The Buddha's Trail

Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Meet on arrival at Airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Working day 02 : Delhi
Following breakfast sightseeing tour of Delhi. Early morning pay a visit to Previous Delhi. It's a 17th century walled city with its splendid gates, narrow alleys, the huge Bazaar. Pay a visit to Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Raj Ghat. Afternoon tour of New Delhi with extensive tree lined avenues, parks and fountains environment the imposing federal government and state Buildings. Visit Humayun's Tomb, an observatory referred to as Jantar Mantar, Qutab Minar, India Gate and President House. Evening transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 : Delhi - Agra - Varanasi
Depart Delhi for Agra by street (203 kms / 4 Hrs). Afternoon sightseeing tour of Agra, the town from the Taj Mahal. (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays). Evening transfer to Railway station for Varanasi. Overnight at board.

Working day 04 : Arrive Varanasi - Sarnath - Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi early inside the early morning. On arrival check-in at hotel and refresh for any visit to Sarnath -the place exactly where Lord Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Varanasi, visiting Ghats, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Gyanvyapi Mosque, Durga Temple, Banaras Hindu University, Ram Nagar, Fort and Museum. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Early early morning boat-ride to the River Ganges. Thereafter, leave Varanasi by road for Bodhgaya (242 kms / 6-7 Hrs) among the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centers within the state of Bihar. It had been here that Gautama attained enlightenment and became Buddha below the "Bodhi" tree Satabodhi Temple. Overnight remain at hotel.

Day 06 : Bodhgaya
Morning pay a visit to temples in Bodhgaya - Mahabodhi Temple, Animesh Locan Chaiyata, Mohanta's Monastery, Thai Temple along with the Burmese Temple. Later on pay a visit to Monuments such as - Tibetan Monastery, Worldwide Buddhist House, Buddhist Monastery of Bhutan, The Chinese Temple & Monastery and Bodhi Tree. Also go to Archaeological Museum. Night transfer to hotel. Overnight remain at hotel.

Day 07 : Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Depart Bodhgaya for Patna (157 kms / 4-5 Hrs) en-route going to Rajgir & Nalanda. Patna is 2500 year outdated capital town of Bihar. Rajgir was capital of 6th century Magadha Empire and was revered site of Buddha's discourses. Buddha spent many years here. Nalanda is world's oldest university founded inside the 5th century. Overnight remain at hotel.

Working day 08 : Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
Soon after breakfast drive to Kushinagar (253 kms / 8 hrs) en-route visiting Vaishali -located 55 kms from Patna and holds special significance for Buddhist devotees. It had been here that the Buddha announced the approaching of his Mahaparinirvana. Go to Ashokan Pillar - the magnificent Ashokan pillar with a lion adorning its top is a definite crowd-puller. This 18.3 m high pillar is made of a single piece of red sandstone and is really a major attraction to the tourists. Arrive Kushinagar. It's the location where Buddha passed into Maha-Parinirvana. Afternoon pay a visit to the various stupas and temples. Overnight stay at hotel.

Working day 09 : Kushinagar - Lumbini - Sravasti
Leave Kushinagar by road for Lumbini (170 kms / 4-5 Hrs) - the birthplace of Buddha and is located just a few kilometres within Nepal. Sightseeing tour of Lumbini and thereafter leave for Sravasti by street (225 kms / six hrs). On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight remain at hotel.
Sravasti situated 134 km from Lucknow and 29 km from Balrampur, Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. It is sacred to Buddhists because it can be right here that Lord Buddha performed the Tirthika heretics.