Real India Journeys

10 DAYS BUDDHIST CIRCUIT

Day 01 ARRIVAL DELHI
Welcome and garlanding on arrival and Transfer to Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel

DAY 02 DELHI - LUCKNOW - SRAVASTI
Morning : transfer to New Delhi railway station to connect train 2004 Shatabdi Express to Lucknow
Departs ex New Delhi at 0620 Hrs.
Arrives in Lucknow at 1235 Hrs.

Afternoon : Meet upon arrival at Lucknow and transfer Sravasti, 205 kms. / approx. 05 hrs. Upon arrival check-in at Hotel

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 03 SRAVASTI - LUMBINI
Morning : visit Sravasti - Baheth Mahern capital of ancient Kingdom of Kosala, an active centre for Buddhism. Places of interest are Sahet Mahet, Angulimar's cave, and Sujata House.

Afternoon : Drive to LUMBINI, 200 kms. / approx. 05 Hrs. LUMBINI is a sacred place where Lord Budhha was born. Upon arrival check-in at Hotel

Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 04 LUMBINI - KUSHINAGAR
Morning : Visit the monuments in Lumbini and take time for performing sacred ceremonies. Visit the sacred gardens with MAYAVEDI TEMPLE depicting the birth of Lord Buddha, the ASHOKA PILLAR pinpointing the birth place and the SAKYAN TANK where Mayadevi, the mother of the Buddha is supposed have taken bath before bringing forth the baby. All around this holy sites are remnants of monasteries and chaityas built over centuries following the Buddha's birth in 623 B.C.

Afternoon : Drive to Kushinagar, 170 kms./ approx. 05 hrs . Upon arrival check-in at Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 05 KUSHINAGAR - PATNA
Morning : Sightseeing tour of Mahaparinirvana Temple and Rambhar Stupa., the place where Lord Buddha passed away into PARINIRVANA, till today its partial explanation has revealed the remains of at least ten ancient monasteries.

Afternoon : Later drive to Patna 250 kms./ approx. 07 hrs. Enroute visit Vaishali.

VAISHALI - is a special place for the Buddhists as Buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his implemting 'nirvana'. The second Buddhists council, held 100 years after Buddha's Parinirvana also took place here. This place is also birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the Jain Guru, and is a sacred place for Jains. Visit Abhishek Pushkarni, Ashoka Pillar, Lotus Tank, Chau-Mukhi Mahadeo and the Vaishali Museum. Upon arrival check-in at Hotel.

Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 06 PATNA - NALANDA - RAJGIR - BODHGAYA
Morning : drive to Bodhgaya, 200 kms. / 07 hrs. enroute visiting NALANDA & RAJGIR.

NALANDA - the centre of one of the oldest known universities of World, the ruins of the University reveal that it was the first International university of the world where over 2,000 teachers and 1,000 students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied. An international centre for the Buddhist studies also functions here. Buddha had visited this place several times.


RAJGIR - Rajgir was the ancient capital of the Magadha Kings. Buddha often came here. Rajgir is also an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus as the temple complex here is devoted to the Sun God. Visit Bimbisara's Jail - where the King Bimbisara's son Ajatshatru imprisoned him ; Gidhar Kuta or Vulture Peak - where Buddha meditated, Venuvan Vihara or Bamboo garden - was built by the King Bimbisara for Buddha's residence. A modern Buddhist temple stands here.

Upon arrival check-in at HOTEL.

Afternoon : Later for sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya - it is here where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, the saplings of which can still be seen in the temple premises. Visit The Mahabodhi Temple - an architectural amalgation of many centuries and cultures - architectures of Gupta and later ages, inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and China are some examples. The Bodhi Tree - is situated inside the temple premises under which Buddha attained illumination. White , green, and red flags tied onto the tree, form a canopy over seven sacred shrines, which symbolises that Buddha spent seven weeks over here. Also visit Shaivite Monastery, The Buddha Archaeological Museum, and the Nirjana River.

Overnight at Hotel.

Day 07 BODHGAYA - VARANSI
Morning : Drive to Varanasi, 255 kms. / 07 hrs.

Upon arrival in Varanasi, check-in at Hotel.

Afternoon : Free for own activities.

Overnight at Hotel .

DAY 08 VARANASI - AGRA
Early morning visit to River Ganges . The most important facet of Varanasi is the Ganges and the ghats lining its southern bank in the city. Just cruise along the ghats on a country boat to view sunrise and watch the Ghats, and people performing daily rights/pooja. Return back to Hotel.

Morning : Excursion to SARNATH. Here Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment and revealed the eight fold path, the Buddhists doctrine. Visit Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashok Pillar, Dhamek Stupa, Dharamika Stupa, Dhamek Stupa, Archaeological Museum.

Afternoon : Transfer to Airport to connect flight CD-7408 to Agra
Departs ex Varanasi at 15h00
Arrival at Agra at 16h50

Upon arrival at Agra Airport, transfer to the Hotel

Overnight at Hotel

DAY 09 AGRA - DELHI
Morning : Sightseeing tour of Agra visit the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built by Shah Jahan for his queen Mumtaz Mahal. The construction is believed to have taken 22 years to complete with over 20,000 craftsmen working round the clock. Agra Fort on the banks of river Yamuna, is situated in the centre of the town.

Afternoon : Excursion to FATEHPUR SIKRI, the deserted city of sandstone built by the emperor AKBAR. Built by Akbar, it is the most perfectly preserved and complete Mughal palace city of all. Although only ruined walls remain of the town, the magnificent palace complex still stands, the elaborately carved red sandstone and marble almost as it was 400 years ago and still with the pervasive atmosphere of Akbar's cultured and enlightened court.
Later drive to Delhi, 205 kms. / 05 hrs. Upon arrival transfer to city.

Upon arrival at Delhi, check-in at Hotel

Overnight at Hotel.

DAY 10 DEPARTURE DELHI
Morning : Proceed for tour to Old Delhi. Visiting, Red Fort - The old walled city from Mughal India, the chief attraction is the huge fort that contains within it palaces and impressive public buildings. Chandni Chowk - The main street of Old Delhi is the colourful shopping bazaar known as Chandni Chowk. Jama Masjid - The great mosque of Old Delhi is both the largest in India and the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan. Raj Ghat - On the banks of the Yamuna river, a simple square platform of black marble marks the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.

Afternoon: Continue to visit New Delhi, Rajpath - The Kingsway is another focus of New Delhi. It is immensely broad and is flanked on either side by Ornamental ponds. India Gate - This 42 mtr high stone arch of triumph stands at the eastern end of the Rajpath. It bears the names of 85,000 Indian Army soldiers who died in the campaigns of WWI and Afghan fiasco in 1919 Rashtrapati Bhawan - The official residence of the President of India stands at the opposite end of the Rajpath from India Gate. Humayun's Tomb - Built in the mid - 16 th century by Haji Begum, senior wife of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, this is an early example of Mughal architecture. Qutab Munar - This is a soaring tower of victory which was started in 1193, immediately after the defeat of the last Hindu kingdom in Delhi. It is nearly 73 mtr high and tapers from a 15 mtr diameter base to just 2.5 mtr at the top.

Evening, transfer to international airport to connect flight to onward destination.

End of Tour