Buddhist tour with Taj Mahal India

Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days

Destinations Covered: Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Sravasti - Delhi

Detailed Tour Itinerary :-

Day 01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Over Night stay in Delhi.

Day 02 / Delhi
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi :
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, Lotus Temple and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Overnight Delhi.

Day 03 / Delhi - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur- the fabled "pink city"of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharaja of Jaipur. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal processions and splendours are now living. Arrive Jaipur in approx 5 hours & transfer to hotel. Later visit the majestic Amber Fort, is one that cannot be easily described. Ride up on Elephants to the former capital of the royals set against the backdrop of the wooded hills. Also visit the City Palace- still home to the Maharaja although several of the rooms are now open to the public. Many antiques and artefacts belonging to the ruling family are housed here. Palace of Winds also known as Hawa mahal, this elaborate building, now little more than a facade, is encrusted with delicate screen sand carved balconies from which the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could sneak views of the outside world. Past, present and future merge at Jai Singh's observatory, where time has been accurately measured since the 17th century. Night stay in Jaipur.

Day 04 / Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly preserved red sandstone "ghost town" which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply failed. Arrive Agra & visit the magnificent Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Also visit the Red fort - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly kingdoms. Late evening transfer to railway station to board the train to Varanasi (Dep from Agra at 2100 hrs Arr Varanasi at 0830 hrs) Overnight in the train.

Day 05 / Varanasi
Morning arrive Varanasi -said to be the India's most sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city, sunrise on the river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi & transfer to hotel Later excursion to Sarnath -where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modern temple. Evening view "Aarti" ceremony on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.

Day 06 / Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning drive to Bodhgaya & transfer to hotel. Bodhgaya -As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Later visit Mahabodhi Temple, Niranjana River, Sujata Village. Night stay in Bodhgaya.

Day 07 / Bodhgaya - Ragjir - Nalanda - Patna
After breakfast drive to Patna enroute sightseeing of Nalanda & Rajgir. Rajgir -The picturesque Rajgir, or Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally, the abode of kings) is surrounded by the meandering river Banganga and 5 hills. During the lifetime of the Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The hills and caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka school to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers. Like many others in search of truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation. Nalanda -Nalanda was the most renowned university in ancient India. It derived its name from Na-alam-da, meaning Insatiable in Giving, one of the names by which the Lord Buddha was known Lunch at nice city restaurant at Rajgir. On arrival Check-in to Hotel. Dinner & Over Night stay at Hotel in Patna.

Day 08 / Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar enroute visiting Vaishali. Arrive Kushinagar & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Kushinagar. Kushinagar-Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha.

Day 09 / Kushinagar - Lumbini
After breakfast visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple & Stupas, later drive to Lumbini & transfer to hotel. Lumbini - the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years. Evening sightseeing tour of Lumbini including a visit to the birth Place of Lord Buddha. Night stay in Lumbini.

Day 10 / Lumbini - Sravasti - Delhi
After breakfast drive to Lucknow enroute Sravasti. Sravasti-the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has age-old stupas,majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here. In Sravasti visit Saheth - Maheth & Jetvan. Arrive Lucknow & transfer to airport to connect the flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.

Day 11 / Departure
Transfer to airport to board the flight for onwards destination.

*** .Tour Ends ***