Arrive Delhi, meeting and assistance on arrival in Delhi and transfer to hotel.
Overnight at Hotel in Delhi
Day 2
FULL DAY SIGHTSEEING
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit Old Delhi - drive past the magnificent Red Fort (Closed on Monday) built of red sandstone. Later visit black and white onion dome and minarets of the Jama Masjid, the most elegant mosque in India. Rickshaw ride will be provided in Old Delhi markets of Chandani Chowk visit Raj Ghat, where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948.
Afternoon visit of New Delhi-the new capital designed by Sir Edward Lutyens. Drive past the Presidential Palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the secretariat buildings - the centre of all government activity and down the main avenue, the impressive Rajpath to the World War I memorial arch, the India Gate, the High Court Building and the Old Fort. Visit Humayun’s Tomb built in 1565 AD by his grieving widow Haji Begum, the Qutub Minar, 72 metres high and the ruins of Quwat-ul-Eslam (Light of Islam) Mosque. See Delhi’s most curious antique, the uncorroded Iron Pillar, which dates back to the 4th century AD.
Overnight at Hotel in Delhi
Day 3
DELHI / GAYA BY FLIGHT + DRIVE TO BODHGAYA (15 KMS: 30 MIN)
Breakfast at the Hotel
Morning in time transfer to airport to board the flight for Gaya.
Arrive Gaya, meeting and assistance on arrival in Gaya and drive to Bodhgaya check in hotel.
A place of religious sanctity for Hindus, Gaya lies 12 kms. from Bodhgaya between Pretshila and Ramshila Hills and is washed by the shores of river Phalgu. Gaya has a large number of Buddhist temples also. While Buddha was doing severe penance, he became weak, tired and hungry. He rested under a tree where, he was offered food by a condemned village woman named Sujata. To everybody’s surprise Buddha accepted her offerings. Legend has it that after having consumed the food, Buddha’s countenance assumed a divine glow and he realised the supreme glow and he realised the Supreme Truth; that neither extreme self indulgence nor self mortification is ever required. What is needed is to follow the Middle Path. Sujata Sthan or Durgeswari Temple stands as a symbol commemorating this event.
Overnight at Hotel in Bodhgaya.
Day 4
IN BODHGAYA
Breakfast at the hotel
Visit the Mahabodhi Temple was first built by the Mauryan dynasty king Ashoka, a staunch follower of Buddhism, to mark the spot of the Buddha’s enlightenment (Bodhi). UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in the year 2002.The temple gracefully stands 180 feet high with four towers in the corners and a chatra (an auspicious symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism) on the top of the temple. Bodhi Tree Standing next to Mahabodhi Temple is a descendant of the sacred Bodhi Tree under which Gautam Buddha sat when he gained enlightenment. After gaining supreme knowledge, Buddha continued to meditate beneath the tree for seven days without moving from his seat. Visit Dungeshwari Mandir The caves in Dungeshwari Hills are said to have protected Lord Buddha before he descended to Bodh gaya Before descending to the sacred town of Bodh gaya, it is believed that this is the same cave (also called the Mahakala caves), which protected Lord Buddha for six years, before he travelled to Bodh Gaya for attaining enlightenment These caves now house several temples which are widely visited by pilgrims who follow the trail of Lord Buddha’s journey. Sujata Stupa, also Sujata Kuti stupa or Sujata Garh, is a Buddhist stupa located in the village of Senanigrama (Bakraur) slightly east of Bodh Gaya in the state of Bihar, India. It lies directly across the Phalgu River from the town of Bodh Gaya, where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. It is a walk of about 20 minutes, from Bodh Gaya to Sujata Stupa. It was initially built in the 2nd century BCE as confirmed by finds of Dark Grey polished wares and a punch-marked coin in the monastery nearby.
Overnight at Hotel in Delhi
Day 5
IN BODHGAYA
Breakfast at the Hotel
Morning proceed by surface visit of Nalanda, which is around 80 kms. from Bodhgaya. It is the site of a famous Buddhist University which flourished from the 5th to the 12th century AD. In this first residential international university of the world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students from many eastern countries lived and studied here. Its library was said to contain over 9 million volumes. Excavations have unearthed ruins of several of the original buildings. Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous centre of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during the 5th to the12th centuries. Hiuen Tsang stayed here in the 7th century. He had left ecstatic accounts of both the ambience and architecture of this unique university of ancient times. Harshvardhan donated a 26 mtr. High copper image of Buddha and Emperor Kumar Gupta built a college of fine arts. In 1951, an International Centre for Buddhist Studies was established in Nalanda. Nava Nalanda Vihar, 2 kms. from here is a similar insitution
Afternoon visit of Rajgir-the ancient capital of the Magadha kings. The Buddha often came here to retreat at the Jivkamaravana monastery in a beautiful orchard. One of his most devoted and prosperous devotees, surgeon Jivaka also lived here. The rich merchant community here soon became the Buddha’s followers and built many structures of typical Buddhist architecture. The Buddha converted the Magadh king Bimbisara, one of his most celebrated followers at the Girdhakuta Hill, where he delivered many of his sermons as well. The Japanese have built a stupa on top of Ratnagiri hill, linked by a ropeway. After the Buddha reached “parinirvana” his followers met at the Saptaparni cave in Rajagriha, the first Buddhist Council ever held. It was here that the teachings of the Buddha were penned down for the first time. Rajgir isalso an important pilgrimage place for Hindus and Jains. Also visit of Viswa Shanti stupa, the famous hot water springs and ruins of an old fort. return Back to hotel
Afternoon proceed for Ghats and evening prayer (Aarti) ceremony at the ghats of River Ganges - In the evening visit Mother India Temple- a unique temple dedicated to Mother India carved with a single piece of marble. The perfect map of undivided India signifies unity in diversity. From here proceed to the Ghats to witness the Aarti Ceremony (Hindu ritual /prayer of river Ganges at Sunset) on bicycle rickshaws. Passing through the crowded bazaars and galis (old part) of this ancient city, small shops illuminated with beautiful lights followed by a short boat ride on Ganges observe the Aarti ceremony amidst jingling of bells, floating of diyas (traditional lamps) and chanting of mantras give an unforgettable experience indescribable in words.
Overnight at Hotel in Varanasi
Day 7
IN VARANASI
Breakfast at the Hotel
Early morning Boat Ride on River Ganges - The western banks of Ganges have a string of 84 Ghats (the chain of stone steps) and interestingly each of them has a story to relate. Most of these Ghats built with pavilions, palaces and terraces are mainly used as Dharamsalas (a home for the pilgrims during their visit to the holy city) The sunrise on the Ganges popularly know as Subeh Banaras is a soul-lifting experience. At dawn-the Ghats are abuzz with activity of the devotees performing their ablutions in the river or offering prayers to the rising sun and performing other religious rituals At Manikarnika Ghat- Cremation is a continuous process (photography prohibited) A boat ride from the dasaswamedh ghat along the Ghats gives you vantage views of these activity.
Breakfast at the Hotel
Aftar breakfast Visit Varanasi Hindu University, a great seat of oriental learning. It started as a centre of education in Sanskrit, Indian art, culture and music. Visit the Durga (Goddess of Power) Temple popularly known as the Monkey Temple because of hundreds of monkeys in the courtyard Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at Hotel in Varanasi
Day 8
VARANASI – FULL DAY SARNATH
Breakfast at the hotel
Morning visit Sarnath Ruins and Museum - The Buddha preached his first sermon to five disciples at the Deer Park here, enshrining the principals of his teaching into laws. The Dhamek Stupa marks the location of a once resplendent monastery. A large complex of ruined monasteries cover the area north of the stupas. Visit the Dhamekh Stupa and Mulgandkuti Vihar
Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight at Hotel in Varanasi
Day 9
VARANASI / KUSHINAGAR BY SURFACE (246 KMS: 05.30 HRS)
Breakfast at the Hotel
Morning proceed by surface for Kushinagar and on arrival check in at the
Overnight at Hotel in Kushinagar
Day 10
IN KUSHINAGAR
Breakfast at the Hotel
Morning visit Parinirvana Temple The statue of the reclining Buddha is inside the Parinirvana Temple. The statue is 6.10 metres long and is made of a single block of red sandstone. It represents the Buddha in the position he was in when he died and attained parinirvana — reclining on his right side with his head to the north, feet to the south, and face towards the west. It is situated on a large brick platform with stone posts at the corners. Parinirvana Stupa The Parinirvana Stupa (Nirvana Chaitya) is located just behind the Parinirvana Temple. It was excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876. During excavations, a copper plate was found, which contained the text of the Nidana Sutra and the statement that plate had been deposited in the Nirvana Chaitya by one Haribala, who also installed the reclining Buddha statue in the temple.
Ramabhar Stupa Ramabhar Stupa (also called Mukutbandhan Chaitya) is the cremation place of Buddha. This site is 1.5 km east of the Parinirvana Temple on the Kushinagar-Deoria road. Matha Kuar Shrine This shrine contains a large statue of Buddha, carved out of one block of stone, which represents the Buddha seated under the Bodhi Tree in a pose known as bhumi sparsh mudra (Earth-touching attitude). The inscription at the base of statue dates to the 10th or 11th century CE.
Overnight at Hotel in Kushinagar
Day 11
VARANASI / KUSHINAGAR BY SURFACE (246 KMS: 05.30 HRS)
in time transfer to the airport to connect flight for onward journey. Flight check in starts three hours before the schedule departure time
