DAY 01: DELHI
Breakfast at hotel.Morning leave for Delhi on arrival lunch at restaurant Afternoon visit Qutab Minar India Gate , Rajghat and Shanti Vana the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Drive past Red Fort, Parliament House and President House. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Delhi is just not a city but it is a book-- a book which narrates the history of India. The city was built and destroyed seven times and has been witness to the various events which has brought India through the history books. Seven times this city went through the pain of being built and rebuilt. Today as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration and the monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era stand there. These icons are testimony to the grandeur of past and also an attraction for the tourists. With an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors, Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said that Delhi is a land of 'Dilwalas' or for people with heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes around the lanes of Delhi.
DAY 02: Delhi/Sravasti
Breakfast at hotel. Morning transfer to airport to connect flight for Lucknow. On arrival leave for Sravasti. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here. This holy place also has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, an offspring of the one, said to have been planted by Buddha's main disciple
DAY 03: Sravasti/ Lumbini
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for Lumbini, on arrival transfer to hotel .Lunch at hotel, Afternoon half day city tour visiting birth place of Lord Buddha. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years. Lumbini grove, the sacred site of Lord Buddha's birth is today a small village in Nepal, 27 km from Sonauli on the Indo-Nepal Border. Three hundred years after the Mahaparinirvana, Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and erected a pillar there. This pillar, though broken, still remains at the site. It is known as the Rummendei Pillar after the earlier name of the place (modern name Rupandhei) in Nepal.
DAY 04: Lumbini/ Kushinagar
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for Kushinagar, on arrival transfer to hotel, lunch at hotel. Afternoon visit Nirvana Temple and Ramabhar Stupa. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Kushinagar was an important centre under Mauryan King Ashoka, a great Buddhist follower. Most of the religious structures here were constructed between 3rd century BC and 5th century AD. For a long time Kushinagar remained lost in the jungles and was unknown to the world till 19th century when the British rediscovered it in 1880. Extensive excavations have indicated the presence of large number monks here as late as 11th century AD. A majority of tourists come to Kushinagar during Buddha Purnima to celebrate the birthday of Lord Buddha.
The place has a tropical climate with extreme temperatures during summers and winters. Winter days are pleasant with dry weather and clear sky.
DAY 05: Kushinagar/ Rajgir
Breakfast at hotel.Morning leave for Rajgir enroute visit Vaishali carrying box lunch. On arrival transfer to hotel Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Rajgir: Like many others in search of truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation. The first Buddhist structures at Rajgir were raised when Ajatsatni built a monastery, and a stupa over his share of the Buddha's ashes. That reliquary is now a mound used as a graveyard. The Japanese much later have built the World Peace Stupa, with its gilded images of the Buddha. Rajgir also has the Nipponzan Myohoji, the Japanese temple, and the Centaur Hokke Club which offers some traditional facilities to Japanese pilgrims.
Day 06 : Rajgir/ Nalanda /Bodhgaya
Breakfast at hotel.Morning visit Nalanda University and Gridhkut mountain. Lunch at hotel, afternoon leave for Bodhgaya. On arrival transfer to hotel, dinner and overnight at hotel.
Nalanda was the most renowned university in ancient India. It derived its name from Na-alam-da, meaning Insatiable in Giving, one of the names by which the Lord Buddha was known. The Archaeological Survey of India maintains the Nalanda Museum across the road which houses some exquisite bronzes of the 9th and 10th centuries, Pala dynasty, and other remains excavated at the site. The beautiful Thai Temple and the Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, a centre for research in Pali and Buddhist studies, are 2 kms from the main site.
Day 07: Bodghgaya
Breakfast at hotel. Visit temple and Niranjana river. Meals and overnight at hotel.
As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. It attracts tens of thousands of believers from all over the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Bodhgaya is 12 km from Gaya, 140 km from Patna, 66 km from Rajgir and 482 km from Calcutta.
Day 08: Sarnath/Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel.Morning leave for Varanasi, en-rout visit Sarnath. On arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modem temple. The Dharmarajika, Chaukhandi and Dharnek stupas are outstanding. There are also the remains of a monastery, and the beautifully polished Lion Capital of Ashoka. Sarnath contains a rich library and at the Mula gandha Kutir Vihara there are excellent frescoes by Kosetsu Nosu. The Sarnath Museum, not far from the site, contains some of the finest specimens of Buddhist sculpture. At all centers of Buddhist worship, the Vaisakha (April-May) full moon is observed as the anniversary of three important events - the Buddha's birth, Enlightenment and death, while the Asadh (July - August) full moon is observed as the anniversary of his first sermon.
Day 09: Varanasi
Early morning boat cruise on river Ganges. Thousands of pilgrims throng the water's edge, bathing, worshipping, meditating. On stone platforms under palm leaf umbrellas, the Pandas-Brahmin priests preside over rites and rituals. The boat trip will cover various ghats including the cremation sites. Because every pious Hindu believes that to die in Kashi (Varanasi)and to be cremated on the banks of the Ganges is to attain release from the cycle of birth and death. Afternoon visit Sarnath Sarnath, 7 km from the city where Buddha preached his first sermon more than 2500 years ago. 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. These few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks twice as old as all of them put together". 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. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is believed to have the power to wash away the sins of mortals.
Day 10: Delhi
After break fast you will be transfer to the |
