Contact : SHIKHAR TRAVEL

Duration: 7N/8D
Activities: Delhi-Lucknow-Balrampur-Sravasti-Lumbini-Kushinagar-Vaishali-Patna-Nalanda-Rajgir-Bodhgaya-Varanasi
Best Time: October- March
Grade: 

For centuries the light of the Buddha has shone as a beacon beckoning men from across the sea of darkness. Like lost children, millions of seekers have reached out to the light with their heart's inmost cry, and the Buddha has shown them the Way. The world stood before the Buddha with it's ignorance, and the Buddha, the Enlightened One, gave man Truth. The world offered its age old suffering to the Buddha's heart and the Buddha, Lord of Compassion, showed man the Dharma.  

Day 1: Arrive - Delhi :
Welcome to India- a country where hospitality is a way of life ; to a culture steeped in tradition, a land where history lives in music and dance. Our representative will receive you at the airport in a traditional manner with garlands and escort you to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 2: Delhi - Lucknow - Balrampur :
Early morning we will transfer you to New Delhi Railway Station to board Shatabdi Express to Luncknow (The name "Shatabdi" means Centenary in Hindi - The first Shatabdi was introduced in 1988 to commemorate the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.  Shatabdi Expresses offer fast connectivity with very few stops in between. They are fully air-conditioned and are very luxurious (at least by Indian standards) and comfortable to travel in. While you relax, the Shatabdi hospitality treats you with delicious meals and snacks. Before you are through, your destination has arrived. (Train departs at 0615 Hrs. and arrives in Lucknow at 1230 Hrs.) Our representative will receive you at Lucknow Railway Station and you will proceed to Balrampur. Arrive and check-in at Heritage Hotel Mahayama. Spend the evening at leisure.

Day 3: Balrampur (Sravasti) - Lumbini - Kushinagar:
Morning explore Sravasti (Sravasti was the erstwhile capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala Mahajanapada. It is believed that Sravasti, also known as Sahet-Mahet, was founded by the legendary king Sravast. This place is important from Buddhism point of view because Lord Buddha performed a number of miracles here. It was in Sravasti that He displayed a million fold manifestation of himself. He was seated on a lotus (with thousand petals), with fire and water radiating from His body. The magical feats exhibited by Lord, while sitting on the lotus, are still narrated by the people of Sravasti. Even though there is no evidence for most of the stories related to Sravasti, still the place attracts tourists from far and wide. Age-old stupas, splendid monasteries and a number of temples add to the appeal of Sravasti). Your visit to Sravasti is followed by a drive to Kushinagar. En route visit Lumbini (Situated at the Terai plains of the southern Nepal, Lumbini is the place where Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya Prince and the ultimate Buddha, the Enlighted One, was born in 623 BC. The sacred place, marked by a stone pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka of India in 249 BC, is listed as one of the World Heritage Sites. Today the holy site is being developed with international support as the supreme Buddhist pilgrimage and a symbol of world peace). Arrive Kushinagar in the evening and check-in at your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 4: Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna:
Morning after breakfast explore Kushinagar (Kushinagar was a celebrated center of the Malla kingdom of ancient India. At this location, near the Hiranyavati River, Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana (passed away), and was cremated. Many of the ruined stupas and viharas at Kushinagara date back to 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD when prosperity was at its peak. Prior to its rediscovery in the nineteenth century, there was a silence of more than half a millennium at Kasia. Excavations have revealed that a monastic tradition flourished here for a long time). Post sightseeing you will proceed to Patna while visiting Vaishali en route (Vaishali derives its name from King Vishal of the Mahabharata age. Even before the advent of Buddhism and Jainism, Vaishali was the capital of the vibrant republican Licchavi state since before the birth of Mahavira (c. 599 BC), which suggests that it was perhaps the first republic in the world, similar to those later found in ancient Greece. Today, the importance of Vaishali as one of the famous Buddhist destinations is because of the fact that it was the place where Vikramasila, the great university of tantric Buddhism, was founded in the 8th century AD. Lord Buddha often visited Vaishali and preached his last sermon at Kolhua, located near this ancient city. Your sightseeing of Vaishali will include visits to Ashoka Pillar, Bawan Pokhar Temple, The Shanti Stupa and The Corronation Tank. Continue your drive to Patna. Arrive and check-in at your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 5: Patna - Nalanda- Rajgir - Bodhgaya:
Today, we will take you to Bodhgaya via NALANDA (Where ruins of the great ancient university have been excavated, is situated at a distance of 90 km. south east of Patna. Hieun Tsang, the renowned Chinese traveller of the seventh century, says that according to tradition the place owed its name to a Naga of the same name which resided in a local tank. But he thinks it more probable that Lord Buddha, in one of his previous births as Bodhisatwa, became a king with his capital at this place and that his liberality won for him and his capital the name Nalanda or "Charity without intermission") and RAJGIR (Around 12 km from Nalanda and a famous pilgrimage center for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. There are many places of interest here such as the Swarna Gufa, Griddhakuta Parvat, and Vishwa Shanti Stupa etc.). You will reach Bodhgaya in the evening and check-in at your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 6: Bodhgaya :
Day to explore Bodhgaya (Historically, it was known as the Bodhimanda (ground round the Bodhi-tree), and there was a large monastic settlement there. For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. The main monastery of Bodhgaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihara (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple -which now lies as the main attraction of Bodhgaya.

Day 7: Bodhgaya - Varanasi :
Morning after breakfast,you will proceed to Varanasi. Arrive and visit Sarnath (After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed). Evening we will head towards the Dasaswamedh Ghat (One of the banks of Ganges River..close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple) to witness Ganga Aarti (Evening Prayer). The aarti starts just after sunset, with a bunch of young men choreographing to the chantings, holding the lamps. Dasaswamedh ghat becomes a hub of activity, with people sitting and waiting for the aarti, buying flowers and other things from nearby shops or performing pooja. As the aarti begins, men take their positions at the platform and begin swinging the lamp to the tune of chantings making it one of the most beautiful memories to capture in your cameras). Evening return to your hotel for overnight stay.

Day 8: Varanasi - Delhi (flight) :
Just before dawn when the east starts turning from dark to orange, we will take you for the famed Boat Ride on the River Ganges. Move slowly into the middle of the river on your small boats and sail through the water of Holy Ganges. After some time, none other than the Sun would welcome you with a beautiful new morning which you would love to store among your most beautiful memories. As the sun moves upwards, you will see more and more people walking on the ghats to have a dip in the Ganges, pray to Sun God and perform morning meditations. You will see Yogis sitting cross-legged with rudraksha mala (A kind of holy neckless). You arrive at your destination after a sail of approximately a couple of hours. Our representative will meet you at the bank and take you back to your hotel for breakfast. After a relaxed morning, our representative will transfer you to the domestic airport to board flight to Delhi (Flight departs at 1440 Hrs. / Arrives at 1600 Hrs.). Spend the rest of the day free for independent activities and last minute shopping. Later in the evening our representative escorts you to the International Airport to board flight for onward destination. ***You can also book "Day Use" Rooms in case you are flying back home late in the evening today /early in the morning tomorrow***

Contact : SHIKHAR TRAVEL