In The Footsteps of Buddha
Duration of Buddha Tour Package – 11 Days
Destinations of Buddha Tour Package - Delhi, Sravasti,
Lumbini, Kushinagar, Patna, Bodhgaya, Varanasi
Day 01: - Arrive Delhi, India
Arrive at Delhi International Airport.
Delhi - A bustling
metropolis and a city of 14 million inhabitants, is also
India’s capital. A near perfect blend of the ancient and the
modern, Delhi, consisting two parts Old & New Delhi, is a
city with something for everyone. From Forts and monuments
that are almost 500 years old, to modern shopping malls,
nightclubs and golf courses, Delhi truly is India’s crown
jewel.
Upon
clearing Customs and Immigration, you are met by our representative
who will present you with a welcome pack including all
necessary documentation and arrange for your transfer to your hotel for
check-in. No activity is scheduled today, since most of the International
flights arrive into India close to midnight only. Overnight
in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi – Lucknow -
Sravasti
This morning you will be met by our
representative and escorted from your Hotel
to the New Delhi railway station in time to aboard the
Shatabdi Express (0615 / 1230 hrs.).
Upon arrival in Lucknow you will be met and drive to
Sravasti (170 kms/4 hour).
Sravasti -
The capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour
of sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the
Jetvana Gardens. This city has age old
Stupas, Majestic, Monasteries and several temples. Buddha is
said to have performed some miracles here. This holy place
also has the famous Anand Bodhi Tree, an offspring of the one,
said to have been planted by Buddha’s main disciple Anand.
Upon arrival check-in to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Sravasti –
Lumbini
This morning you are collected from your hotel for a half
day tour of Sravasti.
This tour includes a visit to Maheth - Identified with the
remains of the city; Maheth covers an area of about 400 acres.
Excavations have exposed the massive gates of the city,
ramparts and also the ruins of other structures, which stand
testimony to the prosperity of ancient Sravasti. The Sobhanath
Temple is located here. Pakki Kuti and Kacchi Kuti were
probably Buddhist shrines, before they were converted into
Brahmanical temples.
Shobhanath Temple - The `Shobhanath'
temple is believed to be the birth place of Jain tirthankar
'Sambhavanath', making Shravasti an important centre for the
Jains. Saheth - known primarily as the site of the Jetavana
monastery, Saheth covers an area of 32 acres. Lying about a
quarter of a mile to the south - west of Maheth, it became an
important place of pilgrimage, adorned with numerous shrines,
stupas and monasteries. The stupas belong mostly to the
Kushana period, while the temples are in the Gupta style. The
sightseeing tour is followed by a drive to Lumbini (260 kms/06
hrs.)
Lumbini - 27kms from Sonauli on
the Indo-Nepal border, situated in southern Nepal, Lumbini is
the place where Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya Prince and the
ultimate Buddha was born in 623 BC. The sacred place, marked
by a stone pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka of India in 249
BC, is listed as one of the World Heritage Sites. Lumbini is
the Mecca of every Buddhist, being one of the four holy places
of Buddhism. It is said in the Parinibbana Sutta that Buddha
himself identified four places of future pilgrimage: the sites
of his birth, enlightenment, first discourse, and death.
Upon arrival check-in to the hotel. Rest of the day at
leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 04:
Lumbini - Kushinagar
Early morning enjoy a boat
ride on the holy river The Ganges.
This morning you are collected from
your hotel for a half day tour of Lumbini. This tour includes
a visit to The Sacred Garden - it is spread over 8 sq.km and
possesses all the treasures of the historic area. Many
countries have built temples, monastries or stupas near the Sacred Garden in
the International Monastery Zone. Ashoka pillar carrying an inscription identifying the
holy site as the birthplace is situated nearby the Sacred Garden. Mayadevi Temple
which houses a bas relief depicting the nativity. Recent
excavations have turned up a stone bearing a "foot imprint", indicating the
exact place of birth. Puskarni pond where Queen Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, had
taken a bath before giving birth to Buddha.
The sightseeing tour is followed by a drive to Kushinagar
(170 kms/04 hrs.)
Kushinagar – Another of the four holy
sites for Buddhists. This is the place that the Buddha chosed
for his Mahaparinirvana, or final exit from this earth. Many
of the stupas and viharas in ruins here date back to 3rd - 5th
Century, when prosperity was at its peak. The Mauryan emperor
Ashoka is known for contributing to significant construction
at this site. Also, many new temples have been constructed by
Chinese, Sri Lankan, Thai, and Japanese Buddhists along the
ruins of monasteries and stupas.
Upon arrival check-in
to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 05: Kushinagar –
Patna
This morning you are collected from your hotel for half day
tour of Kushinagar.
This tour includes a visit to Mahaparinirvana Temple - This
houses the over 6 mtrs long statue of reclining Buddha. The
image was unearthed during the excavations of 1876. The statue
represents the dying Buddha reclining on his right side.
Ramabhar - This large stupa rises to a height of 49 ft. It
marks the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. In ancient
Buddhist texts this stupa has been referred to as
Mukut-Bandhan Vihar
Mathakuar Temple - this shrine lies about 400 yards from
the Parinirvana stupa. A black stone image of the Buddha in
the bhumi sparsha mudra was recovered here. The last sermon by
Lord Buddha was given here.
The sightseeing tour is followed by a drive to Patna (250
kms/ 07 hrs.) enroute visit Vaishali – Buddha delivered his
last sermon here, and announced his impending ‘nirvana’. The
second Buddhists council, held 100 years after Buddha’s
Parinirvana also took place here. This place is also
birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the Jain Guru, and is a sacred
place for the Jain’s as well. Abhishek Pushkarni, Ashoka
Pillar, Lotus Tank, Chau-Mukhi Mahadeo are the important
places to visit.
Later continue your drive to Patna. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 06: Patna - Bodhgaya
This morning
you will drive to Bodhgaya (200 kms/07 hrs.) enroute visiting
Nalanda and Rajgir.
Nalanda – Known
as the ancient seat of learning, the ruins of the University
reveal that it was the first International University of the
world, where over 2,000 teachers and 1,000 students from all
over the Buddhist world lived and studied. An international
centre for the Buddhist studies also functions here. Buddha
had visited this place several times and preached here.
Mauryan emperor Ashoka built many famous monasteries, temples
here. The excavated ruins are spectacular, with chapels,
monasteries and lecture halls symmetrically spread over a
large area. The antiquities on view portray the spiritual and
meditative principles of Buddhism, especially as it must have
existed at Nalanda.
Rajgir - Another important place of
pilgrimage for Buddhists and as well as Jains. Ancient
Rajgriha, literally the abode of Kings, was the first capital
of Magadha. It was here that the Buddha first studied under
Alara and Uddaka and spent his time in retreat after the
attainment of Nirvana. Naturally, when the Buddha died, his
disciples chose to hold the first great Buddhist Council at
Rajgir. It was in the Sattparini cave that the Council was
held and the tenets of the Buddhist faith were drawn up and
finalised. Vulture Peak, Griddhakuta, Ajatsatru Fort are the
important places to visit in Rajgir.
Later continue your drive to Bodhgaya.
Bodhgaya - Bodhgaya, is the place, where
in the 6th century BC, a young ascetic, Siddhartha, attained
enlightenment to become the Buddha, and founded Buddhism, one
of the world's oldest religions. He came to Bodhgaya looking
for a quiet retreat, where he could meditate upon the causes
for human suffering. As the place of the Buddha's
Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buddhists.
Upon arrival check-in to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Bodhgaya
This morning you
are collected from your hotel for half day tour of
Bodhgaya.
This tour includes a visit to The Mahabodhi Temple Complex
that houses all the major pilgrimage spots. A large circular
stone with the Buddha's footprints is kept in a small shrine
on the left. Seven spots within the complex precincts are
especially sacred because it was at these spots that the
Buddha spent a week each, meditating, after his Enlightenment.
Mahabodhi temple which stands in the centre of the Mahabodhi
Temple Complex has been restored and rebuilt over the
centuries. Set among verdant lawns, this giant pyramidal
sandstone structure soars to a height of 54 meters and is
visible for miles around. The Bodhi tree - Buddha attained
enlightenment under this tree and spent the first week after
his enlightenment under this tree.
Overnight
at hotel.
Day 08:
Bodhgaya-Varanasi
This morning drive to Varanasi (242
kms/07 hrs.) enroute visiting Sarnath - After attaining
enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Buddha he came to Sarnath and
delivered his first sermon. The Emperor Ashoka (c 304 - 232
BC), who spread the Buddha's
message of love and compassion throughout his vast empire,
visited Sarnath around 234 BC, and erected a stupa
here. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC
and the 11th century AD, and today it presents
the most expansive ruins amongst places on the Buddhist trail.
Visit Dhamek Stupa -
the imposing stupa 39m high was probably erected in 200 B.C in
the Mauryan era. Ashoka Pillar - erected by the Emperor
Ashoka, the pillar had his edict engraved on it. At one time
it stood over 17m high. Its citadel with the four lions back
to back, is also the official symbol of modern India.
Chaukandi Stupa - this stupa
was rebuilt by Mughal Emperor Akbar. Dhamarajika Stupa -
only the ruins of this stupa built by Emperor
Ashoka can be seen today. Moolgandha Kuti Vihara - built in more recent
times by the Mahabodhi Society, it has a life-size
statue of the lord Buddha in the Dharmachakra Pravartan form.
Later continue your drive to Varanasi.
Upon arrival in Ranthambore, check in to your hotel and rest
of the day at leisure. Overnight in
Ranthambore.
Varanasi - One of the
holiest cities in India, Varanasi is one of the most important
pilgrimage sites and also a major tourist attraction. It has
been the religious capital of Hinduism since time immemorial.
Situated on the banks of the sacred Ganges, Varanasi has been
a center of learning and civilization for more than 2,000
years. Written records of the Skanda Purana and the
Mahabharata mention its existence as
long as 3,000 years ago. It is probably the
oldest living city in India, and one of the
world's most ancient. Varanasi has been a great cultural centre, especially in the
fields of music, learning and the craft of silk
weaving. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 09: - Varanasi - Delhi
Early morning enjoy a boat ride on the
holy river The Ganges followed by the tour of Varanasi.
A highlight of any trip to Varanasi -
this incredible scene as multitudes of devotees comes to the
river to pay homage to the Sun God. The riverfront, as seen
from a boat at sunrise, is a spiritually uplifting
sight. Hinduism, deep and mystical, is everywhere: in a
decorated doorway; in a glimpse of a glittering temple;
in the sound of a sacred bell; in the chant
of the priests; and in the fragrance of flower oblations.
The tour of this ancient city includes
The Bharat Mata Temple, which has a
big relief map of India in marble, the Benares
Hindu University with its art gallery, and the Mosque
of Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb built on the side of an
ancient Hindu temple, bathing ghats, The Kashivishwanath temple, The Durgakund.
Return to the hotel for
a leisurely breakfast, and early afternoon, you will be
met by our representative and escorted from your Hotel to
the Varanasi airport in time for your flight to Delhi.
Upon arrival
you will be met and escorted to your hotel for
check-in etc. The evening is at leisure. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: - Delhi
This morning you are collected from your
hotel for full day tour of Old and New Delhi.
The tour of the 17th-century old city
includes the great mosque of Jama Masjid, The main street of
Old Delhi is the colorful shopping bazaar known as Chandni
Chowk (“Moonlit Street”). Drive past Raj Ghat, the cremation
site of Mahatma Gandhi. The tour of New Delhi includes the
Humayun's Tomb, the precursor of the Taj Mahal. Drive down the
spectacular Rajpath (“the Kingsway,”) passing the India Gate
(the memorial built to
commemorate the unknown soldiers,) the President’s House, and the
House of Parliament. Enjoy a brief respite from the otherwise bustling
city at Birla Mandir, a modern and colourful Hindu temple.
Evening at leisure to perhaps venture out and discover the city
or its many restaurants on your own. Overnight at hotel.
Day 11: Depart Delhi
Met by our representative and
escorted from your hotel to the Delhi airport in time for
your flight home.
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