|
|
| |
Footsteps of Buddha Tour |
Tour Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti - Lumbini - Kushinagar - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna - Delhi
Nearly 4 million people in the world follow Lord Buddha's wisdom, teachings and beliefs in order to elevate themselves from the troubles of painful existence. For such tourists and pilgrims, Follow Buddha's Footsteps Tour is a reason to rejoice. This eleven day journey allows them to visit the heritage sites that once witnessed the presence of Lord Buddha on this sacred land.
The itinerary follows the route through Sravasti where Lord Buddha spent 24 rainy retreats and explained various discourses and teachings. The journey then furthers towards Lumbini in Nepal which is Buddha's birthplace. The itinerant is again taken back to India in Kushinagar, where Tathagata attained Mahaparinirvana and left this mortal world. Next halt in this tour is in Varanasi, the spiritual city as old as time which is the gateway to Sarnath, a deer park where Lord Buddha delivered first sermon to his first five followers and set the wheel of law into motion. Further, the Follow Buddha's Footsteps tour reaches another level through the visit to Bodhgaya, the epicenter of Buddhism, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment or Bodha. From there, the journey moves towards Rajgir where Buddha tamed the wild elephant, Nalagiri and Nalanda where the ruins of the oldest international university enroute Patna, the ancient Patliputra.
|
Day 1, Arrive Delhi
On arrival at Delhi Airport, meet Buddhist train representative who will assist your transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Delhi. | |
| |
Day 2, Delhi
Morning post breakfast, leave for Delhi city tour including a visit to Old Delhi - Jama Masjid featuring the largest mosque of Emperor Shah Jahan, the largest in Asia. Continue exploring old Delhi via a visit to Red Fort and Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. Move on to New Delhi through a visit to India Gate, a 42 meter stone arch built in memory of the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their life in World War II.
Drive past President's house and Parliament House to experience the grandeur of 101 year old Lutyens Delhi. Continue the journey to vivid side of Delhi via Humayun Tomb (a Mughal memorial dedicated to the second ruler of the dynasty and believed to be an inspiration behind Taj Mahal), Qutab Minar and Lotus Temple. Dinner and
Overnight in Delhi |
| | |
|
Day 3,Delhi / Lucknow / Sravasti
Check out Delhi early morning by flight IC 601 dep. 08:55 hr / arrive Lucknow at 09:50 hr. Continue the journey through the drive to Sravasti (170 km) the land where Lord Buddha spent many time as a wandering ascetic. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay in Sravasti. |
| |
|
Day 4, Sravasti / Lumbini
Breakfast at hotel. In the morning, visit Sahet Mahet the ancient capital of Kosala kingdom, Jetvana Vihara & a string of Buddhist temples. Later leave Sravasti for Lumbini (in Nepal, 225 km / 6 hr), the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Arrive Lumbini, transfer to hotel for
overnight stay in Lumbini. |
| | |
|
Day 5, Lumbini/ Kushinagar In the morning, visit Mayadevi temple, the inscribed Ashokan Pillar & stupas. Each Buddhist heritage site in Lumbini is closely associated with the birth of Lord Buddha. The Mayadevi Temple is the 3rd century BC temple dedicated to the mother of Lord Buddha. Puskarini pond here is believed to be the pond where queen Mayadevi took a dip before delivering the prince. Ashokan Pillar adjacent to the temple is another proof validating that the birth of Lord Buddha took place here only.
Leave Lumbini for Kushinagar (161 km/ 3 hr 30 mins). Arrive Kushinagar and transfer to hotel. Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha entered the state of Mahaparinirvana and left the mortal existence.
Overnight in Kushinagar. |
| |
|
Day 6, Kushinagar / Varanasi
In the morning, visit Mahaparinirvana temple & Ramabhar Stupa which is built over the cremation site of Lord Buddha. The temple here enshrines the famous statue of Lord Buddha in reclining posture. After breakfast, leave Kushinagar for Varanasi via road (272 km / 4 hr). On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Sarnath near Varanasi is the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon and turned the wheel of law. Overnight in Varanasi.
Overnight in Varanasi. | |
| |
Day 7, Varanasi
Early morning cherish the boat ride on the mighty river Ganges to see the Bathing & Cremation Ghats. Breakfast at hotel. Continue the day with a full day Varanasi city tour via visiting Bharat Mata temple, Tulsi Manas temple and the large campus of Banaras Hindu University etc.
Overnight in Varanasi. |
| | | |
Day 8, Varanasi / Bodhgaya
Leave Varanasi Tour for Bodhgaya (242 km / 4 hr), enroute visit Sarnath, the third important Buddhist pilgrimage site associated with Tathagata's first sermon. Presently, the site's religious reverence is signified by the presence of Dhamekh and Chaukhandi Stupa besides the presence of Buddhist temples, and other ruins. On arrival at Bodhgaya, transfer to hotel. Bodhgaya is the most important place in the life of Lord Buddha. Here only he attained enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi Tree.
Overnight in Bodhgaya. | |
| |
Day 9, Bodhgaya
Follow Buddha's Footsteps in Bodhgaya by visiting the world heritage site of Mahabodhi Temple, Animeshlochan Chaitya, Mohanta's Monastery, Ratnagar and Archaeological Museum, where his traces and presence can be still felt in the religious aura of stupas, chaityas and the large Buddha statue in the city. The city is also known for its many monasteries including Tibetan monastery, Thai temple and monastery, International Buddhist House, Japanese Temple, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, The Burmese Temple, Chinese Temple & Monastery.
Overnight stay in Bodhgaya |
| | |
|
Day 10, Bodhgaya / Patna / Delhi
In the morning, leave Bodhgaya for Patna (182 km - 6 hr) enroute visiting Rajgir & Nalanda. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Footsteps of the Buddha Tours. In the afternoon, visit Gridhakuta Hill and Bimbisara Jail closely associated with many sermons of Buddha. Drive to Nalanda (14 km) and it was one of the oldest Universities of the World & International Centre for Buddhist Studies. Drive to Patna which is 90 km, on arrival at Patna transfer to airport to connect flight 9W 728 dep. 21:30 hrs./ arr. Delhi at 23:00 hrs visit Footsteps of Buddha Tour.
Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
| |
| |
Day 11, Delhi / Onward Destination
Transfer to international airport to connect flight for onward destination. | |
| |
|
| |