Buddhist Pilgrimage

• Arrival Gaya International airport. Meeting and Greeting at the airport. Transfer to hotel in Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment and spiritual home of Buddhists. It attracts many believers from all over the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres and in the second place of the four holy sites in Buddhism.
• Afternoon sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi Temple - The temple, named after the Buddha, is a sacred place for the Buddhists in Bodh Gaya, Maha- bodhi tree - The tree is considered holy since Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under it. Also visit monastries of different countries and Archaeological Museum. Overnight stay at Bodhgaya Hotel.

Morning leave Bodhgaya for Patna (182 kms - 6 hrs) enroute visiting Rajgir and Nalanda. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. Rajgir is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site since the Buddha spent 12 years here and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha was hosted here at the Saptaparni caves. Afternoon visit Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara jail. Drive to Nalanda which is 14 kms drive and it was one of the oldest Universities of the World and International Centre for Buddhist Studies. Drive to Patna which is 90 kms, on arrival at Patna transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

Morning proceed to Kushinagar (approx. 256 kms and 07 hrs drive) enroute visiting Vaishali - place where Buddha announced the approaching of his Mahaparinirvana. After that continue drive to Kushinagar (place where Lord Buddha had left the world behind him after offering an invaluable contribution to humanity, the great religion known as Buddhism). On arrival Kushinagar, transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (where Buddha took his last breathe) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha). Overnight stay at Kushinagar hotel.

Morning drive to Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha (180 kms and 05 hrs drive). On arrival, transfer to hotel. . Afternoon visit the birth place of Buddha - Mayadevi Temple. This place is a blessed one for its serenity and the natural beauty, purely coinciding to the perception of a place where the legend was born. Overnight stay at Lumbini hotel.

Morning leave for Sravasti (225 kms and 5.30 hrs drive) enroute visiting Kapilavastu - the childhood home of Gautam Buddha. Afterthat proceed to Sravasti where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. Here he is said to have performed many miracles, and levitated. During the monsoon, he used to stay at the Jetavana monastery on the outskirts of this town. Visit Sahet Mahet and Angulimal caves. Overnight stay in Sravasti.

Morning proceed to Varanasi (300 kms / 08 hrs drive)- one of the oldest living cities of the world. On arrival Varanasi, trip to Sarnath (12 kms from Varanasi). Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha had preached His first sermon to His five disciples after attaining enlightenment. Visit to Dhamekh Stupa - one of the most visited and most revered Buddhist Shrines in the world. Also visit Sarnath Museum. Evening back to Varanasi hotel for overnight stay.

Early moring boat ride at River Ganges to view Sunrise. After breakfast, drive to Bodhgaya. which is 242 kms and 07 hrs drive. On arrival, transfer to hotel followed by visit to Dungeswari Caves where Buddha had meditated for some time and Lilajan River. Overnight stay in Bodhgaya.

After breakfast, departure transfer to International airport to connect flight for onward destination.