The Buddhist Circuit

Welcome to Delhi, the capital of India. You will be received and transferred to your hotel. Overnight stay at hotel

Delhi – Agra – VaranasiAfter breakfast leave Delhi for Agra by road (203 km / 4 Hrs). Afternoon sightseeing tour of Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. Evening leave Agra for Varanasi by overnight train. (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays)

Varanasi – Sarnath – VaranasiArrive Varanasi early in the morning. On arrival check-in at hotel and refresh for a visit to Sarnath -the place where Lord Buddha preached his first Sermon in 590 BC. Attractions at Sarnath include the Buddhist temple, Stupas, Archaeological museum and ancient ruins. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Varanasi, visiting the Bharat Mata temple, the Banaras Hindu University, Vishwanath temple etc. Overnight at the hotel.

Varanasi – Bodhgaya Early in the morning you will be taken to Ganga Ghats for a boat ride on the Ganges to see bathing and cremation rituals. Thereafter, leave Varanasi by road for Bodhgaya (242 kms / 6-7 Hrs) one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the state of Bihar. It was here that Gautama attained enlightenment and became Buddha under the “Bodhi” tree Satabodhi Temple. Overnight at hotel.

Bodhgaya After breakfast take a sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya monasteries and its surroundings. Over night at hotel.

Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Patna Breakfast at hotel follows a visit to the Mahabodhi temple and other monuments and edifices associated with Buddhism. From Bodhgaya you will be driven to Patna (229 kms / 6-7 Hrs) en-route visiting Rajgir & Nalanda. Patna is 2500 year old capital city of Bihar. Rajgir is a place of great significance for Buddhists and Jains. Lord Buddha spent 12 years at Rajgir and the first Buddhist council was held here. Sightseeing at Rajgir covers the Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara Jail and other Jain and Buddha monuments. From Rajgir you will be driven to Nalanda (14 km). Nalanda was a great center of learning in ancient times. Nalanda was one of the greatest monastic universities of the ancient world. At Nalanda you will visit the ruins of the Nalanda University, temples and stupas. From Nalanda you will head for Patna (90km). On arrival at Patna transferred to hotel. Overnight on board.

Patna – Vaishali – Kushinagar Morning leave Patna for Kushinagar (253 kms / 8 hrs) en-route visiting Vaishali -located 60 kms from Patna and holds special significance for Buddhist devotees. Arrive Kushinagar and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Kushinagar. Kushinagar is the place of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana (the final bowing out).

Kushinagar – Sravati In the morning you will visit the Mahaparinirvana temple and the Ramabhar Stupa (the cremation place of Lord Buddha). Breakfast follows a drive to Sravati (190 kms / 4-5 Hrs) – Check-in at hotel. Evening take a sight seeing tour of Sravati visiting; Sahet & Mahet -15 kms from Balrampur and the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kosala. Sravasti has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Vihar and has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here. Over night at hotel.

Saravasti –Lucknow – Delhi After breakfast leave for Lucknow by road (175 kms). Commence from Lucknow to Delhi by air. Or by train to Delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to hotel.

Delhi to onward destination. Transfer from hotel to airport or railway station to board for onward destination.