On The Footsteps of Buddha
DAY 01: ARRIVE DELHI
Meet and assistance on arrival and then transfer to Hotel for overnight stay.
DAY 02: DELHI
Morning tour of Old Delhi. It is a 17th century walled city with its splendid gates, narrow alleys, the enourmous Bazar. Also visit Raj Ghat, the memorial of Gandhi. Afternoon tour of New Delhi with wide tree lined avenues, parks and fountains surrounding the imposing Government and State Buildings. Visit Humayun’s Tomb, an observatory called Jantar Mantar, Qutub Minar, India Gate and President House. Afternoon free for independent activities. Overnight stay
DAY 03: DELHI – JAIPUR
Morning commence drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival, check in into hotel. Evening free time to enjoy the city atmosphere which by many means is fabulous. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 04: JAIPUR
The day is to be started with the Elephant ride at Amer Fort, followed by the city tour covering – Hawa Mahal, Royal Observatory, City Palace, Nawab Sahab Ki Haveli and Johari Bazar etc. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 05: JAIPUR – AGRA
Today we will drive to Agra en-route visiting the old deserted town of Mughal Dynasty i.e. Fatehpur Sikri. On arrival, check in into hotel. Afternoon city tour covering Taj Mahal, Red Fort and the Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula’s. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 06: AGRA – VARANASI (By flight)
Morning transfer to Airport to catch flight to Varanasi. On arrival , transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour of Sarnath: famous for its Dhamekh Stupa and for it being the place where Buddha preached his first sermon enshrining the principle of his teachings into laws. Overnight at hotel in Varanasi.
DAY 07: VARANASI
At dawn enjoy boat ride at River Ganges, followed by a city tour covering – Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Temple etc. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 08 & 09: VARANASI – BODHGAYA
Stay there for two nights with excursions to Rajgir/ Nalanda / Sapta pari cave and Venevamas. Above two days you will come across with many locales of Buddhist significance, i.e., Rajgir : an important Buddhist pilgrimage since the Buddha spent 12 years here , and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha attained Nirvana was held here, Nalanda : founded in the 5th century known as center of intellectualism. Overnight at hotel.
Day 10: BODHGAYA – VAISHALI – KUSHINAGAR
Morning Proceed to Vaishali, a very special place to Buddhists as The Lord delivered his last sermon & announced his impending ” Nirvana”. See the majesty of Ashok Pillar – Lotus tank, Chaumukhi & proceed to Kushinagar for overnight stay
DAY 11: KUSHINAGAR – LUMBINI
Morning visit Mahanirvana Temple, the modern Japan/Srilanka Buddhist center & monasteries , then proceed to Lumbini. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 12: LUMBINI – KAPILVASTU – SRAVASTI – BALRAMPUR
Morning visit to Ashoka’s pillar (249 BC) rediscovered in 1890’s inside thick sal forest, a temple of Mayadevi, the ruins of an old monastery and some new stupas, then in the afternoon proceed to Balrampur enroute visiting Sravasti where you will see the extensive ruins of this ancient city & Jetavana Monastery. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 13: BALRAMPUR – LUCKNOW
Morning city tour. Later continue drive to Lucknow. On arrival check in into hotel. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 14: LUCKNOW
Morning city tour covering Imambada , Rumi Darwaza . P.M. Transfer to Airport for flight to Delhi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
DAY 15: Departure Delhi
Departure transfer to International Airport to take flight back home.