Footsteps of the Buddha

• Arrival at New Delhi International Airport.
• Welcome, assistance, and transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in hotel at Delhi.

• Breakfast at hotel and check-out.
• Transfer to airport for flight to Lucknow.
• On arrival Lucknow.
• Drive to Sravasti (180 km / 4.5 hrs).
• Transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Sravasti.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Visit:
• Jetvanaram- A monastery donated by King Sudatta (Anathapindika) where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons teaching.
• Angulimal Caves- Caves associated with the reformation of Angulimal, a feared bandit turned disciple of Buddha.
• Drive to Lumbini (Nepal) (190 km / 5–6 hrs).
• Arrival, hotel check-in.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Lumbini.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Visit Birthplace of Lord Buddha- The exact spot where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama.
• Drive to Kushinagar (130 km / 4 hrs).
• Visit:
• Mahaparinirvana Temple- Marks the place where Lord Buddha attained final Nirvana (death).
• Ramabhar Stupa- Cremation site of Lord Buddha after his Mahaparinirvana.
• Hotel check-in.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Kushinagar.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Drive to Patna (280 km / 7 hrs).
• Enroute visit Vaishali.
• Ashokan Pillar- One of Emperor Ashoka’s stone pillars marking sacred Buddhist sites.
• Relic Stupa- Enshrines a portion of Buddha’s ashes.
• Coronation Tank- Sacred water tank used for royal consecration rituals.
• Arrival in Patna, hotel check-in.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Vaishali

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Drive to Nalanda (85 km).
• Visit Ruins of Nalanda University- Remains of the world’s first residential university and a great Buddhist learning center established in the 5th century CE.
• Drive to Rajgir (15 km).
• Visit:
• Gridhkutta Peak- A sacred hill where Buddha delivered several important teachings.
• Venuvanaram- The first monastery donated to Buddha by King Bimbisara, known as the Bamboo Grove.
• Bimbisar Jail- Historic prison where King Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son Ajatashatru.
• Drive to Bodhgaya (65 km).
• Hotel check-in.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Bodhgaya.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Full-day sightseeing:
• Mahabodhi Temple- Sacred temple marking the spot of Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
• Sujata Village- The village where a woman named Sujata offered milk-rice to Buddha, ending his extreme fasting.
• Niranjana River- River near which Buddha meditated before enlightenment.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Bodhgaya.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Drive to Varanasi (250 km).
• On arrival, visit Sarnath (14 km).
• Sightseeing:
• Dhamekha Stupa- Built at the site where Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining enlightenment.
• Deer Park- The location where Buddha first taught the Dharma to his five disciples.
• Sarnath Museum- Houses the Lion Capital of Ashoka and other significant Buddhist artifacts.
• Return to Varanasi, hotel check-in.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at  Varanasi.

• Early morning boat ride- A serene experience observing ancient Hindu rituals and the spiritual essence of Varanasi at sunrise.
• Return to hotel for breakfast.
• Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi, then onward flight to home destination.

***TOUR ENDS***

****WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY JOURNEY****