Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour: Path to Enlightenment
Highlights
Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Patna, Lumbini, Agra, Delhi
Private Tour
12 Days
EASY
English
Description
Embark on the "Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour: Path to Enlightenment" spanning 12 enriching days.Commencing in Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, you'll explore the sacred Sarnath, Banaras Hindu University, and the vibrant Ganga Aarti.Journey to Bodhgaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, and visit the Mahabodhi Temple.Explore Rajgir's vulture Hill and hot springs, then discover Nalanda's ancient ruins.Continue to Kushinagar, the site of Buddha's last breath, before crossing into Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama.Witness the serene beauty of Sravasti, marvel at the cultural richness of Lucknow, and visit Sankasiya en route to Agra.Explore the iconic Taj Mahal and Agra Fort before concluding the pilgrimage in Delhi, visiting historical landmarks like Qutub Minar and Humayun Tomb.This transformative journey promises spiritual immersion amidst historical wonders.
Itinerary
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Day 1 :
Arrive - Varanasi (Flight)
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Day 1 :
On arrival at Varanasi airport assistance and transfer to hotel.
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Day 1 :
Later visit Sarnath - Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his message of the middle way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon at the deer park here in [sensitive content] the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here, as well as an engraved pillar.When Chinese traveller Xuan Zang dropped by in AD 640, Sarnath boasted a 100m-high stupa and 1500 monks living in large monasteries.However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline, and when Muslim invaders sacked the city in the late 12th century, Sarnath disappeared altogether.It was only ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists in 1835.Also visit Sarnath Museum (closed on Friday) and Stupa.
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Day 1 :
Banaras Hindu University - established in 1916 with over 30,000 students residing in campus, it is the largest residential university in Asia.
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Day 1 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 2 :
Varanasi - Bodhgaya (255kms/ 5hrs)
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Day 2 :
Early morning boat ride on river Ganges and walking tour of bathing Ghats.
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Day 2 :
Varanasi is a city dating to the 11th century B.C.Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites.Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
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Day 2 :
Breakfast at Hotel, drive to Bodhgaya check in at hotel.
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Day 2 :
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Day 2 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 3 :
Bodhgaya
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Day 3 :
Breakfast at [sensitive content]dhgaya - 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.
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Day 3 :
Visit Mahabodhi Temple for SIL & Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, Sujata Temple - which is across the Niranjana river & it's 30 minutes walk.Visit other Budhist Bodhgaya.Rest time free and easy to relax.Overnight at hotel.
Visit Mahabodhi Temple for SIL & Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, Sujata Temple - which is across the Niranjana river & it's 30 minutes walk.Visit other Budhist Bodhgaya.Rest time free and easy to relax.
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Day 3 :
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Day 3 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 4 :
Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna (170kms/ 6hrs)
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Day 4 :
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Patna enroute visit Rajgir - the vulture Hill, hot spring in Rajgir, world peace Stupa, Bamboo's Garden.
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Day 4 :
After that visit Nalanda to the ruins of world oldest University.
Continue drive to Patna, check in at hotel.
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Day 4 :
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Day 4 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 5 :
Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar (225Kms/ 6hrs)
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Day 5 :
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Kushinagar enroute visit Vaishali stupa and Ashoka Pillar.
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Day 5 :
Continue drive to Kushinagar check in at hotel.Later visit Maha Parinirwana Temple (where Buddha took his last breath) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha) & Japan Temple.
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Day 5 :
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Day 5 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 6 :
Kushinagar - Lumbini (180Kms/ 5hrs)
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Day 6 :
Breakfast at hotel, drive till Sonauli border from here our Nepal vehicle will take you to Lumbini.Arrive Lumbini check in at hotel.
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Day 6 :
Lumbinī is the place where, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE.Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.
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Day 6 :
Visit Maya Devi Temple, Ashokan Pillar, Chinese Maitreya Temple, Myanmar Golden Temple, Shanti stupa & Great Drigung Kagyud lotus Stupa.
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Day 6 :
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Day 6 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 7 :
Lumbini - Sravasti (225Kms/ 6hrs)
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Day 7 :
Breakfast at hotel, drive till Sonauli border from here your Indian driver will take you to Sravasti.On arrival check in at hotel rest time free and easy to relax.
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Day 7 :
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Day 7 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 8 :
Sravasti - Lucknow (170Kms/ 4hrs)
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Day 8 :
Breakfast at hotel, visit Sravasti, where Buddha spent his 24 monsoons.Visit Jetavana Monastery, Shobhnath Temple, Balrampur, Saheth and Ananda Bodhi Tree.Afternoon drive to Lucknow check in at hotel.
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Day 8 :
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Day 8 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 9 :
Lucknow - Sankasiya - Agra (350Kms/ 7hrs)
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Day 9 :
Breakfast at hotel, drive to Agra.Enroute visit Sankasiya Stupa and Pillar.
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Day 9 :
Arrive Agra check in at hotel.Rest time free and easy to relax.
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Day 9 :
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Day 9 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 10 :
Agra - Delhi (210Kms/ 4hrs)
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Day 10 :
Breakfast at hotel, visit world famous Taj Mahal (closed on friday), Agra Fort and Baby Taj.
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Day 10 :
Afternoon drive to Delhi check in at hotel.Rest time free and easy to relax.
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Day 10 :
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Day 10 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 11 :
Delhi
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Day 11 :
Breakfast at hotel visit National Museum (Monday closed), drive Past India Gate, parliament house and President House.Visit Qutab Minar & Humayun Tomb.
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Day 11 :
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Day 11 :
Overnight at hotel.
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Day 12 :
Delhi – Departure (Flight)
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Day 12 :
Breakfast at Hotel, as per flight schedule transfer to airport to board flight for onward destination.
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Day 12 :
What's Included
What's Excluded
Know Before You Go
Please Note
Varanasi x 1 nights
3* - Meraden Grand/ Amaya Hotel
4* - Rivatas by Ideal/ Palace On Ganges
5* - Radisson Hotel/ Gateway Hotel Taj
Bodhgaya x 2 night
3* - Hotel Taj Darbar/ Hotel Mahamaya
4* & 5* - The Royal Residency/ Lotus Nikko Hotel
Patna x 1 night
3* - Hotel Patliputra Ashok/ Patliputra Exotica
4* - Lemon Tree Premier/ Hotel Gargee Grand
5* - Maurya Hotel/ The Panache
Kushinagar x 1 nights
3* - Hotel The Ideal/ Hotel Adelphi Grande
4* & 5* - The Royal Residency/ Lotus Nikko Hotel
Lumbini x 1 nights
3* - Hotel Nirvana/ Lumbini Bamboo Resort
4* & 5* - Buddha Maya Hotel/ Lumbini Hokke Hotel
Sravasti x 1 night
3* - Hotel Pawan Palace/ the sravasti residency
4* & 5* - Lotus Nikko Hotel/ Hotel PlatinumBodhgaya x 1 night
3* - Hotel Taj Darbar/ Hotel Mahamaya
4* & 5* - The Royal Residency/ Lotus Nikko Hotel
Lucknow x 1 nights
3* - Sapna Clarks Inn/ Hotel Lineage
4* - Lemon Tree Hotel/ La Place Sarovar Portico
5* - Renaissance Hotel/ Hyatt Regency
Agra x 1 nights
3* - Howard Plaza the Fern/ Atulyaa Taj
4* - Radission Hotel/ Crystal Sarovar Premier
5* - Trident Hotel/ Courtyard by Marriott
Delhi x 2 nights
3* - Madhuban Hotel/ Meridian Plaza
4* - The Royal Plaza/ Country Inn & Suite Saket
5* - Le Meridien/ The Claridges
Cancellation Policy
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For cancellations upto 2 days before the tour -
Refund of 80% of the tour price.