|
Day 01 : DELHI / PATNA : Depart Delhi by morning flight to
2500 year old ancient city of Patna. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon excursion
to Vaishali (1 hour) the place where the Buddha preached his last sermon, announcing
his approaching Nirvana. Visit the stupa, holding urns containing ashes of the Buddha
and the Ashoka pillar which were erected by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to mark the
place sanctified by the Buddha. Vaishali is also famous for Madhubani paintings
on the walls of village houses. Overnight Patna.
Day 02 : PATNA / RAJGIR: Morning drive to Rajgir (2 hrs)
capital of the 6th century Magadha empire. It was the revered site of the Buddha's
religious discourses. The Buddha spent many years here, tending the regions hills & wilderness deal for contemplation. Visit the Gridhrakuta, Saptaparni Cave,
Ajatasatru fort and Venuvana. After noon, visit to Nalanda, the worlds oldest university
founded in the 5th century. Visit the monasteries & temples with impressive
Buddhist and Hindu images, also visit Institute for Research into Buddhism &
Pali literature which houses rare manuscripts. Also visit archeological museum.
Overnight Rajgir.
Day 03 : RAJGIR / BODHGAYA: Early morning drive to Bodhgaya enroute
visit Borobar coves (4 hrs walk) earliest examples of rock cut sanctuaries. Mast
impressive craftsmanship of carving and inscriptions can be seen.The caves are also
the inspiration of the setting of E.M.Foresters "A Passage to India". Arrive Bodhgaya
in The evening. Check into hotel. Overnight Bodhgaya.
Day 04: BODHGAYA: Is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centers,
for,
it was here that Gautam Buddha attained enlightenment to become the Buddha.
Visit the Stahabodhi temple, Japanese & Tibetan monasteries, Magadha university
and museum. Overnight Bodhgaya.
Day 05 : BODHGAYA / VARANASI : Early morning depart for Varanasi
(optional by train from Gaya). Arrive by lunch. Check into hotel. Afternoon city
sightseeing visiting ghats and temples. Evening boat cruise on the Ganges. Overnight
Varanasi.
Day 06 : VARANASI / SARNATH / KUSHINAGAR / GORAKHPUR: Morning,
excursion to Sarnath (10km). The principal center of Buddhism. It was here around
530 BC that Buddha preached his first sermon after gaining enlightenment. Visit
the Dhamekh and the Dharmorajika stupas and the Buddhist shrines. Afternoon, drive
to Kushinagar, the place where the Buddha passed into parinirvan or Visit stupas
& monasteries. Overnight Gorakhpur.
Day 07 : GORAKHPUR / BALRAMPUR : Visit Sravasti & Buddhist
shrines Overnight Balrampur
Day 08 : BALRAMPUR / LUCKNOW / DELHI : Drive to Lucknow (150 kms)
to board for flight to Delhi.
|