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Footsteps of Buddha |
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Tour Highlights |
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Capital city “Delhi” The legendary “Taj Mahal” Pink city “Jaipur”, Sarnath in
Varanasi, Major Buddhist places |
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Covered Places : Delhi – Jaipur – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Varanasi –
Bodhgaya –Nalanda- Rajgir –Vaishali- Kushinagar – Lumbini – Srawasti – Lucknow –
Delhi |
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Duration : 15 Nights / 16 Days |
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Day 01 : Arrival Delhi |
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Arrive New Delhi, India’s Capital, where you are greeted with a traditional
Indian welcome on arrival at the airport and escorted to the hotel. After check
in at hotel our representative will explain you the travel plan and hand over
the essential travel documents to you. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 02 : Delhi
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Morning start full day guided city tour. Start from Old Delhi. Visit Raj Ghat
which is Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, followed by photo stop at Red Fort. Red
Fort, built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan, Jama Masjid, one of the largest
Mosque of India. Here you will enjoy enjoy a cycle rickshaw ride. The pleasure
associated with the rickshaw ride here is ultimate. The rickshaw pullers take
you on a ride through various routes, offering you a different experience all
together.
In the afternoon you will visit New Delhi. Lakshminarayan Temple, a modern Hindu
Temple, The impressive Qutub Minar, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,
built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199 from sandstone and marble, Humayun's Tomb,
memorial of Mughal Emperor Humayun, built in the year 1562. The complex is a
World Heritage Site & the first example of this type of Mughal architecture in
India. India Gate (War Memorial Arch) and drive past the President's House,
Parliament House and Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 03 Delhi –Jaipur (265kms) |
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Morning drive to Jaipur, The “Pink city”. Jaipur is the capital of the Indian
state of Rajasthan, famous for forts, palaces, lakes, sand and colorful culture.
On arrival check in at hotel. Evening at leisure to explore the colorful markets
of the pink city. Overnight at Hotel. |
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Day 04 : Jaipur |
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Morning start guided city tour of Jaipur. Start with Amber Fort. Here you will
enjoy an Elephant ride to reach the Fort situated on the hill, an overwhelming
experience. Later visit, the City Palace, a perfect blend of Rajasthani & Mughal
architecture. Further visit Jantar Mantar (Solar Observatory), an astronomical
treasure house, with solar devices that give accurate predictions till date. You
will also visit Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), a five-storied structure of pink
sandstone. It was built in the year 1799 so that veiled royal women could peer
down the busy street market unseen by the world through its 593 stone Jharokas
(mini windows). Overnight at hotel.
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Day 05: Jaipur –Fatehpur Sikri – Agra (235kms) |
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Morning drive to Agra on the way visit Fatehpur Sikri. (Ghost Capital), the
political capital of India's Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, from the year
1571 until 1585, when it was abandoned, ostensibly due to lack of water. Further
drive to Agra. On arrival check in at hotel. Evening free. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 06: Agra – Varanasi ( By Train) |
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Morning visit wonders of the world, Taj Mahal ( monument of love ), founded by
5thgreat Mughal Emperor Shahi Jahan in the memory of his beloved queen Anjuman
Bano Begum ( with love emperor called her Mumtaz ). After her death in 1627 AD,
in her memory emperor started to built Taj Mahal from 1631 to 1653 AD with
twenty two thousand labors working since sun rise to sun set in twenty two
years. Afterwards visit Agra |
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Fort, was built by three emperors, Akbar & Jahangir in red sand stone & Shahi
Jahan in white marble.
Evening transfer to railway station to board on train to Varanasi.
Overnight in train. |
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Day 07 : Arrive Varanasi
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Morning Morning arrive at Varanasi railway station. Meeting & assistance with
our representative & transfer to hotel. Varanasi situated on the banks of the
sacred Ganges, Varanasi has been a center of pilgrimage and learning for over
2000 years and is considered to be one of the oldest surviving cities in the
world. Later tour the old city visiting the principles temples including Kashi
Hindu University where more than fifty thousand students from all over the world
are learning. In the afternoon drive outside the city to Sarnath where the
Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment 24 centuries ago. Evening one
can see AARTI at river ghat– Worship of the river goddess with incense, camphor,
flowers and earthen lamps. Thousands of |
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illuminated lamps are immersed in the waters of the holy Ganges and the floating
lamps add a divine look to the river at dusk. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 08 : Varanasi – Bodhgaya (240Kms) |
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Early morning boat ride to watch the sunrise over the Ganges when hundred of
people are worshiping & taking bath. Later drive to Bodhgaya. On arrival check
in at hotel. Rest of day free. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 09 : Bodhgaya |
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Morning to proceed for city tour visiting Mahabodhi temple. Bodhgaya is a
magnificent tourist destination as well as an important pilgrim points for the
Buddhists. It earns much of its claimto fame from the fact that Buddha attained
enlightenment here. The main attraction of this town is Mahabodhi temple which
is positioned near the spot where Lord Buddha attained spiritual enlightenment
free for religious activities. Afternoon sightseeing of niranjana river, sujata
village & monasteries of different countries. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 10 : Bodhgaya – Nalanda – Rajgir (75Kms) |
Morning drive to Rajgir enroute visit Nalanda . Established in the 5th century,
the ancient University of Nalanda flourished under the patronage of the various
rulers. This tiny village was the favourite place of Lord Buddha and Mahavira
who had lived here for several years.
Further drive to Rajgir check into the hotel. Rajgir is a very scenic place. The
small hill grit town is covered with lush green forest which add to the beauty
of the place. This place has been associated with Lord Buddha and Buddhism.
Buddha not only spent many years in Rajgir but also delivered sermons here and
proselytized emperor Bimbisar at the Griddhakoota hill. The Jivekarmavan
monastery was the favorite residence for Buddha. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 11 : Rajgir – Viashali - Kushinagar (220Kms) |
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Morning drive to Kushinagar enroute visit Vaishali. Lord Buddha regularly
visited this place and preached his last sermon at Kolhua, a nearby place.
Emperor Ashoka erected one of his well-known lion pillars here in the 3rd
century BC commemorate the event. Further drive to Kushinagar. On arrival check
in at hotel. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 12 - Kushinagar |
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Morning visit Mahaparinirvana Temple: this temple is known for its famous
reclining statue of Buddha. The statue is 20-feet-long and is placed on a brick
platform. Ruins of eight monasteries are found around the main site. Also visit
Ramabhar stupa, Nirvana Stupa & Japanese temple. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 13 : Kushinagar – Lumbini (161Kms) |
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Morning drive to Lumbini . Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, in southwestern
Nepal, nearly twenty-five hundred years ago. The restored gardens and
surroundings of Lumbini have the remains of many of the ancient Stupas and |
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monasteries. A large stone pillar that is said to be erected by the Mauryan
emperor Ashoka in 250 BC bears an inscription about the birth of the Buddha. The
most important attraction of Lumbini is the holy temple of Maya Devi. The temple
has a stone sculpture of Maya Devi in labor pain. The image shows her holding
the branch of a tree while Buddha is getting birth. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 14 : Lumbini – Saravasti – Balrampur (185Kms) |
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Morning drive to Balrampur, enroute visit saravasti. Srawasti is the place where
Lord Buddha spent 24 monsoons. Srawasti, was very much charmed by Buddha and his
teachings. He invited Buddha to his city and honored him by a great welcome.
Buddha used to stay here in Jetvana Vihar, a garden constructed by Sudatta.
Further drive to Balrampur. Upon arrival check in at hotel. Overnight at hotel. |
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Day 15 : Balrampur – Lucknow (135Kms) – Delhi (By Train) |
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Morning drive to Lucknow. On arrival board on train to Delhi. On arrival at New
Delhi railway station transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.
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Day 16 : Departure from Delhi
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Morning drop you at International airport to board on flight for onward
destination.
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