A Tour cum Pilgrimage must for all Buddhists as well as Hindus - The second religious schism to emerge from Hinduism, Buddhism spread to far off places/lands of the world. The propounder, Buddha was born in what is now Nepal, achieved enlightenment at Gaya (Bihar) delivered his first sermon at Sarnath (UP). Before taking his last breath at Kusinagar (Deroia, UP) he traveled miles across the country. Today its influence and popularity are proof in the Buddhist sites dotting the countryside. However!! Our Tours are not affiliated with any particular spiritual path. All are welcome!
Day 1: Arrive Delhi
Meet and greet at the airport, transfer to Sahara Hotel. Delhi is a city of contrasts. From the neo- classical architecture of the elegant garden city of New Delhi to the narrow, twisting lanes that surround Chandni-Chowk in the old city. Afternoon, proceed for half day guided city tour of New Delhi. The buildings designed by Edward Lutyens, architect of modern Delhi - are truly majestic. The Presidential Palace, Parliament House and India Gate are all reminiscent of the British “Raj”. We drive through Delhi’s beautiful tree-lined avenues and the Diplomatic Enclave en-route to the 12th century, 234 foot high fluted minaret of Qutab Minar. Overnight in hotel.
Day 2: At Delhi
Morning after breakfast, proceed for half day guided city tour of Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort built by Mughal Emperor Shajahan & Jama Masjid (The great Mosque) Walk through the bazaars of Chandni Chowk, built during the Mughal reign, followed by a visit to Rajghat, the final resting place of Mahatma Gandhi. Return to hotel, Afternoon free. Overnight in Hotel Park. Included: (B).
Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for the City of Jaipur - an exuberance of color, dance & song with traditional arts and crafts. Known as the 'Pink City' is one of India's most well planned cities with wide straight avenues, roads, streets and lanes in a grid system. A 4 hours drive gets us to this land of Maharaja's, forts & Plalaces and diversity of colors & culture that is unique to the State of Rajasthan. On arrival check-in at Hari Mahal Palace Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing of the city palace, palace museum, the Jai Singh's observatory, Hawa Mahal (Palace of winds) & Albert hall museum. Return to hotel via Johari Bazar (Gem Market) & Curio shops. Overnight in hotel. Included: (B).
Day 4: At Jaipur
Morning after breakfast, proceed for full day excursion to see three of the most immressive forts of Rajasthan. Visit the impressive Amber Fort the former capital of the Royal Family of Jaipur, taking an elephant ride to the top of the fort. Next visit Jaigarh & Nahargarh Fort. Jaigarh built in 1726, has the worlds largest cannon on wheels, while Nahargarh built in 1734 provides a Panoramic view of Jaipur city. Late afternoon return to hotel via Ram Niwas Garden. Overnight in hotel. Included: (B).
Day 5: Jaipur - Agra
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for the Mughal splendour of Agra, the city of Taj, en-route visiting Fathepur Sikri the ghost city 35 kms from Agra. Fatehpur Sikri built in red sandstone in honor of Saint Salim Chisti, who foretold the birth of 3 sons to Emperor Akbar, is an example of robust stability combined with originality. Each important edifice here represents a type by itself. Notable among them is the Diwane Khas, Punch Mahal, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, and the Buland Darwaza. Drive on to Agra and check-in to the Hotel Grand Imperial. Later visit the incomparable Taj Mahal. This monument a fine example of fusion of many architectural styles is one of the wonders of the modern world. Built in 1652 by Emperor Shah Jahan. It took 22 years and 20,000 skilled artisans to complete this poem in white marble. Spend time at the Taj, before returning to hotel for overnight. Included: (B).
Day 6: Agra - Varansi
Morning after breakfast, visit Agra Fort, which lies across river Jamuna. It was here that Aurangzeb the 3rd son of Shah Jahan kept his father under house arrest. Next visit Itmaudualla, mausoleum built by Queen Noor Jahan
in memory of her parents followed by a tour of Sikandra, tomb of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great before returning to your hotel for check out. Later in time transfer to Agra Cantonment railway station to board overnight express train at 1600 hrs for Varanasi. Overnight in train. Included:(B).
Day 7: Arrive Varanasi
on arrival at 0620hrs, transfer to Hotel RADISSON. Varanasi or "Kashi" as it was called in the 7th century BC means 'Divine Light', is the most sacred pilgrimage center for the Hindus. It can aptly be called the 'Light of India'. The city is dedicated to Shiva. After fresh & change, proceed for half-day excursion to Sarnath - where Buddhism first made its appearance nearly 2500 years ago and where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon to his 5 disciples. Visit the Chowkhandi Stupa, the 46m high Dhamek Stupa & Dharmarajik Stupa built by Emperor Ashok around 258 BC. See the 20m high Ashok Pillar, which still exists today. Also visit the museum before returning to your hotel.
Afternoon proceed for half day city tour of this very ancient town, situated on the banks of river Ganges, in the State of Uttar Pradesh. Visit the Ramnagar Fort, Benaras Hindu University campus & the temples of Bharat Mata, Kashi Viswanath & Durga Mata. Walk around the narrow by lanes near the ghats, before returning to hotel for overnight stay. Included:(B).
Day 8: Varanasi - Bodgaya
Early morning boat ride on the river Ganges to see the sunrise and visit the bathing Ghats. Say Hello!! to the Sun God, before returning to hotel, in time for breakfast. After breakfast, depart by surface for Bodhgaya, The City Of Lord Buddha's Penance & Supreme Enlightenment. The history and tradition of this sacred spot goes back to the earliest days. 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. On arrival, check in at Hotel LOTUS NIKKO. Afternoon, tour of this ancient riverside town. Visit the Sri Lankan monastery; Visit the Mahabodhi temple for the evening prayers and the Bodhi tree under which the Lord achieved enlightment. Return to hotel for Overnight Included:(B).
Day 9: Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for Patna, en-route visiting Rajgir - a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. The Gridhakuta Hill, in Rajgir, was the seat from where Buddha delivered many of his sermons. It was here that the teachings of Buddha were recorded in writing for the first time. Next visit Nalanda- which literally means the place that confers the lotus. It was one of the oldest universities of the world & was a center of great learning which reached its zenith between 5th and 12th Century A.D. Both Lord Buddha & Lord Mahavira visited this place. Also visit Karanda Tank- where Buddha used to bathe. Arrive Patna and check in to Hotel Maurya. Late afternoon visit the Patna Museum, before returning to your hotel for Overnight stay. Included: (B).
Day 10: Patna - Vaishalli - Kushinagar
Morning after breakfast, depart by surface for Vaishali believed to be the first republic of the world, having an elected body of representatives, holds special significance for Buddhist devotees. At Kolhua, Lord Buddha delivered his last sermon, hinting at his impending departure from the mortal world. Later continue onward to Kushinagar - where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. On arrival check into Hotel Lotus Nikko. Overnight in Kushinagar. Included: (B).
Day 11: Kushinagar - Lumbini
Morning tour of Kushinagar. It was here that the Tathagata, the reciter of truth, breathed his last with the last words "behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying, decay is inherent in all component things! Work out your salvation with diligence! "After sightseeing of the Rambhar Stupa & the Mahaparinirwana Temple, where you see the statue of Buddha in a reclining posture, continue onwards by surface for Lumbini - the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Lumbini is the Indian Nepal border and the legal formalities are to be completed to enter Lumbini. On arrival check into Hotel Lumbini Garden. Overnight in hotel. Included: (B).
Day 12: At Lumbini
After breakfast, proceed for tour visiting the Ashokan Pillar, erected by Magadhan emperor Ashoka, to commemorate the birth place of Buddha in 251 BC - today only the lower shaft of the pillar stands, the upper past having been split into two. Other attractions are the sacred garden (Lumbini grove) the Mayadevi Temple with a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother and a sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of Ashoka and Puskarni, the sacred pond, wherein, Mayadevi is said to have had taken a bath just before giving birth to Buddha - the Enlightened one. Return to hotel for Overnight. Included: (B).
Day 13: Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti
After breakfast, depart by surface for Sravasti en-route visiting Kapilvastu - The capital city of the Sakya clan, and one of the earliest republics, it was in Kapilavastu's opulent environs, that the holy soul of prince Siddharth (Gautam Buddha) spent his childhood. Here he saw sorrow and pain, disease and death. The place holds significant value for Buddhist pilgrims and has several Stupas. The archaeological excavations have revealed stone caskets containing relics believed to be that of Buddha's. Sravasti- where Lord Buddha Spent 24 "Baisakh" Of His Life and delivered his sermons. On arrival check into Hotel Lotus Nikko Afternoon visit the extensive ruins of this ancient city. Sravasti has two villages, Sahet and Mahet, which is spread over an area of 400 acres and has a number of ruins. This is where the Lord performed his Miracle sitting on a petalled Lotus multiplying 1000 times. Also visit the Angulimar's cave & the village of Sujata, which is where a woman with the same name gave Lord Buddha his first meal of milk & rice pudding after he came out of the austerities he was performing and broke his fast. Next tour takes you north of Sahet, towards the Rapti River, is the ancient fortified city of Mahet.
The entrance to the mud fortification of Mahet is constructed in a beautiful crescent shape. Though an ancient structure, its five gates and walls are still visible. Pakki Kuti, Kuchhi Kuti and many other stupas tell the story of the great monasteries that once stood here. Visit also the remnants of Jetavana, a splendid monastery with inscriptions dating back to the 12th century, is thought to be one of the favorite sites of the Buddha. Sravasti was also under the influence of Lord Mahavira the last Jain Tirthankar, and the splendid Shwetambara temple here attracts thousands of Jain pilgrims. The Sobhnath Temple is believed to the birthplace of the Jain Tirthankar Sambhavnath. Overnight in hotel. Included: (B).
Day 14: Sravasti - Lucknow
After breakfast depart for Lucknow. On arrival check into Hotel Sahara International. Afternoon explore this royal city of Nawabs. Lucknow is caught in a time warp. It exists in an in-between land of the past and the present looking back constantly to the memories of a colonial - Nawabi past. Despite the Indo-Persian legacy, Lucknow has a composite Indian culture. The welding of various cultural strains nurtured by centuries of Mughal and later Delhi Sultanate rule, to the folk traditions of the Indo-Gangetic plains has produced a complex, yet rich synthesis. The Urdu language acquired its baffling phonetic nuances and suave perfection here. It was in Nawab Wajed Ali Shah's court that the most advanced of all classical Indian dance forms, the Kathak, took shape. The popular Parsi theatre originated from the Urdu theatre of this city. The tabla and the sitar were first heard on the streets of Lucknow. Overnight in hotel. Included: (B).
Day 15: Lucknow - Delhi
Morning after a leisurely breakfast, in time transfer to the airport to connect flight at 1150 hrs for Delhi and on arrival at 1250 hrs, transfer to Hotel Qutab. Afternoon free for last minute shopping (car at disposal)Evening visit the historic red fort to witness Son-et-Lumaire show. Overnight. Included: (B).
Day 16: Depart Delhi
In time transfer to International airport to connect flight for your onward destination. Included: (B).
