Activities
11 DAYS 10 NIGHTS BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE
DAY 01
ARRIVE DELHI
Meeting by local representative on arrival and assistance at the airport.
Transfer to hotel for check in.
Note: Itinerary may defer depending on arrival time.
DAY 02
BREAKFAST
DELHI – PATNA (BY DOMESTIC FLIGHT)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to airport for your domestic flight to Patna.
Upon arrival, meet and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon excursion to Vaishali (55kms) – known for Buddha Stupas, Ashoka Pillar and Bawan Pokhar Temple. This is the place where Buddha announced his Mahaparinirvana and happened to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavira.
Overnight stay in hotel Patna.
DAY 03
BREAKFAST
PATNA – NALANDA – RAJGIR – BODHGAYA (140KM/4HRS)
After breakfast drive to Bodhgaya which takes 4 hours covering 140km.
En-route visit Nalanda and Rajgir.
Nalanda - a great center of Buddhist learning and one of the most famed university citadels of ancient times.
Rajgir - it was once the ancient capital of the powerful Kingdom of Maghada. From the outskirt of Rajgir, a historic road leads to Gridhakuta or vultures peak where the Buddha preached. Here the first Buddhist Council was held after Lord’s Mahaparinirvana.
Upon arrival check in hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 04
BREAKFAST
IN BODHGAYA
After breakfast full day visit of Bodhgaya.
Bodhgaya - in the state of Bihar, reckoned as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center. It is the place where Lord Sakyamuni (Gautam Buddha) entered into meditation after being moved by the sufferings of mankind. The giant Bodhi Tree (Peepal) that we see today is believed to have grown from the original Bodhi Tree under which, sitting on the raised platform, Prince Siddharth meditated and finally attained Nirvana. There is also Chaukramana, the Jewel Walk, where it is believed that the Buddha strolled while in deep thought.
Also visit Shaivite Monastery and famous Jagganath Temple.
Back to hotel for overnight stay.
DAY 05
BREAKFAST
BODHGAYA – VARANASI (250 KM / 7 HRS)
After early breakfast drive to Varanasi. Varanasi is famous for Hindus as well as Buddhists as its close proximity to Sarnath.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 06
BREAKFAST
IN VARANASI – SARNATH – VARANASI
Very early morning leave for pilgrimage boat ride from ghat to ghat on the river Ganges. Here pilgrims will have bath in the morning to offer the prayers to the rising sun.
Return back to hotel for breakfast.
Thereafter sightseeing tour of the city including the Bharat Mata Temple with a big relief map of India in marble, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and Banaras Hindu University which has an Art Gallery and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb built on the site of an ancient Hindu Temple.
After sightseeing tour proceed to Sarnath – where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist Temple and the Museum (closed on Friday).
Return back to Varanasi hotel and stay overnight.
DAY 07
BREAKFAST
VARANASI – KUSHINAGAR (250KM/8 HRS)
After brakfast check out hotel and drive to Kushinagar. Upon arrival check in hotel.
Kushinagar - the place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana in his 18th year.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 08
BREAKFAST
KUSHINAGAR – LUMBINI (170KM/4 HRS)
After breakfast visit Kushinagar, one of the principal centers of Buddhist pilgrimage, is the place Mahaparinirvana. The monuments of Kushinagar are situated in three distinct comprising the main site of the Nirvana Temple, the central stupa and surrounding monasteries.
Thereon drive for 4 hours to Lumbini, Nepal which cover as distance of 170km.
Upon arrival Lumbini check in to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 09
BREAKFAST
LUMBINI – SRAVASTI (150KM/4 HRS)
After breakfast visit the village of Lumbini in Nepal, where the Queen Mahamaya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha who later became the Buddha. Over 2000 years ago the Emperor Ashoka set up a commemorative pillar here. The pillar carries the inscription – Here the Buddha was born.
Another shrine preserves an ancient image depicting the nativity of the Lord.
Later proceed to Sravasti which will take another 4 hours drive covering 150km.
On arrival check in hote for overnight stay.
DAY 10
BREAKFAST
SRAVASTI – GONDA – DELHI
After breakfast check out hotel and proceed to visit the sacred city for Buddhists. Buddha himself spent many summers here to deliver important sermons. Here Anathapindaka was built in the garden of Prince Jeta for the reception of the Buddha. Today, the remains unearthed testify to the flourishing condition of this sacred spot in the Gupta period.
Thereafter drive to Gonda railway station (40kms) for departure to Delhi by train no 2553 Vaishali Express.
Overnight in the train.
DAY 11
BREAKFAST
DELHI – ONWARD DESTINATION
Upon arrive in Delhi transfer to hotel for wash and change and breakfast.
Thereafter proceed for full day city tour of Old and New Delhi visiting:
Qutub Minar - built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199.
Humayun’s Tomb - the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun.
India Gate - war memorial located astride the Rajpath, on the eastern edge of the "ceremonial axis" of New Delhi, formerly called Kingsway.
Lakshminarayan Temple – also known as the Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple up to large extent dedicated to Laxminarayan.
Drive pass:
President’s House (Rashtrapathi Bhavan) – the official residence of the President of India.
Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings and Connaught Place shopping centre.
Towards afternoon visit:
Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana – the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Jama Masjid - one of the largest mosques in India. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1650 and 1656.
Red Fort - a historic fort in the city of Delhi in India, which served as the main residence of the Mughal Emperors.
Chandni Chowk - a busy shopping area with markets full of spices, dried fruit, silver jewelry and vivid saris, while the narrow side streets are crowded with tiny shops selling essential oils, stationery and traditional Indian sweets.
After sightseeing proceed for early dinner before transfering to airport for for departure to onward destination.
