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A Trip4India > Pilgrimage Packages > Buddhist Travel Circuit

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Buddhist Travel Circuit

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DURATION: 10 Nights / 11 Days
DESTINATIONS: Delhi - Agra - Gaya - Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Vaishali - Patna - Varanasi - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti - Lucknow - Delhi

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Day 01: Delhi- Agra:
Meet upon arrival and after assistance at the airport, transfer to your hotel. After breakfast Drive to Agra visit the World Famous Taj Mahal.It is known as the Monument of Love. Built by Shah Jehan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal. It took 22 years to complete is made up of pure white marble. Over night stay at Agra. Transfer to Air Port for the further destinations.

Day 2: Gaya-Bodhgaya
Meet upon arrival and after assistance at the airport, transfer to your hotel.

Day 3: Bodhgaya
After Breakfast visit Mahabodhi Temple - is an amalgamation of many cultures and centuries.The highlights of the temple include tall stone lotuses, figures of Buddha sitting in different postures on the walls, his footprints on the stones, and a colossal golden Buddha attained illumination. White, Green and Red flags, tied onto the tree, form a canopy over seven sacred shrines, which symbolizes the seven weeks that Buddha spent here.Also visit the Village of Sujata near Niranjana River. At the end of six years he realized that severe penance would not bring the enlightenment he sought. He broke his fast, eating a little rice pudding offered to him by the girl Sujata who lived in the village of Uruvela. Then he went to the Niranjana River to bath. Later visit other temples and Monastries of Bodhgaya.

Day 4: Bodhgaya-Rajgir
After early breakfast drive to Rajgir check-in Hotel. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here, and use to meditate and preach on Groddhkuta, the "Hill of the Vultures". Lord Mahavir spent 14 years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda. It was in Rajgrih that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted king Bimbisarth a of the Magadh Kingdom and countless others to his creed. Rajgir is located a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hill-top stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by the Japanese. Visit Venuvana:Site of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by King Bimbisara for Lord Buddha to reside. This was the King's first offering to Lord Buddha. Bimbisara's Jail: King Bimbisara was imprisoned here by his impatient son and heir, Ajatshatru. The captive King chooses this site for his incarceration. For, from this spot, he could see Lord Buddha climbing up to his mountain retreat atop the Griddhakuta Hill. There is a clear view of the Japanese pagoda. The stupa of peace was built on the top of the hill..Also visit the ruins of Nalanda University. Founded in the 5th Century A.D., Nalanda is known as the ancient seat of learning. 2,000 Teachers and 10,000 Students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied at Nalanda, the first Residential International University of the World. A walk in the ruins of the university takes you to an era, that saw India leading in imparting knowledge, to the world - the era when India was a coveted place for studies. The University flourished during the 5th and 12th century

Day 5: RajgirVaishali-Patna-Varanasi
After breakfast drive to Vaishali. Vaishali Is Believed To Be The First Republic Of The World, Having An Elected Body Of Representatives Hold Special Significance For Buddhist Devotees. The Buddha Preached The Radha Sutra To The Eighty Four Thousand Faithful Gathered There. Women Were Ordained For The First Time Into Buddhism. The Second Buddhist Council Was Held Here.Later return to Patna to connect train for Varanasi. 7092 RJPB SC EXPRESS (16:15/20:50)
Varanasi is probably the oldest living city in India and one of the worlds most ancient. It was earlier known as Kasi - the city that illuminates. The Present name is probably derived from the fact that it is situated on the confluence of the rivers Varuna & Asi Varanasi is a city that cannot be described, only experienced..

Day 6: Varanasi
Early morning visit the bathing ghats and take a boat rides on the holy river Ganga Sunrise on the riverfront, as seen from the boat, can be a spiritually uplifting sight.
After breakfast drive to Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermon after he had attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. A lot has changed here since then but ancient aura is retained in the ruins and gardens. More importantly, at the museum in Sarnath is the Ashok Pillar with its four guardian lions that has been used as independent India's national emblem.After Lunch time free for shopping.

Day 7: Varanasi-Kushinagar
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is celebrated as the place where Buddha died and was cremated and passed into Parinirvana. Visit the Sal Tree and Ramabhar stupa where Buddha was cremated.O/N Kushinagar.

Day 8: Kushinagar-Lumbini
After breakfast drive to Lumbini. Lumbini is the place where Lord Buddha was born.
Emperor Ashoka, in the twenty-first years after his coronation visited the birth place and raised a pillar on the spot.

Day 9: Lumbini-Kapilvastu-Sravasti
After Breakfast drive to Sravasti via Kapilvastu. Kapilvastu or Piprahwa has an important place in the life of Buddha. It was in Kapilvastu where Buddha decided to leave worldly pleasures and decided to look at life in a new perspective. There is a host of evidence to prove today that Piprahwa is the Kapilvastu of Buddha's times. The geographical conditions of Kapilvastu as described in Buddhist epics are similar to those in Piprahwa. The 'Asthi-patra' found in 1897-98 A.D. clearly matches the engravings in Piprahwa.Continue drive to Sravasti.
Visit Sravasti Garden, which is an important pilgrimage for Buddhists. Lord Buddha is believe to have spent 25 rainy seasons here preaching his teachings. Check in Hotel O/N Sravasti.

Day 10: Sravasti-Lucknow:

After Breakfast drive to Lucknow.On Arrival transfer to the airport to connect flight to Delhi. On arrival transfer to shopping area. Leave Delhi.

Day 11: Delhi-Departure
On Arrival transfer to the airport to connect flight for onwards destination.