Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour: Path to Enlightenment

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive - Varanasi (Flight)
3 stops
1
Varanasi
On arrival at Varanasi airport assistance and transfer to hotel.
Admission ticket free
2
Later visit Sarnath - Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon at the deer park here in Isipatana. In the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here, as well as an engraved pillar. When Chinese traveller Xuan Zang dropped by in AD 640, Sarnath boasted a 100m-high stupa and 1500 monks living in large monasteries. However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline, and when Muslim invaders sacked the city in the late 12th century, Sarnath disappeared altogether. It was only ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists in 1835. Also visit Sarnath Museum (closed on Friday) and Stupa.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
3
Banaras Hindu University - established in 1916 with over 30,000 students residing in campus, it is the largest residential university in Asia.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Varanasi - Bodhgaya (255kms/ 5hrs)
3 stops
4
Ganga Aarti
Early morning boat ride on river Ganges and walking tour of bathing Ghats.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
5
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Varanasi is a city dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
6
Bodh Gaya
Breakfast at Hotel, drive to Bodhgaya check in at hotel.
Admission ticket free
Day 3
Bodhgaya
2 stops
7
Bodhi Tree
Breakfast at hotel. Bodhgaya - considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it's dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
8
Mahabodhi Temple
Visit Mahabodhi Temple for SIL & Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, Sujata Temple - which is across the Niranjana river & it's 30 minutes walk. Visit other Budhist Bodhgaya. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel. Visit Mahabodhi Temple for SIL & Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, Sujata Temple - which is across the Niranjana river & it's 30 minutes walk. Visit other Budhist Bodhgaya. Rest time free and easy to relax.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 4
Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna (170kms/ 6hrs)
2 stops
9
Rajgir
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Patna enroute visit Rajgir - the vulture Hill, hot spring in Rajgir, world peace Stupa, Bamboo's Garden.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
10
Nalanda
After that visit Nalanda to the ruins of world oldest University. Continue drive to Patna, check in at hotel.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar (225Kms/ 6hrs)
2 stops
11
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kushinagar enroute visit Vaishali stupa and Ashoka Pillar.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
12
Continue drive to Kushinagar check in at hotel. Later visit Maha Parinirwana Temple (where Buddha took his last breath) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha) & Japan Temple.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 6
Kushinagar - Lumbini (180Kms/ 5hrs)
3 stops
13
Lumbini
Breakfast at hotel, drive till Sonauli border from here our Nepal vehicle will take you to Lumbini. Arrive Lumbini check in at hotel.
Admission ticket free
14
Lumbini
Lumbinī is the place where, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
15
Maya Devi Temple
Visit Maya Devi Temple, Ashokan Pillar, Chinese Maitreya Temple, Myanmar Golden Temple, Shanti stupa & Great Drigung Kagyud lotus Stupa.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 7
Lumbini - Sravasti (225Kms/ 6hrs)
1 stop
16
Breakfast at hotel, drive till Sonauli border from here your Indian driver will take you to Sravasti. On arrival check in at hotel rest time free and easy to relax.
Admission ticket free
Day 8
Sravasti - Lucknow (170Kms/ 4hrs)
1 stop
17
Breakfast at hotel, visit Sravasti, where Buddha spent his 24 monsoons. Visit Jetavana Monastery, Shobhnath Temple, Balrampur, Saheth and Ananda Bodhi Tree. Afternoon drive to Lucknow check in at hotel.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 9
Lucknow - Sankasiya - Agra (350Kms/ 7hrs)
2 stops
18
Agra
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Agra. Enroute visit Sankasiya Stupa and Pillar.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
19
Agra
Arrive Agra check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Admission ticket free
Day 10
Agra - Delhi (210Kms/ 4hrs)
2 stops
20
Agra Fort
Breakfast at hotel, visit world famous Taj Mahal (closed on friday), Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
21
New Delhi
Afternoon drive to Delhi check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Admission ticket free
Day 11
Delhi
1 stop
22
Qutub Minar
Breakfast at hotel visit National Museum (Monday closed), drive Past India Gate, parliament house and President House. Visit Qutab Minar & Humayun Tomb.
4 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 12
Delhi – Departure (Flight)
1 stop
23
New Delhi
Breakfast at Hotel, as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

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