Buddhist Vacation Travel Package

 

Buddhist Pilgrimage ( India & Nepal)

Duration: - 14 days
Destination: Delhi - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Pokhara - Kathmandu - Delhi

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Assistance on arrival. Transfer to the hotel. India's capitalanmajorgateway to the country, contemporary Delhi is a bustling metropolis, which successfully combines in its folds both the ancient and the modern. Its strategic location was one of the prime reasons why successive dynasties chose it as their seat of power. New Delhi reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New Delhi and Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British and the Mughals respectively. The throbbing present of the Delhi pulls one out of reflections on a mute past. The divisions in the walled city and New Delhi also mark the varied lifestyle. He walled city is all tradition of culture where one can glimpse past lifestyle in all their facets, colours. Overnight Delhi.

Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast gear up for the morning city tour to include Humayun's Tomb, Bahai Temple, Qutab Minar, India Gate and Mughal gardens at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Post lunch tour of the historic city of Old Delhi to include the magnificent Red Fort, the Jama Masjid , India's largest mosque and Rajghat - memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Overnight Delhi.

Day 03: Delhi / Agra
Early morning depart for Agra. The city of Agra, however, reached it zenith betwen 1556 and 1685, under the successive rules of Akbar, Shahjahan and Jahangir. In term of the ambiance, its still associated with its Mughal period. Evening the majority of the buildings in the more modern areas of the town date back over a 100 years. The Taj Mahal, which is essentially one man's monumental testimony to love, has becomes synonymous not only with teh city but with India as a whole. Agra, with its laid - back lifestyle and its immense wealth of architecture, handicrafts and jewellery is amongst the most remarkable cities in the world. Arrive Agra. Check into your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight Agra.

Day 04: Agra
Morning proceed for sightseeing tour of world famous Taj Mahal - built by emperor Shahjahan for his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Also visit Agra Fort - an impressive cluster of Palaces, Fort and Mosques on te Banks of river Yamuna across the Taj Mahal. Overnight Agra.

Day 05: Agra / Varanasi
Morning at leisure. Later transfer to the airport in time to board flight for Varanasi. Met and assist at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Evening at leisure. Overnight Varanasi.

Day 06: Varanasi
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing of Varanasi. The religious capital of Hinduism since times immemorial, even Skanda Purana and the Mahabharata mention Varanasi's existence as long ago as 3,000 years. It is probably the oldest living city in India, and one of the world's most ancient. It was previously known as Kashi - the city that illuminates. At a distance of 12 kms. from Varanasi lies Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment. Here he revealed the eight-fold path, the Buddhist doctrine. Varanasi is a city that cannot be described, only experienced. Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from a boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight. Overnight Varanasi.

Day 07: Varanasi / Bodhgaya
Train Varanasi to Gaya. Gaya has sacred shrines of the Jains and Hindus scattered around the city. Later after lunch proceed to Bodhgaya. Situated 16 kms. away from Gaya it is here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the saplings of which can still be seen in the temple premises. Overnight Bodhgaya.

Day 08: Bodhgaya / Nalanda / Rajgir / Patna
After breakfast proceed for Patna with packed lunch. Enroute visit Nalanda. The centre of one of the oldest known universities of the world, Nalanda, is situated 90 kms. from Patna. 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 Buddhist studies also functions here. Buddha had visited this place several times and the Chinese scholar, Hieun Tsang's also wrote about the excellence of the education and the purity of monastic life here. And Rajgir-Situated 102 kms. from Patna, Rajgir was the ancient capital of the Magadha Kings. Buddha often came here and one of his followers and the famous surgeon, Jivaka, also lived here. After buddha's 'parinirvana', his followers met here for the first Buddhist Council. It was also here that the teachings of Buddha were penned down for the first time. Rajgir is also an important place of pilgrimage for the Hindus as the temple complex here, devoted to the Sun God, is revered by them and a bath in the hot springs here is believed to wash away all sins. Arrive Patna in the evening. Overnight Patna.

Day 09: Patna / Vaishali / Kushinagar
After breakfast proceed for Kushinagar via Vaishali - Situated 55 kms. away from Patna, Vaishali is a special place for the Buddhists as Buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his impending 'nirvana'. The second Buddhist Council held after 100 years of Buddha's 'Parinirvana', also took place here. Vaishali was also the ancient capital of the Lichchavi dynasty, the first republic of the world, established as early as 6th century B.C. It is also the birth place of Lord Mahavira, the Jain Guru, and is a sacred pilgrimage place for the Jains. Later visit Kushinagar-The place where the Buddha passed into Parnirvana. Visit the Stupas & monasteries. Overnight Kushinagar.

Day 10: Kushinagar / Kapilvastu / Lumbini
After breakfast proceed for Lumbini - The birth place of Buddha. Stop at Kapilavastu en route. Overnight Lumbini.

Day 11: Lumbini / Pokhara
After breakfast proceed for Pokhara. A visit to Pokhara is a complete experience in itself. Lying 200 kms. west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is easily accessible by road and daily flight. The valley is wide and flat - an enormous sunlit play ground covered by hills, lakes, forests, rivers, waterfalls, farms and fields. Friendly people inhabit the valley reveling in nature's lap. In Pokhara, nature and culture blend beautifully to present a panorama unparalleled anywhere else. Pokhara is interspersed with numerous lakes known as 'tal'. The largest among them, the Phewa Lake reflects the glorious peaks of majestic western himalayas - the Annapurna Range. On a clear day, you will be captivated by the dancing shadows of Fish Tail Peak (Machhapuchhare) in the Phewa Lake. Overnight Pokhara.

Day 12: Pokhara / Kathmandu
After leisurely breakfast drive to the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu. Evening at leisure. Overnight Kathmandu.

Day 13: Kathmandu
Morning proceed for sightseeing of Patan City. The ancient name of Patan isLalitpur (the city of beauty and fine arts). It is a city full of Buddhist and Hindu shrines and monuments. Visit Durbar Square (ancient royal residential quarter), Karishna temple, Golden Temple. Afternoon sightseeing of the Kathmandu city visiting Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka (ancient royal residential quarter), Temple House of Kumari (the visiting goddess) and walk around the local bazaar. Also visit Swayambhunath, the old Buddhist Stupa. This is one of the best of places to view Kathmandu city as it is situated on a small hillock. Overnight Kathmandu.

Day 14: Kathmandu / Delhi
Transfer to airport in time to board flight for Delhi. Later transfer to Waterbanks Island resort near Delhi (only 25 kms from International Airport) can be reached only by boats & the place abounds with a variety of birds, deer & lots of flora & fauna. Evening farewell lakeside cocktails & bar-be-cue dinner. Late night or early morning transfer to International airport to board your flight.

Buddhist Pilgrimage ( India & Nepal), Reservation Form

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