The Great Buddhist Circuit

• Arrival at New Delhi International Airport.
• Meet, assist, and transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Delhi.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• City tour of Delhi, including:
• India Gate- A 42-meter-high war memorial honoring Indian soldiers of World War I and Afghan Wars.
• National War Memorial- A modern monument symbolizing valor and sacrifice through concentric chakras.
• President House (Rashtrapati Bhavan) - The official residence of India’s President, once home to British Viceroys.
• Parliament House- Iconic circular building housing India’s legislative chambers with a grand domed hall.
• After sightseeing fly to Varanasi.
• Evening boat ride on Ganges- Serene Ride offering sunrise views and a glimpse of sacred Hindu rituals.
• Ganga Aarti- A spectacular evening ritual of fire and chant dedicated to the holy Ganges.
• Transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Varanasi.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Excursion to Sarnath visit:
• Dhamekha Stupa- Commemorates Buddha’s first sermon after enlightenment.
• Deer Park- Site of Buddha’s initial teachings to his first disciples.
• Sarnath Museum (Closed on Friday) - Houses important relics including the Lion Capital of Ashoka.
• Drive to Bodhgaya.
• Evening visit to Mahabodhi Temple- Marks the sacred site where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Bodhgaya.

• Excursion to Dungeshwari Hill- Where Buddha practiced severe austerities before choosing the Middle Path.
• Afternoon visits:
• Mahabodhi Temple- Marks the sacred site where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
• Sujata Village- The village where Sujata offered milk-rice to the starving Buddha.
• Niranjana River- Flowing beside Bodhgaya, it's associated with Buddha’s meditation.
• International Monasteries- Built by countries worldwide, showcasing diverse Buddhist traditions.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Bodhgaya.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Drive to Rajgir visit:
• Gridhkutta (Vulture’s Peak) - Hill where Buddha delivered many important teachings.
• Venuvanaram (Bamboo Grove) - Bamboo Grove monastery gifted to Buddha by King Bimbisara.
• Bimbisar Prison- Ruins of the cell where King Bimbisara was imprisoned by his son.
• Drive to Nalanda.
• Visit Ancient University ruins- Site of the ancient Buddhist University that was a global hub of learning.
• Continue to Patna, check-in to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Vaishali.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Proceed to visit :
• Ashokan Pillar- One of Emperor Ashoka’s commemorative pillars marking Buddha's visits.
• Relic Stupa- Believed to enshrine relics of Buddha.
• Coronation Tank- Sacred tank used in coronation rituals of Licchavi kings.
• Stop at Kesariya Stupa- Claimed to be the largest Buddhist stupa in the world, linked to Buddha's final journey. 
• Arrival in Kushinagar, check-in to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at  Kushinagar.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Visit:
• Mahaparinirvana Temple- Marks the spot where Lord Buddha attained final Nirvana (death).
• Ramabhar Stupa- Cremation site of Lord Buddha following his Mahaparinirvana.
• Drive to Lumbini, Nepal (Ensure visa requirements).
• Transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at  Lumbini.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Visit:
• Birthplace of Lord Buddha- Sacred ground where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama.
• Maya Devi Temple- Shrine marking the exact birth spot of Buddha, housing ancient ruins and a marker stone.
• Ashokan Pillar- Erected by Emperor Ashoka to commemorate Buddha’s birthplace.
• International Monasteries- Global Buddhist temples showcasing architectural and cultural diversity.
• Drive to Sravasti.
• Enroute visit Kapilvastu- Ancient capital of the Shakya kingdom where Buddha spent his early years as Prince Siddhartha.
• Transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Sravasti.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Visit:
• Jetvanaram- Monastery where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons teaching and meditating.
• Angulimal Cave- Site where Buddha transformed the fearsome bandit Angulimal into a peaceful monk.
• Drive to Lucknow, transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at  Lucknow.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Drive to Agra.
• Enroute visit Sankasia:
• Sankasia Stupa- Believed to be the site where Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven after preaching to his mother.
• Bisari Devi Temple- A local temple linked to Buddhist legends, now integrated into the Sankasia pilgrimage.
• Arrival in Agra, transfer to hotel.
• Overnight stay in a hotel at Agra.

• Breakfast at hotel.
• Visit:
• Taj Mahal (Closed on Fridays) - Iconic white marble mausoleum built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• Agra Fort– Grand Mughal fort housing palaces and courtyards, showcasing Indo-Islamic architecture.
• Drive to Delhi (210 km / 4.5 hrs).
• Transfer to airport for onward flight.

• Arrival in your home country.

***TOUR ENDS***

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