|
Day 01: Delhi (Arrival)
Around midnight arrival in
Delhi. The cosmopolitan city and capital New Delhi is the main
gateway for the travellers to India. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.
D
Day 02: Delhi - Agra (about 200 km)
Today we drive to
Agra. On arrival after a short break We visit to the
Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this massive structure began in
1565 under Akbar's reign and continued till the time of his grandson's reign, Shah Jahan who built the impressive
imperial quarters and mosque. After the visit of Agra Fort we proceed to visit the most
beautiful monument of India, the
Taj
Mahal,
an enduring monument to love, with a
continually fulfilling beauty. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between
1631-52, as a tomb and memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace),
who died at the age of 39 giving birth to her 14th child. BD
Day 03: Agra - Sravasti (about
390 km)
Today we will drive to Sravasti. Sravasti (ancient Savatthi) was the capital of Kosala
Mahajanapada and was the biggest town in the Gangetic plains during the Buddha's lifetime.
Sravasti was host to the Master for 25 years during the annual vassavasa (rain retreat)
when the Sangha congregated at one place. In the evening we visit the famous monastery
where Lord Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons preaching. Overnight stay in Sravasti.
BD
Day 04: Sravasti - Kapilvastu - Lumbini
In the morning we
drive to kapilvastu, Once the center of the Shakya clan, where
Siddhartha spent his childhood and made "trips" with his charioteer
who encouraged him to think about the meaning of life. We visit some
excavations. later drive to Lumbini a village in Nepal near the
Indian border.
BD
Day 05: Lumbini - Kushinagar
Today we drive to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is the place that the Buddha chose for his
Mahaparinirvana, or final exit from this earth. Kushinagar or Kushinara
as it was then known was the capital of the Malla republic, one of the republican states of northern India during
the 6th and 5th centuries BC. There are several new monasteries and temples. In the
evening we visit the Rambhar Stupa that marks Buddha's cremation ground. Mahakashyapa lit
the funeral pyre at Mukutabandha Vihara (Rambhar Stupa) in Kushinagar. Today not much
remains of this stupa expect a large brick mound rising to a height of almost 15
metres set within a well-kept park. We also visit the large Burmese Chandramani Bhikshu Bharamasala.
This is the oldest monastery in Kushinagar. BD
Day 06: Kushinagar - Vaishali - Rajgir (about 308 km)
Today we drive to
Rajgir. Enroute we visit Vaishali. we drive further to Rajgir. During the
lifetime of the Buddha, Rajgir (Rajgriha) was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous king Bimbisara. This town attracts various pilgrims and tourists.
BD
Day 07: Rajgir - Nalanda - Rajgir (about 30 km)
Today after having breakfast we visit Nalanda,
the ancient Buddhist university. After visiting Nalanda we drive
back to Rajgir.
BD
Day 08: Rajgir - Bodhgaya (about 70 km)
Today we will visit the Vishwa Shanti Stupa. It is a marble structure with niches bearing
golden images of the Buddha, built by the Nipponza Myohoji sect of Japan. Then we will drive further to Griddhakuta. The strange rock protrusion resembling a vulture's beak probably gave
the hill its name. In the rock cut caves here the Buddha spent many rainy seasons,
meditating and preaching. After visiting the Rajgir we drive to Bodhgaya.
BD
Day 09. Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya (once
Uruvela village) is the place where 2500 years ago in the 6th century BC, a young ascetic,
Siddhartha attained enlightenment to become the Buddha and found Buddhism, one of the
world's oldest religions. Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of the Buddhists. Today we visit the
Mahabodhi temple built to mark the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment. The
famous Mahabodhi temple, which stands in the centre of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, has
been restored and rebuilt over the centuries. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex houses all the
major pilgrimage spots. A large circular stone with the Buddha's footprints is kept in a small
shrine on the left. We also visit the Bodhgaya museum that is located near the Mahabodhi
temple. It houses antiquities excavated in and around Bodh Gaya. It has a large collection of
Buddhist and Hindu relics, terracotta seals, scriptures and pillars from the Sunga period.
BD
Day 10: Bodhgaya - Varanasi (about 294 km)
In the morning we drive further to
Varanasi. Varanasi is without doubt India's most sacred
city and thus visited by over one million people. Varanasi is also called the city of light and
also known as Kashi or Benaras. Buddha visited this city in 500 BC. Varanasi is regarded as
one of the oldest and the holiest city. According to the Indian chronicles, Varanasi was
established as a city around twelve hundred years ago before the Christian era.
Later we visit the city of Varanasi and drive further to
Sarnath
(about 10 km). Sarnath is the place
where Buddha delivered his first sermon at deer park.
BD
Day 11: Varanasi - Delhi (flight)
In the early morning we take boat ride on the holy River Ganges and enjoy sunrise on the
boat.
Ghats (flight of steps) and the activities of pilgrims on that
are the principal attraction for visitors to Varanasi. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit this city to make holy
prayers, to meditate and to purify themselves through taking a bath in the holy river Ganges. In the evening we drive to the
airport to catch the flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met
by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.
Rooms are available to get fresh and change before we depart to the
airport with Indo Vacations representative.
BD
Day 12: Flight to home
Around midnight flight
to home destination.
About Hotels:
We provide you the accommodation as
per your budget mentioned above in the table of hotels category for
any of the booked tour. Hotels provided by us are from budget to
luxury class hotels. The criteria for selecting hotels by us remains
the best value of your money. We also provide you wherever possible
accommodation in heritage hotels. Heritage Hotels are old Palaces,
Forts and Grand mansions of Maharajas which have been later
renovated and converted into Hotels. Rooms are decorated all
individually. Rooms are comfortable, romantic and present the flair
of olden Maharaja days. |
Chat
