Buddha Pilgrimage Tour

Arrival at Varanasi, India…you will be met by our airport facilitation staff carrying placard of your name in visitor’s arrival hall. You will be greeted and transferred to your hotel with necessary assistance…After lunch visit Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometers north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.

Ganga Aarti in the evening – Dashashwamedh Ghat is the main ghat in Varanasi on the Ganga River. It is located close to … Idol of “Ganga Maata” (Goddess Ganges) at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Ganga Aarti (ritual of offering prayer to the Ganges river) is held daily at dusk. After sightseeing back to hotel.

(Check in time 1400hrs)

Meals: – Lunch & Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Early breakfast drive to Gaya, Arrive Gaya…upon arrival check in Hotel. After lunch visit Bodh Gaya is a village in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. 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.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast, visit Great Buddha Statue, 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….including visit of Mahabodhi Temple and Niranjana River.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast driven to Patna enroute visit Rajgir has got the name from Raj Griha meaning the abode of the king. The city was the capital of the mighty Magadha Empire during the period of Lord Buddha’s lifetime when Patliputra was not formed. Rajgir is one of the most important tourist places in India. Rajgir has its own very scenic beauty surrounded by five holy hills, the picturesque little town of Rajgir is important for Buddhists as well as Jains. Here the two rock-cut caves were the favourite retreats of the Buddha and it was on this hill that he preached two of his most famous sermons.

Nalanda is located in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. It is well known as the ancient centre of learning which has the remains of the great Nalanda University and several monasteries and temples. Both Lord Buddha and Mahavira visited this place and it remained a renowned learning centre till 12th century. Kings of Gupta, Kushan and Palva dynasties were the chief patrons of the centre, who built several monasteries and temples. The famous Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang studied here and his documents provide details about the university.

After visit continue your drive to Patna….on arrival check in to your hotel.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast driven to Kushinagar…enroute visit Vaishali Ashoka Pillar and Buddha Stupa.   

After visit you will be driven to Kushinagar….on arrival check in to your hotel.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast visit Kushinagar is another principal centre of Buddhism, worth a sincere admiration, is the place where Lord Buddha passed away at this place near the Hiranyavati River and was cremated at the Ramabhar stupa. It was once a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom. Many of its stupas and viharas date back to 230 BC-AD 413. When its prosperity was at the peak. In 543 BC, on a full moon night of Magh the legend delivered lecture to his

Sangha and declared that he is going to leave the mortal world soon enough.

The excavations led by General Cunningham has revealed some antique artifacts and structures related to all sects of Buddhism. Kushinagar also expresses the common thread of all sects of Buddhism through its magnificent Viharas, Chaityas, temples and Tibetan monasteries. In ancient times, the town was also known as Kushinagar and Kasia.

After visit you will be driven to Lumbini….on arrival check in to your hotel.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast visit Lumbini the birthplace of Lord Buddha, in the Terai plains of Nepal is one of the greatest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. More than 400,000 Buddhists and non Buddhists visit Lumbini every year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture) and holds immense archeological and religious importance. Also visit Sacred Garden – spread over 9 sq. km – as the spot where the Enlightened One was born. A large number of Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world visit Lumbini to pray at the Mayadevi Temple where excavations have revealed the “marker stone” showing the exact spot where Siddhartha Gautam Buddha was born. The sacred Puskarni Pond where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath before the birth of Buddha lies to the south of the pillar. It was also in this pond that the infant Buddha was given his first bath.

After visit you will be driven to Shravasti. Upon arrival check in to your hotel.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Following breakfast visit, Shravasti capital of an ancient kingdom by the same name, is sacred to the Buddhists because it was here that Lord Buddha confounded his critics with a million fold manifestation of himself, seated on a thousand-petalled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body.

he capital of Kosala Mahajanapada in the ancient times, Sravasti is also known as Sahet-Mahet. During the annual vassavasa, the city hosted the Lord for 25 years (during the rainy seasons). The presence of Lord Buddha in Sravasti led his Sangha advance to congregate into one place. Sravasti is also renowned for the magical feats showed by Lord Buddha, sitting on a lotus, and for the other many stories that are linked with Buddha. The most popular is the story of the woman who came to resurrect her dead son. There are many other stories, related to Sravasti, basically confirming the supremacy of Lord Buddha and proving him as a legend. It is not known whether these really happened or not but looking at the faith of the local people its hard to believe that these are mere stories and not the truth that happened here. The place also has a magical charm that enlivens tired tourists.

After visit you will be driven to Varanasi. Upon arrival check in to your hotel.

Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight at hotel

Early morning take a short trip by country boat on the sacred river Ganges to see the Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world’s oldest and most important religions. Pilgrims flock the Ghats to have a ritual bath and perform puja to the rising sun, following centuries old tradition. Also visit some of the many Hindu temples that line the river Ganges and stroll along the narrow lanes and bazaars full of shops selling, among other things, the world famous Benaras Silks.

After sightseeing back to Hotel for lunch after lunch you will be transferred to International airport in time to connect your flight to back home.

 Meals: – Breakfast, Lunch

Tour ends….