Duration : 13 Nights - 14 Days
Destination : Mumbai - Aurangabad - Bhopal - Agra - Varanasi - Sarnath - Bodh Gaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Balrampur - Sravasti - Lucknow -Delhi
Day 01: Mumbai Arrival
You will land at Mumbai Airport to start your Enlightenment India Buddha Tour. Meet your representative and he will drive you to the hotel. Have your own choice for the day. In the evening you can walk past the Gateway of India and Marine Drive Promenade. Savor the evening beauty of dream city. After dinner, stay overnight.Day 2: Mumbai - Aurangabad (By Flight)
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport by your representative. Board your flight to Aurangabad. On arrival, transfer to the hotel. Then a guided tour to Ellora Caves located at a 30 kms away from Aurangabad. Explore the caves of Ellora which comprises of rock cut architecture of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. There are 12 caves which belong to Buddhism. It is a world heritage site now. Return back to the hotel and after dinner stay overnight.Day 3: Aurangabad - Bhopal (By Train)
In the early morning you set out your tour to Ajanta Caves. The Caves are masterpieces of Buddhist which date back to the 2nd century AD. The excavations of Ajanta caves prove that Ajanta was a Buddhist learning centre in the west India before the Common Era. Explore the Stupa monument halls and monastic halls.Return back to the hotel. In the evening transfer to Jalgaon Railway Station. Board your train to Bhopal, the capital city of Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
Day 04: Bhopal - Sanchi (Train to Agra)
On arrival in Bhopal, our representative will receive you and take you to Sanchi, a Buddhist destination in India. Sanchi is a World Heritage Site known for its great Stupa, temples and Buddhist monasteries. Explore the famous Sanchi Stupa built by the Emperor Ashoka. The ornamented gateways of the Stupa depict the life story of Lord Buddha. Explore the Ashoka Pillar, Buddhist vihara and the Museum which houses the excavated relics found in Sanchi area.Our representative will transfer you to the railway station. Board the overnight train to Agra.
Day 5: Arrive Agra
In the early morning, you will reach Agra. Our representative will take to a hotel for your refreshment. Take rest. After lunch, tour the majestic Taj Mahal, Agra Fort & Sikandara. In the evening we arrange a special Mughlai Dinner for you in one of the oldest restaurant in Agra. Overnight stay at Agra.Day 6: Agra - Varanasi
Morning after breakfast explore Fatehpur Sikri and later intime transfer to the railway station for your train to Varanasi. Overnight on board.Day 7: Varanasi - Sarnath - Bodh Gaya (240 kms)
On arrival enjoy a boat ride on the Holy River Ganga. You will see lots of Hindu devotees offering prayer to Ganga Maya. Explore the Ghats of Varanasi and temples.After refresh check out the hotel and drive to Bodhgaya enroute visiting Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon. Sarnath is one of the four holy sites of Buddhism along with Lumbini, Bodhgaya and Kushinagar. Explore the temples and monasteries. Then again drive to Bodhgaya. On arrival take the hotel and stay overnight.
Day 08: Bodhgaya
On the 8th day of India Buddhist Tour, you will tour the temples and monuments of Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is the site where Buddha meditated and attained enlightenment. So this site is known as site of enlightenment. You will see here the Bodhgaya tree under which Buddha meditated for a long period of years. Explore the Mahabodhi temple, Diamond Thorne, temples and monasteries. Overnight stay at Bodhgaya.Day 09: Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna (110 kms)
After breakfast, you proceed towards Patna, the capital city of Bihar. One the way you will visit Nalanda and Rajgir. Lord Buddha spent several days of his life at Rajgir and in this place Bimbisara was converted to Buddhism. The Buddhist monuments at Rajgir are Jivakameavan Gardens, Ajatshatru Fort and Stupa, Cyclopean Wall,Venu Vana residence of Lord Buddha, and Shanti Stupa with four glimmering statues of Buddha, etc.Nalanda was a Buddhist learning centre from 427 to 1197 Common Era. This University was the first residential university in the world and drew attention of the scholars and students from various parts of the world.
On arrival in Patna, you will be accommodated at a hotel. Stay overnight.
Day 10: Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar (230 kms)
In the early morning, get ready for your next drive to Kushinagar. Enroute tour Vaishali, one of the Buddhist pilgrimage sites. It is at Vaishali that Buddha preached his last sermon at Kolhua. Explore the Ashoka pillar, temples and monasteries.Drive to Kushinagar, the site of Buddha’s mahaparinirvana where Buddha died at the age of 81. On arrival stay at the lodge. Explore the Buddhist monuments.
Day 11: Kushinagar - Lumbini (161kms) - Sravasti (254 kms)
After breakfast, drive to Sravasti enroute visiting birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini located in Nepal. Lord Buddha was born as Gautam Buddha to Maya Devi and Suddodhana. Lumbini houses the Maya Devi temple, and various other monuments related to Buddhism.On arrival at Sravasti take the hotel. Sravasti is one of the Buddhist pilgrimage sites where Buddha performed miracles. Buddha also preached his sermons at Sravasti. Explore the temples, monasteries at Sravasti.
Day 12: Sravasti - Lucknow - (Flight to Delhi)
After breakfast, drive to Lucknow and catch the flight to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi airport meet our representative and take the hotel. After a delicious dinner, stay overnight.Day 13: Delhi Sightseeing
Delhi, the capital city of India houses various monuments of past. Today you enjoy a full day sightseeing tour in Delhi. The main attractions that your sightseeing tour will cover are India Gate, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Laxmi Narayan temple, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, etc.On the last 13 day of India Buddhist Tour, you can do your shopping in Delhi. In the evening we will treat you a memorable dinner in Delhi.
