Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour: Path to Enlightenment

Arrive - Varanasi (Flight)

On arrival at Varanasi airport assistance and transfer to hotel.

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.

Banaras Hindu University - established in 1916 with over 30,000 students residing in campus, it is the largest residential university in Asia.

Overnight at hotel.

Varanasi - Bodhgaya (255kms/ 5hrs)

Early morning boat ride on river Ganges and walking tour of bathing Ghats.

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.

drive to Bodhgaya check in at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Bodhgaya

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.

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.

Overnight at hotel.

Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna (170kms/ 6hrs)

drive to Patna enroute visit Rajgir - the vulture Hill, hot spring in Rajgir, world peace Stupa, Bamboo's Garden.

After that visit Nalanda to the ruins of world oldest University.
Continue drive to Patna, check in at hotel.

Overnight at hotel.

Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar (225Kms/ 6hrs)

drive to Kushinagar enroute visit Vaishali stupa and Ashoka Pillar.

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.

Overnight at hotel.

Kushinagar - Lumbini (180Kms/ 5hrs)

drive till Sonauli border from here our Nepal vehicle will take you to Lumbini. Arrive Lumbini check in at hotel.

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.

Visit Maya Devi Temple, Ashokan Pillar, Chinese Maitreya Temple, Myanmar Golden Temple, Shanti stupa & Great Drigung Kagyud lotus Stupa.

Overnight at hotel.

Lumbini - Sravasti (225Kms/ 6hrs)

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.

Overnight at hotel.

Sravasti - Lucknow (170Kms/ 4hrs)

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.

Overnight at hotel.

Lucknow - Sankasiya - Agra (350Kms/ 7hrs)

drive to Agra. Enroute visit Sankasiya Stupa and Pillar.

Arrive Agra check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.

Overnight at hotel.

Agra - Delhi (210Kms/ 4hrs)

visit world famous Taj Mahal (closed on friday), Agra Fort and Baby Taj.

Afternoon drive to Delhi check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.

Overnight at hotel.

Delhi

Breakfast at hotel visit National Museum (Monday closed), drive Past India Gate, parliament house and President House. Visit Qutab Minar & Humayun Tomb.

Overnight at hotel.