The Footsteps of Lord Buddha

Arrival in Delhi: Welcome on arrival at Varanasi International 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

Evening: Witness the divine Ganga Aarti Ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat – a beautiful spiritual performance of lights, chants, and incense on the sacred Ganges. Overnight Stay: At Varanasi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Sunrise boat ride on the Ganges.

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.

Transfer: Depart to Bodhgaya (approx. 5 hours / 250 Kms).

Arrive Bodhgaya: Check in to the hotel and take rest. 

Overnight Stay: At Bodhgaya Hotel.

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 Niranjana – 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.

Transfer: Depart to Vaishali (approx. 3 hours / 150 Kms) - an ancient city of great historical and religious significance in India.

Enroute: Rajgir known for its hot springs and as a meditation retreat for Buddha and Mahavira. 

• Vulture’s Peak (Gridhakuta): where Buddha delivered many sermons.
• Venuvana Monastery: Gifted by King Bimbisara.

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

• Visit Nalanda ruins: One of the world’s oldest universities and a center of learning for Mahayana Buddhism.
• Nalanda Archaeological Museum: one of the world’s earliest and most famous centers of higher learning and Buddhist studies.

Arrive: Check in to the hotel in Vaishali.

Overnight Stay: At Vaishali Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit:

• Ashokan Pillar: a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site and a historical monument.
• 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).

Transfer: Depart to Kushinagar (approx. 5-6 hours / 250 Kms).

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

Arrive: Check in to your hotel in Kushinagar.

Overnight Stay: At Kushinagar Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit Kushinagar:

• 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.

Transfer: Depart for Lumbini. Approx. (3 hours/150 Kms) - Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Kindly obtain double entry visa for India & single entry visa for Nepal). Check in to your hotel in Lumbini.

Overnight Stay: At Lumbini Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

• 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.

Transfer: Depart to Shravasti (4-5 hours/200 Kms).

Arrive: Check in to your hotel in Shravasti.

Overnight Stay: At Shravasti Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit:

• 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.

Transfer: Depart to Lucknow. Arrive: Check in to your hotel in Lucknow.

Overnight Stay: At Lucknow Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart for Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal. (Approx. 4-5 Hrs / 350 Kms).

Arrive: Check in at the Hotel in Agra.

Overnight Stay: At Agra Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

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.

Transfer: Depart to Delhi (Approx. 4 Hrs / 250 Kms)

Arrive: Check in at the Hotel in Delhi.

Overnight Stay: At Delhi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit:

• Agrasen Ki Baoli: is famous for its historical significance, architectural uniqueness, and mysterious aura.
• Drive Pass India Gate: is a war memorial in New Delhi built to honor Indian soldiers who died in World War I and other wars.
• Drive Pass Parliament House: as the Sansad Bhavan, is one of the most important buildings in India 
• Drive Pass President House: is the official residence of the President of India, and one of the most iconic buildings in the country.

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