15 Days Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit in India

Arrive at New Delhi airport.

On arrival meet our representative and get transferred to airport hotel. (Standard check in time of each hotel is 2:00PM. Early check in will be subject to availability. You may have to wait for few hours before check in.)

Spend the rest of the time at leisure.

Overnight at Delhi.

After breakfast check out from hotel and get transferred to Delhi Airport and fly to Patna.

On arrival at Patna, meet our representative and get transferred to hotel. Check in at the hotel and have rest of the time at leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Patna.

After breakfast, check out from hotel and proceed for excursion to Vaisahli. (approx. 35 km- 1 hour drive one side)

Vaishali is a small district which is also a revered Hindu, Buddhist and Jain worshipping site. It is the city where Lord Mahavir was born. Considered as the first republic of the world, Vaishali is believed to have been named after King Vishal, from the time of Mahabharat. It is also the city where Buddha delivered his last sermon. Lord Buddha has spent a significant time of his life here and he used to visit Vaishali every now and then. Also, his last sermon was held here in Vaishali, which marks the town as an extremely significant center for Buddhism. To mark this event King Ashoka, who embraced Buddhism after the massacre of Kalinga, he decided to erect one of his remarkable pillars here. The excavations carried out in Vaishali have brought to light Buddha stupa 1 and 11 (14th century B.C) built in brick with a casket containing part of ashes of Buddha. See the Vishwa Shanti Stupa - A 125ft, tall peace pagoda which was built by the Buddh Vihar society in collaboration with Japanese government was excavated in 1969. It is a really huge, white, beautiful stupa surrounded by enormous greenery, serenity and a pond where you can spend some leisure time.

After sightseeing of Vaishali, travel to Rajgir. Rajgir is town where the air that surrounds its beautiful sceneries carries hints of spirituality and vibrant hues of history with links with both Buddhism and Jainism.

On arrival, check in to hotel, leisure and overnight at hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Rajgir.

After breakfast, proceed to visit Nalanda; Nalanda University- It was of one of the oldest known universities of the world, founded in 5th century AD. The ruins show that over 2000 teachers and 10,000 students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied here till its sacking by Afghans in 12th century AD. An international center for Buddhist studies also functions here. The Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang, who came to Nalanda as a student in the 7th century AD, has left an extensive description of the university. Remains found include 11 monasteries, several temples including one built by Ashoka the Great, stupas, libraries, lecture halls etc.

Also visit Rajgir, the ancient capital of the Magadha Empire, is held sacred by both Buddhists and Jains for its association with Buddha and Mahavir, who lived and taught here for many years. The Rajgir Hills have a number of Buddhist and Jain monuments like Stupas and Forts – a rare combination of Buddhism and Jainism. The presence of the Surya Temple also makes Rajgir important for Hindus. There are also a number of hot sulphur springs here whose waters are believed to cure certain diseases.

Later also visit the Vulture’s Peak- One of the most important of all associations with a "place" in the life and teachings of the Buddha, other than the Bodhi Tree and Deer Park, is with Vulture Peak, a small mountain just outside the city of the ancient city of Rajgir, India. Here, sixteen years after his Enlightenment, he set forth the second turning of the wheel of Dharma to an assembly of 5,000 monks, nuns and laity, as well as innumerable bodhisattvas.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Rajgir.

After breakfast, check out from hotel and travel to Bodhgaya.

One of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, Bodhgaya is a village in the state of Bihar. It was here under the Bodhi tree that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. The place is bustling with pilgrims all through the year who come to pay their homage in the monasteries, shrines and temples. It also attracts tourists from India and abroad owing to its magnificent Buddha statue, the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree.

On arrival check in to hotel, leisure and overnight at hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Bodhgaya.

After breakfast, visit Mahabodhi Temple.

The Mahabodhi Temple serves to be the main and most important attraction in Bodh Gaya. It was built in the 7th century, surrounding the Bodhi Tree that Buddha sat under whilst he attained enlightenment.

Great Buddha Statue: This statue of Lord Buddha is the tallest in India and was instated by the XIV Dalai Lama in 1989. It is a meditating Buddha resting on a giant lotus, constructed using intricately carved sandstone and red granite.

Bodhi Tree: Bodhi Tree is the tree that Lord Buddha meditated under before he could attain enlightenment. The original Bodhi tree may have been destroyed by many Kings, but the direct descendants flourish even today standing tall at 80 feet.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Bodhgaya.

After breakfast, check out from hotel and travel to Varanasi.

Varanasi, the city of Shiva on the banks of the Ganges, is one of Hinduism’s seven holiest cities. With its temples, over a hundred ghats and labyrinth of streets, the city cannot be described, only experienced. Also called Benares or Kashi, Varanasi is the oldest living city in India, and one of the world’s most ancient. Hindu devotional movements flourished here, and it is still the chief centre of Sanskrit learning in North India. It is also famous for silk weaving and ornamental brass-work.

On arrival, check in to the hotel, leisure.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Varanasi.

Early morning go for mesmerizing sunrise boat ride. Start your day with a morning boat ride at dawn. You have a chance to observe the Hindu way of life along the bank of the Ganges River (Ganga Ghat or Banaras Ghat). Boating down the Ganges River during sunrise is one of the main attractions in Varanasi.

After a hearty breakfast, go for sightseeing tour of the city.

Visit Kashi Viswanath Temple; Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a major sacred attraction, dedicated to Lord Shiva, the presiding deity of the city. The present temple was built by Rani Ahailya Bai Holkar of Indore in the year 1776, however, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple was existent even before the present one. About 800 kg of gold being used to cap the spire by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, hence it is also known as the Golden Temple in Varanasi. The temple has been built and re-built several times over the past centuries.

Take a half-day tour of Varanasi – Visit the Bharat Mata temple; The temple does not have any deity, but a relief map of the country carved in marble. The temple was the brainchild of Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta, a freedom fighter. It was built in 1936 and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi and has ever since been the only one dedicated to a country in the World.

Visit the Durga temple; built in the 18th century. It houses an imposing idol of Goddess Durga and is one of the main temples in Varanasi.

Also visit the modern marble Tulsi Manas temple whose walls are engraved with scenes and verses from the Ramcharitmanas, the Hindi version of the Ramayana. Also see the New Viswanath temple, one of the tallest in India (Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple).

Go around the Benares Hindu University and its museum; Established by Madan Mohan Malviya in 1916 and is the largest residential university in the continent, and also see the Alamgir Mosque – mosque of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Also visit, Sarnath Temple: The Sarnath Temple is located about 10 kilometers from the city of Varanasi, in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It was built in 640 Ad by Emperor Ashoka in dedication to Lord Buddha who gave his first sermon called “Dharma Chakra Pravartana” or “Setting In Motion the Wheels of Law” as it is known in Buddhism, to his disciples in the deer park nearby.

In the evening go for Ganga Aarti. The Ganga Aarti at Varanasi is an uplifting spiritual ritual. The Aarti ceremony takes place near the Ganges River. While facing the river, the Hindu priests use lamps which are circled around in a clockwise manner, accompanied by chants or songs in praise of Mother Ganga. It is believed that after the ritual is complete, the Goddess showers her blessing onto each individual present there.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Varanasi.

After breakfast, check out from hotel and travel to Kushinagar.

Among the four Buddhist pilgrimages associated with Lord Buddha’s life, Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is the place where Gautam Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. The town is popular for its history, stupas and temples. The town is popular as it is the last resting place of Lord Buddha.

On arrival check-in to Hotel, leisure and overnight at hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Kushinagar.

After breakfast, go for sightseeing tour of Kushinagar; one of the major Buddhist pilgrimage destinations where Lord Buddha attained Parinirvana or final Nirvana. Also, visit ancient stupas and modern temples, commemorating the Buddha's death and cremation. Visit the spectacular reclining Buddha Statue.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Kushinagar.

After breakfast, check out from hotel and travel to Lumbini. (Nepal)

Nestled in the Himalayas in Nepal, the beautiful town of Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. In 1997 Lumbini was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO.

On arrival check in to hotel leisure and overnight at hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Lumbini.

Breakfast at Hotel.

Morning: Visit to Kapilvastu, Tilaurakot. Kapilvastu is an important native place of Buddha where he spent his first 29 years of life.

Afternoon: visit to Lumbini Garden. Mayadevi Temple is one of the important sites in the Lumbini Garden with many historians and archaeologists referring to it as the place of birth of Lord Buddha. The temple was designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange in 1978 and the work is still under process which comprises of landscaped lakes and a number of monasteries being built by various architects from all over the world.

The Bodhi Tree in Lumbini is located in the premises of the Maya Devi Temple complex right next to the shrine on the banks of the serene Maya Devi Pond. Buddhist monks often sit under the tree meditating and chanting spiritual scripts.

Also see the Ashoka Pillar in Lumbini is one of the 3rd Century stone pillars built under the reign of Emperor Ashoka. It was erected as a mark of respect by Ashoka after he visited Lord Buddha's place of birth and decided to accept Buddhism. These facts make the pillar a significantly important attraction in the country.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Lumbini.

Breakfast at hotel, check out and travel to Shravasti.

Founded by the mythological king Sravast, Sravasti was a delighted host to the Buddha and His disciples for 24 years. On arrival check into Hotel Leisure and overnight at hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Shravasti.

After breakfast proceed to visit the Ananda Bodhi tree, under which Lord Buddha meditated for a night. Later continue to visit the sites in Shravasti.

Shobhnath temple: the Jain pilgrims revere this temple, believed to be the birthplace of a Jain saint, Sambhavnath.

Jetavana Monastery:It got its name from prince Prasanjeet, Jetavana Monastery is the place where Lord Buddha spent 19 rainy seasons. The main attractions of this place are Anandabodhi tree, Anandakuti and Gandhakuti which one must explore during their visit at Jetavana Monastery.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Overnight at Shravasti.

After breakfast check out from hotel and get transferred to Lucknow Airport, approx. 3 to 4 hours travel time by car and fly to New Delhi International airport to board flight to your native place.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Tour Ends With Sweet Memories…!!!