Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour (10 Days)
Delhi | Varanasi | Bodhgaya | Vaishali | Kushinagar |
Lumbini | Kapilvastu | Sravasti | Lucknow
Day 01 : Arrive Delhi
Arrive
New Delhi airport & transfer to hotel. Delhi - An international
metropolis with excellent tourist spots, recreational facilities, and a
history that goes back to antiquity. It offers a multitude of interesting
places and attractions to the visitor.Evening is free to relax. Overnight
stay in Delhi.
Day 02 : City Tour
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Delhi Visit Red Fort - The
Red Fort with red sandstone walls, popularly known as the Lal Qila extends
for two kms and varies in height from 18 metres on the river side to 33
metres on the city side. India Gate - At the center of New Delhi stands the
42m high India Gate, an "Arc-de-Triomphe" like Archway in the
middle of a crossroad. Almost similar to its French counterpart war
memorial. Qutab Minar - Among all the monuments in Delhi, perhaps this is
the most famous. 15 kms south of Delhi, stands the soaring tower of victory,
the Qutab Minar. The buildings in this complex, date from the onset of
Muslim rule in India. Jama Masjid - Jama Masjid or the Jami Masjid was built
by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, between 1644 and 1658 and is the final
architectural piece built by him. Situated in the ancient town of Old Delhi,
this pride of the Mughals was built by five thousand artisans & Chandi
Chowk. Overnight stay in Delhi.
Day 03 : Drive Delhi - Varanasi
Today transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi - The land of Varanasi
(Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus for ages. Often
referred to as Benares, Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world.
Hindus believe that one who is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would
attain salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and re-birth. Ganges is
said to have its origins in the tresses of Lord Shiva and in Varanasi, it
expands to the mighty river that we know of. Ganges in Varanasi is believed
to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals. Varanasi has provided
the right platform for all cultural activities to flourish. Many exponents
of dance and music have come from Varanasi. Ravi Shankar, the
internationally renowned Sitar maestro and Late Ustad Bismillah Khan (the
famous Shehnai player) are all sons of the blessed city or have lived here
for major part of their lives. Afternoon city tour of Sarnath : famous for
its Dhamekh Stupa and for it being the place where Buddha preached his first
sermon enshrining the principle of his teachings into laws. Overnight stay
in Varanasi.
Day 04 : In Varanasi
At dawn enjoy boat ride at River Ganges, followed by a city tour covering -
It is a mystical and spiritual experience as you watch people offering water
to the Sun God and devotees taking holy dip in the Ganges followed by city
tour is arranged covering the Vishwanath temple, the Bharat Mata temple &
Banaras Hindu University. Evening is free for leisure. Overnight stay in
Varanasi.
Day 05 & 06 : Drive Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Today
drive to Bodhgaya - This is where Prince Gautama attained enlightenment
under the sacred Asvatta tree (Bodhi tree) and became known as Lord Budha.
This is one of the four most sacred pilgrimage places for the Buddhists. The
other three important places are his place of birth at Lumbini, Nepal; the
site of his first lecture at Sarnath, near Varanasi; and the place where he
left his body at Kushinagar, near Gorakhpur. Buddhists from all over the
world have built temples here in Bodh Gaya. The Dalai Lama often spends time
here. Tibetan pilgrims come here for the winter from Dharamshala. Arrive &
check in. Later proceed on excursions to Rajgir / Nalanda / Sapta pari cave
and Venevamas. You will come across with many locales of Buddhist
significance, i.e., Rajgir : an important Buddhist pilgrimage since the
Buddha spent 12 years here , and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha
attained Nirvana was held here, Nalanda : founded in the 5th century known
as center of intellectualism. Overnight stay in Bodhgaya.
Day 07 : Drive Bodhgaya - Vaishali - Kushinagar
Today proceed to Vaishali, a very special place to Buddhists as The Lord
delivered his last sermon & announced his impending " Nirwana".
See the majesty of Ashok Pillar - Lotus tank, Chaumukhi & proceed to
Kushinagar - Situated in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, 51 km off
Gorakhpur. Is one of the principal centers of Buddhist pilgrimage is the
place of Mahaparinrvana. The monument of Kushinagar are situated in three
distinct comprising in the main site of the Nirvana Temple houses over
6meter long statue of the reclining Buddha The image was unearthed during
the excavations in 1876. Arrive & check in. Overnight stay in
Kushinagar.
Day 08 : Drive Kushinagar - Lumbini
After
breakfast visit Mahanirvana Temple, the modern Japan / Srilanka Buddhist
center & monasteries , then proceed to Lumbini - Located in the flat
plains of South-Western Nepal and the foothills of Churia range is kind of
holy sentiment to the millions of Buddhists all over the world-as do the
Jerusalem to Christians and Mecca to Muslims. Lumbini is the place Lord
Buddha -the apostle of peace and the light of Asia was born in 623 B. C.
Overnight stay in Lumbini.
Day 09 : Drive Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Shravasti
Today visit to Ashoka's pillar (249 BC) rediscovered in 1890's inside thick
sal forest, a temple of Mayadevi, the ruins of an old monastery and some new
stupas, then in the afternoon proceed to Shravasti - where you will see the
extensive ruins of this ancient city & Jetavana Monastery. It is here
that the Buddha is said to have performed great miracles. One story tells of
how on throwing down the seed of a mango, a great mango tree instantly
arose. Another story tells of how the Buddha stood in the air, the lower
part of his body engulfed in flames, with five hundred jets of water
streaming from the top of his body. Arrive & check in. Overnight in
Stavasti.
Day 10 : Fly Lucknow - Delhi
After breakfast transfer to Lucknow airport for onward flight to Delhi.
End of a memorable tour !!!