DURATION
12 DAYSTYPE OF TRIP
ROAD TRIPSTART CITY
DELHIEND CITY
DELHIEver since Prince Siddhartha left his royal abode and set off on his quest for truth, he never stopped travelling. This Buddha Purnima, we take a look at some of the places he travelled to in his lifetime. Born in Lumbini in Nepal, as Prince Siddhartha, son of King Suddhodana of the Sakya clan and his wife Queen Maya Devi, he finally got the answer to his quest – why did people face sorrow and death – and became ‘Buddha’ or one who knows. He then travelled across the northern part of India to spread his learning among the common people. This Buddha Purnima, we take a tour of the places he visited before breathing his last in Kushinagar, near India’s border with Nepal. According to the UNESCO World Heritage Site citation for Lumbini, Buddha was born in 623 BC.Embark on a transformative journey, known as the Footsteps of the Buddha Tour, where you will retrace the sacred path of Lord Buddha. This extraordinary pilgrimage invites you to meditate while traversing through four significant sites that mark pivotal moments in the Buddha's life: Lumbini (his birthplace), Kushinagar (the site of his passing), Bodhgaya (where he attained enlightenment), and Sarnath (where he delivered his first sermon). As you travel through Southern Nepal and the Gangetic plains of Northern India, you will not only pay homage to these revered Buddhist destinations but also discover profound universal truths and attain the divine wisdom of Buddhism. If you seek a soul-cleansing experience and a closer connection to the spiritual realm in your quest for Nirvana, our Buddha Sites Pilgrimage Tour is the perfect opportunity for you.
DAYS SECTOR
01 Arrive Delhi
02 In Delhi
03 Delhi - Lukhnow (By Flight) Lucknow -Sarvasti ,
04 Sravasti - Lumbini
05 Lumbini Kushinagar
06 Kushinagar - Patna
07 Patna - Rajgir
08 Rajgir - Bodhgaya
09 In Bodhgaya
10 Bodhgaya - Varanasi
11 Varanasi - Sarnath - Varanasi
12 Varanasi - Delhi
Arriva Delhi
Upon arrival at Delhi Airport, you will be met by a representative and transferred to the hotel where you will be assisted for check in at the hotel.
In Delhi
Breakfast at hotel
Delhi is the capital of the biggest democracy in the world. Where you really need several days to see everything. We will make an orientation trip with some stops so we can show you the contrasts of the big city. Among others we will visit the old town with the big mosque "Jama Masjid" and Raj Ghat (memorial Mahatma Gandhis). The highlight of today would be the metro ride into the old town and later a bicycle rickshaw ride in the old town.
In New Delhi we continue to the 73 m high victory column "QutabMinar" in the south of Delhi. Also we drive past the Indian government district with the parliament buildings and the India gate.
Visit the modern Buddhist Temple "Mahabodhi Society Temple".
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Delhi - Lukhnow (By Flight) Lucknow -Sarvasti
After breakfast transfer to the airport to board your flight for Lucknow. Upon arrival at lucknow you will be met by driver and transfer to Sravasti (about 04 hours’ drive). One of the 6 largest Indian cities at the time of Buddha. Here Buddha gave many sermons and it is said that many miracles happened here. During the monsoon period Buddha lived in Jetavana Monastery, which was given to him by Sudatta, the richest merchant. Ashoka visited the site in the 3rd century and left an inscription. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Sarvasti - Lumbini
Breakfast at the hotel.
Then drive to Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha. Lumbini is the Mecca of a every Buddhist and one of the four holy sites.
Overnight at the hotel.
Lumbini - Kushinagar
Breakfast at the hotel. We cross the border back to India, to Kushinagar. Kushinagar or Kushinara of Yore is the place where Buddha died at the age of 80. The main attraction is the Mahaparinirwana Temple, with the statue of the leinging Buddha. Overnight at the hotel.
Kushinagar -Patna
Breakfast at the hotel.
On the way to Patna you will visit Vaishali. Buddha is said to have delivered his last sermon here. In memory of this, King Ashoka had a column erected.
Overnight at the hotel.
Patna - Rajgir
After breakfast you drive on to Rajgir. Rajgir, "House of the King", is an important city for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, already mentioned in Mahabharata, Buddhist and Jain texts. Buddha lived here for 14 years and also proclaimed many of his famous sermons here. Overnight at the hotel.
Rajgir -Bodhgaya
Breakfast at the hotel.
From Rajgir you drive to Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is the most important pilgrimage place of the Buddhists in the world.
Here, sitting under a Bodhi tree and meditating, Buddha attained his enlightenment. The town is very small, quiet and dotted with monasteries from almost every country where Buddhism plays a role.
Overnight at the hotel.
In Bodhgaya
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today you continue to explore the sights of Bodhgaya. Vietnamese, Thailand and Japan and its architecture
Overnight at the hotel.
Bodhgaya - Varanasi
Breakfast at the hotel.
Today is filled with the trip to Varanasi, the holy city of the Hindus at the Ganges.
In the evening there will be an entertaining rickshaw ride through the lively streets of Varanasi - undoubtedly the best way to experience the hustle and bustle in the narrow streets of the old town. The most impressive stop is certainly in one of the Ghats, where you can listen to a community prayer and see a variety of lamps floating along the Ganges. Overnight at the hotel.
Varanasi - Sarnath - Varanasi
In the early morning we drive to the holy river Ganges and experience the sunrise on the boat. Along the Ghats (steps leading down from the banks of the river to the Ganges) we see devout Hindus flocking from all parts of the country to pray, meditate and take a ritual bath. Afterwards you will visit the Vishwanath Temple, also called golden temple, as the roof of the temple is decorated with gold leaf.
Return hotel for the breakfast.
Later this morning, drive to Sarnath. After Buddha attained his enlightenment in Bodhgaya in 560 B.C., he preached the so-called Four Noble Truths for the first time in Sarnath. In the afternoon return to Varanasi.
In the evening we will visit to Indian family to follow their daily lifestyle, followed by dinner with the Family.
Overnight at the hotel.
Varanasi - Delhi (by Flight)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Later this afternoon transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. Upon arrival in Delhi shall transfer to Delhi international airport to board your flight for your onward journey.