BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE TOUR
Destinations Covered: Delhi - Agra - Varanasi – Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda – Vaishali - Kushinagar – Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti – Lucknow
Duration: 11 Nights / 12 Days
Buddhism, one of the major religions of the world find its roots in North Eastern India and spread across Nepal. Being one of the oldest religions on the globe, Buddhism flourished in India since 3rd Century BC. Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and resulting interpreted philosophies.
DAY 1: ARRIVE DELHI ( BY AIR)
Meeting and greeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
DAY 2: DELHI – AGRA (230 Kms / 05 Hrs)
After a succulent breakfast at hotel, check-out & drive to Agra (a major tourist destination because of its many Mughal-era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort , both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.) Proceed to see world famous Taj Mahal (An ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river, nothing neither photographs nor descriptions can prepare you for the experience of this monument -the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal called Taj Mahal. Here the cherished companion of Emperor Shah Jahan was laid to rest. It is an acclaimed architectural masterpiece and one of the seven wonders of the world.) Next visit Agra Fort. (A historical fort in the city of Agra in India. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi.) * TAJ MAHAL REMAINS CLOSED ON EVERY FRIDAY * Overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 3: AGRA-SANKISA (160 Kms /03 Hrs) SANKISA-LUCKNOW (210 Kms/04 Hrs)
After a luscious breakfast, drive to Sankisa (where Lord descended from heaven after giving sermon to his mother.) Post lunch proceed to Lucknow, Check-in & overnight stay at hotel.
DAY 4: LUCKNOW – VARANASI (320 Kms /07 Hrs)
After breakfast drive to Varanasi, Upon arrival check in to hotel. Post lunch visit ghats along the banks of river Ganga and enjoy holy ganga aarti in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hotel.
DAY 5: VARANASI
Start your day with boating across the ghats of River Ganges, enjoying the panoramic Sunrise. Back to hotel for breakfast, later visit BHU (Banaras Hindu University, formerly Central Hindu College, is a public central university. It was established in 1916 by Madan Mohan Malaviya, with co-operation from Annie Besant. With over 30,000 students residing in campus, it is the largest residential university in Asia.) Post lunch drive to Sarnath (A place located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi city near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India). Dhamek Stupa (Dhamek Stupa is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, originated as pre-Buddhist tumuli, in which ascetics were buried in a seated position, called chaitya). Also visit Sarnath Museum (Sarnath Museum is the oldest site museum of Archaeological Survey of India. It houses the findings and excavations at the archaeological site of Sarnath, the museum has 6,832 sculptures and artefacts.) Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 6: VARANASI – BODHGAYA (255 Kms /7 Hrs)
After delicious breakfast drive to Bodhgaya. Upon arrival check-in to hotel. Post lunch visit Mahabodhi Temple. (The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: "Great Awakening Temple") or the Mahabodhi Mahavihar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.) Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 7: BODHGAYA
After a delectable breakfast at hotel, proceed to visit Sujata Village (Sujata Village was believed to be the place where Prince Siddharta was offered with a bowl of kheer (rice milk) when resting under a Banyan Tree) & Niranajana River (Lord Buddha attained enlightenment at Gaya. His first bath in the River Niranjana known in Pali as Lilajan is the most striking event in his process of becoming Buddha. A river mentioned in Ramayana as Phalgu and latter classical Sanskrit literature has been often stated to be the same as Niranjana.) Post lunch, visit Mahabodhi Temple & International Buddhist Monasteries. Evening free for leisure activities. Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 8: BODHGAYA – RAJGIR – NALANDA - BODHGAYA (90 Kms/02 Hrs ONE WAY)
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for same day excursion tour to Rajgir & Nalanda. (Rajgir was once the ancient capital of the powerful kingdom of Maghada. Nalanda-a great center of Buddhist learning and one of the most famed university citadels of ancient times.) Upon arrival at Rajgir, visit Gridhakuta Hill (The Vulture Peak is Buddhist religious place. It is here that Lord Buddha meditated and carried out many sermons with his disciples). En route stop for visit to Bimbisara Jail. Lunch at hotel in Rajgir. Then visit Venuvan (The Bamboo Grove. This is the site of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by the powerful Magadhan Emperor Bimbisar, for Lord Buddha to reside) & Hot water spring. Further, proceed to Nalanda, Visit Black Buddha & ruins of Old Nalanda University (Historical sources indicate that the University had a long and illustrious life which lasted almost continually for 800 years from the fifth to the twelfth century CE. It was a completely residential university believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students.) Drive back to Bodhgaya. Evening visit Mahabodhi Temple. Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 9: BODHGAYA- VAISHALI (170 Kms /05 Hrs) VAISHALI- KUSHINAGAR (210 Kms /04 Hrs)
After a scrumptious breakfast, drive to Vaishali (a city in present-day Bihar, India, and is now an archaeological site. It is a part of the Tirhut Division) Visit the Ashoka Pillar (The Vaishali pillar has a single lion capital. The location of this pillar is contiguous to the site where a Buddhist monastery and a sacred coronation tank stood.) Also visit the Relic Stupa (Also known as the Stupa 1, it is one of the eight other Relic stupas that were built over the physical remains of Lord Buddha. It was originally found to be a stupa made up of mud with 8.07 diameter. As per the study, it belonged to 5th century BC.) Post lunch, drive to Kushinagar (It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death). En route visit the Kesariya Stupa (Kesariya Stupa is a Buddhist stupa in Kesariya, located at a distance of 110 kilometres from Patna. The first construction of the Stupa is dated to the 3rd century BCE. Kesariya Stupa has a circumference of almost 400 feet and raises to a height of about 104 feet. The stupa erected by the Licchavis of Vaishali to house the alms bowl the Buddha has given them). Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 10: KUSHINAGAR – LUMBINI (185 Kms /05 Hrs)
After early breakfast at hotel, proceed to Kushinagar (It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death.) Visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (Parinirvana Stupa is a Buddhist temple in Kushinagar which is said to be the death place of Gautama Buddha. Alexander Cunningham gains the most attention for his work in the area, because he conclusively proved that Gautama Buddha had died in the area.) Also visit the Ramabhar Stupa (was built over a portion of the Buddha's ashes on the spot where he was cremated by the ancient Malla people.) Post lunch, drive to Lumbini, Nepal (It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE.) Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 11: LUMBINI - SRAVASTI (265 Kms/07 Hrs)
After an enriching breakfast at hotel, visit Maya Devi Temple (Maya Devi Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple situated at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal. It is the main temple at Lumbini, a site traditionally considered the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The temple stands adjacent to a sacred pool and a sacred garden). Post lunch, drive to Sravasti (It is located near the West Rapti River and is closely associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have spent 24 Chaturmases here). Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
DAY 12: SRAVASTI – LUCKNOW (150 KMS/04 HRS) LUCKNOW – ONWARD DESTINATION (BY AIR)
After a mouthwatering breakfast at hotel, visit Sahet Mahet (The city was the capital of the Kosala kingdom in the 6th century. The site is of tremendous Buddhist and Jain significance. As you visit Sahet, you can explore the numerous stupas, temples and monasteries that establish a connection between Sravasti and the Buddha's life.) Proceed towards Angulimal Cave (identified with the remains of the Angulimala Stupa as seen by the Chinese Pilgrims in 500 AD. Locally known as Pakki Kuti. This is a small passage within the stupa, Angulimala gufa. This is apparently a drainage channel for preservation purposes.) Later visit Jetwan Mahavihara (Jetavana was the place where the Buddha gave the majority of his teachings and discourses, having stayed at Jetavana nineteen out of 45 vassas, more than in any other monastery.) Post lunch, transfer to Lucknow Airport to connect flight for onward destination.
