Buddhist Pilgrim Tour – 08 Nights

Home Buddhist Pilgrim Tour – 08 Nights
In the Footsteps of Lord Buddha
 08N / 09D

 

 Itinerary

Day 01: –   Arrival Bodhgaya                                                                             Mahabodhi Temple - Bodh Gaya    

 Welcome upon arrival at Bodhgaya airport. After assistance transfer to Hotel. Then proceed for sightseeing at Bodhgaya, visiting Mahabodhi Temple (World heritage site), Sujata Village, Nirajana River, 80 feet statue of Lord Buddha and various Monasteries. Mahabodhi Temple is the place where Lord Buddha attained his enlightenment.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya – In the 6th century B.C. Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained Supreme Enlightenment at this Holy place and became the Buddha. The Mahabodhi Mahavihara has now been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO on the 27th June 2002.

Bodhi Tree (Mahabodhi Temple) :- The sacred Bodhi tree – the shades under which the Siddhartha Gautama meditated and attained Enlightenment on the full Moon day of Vaisakh Purnima (May month). This peepal tree’s botanical name is Ficus Religiosa. It was under this tree that the Buddha spent the first week in meditation after attaining Enlightenment. The present tree is probably the fifth succession of the original tree.

Overnight stay at Hotel in Gaya.

Day 02 – Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodhgaya                                          

Today full day excursion of Rajgir and Nalanda. From Bodhgaya to Rajgir is 85 km (03 hours drive), Rajgir to Nalanda is 15 km (30 minute drive) and from Nalanda to Bodhgaya is 90 km (03 hour drive). At Rajgir visit Gridhkuta (Vulture Peak),Venuvana Vihar and Bimbisara Prison. Etc.

 Gridhkuta (Vulture Peak):- Gridhkuta is a hill located at Rajgir, where Loard Buddha carried out many dialogues with his disciples after he achieved enlightenment. It is the place where Lord Buddha started his second helm of commandment and preached many inspiring teaching and sermons to his sermons to his disciples. Gridhakuta hills is also known as Vulture’s Peak.

Venuvana Vihar is a monastery that was the first offering to Lord Buddha by the king Bimbisara. The monastery was given to Lord Buddha so that he along with his monks couldrest here and also give discourse to his disciples.

Bimbisara Prison This Jail is the place where King Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son Ajatshatru, during his last days of life. This place was chosen by the king himself for his incarceration, as from here he could see Lord Buddha going up the Griddhakuta Hill for meditation.Then also visit Nalanda see Ruins of famous Nalanda University and Nalanda Museum.

Ruins of Nalanda University: Nalanda University founded in the 5th century AD, is famous as the ancient seat of learning. The ruins of the world’s most ancient university.  Though the Buddha visited Nalanda several times during his lifetime, this famous center of Buddhist learning shot to fame much later, during 5th-12th centuries. Hieun Tsang stayed here in the 7th century AD and left detailed description of the excellence of education system and purity of monastic life practiced here. Then transfer back to Bodhgaya. On arrival at Bodhgaya, transfer to Hotel.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 03 :- Bodhgaya – Vaishali – Kushinagar

Morning transfer to Kushinagar (390 km – 10 hours drive). En route also visit Vaishali.

Vaishali:- Vaishali today is a small village surrounded by banana and mango groves as well as rice fields. Lord Buddha visited Vaishali frequently and at Kolhua, close by, preached his last sermon. To commemorate the event. On arrival at Kushinagar, transfer to Hotel.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 04: – Kushinagar – Lumbini                                                                            

 Morning visit Mahaparinirvana Temple and Rambhar Stupa (Cremation centre).

Kushinagar :-  In Kushinagar, after teaching Dhamma for 45 yrs, Lord Buddha entered into Mahaparinirvana (passed away) under a sala tree at the age of 80 yrs on full moon day. It is here Lord Buddha announced the four holy places to be visited by every Buddhist pilgrim that is Lumbini- Birth place, Bodhgaya- Enlightenment place, Sarnath- First Sermon place & Kushinagar- Mahaparinirvana place. It is here in Kushinagar after his entering into Mahaparinirvana his body was cremated and the ashes (remains) were divided into eight parts and distributed among eight claimants who enshrined the remains in their kingdoms and built Stupas. Afternoon transfer to Lumbini (175 km – 4.5 hours drive). On arrival at Lumbini transfer to Hotel.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 05: – Lumbini – Sravasti                                                                           

Morning visit to the Birth Place of Lord BuddhaThe Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from as early as the 3rd century BC. The complex of structures within the archaeological conservation area includes the Shakya Tank; the remains within the Maya Devi Temple consisting of brick structures in a cross-wall system dating from the 3rd century BC to the present century and the sandstone Ashoka pillar with its Pali inscription in Brahmi script. Additionally there  are the excavated remains of Buddhist viharas (monasteries) of the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD and the remains of Buddhist stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD. The site is now being developed as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature. Afternoon transfer to Sravasti (200 km – 05 hours drive). On arrival at Sravasti, transfer to Hotel.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 06: – Sravasti – Varanasi                                                                       

Morning visit Saheth and Maheth.

Saheth :- Saheth is one of the most visited clusters of shrines in the Buddhist tourism circuit. Saheth covers an area of around 35 square Kilometers and is located in the very heart of Sravasti. The site falls on your right when you move nearly a kilometer Southwest from Maheth. The place rose to prominence when excavation works revealed that Saheth was the original site of once magnanimous Jetavana monastery.

Maheth :- Maheth is another important cluster of shrines in Sravasti. Though not as famous as Saheth, Maheth also has a cluster of shrines that are very popular among the tourists visiting Sravasti. In fact, Maheth was the actual site of the erstwhile Sravasti city. Spread across the area of near about 400 acres, Maheth was the site of numerous shrines and Stupas. Afternoon transfer to Varanasi (310 km – 07/08 hours drive).

Overnight stay at Varanasi Hotel.

Day 07: – Varanasi – Agra                                                                               

Early morning boat ride on the Holy River Ganges, return to hotel for breakfast. hen AM excursion of Sarnath (Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining Enlightenment at Bodhgaya).

Sarnath :- Sarnath is the place where the Buddha preached his first sermon is home to perhaps the most interesting landmark on India’s religious and historical landscape. This remarkable structure honouring the Buddha was built by Ashoka There’s the Deer Park, where the Buddha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. Towards the southern fringes of the Deer Park are the Mulgandha Vihar, the Dhamek Stupa and the Ashoka Pillar. The 34-metre-high Dhamek Stupa towers over the gardened heart of Sarnath and marks the spot where the Buddha is said to have preached the famous first sermon. The majestic Ashoka Pillar to its east records the visit of Emperor Ashoka to Sarnath and was originally adorned by a capitol of four lions. Now, the four lions, adopted as the National Emblem of India. Late afternoon transfer to railway station to board the train for Agra.

Overnight onboard train.

Day 08: – Arr Agra + to Delhi

Morning arrive Agra Railway station. Transfer to Hotel. Hotel will be provide only for wash and change Then proceed for sightseeing of Taj Mahal. Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan in 1630 for his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the still of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 22 year to complete this ‘Love Poem in Marble’. (Taj Mahal is closed on Friday). Afternoon transfer to Delhi (204 km – 04 hours drive). On arrival at Delhi, transfer to Hotel.

Overnight stay at Hotel.

Day 09: – Departure                                                                                                                                                                                                

Morning sightseeing of New Delhi. Visit the Lotus Temple, also called Bahai Temple (closed on all Monday). This distinctive lotus shaped marvel in marble is surrounded by a landscaped garden and is a symbol of peace. Similar in style to the Sydney opera house is this white marble and concrete structure in the shape of a lotus flower. This is the Asian headquarters of the Bahai faith, India Gate (war memorial dedicated to the lives of laid down by  the Indian soldiers), pas thru the president’s residence – formerly the Viceroy’s Palace, parliament House and the Secretariat buildings, – an interesting blend of the Victorian and 20th century architecture. Then visit Raj Ghat, Set in the midst of deep green lawns, Rajghat is the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. A memorial to the father of the nation, Rajghat is a simple square platform with a black memorial stone with “Hey Ram” inscribed on it. Afternoon enjoy shopping at famous Tourist market – Janpath. Evening transfer to airport to board the Flight for onward destination.

Visit ends

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