Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour (12 Days), Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Admire the stunning structural design and take glimpse of art collections, on this superb trip of great moral importance. Visit various Buddhist sites like Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Shravasti & Sankasiya. The journey offers you the opportunity of knowing the life story of Lord Buddha, these Buddhist sites are matchless in their own way. You will also visit the iconic Taj Mahal an ivory-white marble mausoleum in Agra and mew Mughal builts monuments in Delhi.
Description & Instructions When Visiting Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Admire the stunning structural design and take glimpse of art collections, on this superb trip of great moral importance. Visit various Buddhist sites like Varanasi, Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Shravasti & Sankasiya. The journey offers you the opportunity of knowing the life story of Lord Buddha, these Buddhist sites are matchless in their own way. You will also visit the iconic Taj Mahal an ivory-white marble mausoleum in Agra and mew Mughal builts monuments in Delhi.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive – Varanasi (Flight)
Pass By: Varanasi, Varanasi, Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh
On arrival at Varanasi airport assistance and transfer to hotel.
Stop At: Sarnath Via-Anlabereni, Varanasi 759026 India
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005 India
Banaras Hindu University – established in 1916 with over 30,000 students residing in campus, it is the largest residential university in Asia.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Varanasi – Bodhgaya (255kms/ 5hrs)
Stop At: Ganga Aarti, Dashashwamedh ghat Road, Varanasi 221001 India
Early morning boat ride on river Ganges and walking tour of bathing Ghats.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi 221001 India
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Bodh Gaya, Bodh Gaya, Gaya District, Bihar
Breakfast at Hotel, drive to Bodhgaya check in at hotel.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 3: Bodhgaya
Stop At: Bodhi Tree, Bodh Gaya India
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Mahabodhi Temple, Bihar 824231, Bodh Gaya 824231 India
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Patna (170kms/ 6hrs)
Stop At: Rajgir, Rajgir, Nalanda District, Bihar
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Patna enroute visit Rajgir – the vulture Hill, hot spring in Rajgir, world peace Stupa, Bamboo’s Garden.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Nalanda, Nalanda, Nalanda District, Bihar
After that visit Nalanda to the ruins of world oldest University.
Continue drive to Patna, check in at hotel.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 5: Patna – Vaishali – Kushinagar (225Kms/ 6hrs)
Stop At: Vaishali, Vaishali, Vaishali District, Bihar
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kushinagar enroute visit Vaishali stupa and Ashoka Pillar.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Parinirvana Stupa, PVQR+P46, Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh 274403, India
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 6: Kushinagar – Lumbini (180Kms/ 5hrs)
Pass By: Lumbini, Lumbini, Lumbini Zone, Western Region
Breakfast at hotel, drive till Sonauli border from here our Nepal vehicle will take you to Lumbini. Arrive Lumbini check in at hotel.
Stop At: Lumbini, Lumbini, Lumbini Zone, Western Region
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.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini Nepal
Visit Maya Devi Temple, Ashokan Pillar, Chinese Maitreya Temple, Myanmar Golden Temple, Shanti stupa & Great Drigung Kagyud lotus Stupa.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 7: Lumbini – Sravasti (225Kms/ 6hrs)
Pass By: Shravasti, Shravasti, Shravasti District, Uttar Pradesh
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.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 8: Sravasti – Lucknow (170Kms/ 4hrs)
Stop At: Shobhnath Temple, Near the Entrance of Mahet, Shravasti India
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.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 9: Lucknow – Sankasiya – Agra (350Kms/ 7hrs)
Stop At: Agra, Agra, Agra District, Uttar Pradesh
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Agra. Enroute visit Sankasiya Stupa and Pillar.
Duration: 2 hours
Pass By: Agra, Agra, Agra District, Uttar Pradesh
Arrive Agra check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: Agra – Delhi (210Kms/ 4hrs)
Stop At: Agra Fort Rakabgani, Agra 282003 India
Breakfast at hotel, visit world famous Taj Mahal (closed on friday), Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
Duration: 3 hours
Pass By: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
Afternoon drive to Delhi check in at hotel. Rest time free and easy to relax.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Delhi
Stop At: Qutub Minar, Qutb Minar, Mehrauli, New Delhi 110030 India
Breakfast at hotel visit National Museum (Monday closed), drive Past India Gate, parliament house and President House. Visit Qutab Minar & Humayun Tomb.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Delhi – Departure (Flight)
Pass By: New Delhi, New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi
Breakfast at Hotel, as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
Duration: 12 days
Starts: Varanasi, India
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Cultural Tours
