India is a pilgrimage destination for people of all faiths. It was here that Prince Siddharth attained enlightenment and founded Buddhism. Today Buddhist shrines are concentrated mainly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.We rediscover some of these places : Sankasya, Sravasti, Lumbini(Nepal), Kushinagar, Kesariya, Vaishali, Nalanda, Rajgir, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kausambi. These do not represent all the Buddhist sites in India but include the significant pilgrimage centre.
Duration : 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destination Covered : Delhi - Agra - Lucknow - Balrampur - Saravasti - Lumbini - Gorakhpur - Kushinagar - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Patna - Delhi
DAY 01 : ARRIVE DELHI
Upon arrival in Delhi , Traditional Welcome and Transfer to Hotel Afternoon visit Qutab Minar India Gate , Rajghat and Shanti Vana the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Drive past Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Parliament street and President House.overnight at hotel.
DAY 02 : DELHI - AGRA BY ROAD 210 KMS 5 HOURS DRIVE
Breakfast at hotel. We leave by surface for Agra . Upon arrival checkin at your Hotel. Afternoon city tour of Agra visting Taj Mahal, the mausoleum built by a sorrowing Shah Jehan in memory of his young wife, Mumtaz Mahal and Agra Fort etc.
DAY 03 : AGRA - LUCKNOW ( BY ROAD 292 KMS 7 HOURS DRIVE
Breakfast at hotel. We leave by surface for Lucknow . Upon arrival Check in at your Hotel. After noon city tour of Lucknow .
DAY 04 : LUCKNOW - BALRAMPUR BY ROAD 208 KMS - 05 HOURS
Breakfast at hotel. We leave by surface for Balrampur . Upon arrival Check in at your Hotel. Afternoon excursion to Saravasti - Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala , has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens . The city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has age - old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here.This holy place also has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, an offspring of the one, said to have been planted by Buddha's main disciple.
DAY 05 : BALRAMPUR - LUMBINI BY ROAD 271 KMS - 06 HOURS
Breakfast at hotel. We leave by surface for Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years Lumbini grove, the sacred site of Lord Buddha's birth is today a small village.
DAY 06 : LUMBINI - GORAKHPUR BY ROAD 108 KMS - 3 HOURS
Breakfast at hotel. We leave by surface for Gorakhpur. Upon arrival checkin at your Hotel. Afternoon EXCURSIO TO KUSHINAGAR 55 KMS EAST OF GORAKHPUR .Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparnirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha.
DAY 07 :GORAKHPUR - VARANASI BY ROAD 215 KMS - 06 HOURS
Breakfast at hotel. We leave by surface for Varansi . Upon arrival check in at your Hotel . afternoon excursion to Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Participate in evening Arti and Pooja .
DAY 08 :VARANASI
Early morning boat ride on river Ganges.Breakfast at hotel and city tour of Varanasi.
DAY 09 :VARANASI - BODHGAYA BY ROAD 232 KMS - 06 HOURS
Breakfast at Hotel . we leave for Bodhgaya.On arrival transfer to hotel. overnight at hotel.
DAY 10 : BODHGAYA
As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. It attracts tens of thousands of believers from all over the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. visit temples and Niranjana river etc.
DAY 11 :BODHGAYA - PATNA BY ROAD 105 KMS 3 HRS DRIVE . VIA RAJ GIR AND NALANDA
Breakfast at hotel.we leave by surface for Patna enroute visit Nalanda University and Gridhkut mountain and Rajgir .Upon arrival check in at your Hotel . Afternoon city tour of Patna . overnight at Hotel .
DAY 12 :PATNA - DELHI ( BY FLIGHT)
Breakfast at Hotel and Later Transfer to Airport to board the flight for Delhi . Upon arrival in Delhi Transfer to Hotel . Rest of the DAY free.
DAY 13 : LEAVE DELHI
Transfer to Airport to board flight for Your onward Journey.
