Buddhist Circuit Tour

Arrival in Kolkata: Welcome on arrival at Kolkata 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 Kolkata Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning Fly To Gaya: Arrive: In Bodhgaya, check-in at the hotel.

Bodhgaya is famous as the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.

Proceed to Visit:

• Mahabodhi Temple: is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.
• Bodhi Tree: is a sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) that holds immense spiritual significance for Buddhists worldwide.
• 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: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit in Morning:

• Dungeshwari Caves: re a sacred group of caves nestled in a rocky hill, where Prince Siddhartha (the Buddha) spent nearly six years in severe penance and meditation before attaining enlightenment.

Transfer: Depart for Rajgir. Arrive: In Rajgir check in at the hotel. After take rest do sightseeing.

Proceed to Visit:

• 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: the first monastery gifted to Gautama Buddha by King Bimbisara of Magadha.

Overnight stay: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Rajgir Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Enroute Visit: Nalanda (15 km from Rajgir).

• Visit Nalanda University ruins – one of the world’s oldest universities and an ancient Buddhist center of learning.
• Visit Nalanda Archaeological Museum: famous for preserving rare and ancient artifacts excavated from the ruins of Nalanda University, one of the world’s oldest and greatest centers of learning (5th–12th century CE).

Transfer: Depart to Vaishali, where Buddha gave his last sermon.

Arrive: Check in at the Vaishali hotel. After take rest do sightseeing.

Proceed to Sightseeing:

• Ashokan Pillar: is famous for being one of the best-preserved and earliest pillars erected by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, to honor Lord Buddha and commemorate his last sermon at Vaishali.
• Relic Stupa: is a Buddhist monument built to house sacred relics of the Buddha or other important Buddhist saints.
• World Peace Pagoda: is a Buddhist monument built to promote peace, harmony, and non-violence worldwide.
• Coronation Tank: is a sacred water reservoir located in Kapilavastu (believed to be near present-day Tilaurakot, Nepal or Piprahwa, India), associated with the Shakya Kingdom and the early life of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).

Overnight stay: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Vaishali Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart for Kushinagar, the site of Lord Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.

Arrive: In Kushinagar check in at the hotel. After take rest do sightseeing.

Enroute: Visit Kesariya: The largest Buddhist stupa of the world.

Proceed to 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: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Kushinagar Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart for Lumbini, Nepal – birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Cross Indo-Nepal border at Sonauli (carry valid ID or passport).

Arrive: In Lumbini check in at the hotel. After take rest do sightseeing.

• 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: is an ancient Buddhist temple situated at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal. It is the main temple at Lumbini, a site traditionally considered the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
• Ashoka Pillar: is a monolithic stone pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
• Sacred garden- is the holy area surrounding the exact birthplace of Lord Buddha, where Queen Māyā Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama.
• Various monasteries built by different countries.

Overnight stay: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Lumbini Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive back to India; border crossing again at Sonauli.

Transfer: Depart to Shravasti, where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons.

Enroute: 

• Kapilvastu- This is where Siddhartha lived until the age of 29 before embarking on the spiritual journey that led to his enlightenment.
• The Kingdom of King Suddhodana: the kingdom is known as the birthplace and early home of Siddhartha Gautama, who later attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Arrive  Shravasti check in at the hotel. After take rest do sightseeing.

Proceed to Sightseeing: 

• 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: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Shravasti Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Drive to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India.

Proceed for Sightseeing:

• Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat – a mesmerizing ritual of lamps and chants.

Overnight stay: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Varanasi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Proceed for boat ride on the Ganges – witness sunrise and rituals on ghats.

• Visit Sarnath – is where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
• Dhamek Stupa: Lord Buddha gave his first sermon here to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya.
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihar – The Vihara enshrined with the sacred relics of Shakyamuni Buddha.
• Sarnath Museum: The Buddhist artifacts excavated from Sarnath, kept here.
• 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.

Transfer: Depart to Bodhgaya in the evening.

Overnight stay: Back to hotel and overnight stay at Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast, Check-out from hotel and Departure.

Transfer to Airport: Timely transfer to Gaya airport to catch the flight for your return to Kolkata then proceed for departure from Kolkata to onward destination.