Day 01 : Arrival
Mumbai - Aurangabad
Arrive by a schedule International Flight. Sightseeing of
Mumbai
visiting visit Prince of Gateway of India Wales Museum,
Parliament House, Marine Drive, Jain Temple, Hanging Gardens.
Later Transfer To Mumbai Domestic Airport and depart for
Aurangabad. Transfer from Aurangabad Airport to Hotel for
Overnight Stay.
Day 02: Aurangabad - Ellora - Ajanta - Bhusaval - Bhopal
After breakfast take a sight seeing tour of Ellora, one of the
highly visited World heritage sites of India. It houses 34
monasteries and temples with some exclusive uninterrupted
sequence of monuments that date back from 600 to 1000 AD. The
temples of Ellora are dedicated to Brahmanism, Jainism, and
Buddhism. It also has some of the excellent stonework depicting
the legends related to Lord Shiva
Excursion to the famous Ajanta caves. Ajanta is one of
the
few historical and architectural marvels of India. Recognized as
the World Heritage Site today, it was discovered during the 19th
century by a group of British officers who were on a tiger hunt.
The Ajanta group of caves, located deep within the Sahyadri
hills above the Waghora, depicts the story of Buddhism that
prevailed here during 200 BC to 650 AD . Later in the evening
transfer to Bhusaval Railway Station to Board Overnight Train
for Bhopal Overnight on Board
Day 03: Bhopal - Sanchi - Bhopal - Varanasi
After Breakfast Sightseeing of Sanchi visit Sanchi Stupa- It is
unique, not only for having the most perfect and well preserved
stupas, but also for offering the visitor a chance to see, in
one location, the genesis, flowering, and decay of Buddhist art
and architecture during a period of about 1500 years -- almost
covering the entire range of Indian Buddhism
After Sightseeing Return to Bhopal and transfer to Railway
Station to connect train for Varanasi . Overnight in Train.
Day 04 : Varanasi
- Sarnath - Varanasi
On arrival Varanasi Railway Station, and transfer to
hotel, check-in at hotel and refresh for a visit to Sarnath -the
place 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 at hotel.
Day 05 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Early morning boat-ride on the River Ganges. Thereafter, leave
Varanasi by road for Bodhgaya (242 kms / 6-7 Hrs) one of the
holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the state of Bihar. It
was here that Gautama attained enlightenment and became Buddha
under the "Bodhi" tree Satabodhi Temple. Overnight at hotel.
Day 06 : Bodhgaya
Morning visit temples in
Bodhgaya
- Mahabodhi Temple, Animesh Locan Chaiyata, Mohanta's Monastery,
Thai Temple and The Burmese Temple. Later visit Monuments such
as - Tibetan Monastery, International Buddhist House, Buddhist
Monastery of Bhutan, The Chinese Temple & Monastery and Bodhi
Tree. Also visit Archaeological Museum
Day 07 : Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Leave Bodhgaya for Patna (157 kms / 4-5 Hrs) en-route visiting
Rajgir & Nalanda. Patna is 2500 year old capital city 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 in the 5th century.
Overnight at hotel in Patna.
Day 08 : Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
Morning leave Patna for Kushinagar (253 kms / 8 hrs) en-route
visiting Vaishali -located 55 kms from Patna and holds special
significance for Buddhist devotees. It was here that the Buddha
announced the approaching of his Mahaparinirvana. Visit 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 a major attraction to
the tourists. Arrive Kushinagar. It is the place where Buddha
passed into Maha-Parinirvana. Afternoon visit the various stupas
and temples. Overnight at hotel.
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 inside Nepal. Sightseeing tour of Lumbini and
thereafter leave for Sravasti by road (225 kms / 6 hrs). On
arrival transfer to hotel and overnight stay.
Day l0 : Saravasti - Balrampur - Lucknow - Delhi
Morning visit to Sahet & Mahet -15 kms from Balrampur and the
capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kosala. Sravasti has the
honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana
Vihar and has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, age-old stupas,
majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have
performed some miracles here. Afternoon free for leisure.
Evening drive to Gonda Railway Station (40 kms) and connect
train 2553 / Vaishali Express dep. 19:35 hrs. Overnight on A /c
Train.
Day 11 : Day at leisure
On arrival New Delhi Railway Station, and transfer to hotel,
check-in at hotel and refresh and evening Transfer to
international airport to connect flight for onward destination |