Day 01 : Arrive Gaya / Bodhgaya
Arrival Gaya Int'l airport. Meeting and Greeting at the airport. Transfer
to hotel in Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment
and spiritual home of Buddhists. It attracts many believers from all over
the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest
Buddhist pilgrimage centres and in the second place of the four holy sites
in Buddhism.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi Temple - The
temple, named after the Buddha, is a sacred place for the Buddhists in Bodh
Gaya, Maha- bodhi tree - The tree is considered holy since Lord Buddha
attained enlightenment under it. Also visit monastries of different
countries and Archaeological Museum. Overnight stay at Bodhgaya Hotel.
Day 02 : Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Morning leave Bodhgaya for Patna (182 kms - 6 hrs) enroute visiting Rajgir
and Nalanda. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for
Buddhists. Rajgir is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site since the Buddha
spent 12 years here and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha was
hosted here at the Saptaparni caves. Afternoon visit Gridhakuta Hill,
Bimbisara jail. Drive to Nalanda which is 14 kms drive and it was one of the
oldest Universities of the World and International Centre for Buddhist
Studies. Drive to Patna which is 90 kms, on arrival at Patna transfer to
hotel for overnight stay.
Day 03 : Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
Morning proceed to Kushinagar (approx. 256 kms and 07 hrs drive) enroute
visiting Vaishali - place where Buddha announced the approaching of his
Mahaparinirvana. After that continue drive to Kushinagar (place where Lord
Buddha had left the world behind him after offering an invaluable
contribution to humanity, the great religion known as Buddhism). On arrival
Kushinagar, transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (where
Buddha took his last breathe) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord
Buddha). Overnight stay at Kushinagar hotel.
Day 04 : Kushinagar - Lumbini
Morning drive to Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha (180 kms and 05
hrs drive). On arrival, transfer to hotel. . Afternoon visit the birth place
of Buddha - Mayadevi Temple. This place is a blessed one for its serenity
and the natural beauty, purely coinciding to the perception of a place where
the legend was born. Overnight stay at Lumbini hotel.
Day 05 : Lumbini - Kapilavastu - Sravasti
Morning leave for Sravasti (225 kms and 5.30 hrs drive) enroute visiting
Kapilavastu - the childhood home of Gautam Buddha. Afterthat proceed to
Sravasti where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. Here he is said to
have performed many miracles, and levitated. During the monsoon, he used to
stay at the Jetavana monastery on the outskirts of this town. Visit Sahet
Mahet and Angulimal caves. Overnight stay in Sravasti.
Day 06 : Sravasti - Varanasi
Morning proceed to Varanasi (300 kms / 08 hrs drive)- one of the oldest
living cities of the world. On arrival Varanasi, trip to Sarnath (12 kms
from Varanasi). Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha had preached His
first sermon to His five disciples after attaining enlightenment. Visit to
Dhamekh Stupa - one of the most visited and most revered Buddhist Shrines in
the world. Also visit Sarnath Museum. Evening back to Varanasi hotel for
overnight stay.
Day
07 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Early moring boat ride at River Ganges to view Sunrise. After breakfast,
drive to Bodhgaya. which is 242 kms and 07 hrs drive. On arrival, transfer
to hotel followed by visit to Dungeswari Caves where Buddha had meditated
for some time and Niranjana River. Overnight stay in Bodhgaya.
Day 08 : Bodhgaya - Onward Destination
After breakfast, departure transfer to International airport to connect
flight for onward destination.
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