Buddhist Circuit Special Packages 2

Destinations: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti - Lumbini - Kushinagar - Varanasi - Bodhgaya – Patna
Duration: 6 nights & 7 days

Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - Delhi / Lucknow / Sravasti Leave Delhi by flight or train for Lucknow arrive Lucknow, meeting and assistance and straight proceed to Sravasti by bus / car (170 kms). Arrive Sravasti, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Sravasti.

Shravasti:
Shravasti, the north-eastern town, located near the West Rapti River is closely associated with the life of Gautama Buddha. Buddha is believed to have spent 24 Chaturmases here. Age-old stupas, majestic viharas and several temples establish Buddha's association with Shravasti. It is being said that the Vedic Bharat period king Sravast founded this town, the capital of the Kosala Kingdom during 6th BC to 6th AD. This prosperous trading center was well known for its religious...

Day 2 - Sravasti / Lumbini
Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit Sahet Mahet, capital of ancient Kingdom of Kosala, Jetvana Vihar & Buddhist temples. Leave Sravasti for Lumbini (in Nepal, 225 kms). Arrive Lumbini, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Lumbini. Lumbini- where Lord Buddha was Born.

Lumbini:
Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, the place where Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama. Siddartha as the Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist tradition. Between roughly 563 and 483 BCE, Lumbini was one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath.

Day 3 - Lumbini/ Kushinagar
Morning visit Mayadevi temple, Ashokan Pillar & stupas. Leave Lumbini for Kushinagar (161 kms.). Arrive Kushinagar, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Kushinagar Kushinagar - The place where Buddha entered perfect tranquillity the state of MahaPariNirvana.

Kushinagar
Kushinagar: Kushinagar is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha is thought to have attained Parinirvana after his death. In ancient times, it was known as Kushavati and finds mention in epic Ramayan as the city of Kusha the son of Ram. Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India, later known as Kushinara, one of the most important holy sites for Buddhists. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained final Nirvana.

Day 4 - Kushinagar / Varanasi
Morning visit MahaPariNirvana temple & Ramabhar Stupa (cremation place of Lord Buddha). After breakfast leave Kushinagar for Varanasi (260 kms), On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight in Varanasi. Sarnath- the place where Lord Buddha preached First Sermon.

Varanasi:
Varanasi is situated on the banks of the Ganges, 320 kilometres southeast of Lucknow. It is regarded as a holy city by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains as it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the oldest in India. The Kashi Naresh is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi while the culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in North India for thousand...

Day 5 - Varanasi / Bodhgaya
Early morning boat ride on river Ganges to see the Bathing & Cremation Ghats. Breakfast at hotel. Morning city sightseeing tour visiting Bharat Mata temple, and Banaras Hindu University. Leave Varanasi for Bodhgaya (242 kms), enroute visiting Sarnath- The buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his First Sermon. Visit Buddhist temple, Stupas, Museum and ruins. On arrival at Bodhgaya, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Bodhgaya Bodhgaya- the place where Lord Buddha attained Enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi Tree.

Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya: Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex. It is famous for being the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained Enlightenment, also known as Bodhimandala. The place-name, Bodh Gaya, did not come into use until the 18th century CE as historically it was known as Uruvela, Sambodhi or Mahabodhi. The main monastery of Bodh Gaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihara, which is now called the Mahabodhi Temple

Day 6 - Bodhgaya / Patna
Breakfast at hotel. Morning visit Mahabodhi Temple. Leave Bodhgaya for Patna enroute visiting Rajgir & Nalanda. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. Afternoon visit Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara jail. Drive to Nalanda which is 14 kms drive and it was one of the oldest University of the World & International Centre for Buddhist Studies. Drive to Patna which is 90 kms, on arrival at Patna transfer to railway station / airport to connect train / flight for Delhi.

Patna:
Patna is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world as Ancient city, known as Pataliputra, was the capital of the Magadha Empire under the Haryanka, Nanda, Mauryan, Sunga, Gupta and Pala. Pataliputra was also a seat of learning and fine arts as its population during the Maurya period in 300 BCE was about 400,000. The modern city of Patna is situated on the southern bank of the Ganges, which also straddles the rivers Sone, Gandak and Punpun.

Day 7 - Delhi / Onward Destination.
Leave Delhi for onward destination.

Cost per Person for the proposed tour will be:
(Rates are in INR)

Hotels Used

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Accommodation in Standard room at :
• Stay on CP Basis.
• Transportation by NAC Quails / Tavera / Scorpio / Innova (as per availability) for arrival / departure transfers, sightseeing as per the itinerary.
• Assistance at the airport while arriving and departing.
• All applicable luxury/ road taxes.

THE PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Airfares train fare.
• Any monastery entrance fees, Any Joy ride or rafting.
• Medical expenses (apart from first aid) and insurance of any kind.
• Tips, laundry, liquors, wines, mineral water, telephone charges, camera fee and items of personal nature.
• Transportation is not on disposal basis. It is strictly as per the programme, any extra running will be charges extra.
• Any other item not mentioned in the cost includes section.