The tourism department is ready with four packages for pilgrims who would visit Gaya for the Pitripaksh Mela beginning September 30.

The pilgrims would not have to worry about arrangements for food, lodging or arranging pandas to perform the rituals for salvation of their ancestors.

The packages finalised by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation include Gaya-Bodhgaya, Gaya-Bodhgaya-Gaya, Gaya-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda (Nepura)-Gaya, and Patna-(Punpun)-Gaya-Bodhgaya-Patna.

Navin Kumar, the deputy general manager of the tourism corporation, told The Telegraph on Friday: “Pilgrims arrive in Gaya from all across the country for the Pitripaksh Mela. We have prepared four packages this year to ensure the pilgrims do not face any problem on arrival and during their stay.

“For the first time, we have included Punpun in the package starting from Patna. While these packages can be availed from any of the tourist information centres, pilgrims from other states can also avail the packages through our website (www.bstdc.bih.nic.in). We have tied up with a private bank for transaction through our website,” he added.

He said domestic tour operators and Bihar foundations based in Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi and other cities have been roped in to attract pilgrims.

The packages would include pick-and-drop facilities, pinddaan at Vishnupad Temple, Akshaywat and river Falgu with arrangements for pandas, local sightseeing, breakfast and lunch. The pilgrims would be accommodated at Hotel Buddha Vihar, Hotel Sujata Vihar, Hotel Siddhartha Vihar, Hotel Royal Residency and Taj Darbar.

Apart from the daylong Gaya-Bodhgaya package, all the offers prepared for the 17-day Pitripaksh Mela include at least a night’s stay in Bodhgaya. Pilgrims availing the Gaya-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda (Nepura)-Gaya package can opt for a one-night-and-two-day stay or two-night-and three-day stay.

Under the Patna-(Punpun)-Gaya-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda (Nepura)-Kundalpur-Patna package, pilgrims can avail a one-night-and-two-day stay.