Buddha Enlightenment Tour With Taj

Arrival in Delhi: Welcome on arrival at New Delhi Airport, where a Magadh tours executive will meet and greet at the airport with a traditional welcome.

Transfer: After meet-and-assist services, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight stay: At Delhi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart for Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal.

Arrive: Check-in at Hotel in Agra.

Proceed to Visit:

• Taj Mahal (Closed on every Friday): The world-renowned symbol of love, built by Emperor Shah Jahan.
• Agra Fort: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a former imperial residence of the Mughal dynasty.

Overnight Stay: At Agra Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart to Lucknow

Enroute: Visit Sankasia

Proceed to Visit Sankasia:

• Sacred site: where Lord Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven.
• Ashokan Pillar: Built by Emperor Ashoka to mark the sacred spot. The elephant capital of the pillar still remains.
• Ruins of ancient stupas and monasteries surrounding the area.

Arrive: Check-in at Lucknow Hotel and take rest.

Overnight Stay: At Lucknow Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Shravasti: One of the six largest cities in ancient India and a prominent Buddhist site.

Proceed to visit Buddhist Sites:

• The ruins of Jetavana Monastery: where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons.
• Ananda Bodhi Tree: Planted as a symbolic substitute for the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment.
• Saheth-Maheth ruins of stupas and monasteries: is a major Buddhist archaeological and pilgrimage site, featuring the ruins of ancient stupas, monasteries, and temples associated with Lord Buddha.

Overnight Stay: At Shravasti Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart to Lumbini: Located in Nepal, it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Complete immigration formalities at the India-Nepal border.

Proceed to visit:

• The Holy Birthplace of Lord Buddha: is a sacred place located in Rupandehi District of southern Nepal, and it is world-famous as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
• Maya Devi Temple: Marks the exact birthplace of Buddha.
• Ashokan Pillar: The tall stone columns erected by Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE) after his conversion to Buddhism.
• Sacred Pond: also known as Pushkarini, lies just beside the Maya Devi Temple, the exact site where Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was born around 563 BCE.
• Various international monasteries in the monastic zone.

Overnight Stay: At Lumbini Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart to Kushinagar: is the place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (final liberation).

Proceed to visit Sightseeing:

• Mahaparinirvana Temple: marks the sacred place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, or final nirvana, after his death.
• Ramabhar Stupa: It is considered one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, symbolizing the Buddha’s final release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).
• Indo-Japan Temple: is a prominent Buddhist temple built through the collaboration between India and Japan.

Overnight Stay: At Kushinagar Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Varanasi: One of the oldest living cities in the world and a major spiritual hub.

Arrive and check-in at the hotel and take rest.

Proceed to Visit:

• Dhamekha Stupa: A massive and sacred monument marking the spot where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. 
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihar: The Vihara enshrined with the sacred relics of Sakyamuni Buddha.
• Ashokan Pillar: Marked the site of Buddha’s first sermon. It is famed for its Lion Capital, now the national emblem of India.
• Deer Park: A sacred site where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment, marking the beginning of the Buddhist Sangha.
• Sarnath Museum: It is dedicated to preserving and displaying artifacts related to Buddhism, especially those connected to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha.

Overnight Stay: At Varanasi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

• Morning Boat Ride on the Ganges: Witness sunrise and daily life on the Ghats.

Proceed to visit:

• Sarnath: Where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon.
• Sarnath Museum: It houses the findings and excavations at the archaeological site of Sarnath.

Transfer to Bodhgaya: Drive to Bodhgaya in the afternoon.

Check-in at hotel.

Overnight Stay: At Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit Sightseeing:

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit: 

• Mahabodhi Temple: is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.
• Sujata village: Associated with a Woman Sujata, who offered milk-rice (sweet rice pudding) to Lord Buddha before getting enlightenment.
• Niranjana River: Bodhgaya is situated on the bank of river Niranajana – it is considered to be Holy symbol of Buddhism connected with the life of Lord Buddha.
• Various international monasteries: The monasteries of different countries E.G. Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, etc. including 80 ft. Buddha statue.

Overnight Stay: At Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Early morning excursion:

Proceed to Visit Rajgir: 

• Gridhakuta Hill: Known as Vulture’s Peak because its shape resembles a vulture’s beak. Buddha spent a lot of time meditating and teaching here.
• Venuvana Monastery: the first monastery gifted to Gautama Buddha by King Bimbisara of Magadha.

Proceed to Nalanda (30 minutes), home to the ancient Nalanda University, a great center of learning in ancient India.

• Nalanda University ruins: One of the world’s oldest universities and a center of learning for Mahayana Buddhism.
• Nalanda Archaeological Museum: the ancient International Monastic University established in 5th century BC, which taught Vedas, Logic, Grammar, Medicine, Meta-Physics, Prose Composition and Rhetoric.

Back to Bodhgaya: Return to Bodhgaya in the evening.

Overnight Stay: At Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Check-out from hotel.

Transfer to Airport: Timely transfer to airport to catch the flight for onward destination.