STEPS OF BUDDHA

ITINERARY

Day 01 : Delhi

Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport you will be meet by our representative and will be transferred to the hotel. Welcome reception. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 02 : Delhi

On this day you will discover the treasures of Delhi. We will start with a walking tour through the labyrinth of streets of Old Delhi. Following this we will stop at Rajghat, resting place of Mahatma Gandhi. Later on we will head towards the majestic and peaceful Sikh temple Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, where you will be able to enjoy the hospitality of the followers of this religion. We will continue our sightseeing visiting the India Gate and the President House, very important icons of the biggest democracy on Earth. Finally we will see the sunset from the wonderful Akshardham Temple, where we will enjoy of an incredible multimedia water show. Overnight stay in Delhi.

Day 03 : Delhi – Agra

After breakfast we will drive towards Agra, famous around the world for being the place where the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is located. After lunch we will visit the Agra Fort, one of the most exquisite forts in India and from where the emperor Shah Jahan could see the construction of the mausoleum he commissioned to build for love. We will see the sunset in the gardens of Mehtab Bagh, from where you will observe the changing colors of the Taj Mahal. A unique moment for lovers of photography. Overnight stay in Agra.

Day 04 : Agra – Lucknow

The best time to visit the Taj Mahal is at sunrise, so today we will visit this outstanding building between 5 and 6am (depending on the opening times). After the visit we will have breakfast and head towards Lucknow. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, is a wonderful and majestic city out of the radar of many tourists, what makes it perfect for a walking tour around the historic quarter, where we will see many buildings of the British Raj era, mosques and mausoleums. You will have also the opportunity to try the delicious food so famous from this city. Overnight stay in Lucknow.

Day 05 : Lucknow – Shravasti

In the morning after breakfast we will drive to Shravasti, capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, where Lord Buddha lived for 24 years. Here we will visit the ruins of Jetavana Gardens, where Buddha gave the majority of his sermons and teachings. In this location we will have the opportunity of seeing the Mulgandhakuti or the Fragrance Chamber which was used by Lord Buddha for meditation. Later we will visit also the preaching place where the Buddha used to give his sermons. Then we will continue with the visit to the house of Anathapindika, the merchant who invited Lord Buddha to Shravasti, following with the residence also of Angulimal who was a robber and a murderer converted into a buddhist monk by Lord Buddha. Overnight stay in Shravasti.

Day 06 : Shravasti – Lumbini

Today we will head towards Lumbini, Nepal, Buddha birthplace and UNESCO World Heritage Site because it is one of the most holy and significant places that consists on archeological remains and pilgrimage structures of high religious and spiritual value. On the way there we will stop at the India/Nepal border for the visa/immigration formalities. Overnight stay in Lumbini.

Day 07 : Lumbini

Today we will visit the Sacred Gardens of Lumbini where we will see the Mahamaya Devi Temple, the exact place where Lord Buddha was born. We will stop at the Ashoka Pillar and admire the peaceful sacred pond where the mother of Buddha took a bath before giving birth to the person who began a path to enlightenment which would change the humankind. We will visit also the monasteries around the Lumbini Gardens, such us: Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Germany, France, Nepal, Sri Lanka, among others. We will have free time to practice meditation and immerse yourself in this peaceful location where the energy is really powerful. Overnight stay in Lumbini.

Day 08 : Lumbini – Kushinagar

Today we will go back to India to continue with our pilgrimage towards Kushinagar, stopping first in the Nepal/India border for the visa/immigration formalities. Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha left this world to continue his journey to Heaven. Here we will visit the temple dedicated to such event, the Mahaparinirvana Temple, which stands as witness of his last words and breath. We will explore different stupas in this location and will take a time for inner introspection at the Ramabhar Stupa, where Lord Buddha was cremated. Overnight stay in Kushinagar.

Day 09 : Kushinagar – Vaishali – Rajgir

After breakfast we will drive towards Rajgir with a mandatory stop in Vaishali, where Lord Buddha gave his last sermon. Here we will visit the Buddha Relic Stupa, a 5th century AD stupa where some of the ashes of Lord Buddha are buried after being cremated in Kushinagar. We will continue towards Rajgir, a little and picturesque town, located in a lush green valley surrounded by rocky hills. Here, on Griddhakuta or the Vultures Peak, Lord Buddha preached his second sermon and for three months every year during the monsoon season gave many inspiring teachings to his disciples. We will visit the Peace or Shanti Stupa (Vishwashanti Stupa) built by the Buddha Sangha of Japan on the top of the hill in commemoration of these iconic events. Overnight stay at Rajgir.

Day 10 : Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodhgaya

After breakfast we will drive towards Bodhgaya, stopping first in Nalanda, just 15 kms away from Rajgir. Nalanda, at the time of Lord Buddha, was a lovely secluded location for saints and ascetics. Buddha visited this place many times and gave several important sermons to his followers. Around the 5th century AD an university was founded here by Kumaragupta and remained as one of the ancient world’s universities and an important Buddhist centre of academic renown. Many important philosophers taught here as Nagarjuna, Aryadeva, Dharmapala or Mahayana. Following the visit to this ruins, we will continue our journey to Bodhgaya. Overnight stay in Bodhgaya.

Day 11 : Bodhgaya

After breakfast we will visit the most important place for buddhism: the Mahabodhi Temple and the Mahabodhi Tree, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. We will follow his steps around this Unesco World Heritage Site where the Buddha spent 7 weeks in meditation and learning. After lunch we will head towards the Caves of Pragbodhi (Dungeshwari) where Lord Buddha meditated for 6 years with his 5 fellow monks who later became the disciples. Following this, we will drive to Sujatagarh where Sujata was the lady who offered Lord Buddha kheer (milk and rice) when he finished with his time of lent. Overnight stay in Bodhgaya.

Day 12 : Bodhgaya

You will have the day free to meditate under the holy bodhi tree or explore many of the international temples spreaded around the city, such us: Bhutan, Thailand, Tibet, Japan among others.

Day 13 : Bodhgaya – Varanasi

After breakfast we will continue driving to Varanasi, one of the oldest city in the world. We will arrive on time to see the spectacular and meaningful Ganga Aarti on the banks of the holiest river: the Ganga or Ganges. Overnight stay in Varanasi.

Day 14 : Varanasi

On this day, very early in the morning, we will see the sunrise by the Ganga on a boat ride along the river. You will be able to observe how this city comes to life with hundreds of pilgrims bathing in the sacred river as a sign of good auspice. We will go back to the hotel for breakfast and will drive to Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon to his five disciples and talked about the Four Noble Truths of Life. After visiting this important site we will go back to Varanasi where you will have the free evening to explore the ghats and temples of this vibrant and exciting city. Overnight stay in Varanasi.

Day 15 : Varanasi – Delhi

After breakfast we will drive back towards Delhi. Once in Delhi we will finish our services with a little farewell gift from Dhyanam India Tours.