Footsteps of Lord Budha
Day - 1 : Arrive Delhi
Meeting and greetings on arrival at Delhi’s International Airport and transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day - 2 : At Delhi
Morning after breakfast at the hotel commence full day city tour of Old and New Delhi. In Old Delhi you will visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. In New Delhi 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 at the hotel.
Day - 3 : Delhi to Agra by train
Very early in the morning transfer to Railway Station to board Shatabdi Express train for Agra at 6 AM. Breakfast, water bottle and news paper will be served by the Rail on board. Meeting on arrival at Agra Raiway Station at 8 AM and proceed for a tour of Ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri. On arrival, check in into hotel. Later return to Agra and visit the monument of love The Taj Mahal, Red Fort . Later time to relax at a hotel where day use room will be reserved.
After relaxed evening and dinner transfer to Agra Railway Station to board overnight train for Varanasi at 9.15 PM. Overnight on board.
Day - 4 ; Arrive - Varanasi
Meeting on arrival at Varanasi Railway Station at 9.30 AM and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the morning is left free to relax at the 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 - 5 : Varanasi / Bodhgaya – by car
Early morning excursion to the Holy River Ganges for boat ride at dawn , followed by a city tour covering - Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Temple etc. Return to the hotel. After relaxed breakfast proceed to Bodhgaya by Car. Arrive Bodhgaya and check in at the hotel . Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel near temple complex.
Day 6 : At Bodhgaya
Full day free at Bodhgaya to explore temples. Overnight at the htoel.
Day - 7 : Bodhgaya to Rajgir / Nalanda to Patna by car
Morning after an early breakfast proceed to Patna via visiting 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 was founded in the 5th century known as center of intellectualism. Continue driving to Patna and check in at the hotel on arrival for overnight stay.
Day 08 : Patna to Kushinagar via Vaishali by car
Morning after breakfast at the hotel proceed to Vaishali, a very special place to Buddhists as The Lord delivered his last sermon & announced his impending " Nirwana". See the majesty of Ashok Pillar – Lotus tank, Chaumukhi. After visiting continue on to Kushinagar and check in at the hotel on arrival for overnight stay.
Day – 09 : Kushinagar - Lumbini by car
Morning visit Mahanirvana Temple, the modern Japan and Srilanka Buddhist center & monasteries. Later proceed to Lumbini (In Nepal) and check in at the hotel for overnight stay. Overnight at hotel.
Day - 10 : Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti - Balrampur by car
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. Later proceed to Balrampur enroute visiting Sravasti where you will see the extensive ruins of this ancient city & Jetavana Monastery. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight at hotel.
Day - 11 : Balrampur to Lucknow to Delhi
Morning after breakfast at the hotel proceed by car to Lucknow to board Shatabdi Express train for Delhi at 3.35 PM. Dinner will be served on board by the train.
Meeting on arrival at New Delhi Railway Station at 10.10 PM and transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 12 – Depart Delhi
Transfer to the airport in time to board flight for onward destination.
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