Pretshila Hill
Sacred hill · Yama · Gaya, Bihar
Devotees bathe in Brahma Kund and then perform pinda-daan on the hill for ancestors believed to be...
A hill about 10 km from Ramshila Hill carrying a temple to Yama built by Ahilya Bai in 1787, noted for its architecture and sculptures. Brahma Kund lies below the hill, and Ramkund, where Rama is said to have bathed, is also here. Reaching the shrine needs a short climb.
Plan your visit
- Best season
- September to April
- Area
- Gaya
- Status
- Coming Soon
Festivals
- Pitrapaksh (Pitru Paksha), September-October
Yatras that include Pretshila Hill
- Gaya Ji and the Rite for Ancestors: The hill of the spirits, above the town. A climb, and part of the longer rite.
Experiences here
- Pind daan at Gaya: The rite for the dead that brings families to Gaya from everywhere
- Pitrapaksh Mela: A fortnight when the whole of Gaya belongs to the dead
Tirtham can arrange here
Guide, car and stay around Gaya
Also around Gaya
- Litti chokha: The dish people mean when they say Bihari food.
- Sattu sharbat in summer: What Bihar drinks against the heat: roasted gram, water, lemon and salt, sold from carts on every corner.
- Tilkut on Ramna Road: Gaya's winter sweet, pounded from sesame and jaggery by hand for about 150 years, and eaten at Makar Sankranti.
- Anarsa of Gaya: The rice-and-sesame sweet Bihar Tourism places at Gaya.
- The stone carvers of Patharkatti: A village of stone carvers descended from the Gaur craftsmen Ahilyabai Holkar brought from Rajasthan to build the Vishnupad temple; GI-registered in June 2026.
- Pitrapaksh Mela: The fortnight when families from all over India come to Gaya to offer pind to their ancestors.
Nearby places
- Vishnupad Temple, Gaya: Lord Vishnu's footprint, and the great seat of pind daan
- Akshayavat: It is where the final, concluding pinda of the Gaya Shraddha is offered, making it the last stop of the...
- Sita Kund: Pilgrims come because Sita is held to have performed Pind Daan here for her father-in-law Dashratha...
- Ramshila Hill: Rama is believed to have offered pinda on this hill, so mourners offer pindas here during Pitrapaksh
- Brahmayoni Hill: Hindus climb it in large numbers during Pitripaksha to offer at the hill and squeeze through the...
- Mangla Gauri Temple: It is counted among the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas, the spot where Sati's breast fell, and newlyweds...
- Phalgu River ghats, Gaya: Tarpan and the riverbed pinda offerings of the Gaya Shraddha are made on these ghats
- Gurdwara Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, Gaya: Sikhs visit because both Gurus stopped here and taught that a person's own good deeds, not their...
Questions pilgrims ask
Why is Pretshila Hill important?
A hill about 10 km from Ramshila Hill carrying a temple to Yama built by Ahilya Bai in 1787, noted for its architecture and sculptures. Brahma Kund lies below the hill, and Ramkund, where Rama is said to have bathed, is also here. Reaching the shrine needs a short climb.
When is the best time to visit Pretshila Hill?
September to April.
Which festivals are celebrated at Pretshila Hill?
Pitrapaksh (Pitru Paksha), September-October.
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