the Bihar State Government with the districts of Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad and Jehanabad.

[3] Gaya district occupies an area of 4,976 square kilometres (1,921 sq mi),[4] comparatively equivalent to the island of Trinidad.

[8] According to the 2011 census Gaya district has a population of 4,391,418,[11] roughly equal to the nation of Moldova[12] or the US state of Kentucky.