Description

 Day 01             Lucknow – Sravasti                 approx. 180 kms / 4 hours

Meet & Greet on arrival at Lucknow airport/ railway station.   Later we leave by road for Sravasti.

SRAVASTI - is where, according to legend, the Buddha confounded his critics by making them witness a miraculous million-fold self-manifestation seated on a thousand -pettaled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body. The prophet of peace spent 25 rainy seasons here, teaching people the essence of his gentle creed. Sravasti is one of the eight most important pilgrimages of Buddhists. Excavations have also revealed two pillars raised here by Emperor Ashoka, the great Indian king who was largely responsible for spreading the word of Buddhism. The pillars which lie at the eastern gate of Jetavana, mark Ashoka‟s pilgrimage to the city.

On arrival check in at the hotel.

Later leave to visit

• Jetavana, ruins of Anandakuti : named after the Sravastis prince Prasenjeet who donated this park to the sangha, is holy place where the Buddha stayed for 24 years in Sravasti. Inside the Vihara, one of the most beautiful spots is the Anandabodhi tree, which grew up as a branch of the Sri Lankan Bodhi tree, a sapling of the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya. Besides, the ruins of Anandakuti and Gandhakuti, where the Buddha used to stay in the Vihara is another sacred place.
  
• Monasteries : There are a number of monasteries nearby Jetvana Vihara such as Sri Lankan, Chinese, Myanmarese or Burmese and Thai monasteries and temples, which perform meditation and other Buddhist practices. Nearby these monasteries is a beautiful park, which owns a large bell donated by the Japanese pilgrims.
  
• Mahet : Once a fortified city in the ancient period, Mahet is situated in the north of Jetavana. The ruins of Mahet includes two stupas, one of which is believed to be that of Angulimala, the cruel dacoit, who converted into Buddhism, influenced by the Buddhas teachings. His stupa is known as Pakki Kuti, while the another one, which is believed to be that of Sudatta, Buddhas disciple is known as Kachchi Kuti.
  

Overnight at hotel in Sravasti.

Day 02             Sravasti – Lumbini – enroute Kaplivastu   approx. 220 kms / 6 hrs

After breakfast, leave for Lumbini.

 Enroute visit Kapilvastu. See the Eastern Stupa, Suddhodanas Palace, Sri Lanka Monastery and Temple and Mahinda Mahavihara.

Proceed to Lumbini.

Check-in into the hotel.

Later visit the Rummendei Pillar, Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini Dharmodaya Samiti Dharamsala, Dharmaswami Maharaja Buddha Vihara, Monasteries of Myanmar, China, Japan, Korea and Thailand and Lumbini Research Institute.

Evening free for leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Lumbini.

Day 03             Lumbini – Kushinagar         approx. 150 kms / 4 hrs

After breakfast leave for Kushinagar.    On reaching, transfer to hotel.

Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana or the final exit from the earth.

Later leave to visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple, Sri Lanka-Japan Monastery, Burmese Chandramani Bhikshu Bharamasala, Chinese Temple, Sri Lanka Japanese Foundation Meditation Center and Kushinagar Museum.Evening free for leisure.

Overnight at hotel in Kushinagar.

Day 04            Kushinagar – Vaishali – Patna         approx. 260 kms / 6 hrs

After breakfast leave for Patna.

En-route visit Vaishali.   Vaishali is very special to a Buddhist. The Buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his impending “nirvana‟. Some of the great incidents in his life also occurred here, like the courtesan Amrapali giving him a mango orchard and becoming a Buddhist nun. The Buddha is supposed to have visisted Vaisahali three times. Centuries later Fa-Hien and Hien Tsang followed the footsteps of the great Buddha. One hundred years after the Buddha‟s “parinirvana‟ 700 monks from all over north India assembled here to discuss the 10 points of „Vinaya‟, the rule of conduct under dispute. Today, Vaishali is best known for this second Buddhist Council, for very little of the ancient ruins have been excavated yet.

Visit the Kutagarshala Vihara or Buddhist Stupa 2, Abhishek Pushkarini or Coronation Tank, Stupa 1 or Relic Stupa and Site Museum in Vaishali.

Later proceed to Patna.   On reaching at Patna, check-in at hotel.

Later visit visit Kumrahar, Patna Museum, Gol Ghar, Patthar Ki Masjid, Gurudwara Harmandir Sahib, Jalan Museum and Gulzarbagh.

Overnight at hotel in Patna.

Day 05             Patna – Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodhgaya    approx. 185 kms / 6 hrs

After breakfast drive to Bodhgaya.

En-route visit Rajgir and Nalanda. Rajgir : Visit Gridhkutta (Vulture s peak), a hill where Lord Buddha carried out many dialogues with his disciples after he achieved enlightenment. It is the place where Lord Buddha started his second helm of commandment and preached many inspiring teachings and sermons to his disciples. Gridhakuta hill is also known as Vulture‟s Peak. It was at Gridhakuta hill that Lord Buddha gave his two significant sutras the Lotus Sutra and the Prajnaparamita.

World Peace Stupa, . Nichidatsu Fujii (1885-1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji Buddhist sect. Nichidatsu Fujii set an example for world peace through Peace Pagodas. In series of establishing peace pagodas world over he established one such peace pagoda at Rajgir which is called Vishwa Shanti Stupa.

Proceed to Nalanda (12 kms) to visit the ruins of world ancient University. It was one of the oldest Universities of the World & International Centre for Buddhist Studies.

 Proceed to Bodhgaya

On reaching at Bodhgaya, check-in into the hotel.

Overnight at hotel in Bodhgaya.

Day 06             Bodhgaya – Tour

Breakfast hotel.

Later visit Mahabodhi Temple, Mahabodhi Tree, Animeshlochana Chaitya, Ratnachankrama or Jewel Walk, Ratnaghar Chaitya, Muchhalinda Pond, Bodh Gaya Museum, Magadh University Tibetan Monastery and Monasteries.

 Rest of the day at leisure

Overnight at hotel in Bodhgaya

Day 07             Bodhgaya – Varanasi           approx. 260 kms / 8 hrs

After breakfast drive to Varanasi

On Reaching Varanasi, transfer to hotel

Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight at hotel in ParoVaranasi

Day 08             Varanasi – Boat Ride & City Tour

Early morning go on boat ride on river Ganges.

Return to hotel for breakfast.

Later leave on city tour including a rickshaw ride.

During the 30 km. drive you will see the Bharat Mata Temple, dedicated to Mother India, which, instead of gods and goddesses, houses a relief map of India carved out of marble.. Emperor Aurangazebs Mosque built in the 17th century on the site of a Hindu Temple. The rear of the mosque reveals specimens of the ancient temple art of India. Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) erected by Rani Ahalyabai Holkar of Indore in 1776. The shikharas of the temple are gold plated. Visit Benaras Hindu University, a great seat of oriental learning. It started as a centre of education in Sanskrit, Indian art, culture and music. Visit the Durga (Goddess of Power) Temple popularly known as the Monkey Temple because of hundreds of monkeys in the courtyard

Overnight at hotel in Varanasi

Day 09             Varanasi – ezxcursion to Sarnath

Breakfast at the hotel.

Later leave on excursion to Sarnath

The Buddha preached his first sermon to five disciples at the Deer Park here, enshrining the principals of his teaching into laws. The Dhamek Stupa marks the location of a once resplendent monastery. A large complex of ruined monasteries cover the area north of the stupas. Some of the buildings belong to the Kushan and Gupta period. The first monk communities probably settled here in the 3rd century BC. Near the Dhamek Stupa is a new monastery built by the Buddhist Mahabodhi Society. The major events of Buddha‟s life are depicted here in wall paintings by a Japanese artist. Sarnath has an interesting archaeological museum which has preserved the famous Sarnath pillar whose capital forms India‟s national emblem.

Overnight at hotel in Varanasi

Day 10             Varanasi – depart

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to airport / railway station on time for your journey to onward destination.