Buddhist Pilgrimage & Golden Triangle Tour
Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days
Destination Coverd: Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya -
Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Kapilvastu
- Sravasti - Balrampur - Lucknow - Delhi
Day 01 : Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Our representative will meet you at the airport and transfer
to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02 : Delhi
Full day city tour visiting Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites
of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red
Fort and Chandni Chowk. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din
Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Lakshminarayan
Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament
House, Government Secretariat Buildings & Connaught Place shopping
centre. Overnight Delhi.
Day 03 : Delhi - Jaipur
Morning commence drive to Jaipur (252 kms / 5 hrs). 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 / Jeep 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 drive to Agra (232 kms / 5 hrs) en-route visiting the old deserted
town of Mughal Dynasty i.e. Fatehpur Sikri. Rest of the day free for leisure.
Overnight in Hotel.
Day 06 : Agra - Varanasi
Morning city tour covering Taj Mahal, Red Fort and the Tomb of Itmad-ud-daula.
Evening transfer to Railway Station to connect train for Varanasi. Overnight
on Train. (Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays)
Day 07 : Varanasi
Arrive Varanasi in the morning. Later proceed for the city tour visiting
various temples including The Vishwanath Temple, built by the Birlas,
was planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Bharat Mata Temple houses,
instead of gods and goddesses, a huge relief map in marble of the whole
of Indian subcontinent. The Tulsi Manas Temple, built in 1964, is dedicated
to Lord Rama. Evening view "Aarti" ceremony on the Ghats. Overnight
stay at the hotel.
Day 08 : Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning we take a Boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of
life of pilgrims by the Ghats and later we drive to Bodhgaya (242 kms
/ 7 hrs). Arrive Bodhgaya and check - in at hotel. Bodhgaya is the most
sacred place for Buddhists as it has a Peepul tree under which Gautama
the Buddha attained enlightenment some 2500 years back. Overnight stay
at the hotel.
Day 9 : In Bodhgaya
After breakfast embark on a sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi
Temple - depicting the various phases of Buddha's journey towards enlightenment,
showing different aspects of his life; Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum
- houses a small collection of Buddhist sculpture from the 1st century
B.C, to the 11th century A.D; Jagannath Temple close by has a four armed
statue of Shiva in black stone. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10 : Bodhgaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna 
After breakfast drive to Patna, enroute visit Rajgir & Nalanda. Rajgir
is 70 kilometres away from Bodhgaya. Lord Buddha spent many months of
retreat during the rainy season here, and used to meditate and preach
on the Griddakuta, he hill of the Vultures. It was in Rajgir that Buddha
delivered some of his famous sermons and converted King Bimbisara of the
Magadh Kingdom and countless others top his creed. The places of interest
are the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (built by the Japanese and can be reached
by a chair lift rope way), the Griddakuta (where Lord Buddha used to preach
and alongside is the cave of his most devoted disciples Ananda), Ajatashatru's
fort (built by Ajatashatru's, king of Magadh), Bimbisara's Jail (where
the king Bimbisara was imprisoned by his impatient son Ajatashatru), Swarna
Bhandar (the treasury of Bimbisara) and then there are the Hot springs
and more than 26 Jain temples around Rajgir.
Day 11 : Patna / Kushinagar
Morning drive to Kushinagar (253 Kms - 06 hrs). On arrival check - in
at hotel. Later we visit the Rambhar Stupa - which marks Buddha's cremation
ground. Our second stop is Mahaparinirvana temple - which houses the recumbent
figure of Lord Buddha. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12 : Kushinagar / Saravasti (Balrampur)
Morning drive to Saravasti (216 Kms - 05 hrs). Visit Sahet-Mahet. Overnight
stay at the hotel.
Day 13 : Saravasti / Lumbini
Morning drive to Lumbini (197 Kms - 4.5 hrs) which is in Nepal. Arrive
Lumbini and check - in at hotel. Lumbini is the place where Buddha was
born 2500 years ago. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at the
hotel.
Day 14 : Lumbini / Kathmandu (By flight)
Half Day sightseeing of Lumbini and later at 1545 hrs. transfer to airport
to board flight for Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu at 1620 hrs and transfer
to hotel. Kathmandu - surrounded by green hills and mountains with snow-capped
peaks against its northern and eastern background the Valley is indeed
beautiful. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 15 : In Kathmandu
After breakfast we embark on a city tour of Kathmandu visiting Pashupatinath
Temple - the most sacred of the Hindu temples in Nepal dedicated to lord
Shiva, built in 1696. We carry on the sightseeing tour of the Patan -
a city of architecture and fine arts. Sometimes known as "Town with
a Thousand Golden Roofs". Visit Tibetan Handicraft center at Jawalakhel
to watch carpet weaving.
Post lunch Sightseeing tour of Swayambhunath - the oldest Buddhist shrine.
Looking east from here, one can see the entire Kathmandu valley spread
out below. A short drive will take you to Boudhanath - the worlds largest
stupa; a sight of great reneration to the Buddhist. We continue to Kathmandu
Durbar Square - the temple of the Living Goddess and the old Royal Palace.
Finally, visit Kasthamandup - a temple built from a single tree from which
the Kathmandu derives its name. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 16 : Kathmandu / Out
Transfer to international airport to Board your homeward flight
Buddhist Pilgrimage & Golden Triangle Tour Reservation
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