15-Day Buddhist Trail Tour in India and Nepal with the Taj Mahal

• Receive a warm welcome on arrival from our representatives and transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.
• The rest of the time is free for leisure, or you may visit the market on your own.

• After breakfast, head to the Taj Mahal and visit this magnificent monument, an incredible legacy of Mughal architecture in India.
• Then proceed to Agra Fort, 1 kilometre away from the Taj Mahal. It was the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638, when the capital was shifted from Agra to Delhi. Before being captured by the British, the last Indian rulers to occupy it were the Marathas.
• Complete your visit and return to Delhi.

Overnight stay at the Delhi hotel.

• Transfer to the airport after breakfast to board your flight to Patna. Receive assistance on arrival and check in at the hotel.
• Visit some of the major attractions around Vaishali, such as the Ashoka Pillar, Bawan Pokhar Temple, and the three Buddha Stupas. It is said that Buddha visited this place three times and spent quite a long time here.

Overnight stay at the Patna hotel.

• Leave Patna after breakfast and head to Rajgir.
• See Nalanda on the way. Nalanda was an acclaimed Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha, in present-day Bihar, India.
• Arrive in Rajgir, just 15 km from Nalanda, and explore the complex of temples and monasteries.

Overnight stay at the Rajgir hotel.

Patna to Rajgir: 95 KM / 2 Hrs

• Proceed to Bodhgaya after breakfast via Mahakala Caves.
• Drive about 12 km northeast of Bodh Gaya to reach the ancient Dungeshwari Cave Temples, also known as Mahakala Caves. It is believed that Lord Buddha meditated in the three caves here before continuing his journey to Bodhgaya. The caves also feature Buddhist shrines, which are called Sujata Sthan by the locals.
• Arrive in Bodhgaya and check in at the hotel. Enjoy free time for leisure or shopping.

• Visit the place where Prince Siddhartha attained the Buddha state. Here stands the magnificent Mahabodhi Temple, and the tree from the original sapling still stands within the temple premises. The temple is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries, cultures, and heritages.

Overnight stay at the Bodhgaya hotel.

• Leave Bodhgaya for Varanasi after breakfast.
• Visit Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This impressive structure, dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva, has earned the nickname "The Golden Temple" for its striking spire - plated in some 800 kilograms of pure gold. The distinctive design of this temple has gone on to inspire the architecture of hundreds of other temples across India.
• Then head to Manikarnika Ghat and see the perpetual cremations that take place here. Hindus believe that Manikarnika Ghat is one of the most auspicious places for the departed to attain moksha, or emancipation from the cycle of spiritual rebirth. The funeral pyre at this ghat burns 24 hours a day, and around 100 cremations take place every day.

Overnight stay at the Varanasi hotel.

• Visit Sarnath, a place located 10 kilometres northeast of Varanasi near the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dhamma and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.
• Then see the Dhamek Stupa. It is situated in the village of Sarnath and is a massive stone and brick structure that stands 43.6 meters tall and 28 meters in diameter. The stupa was built more than 1,500 years ago to replace an earlier structure that dated back to 249 BCE.
• Return to Varanasi in the evening. Free time for leisure.

• Leave Varanasi for Kushinagar after breakfast. It is one of the four sacred places related to Lord Buddha. Buddha delivered his last sermon here, attained Mahaparinirvana in 483 BC, and was cremated at Rambhar Stupa. The reclining Nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 mt. long and is made of 5th-century red sandstone.
• See other popular attractions such as the Indo-Japanese Temple, Burmese Temple, Chinese Temple, Thai Temple, Korean Temple, Sri Lankan Temple, Tibetan temples, the 15 Acres Meditation Park, and the museum.

Overnight stay at the Kushinagar hotel.

• Leave Kushinagar after breakfast for Shravasti. Its most important religious site was the Jetavana Monastery, which was erected in a garden outside the city's walls and presented to Buddha by a wealthy banker, Anathapindaka. Other important Buddhist monasteries here were the Rajakarama and the Purvarama.

Overnight stay at the Shravasti hotel.

• Cross the border into Nepal for Lumbini. Lumbini is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama at around 563 BCE. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of Lord Buddha form a central feature.

Overnight stay at the Lumbini hotel.

• Visit Kapilavastu in Nepal. Kapilavastu ("Place of Kapila") is the name of the city where Siddhartha Gautama grew up and lived for the first 29 years of his life before leaving to pursue the spiritual path that led to his enlightenment. The Ashoka Pillar situated at Kapilavastu marks later references to the place.
• Return to Lumbini. The evening is free for leisure or shopping on your own.

• Transfer to Gorakhpur Airport to board your flight to Delhi.
• Later in the evening, transfer to a Delhi hotel. The rest of the time is free for leisure or shopping in Delhi markets on your own.

Overnight stay in the Delhi hotel.

Lumbini to Gorakhpur: 145 KM / 3 Hrs

• Visit the Red Fort. Shah Jahan constructed the Red Fort in 1638. It was the main residence of the Mughal Dynasty and is located in the city centre.
• Head to Qutub Minar. It is a five-story tapering tower with a height of 73 meters. The spiral staircase in this minaret has 379 steps.
• Go to the Lotus Temple, which is famous for its flower-like shape. The Lotus Temple is a house of worship that is open to all.
• Continue to Connaught Place. It is a frenetic business and financial hub centred on a ring of colonnaded Georgian-style buildings with global chain stores, vintage cinemas, bars, and Indian restaurants.

Overnight stay at the Delhi hotel.

• Check out from the Delhi hotel after breakfast.
• Go to India Gate. It is a war memorial located near the Rajpath.
• Stop by Raj Ghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. It is a great place to learn more about the history of the country.
• Stroll through the streets of Chandni Chowk or take a cycle rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli Spice Market. It is a busy shopping area with markets full of spices, dried fruit, silver jewellery, and vivid saris. In contrast, the narrow side streets are crowded with tiny shops selling essential oils, stationery, and traditional Indian sweets.
• Get dropped off at the airport to board your flight for your journey back home. The tour ends here.