Home > In the footsteps of Buddha

In the Footsteps of Buddha

In the footsteps of Buddha – 10 nights/11 days

Destinations of In the footsteps of Buddha - Delhi – Sravasti – Lumbini – Kushinagar – Patna – Bodhgaya – Varanasi – Delhi

A journey through North and Eastern India that follows the footsteps of Buddha! Highlights include Sravasti - the city that sheltered Buddha for 24 rainy seasons; Lumbini, the place where Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya Prince and the ultimate Buddha was born in 623 BC; Kushinagar, the place chosen by Buddha for his Mahaparinirvana, or final exit from this earth; Vaishali where he delivered his last sermon and announced his impending nirvana and Bodhgaya the place where in the 6th century BC, a young ascetic, Siddhartha, attained enlightenment to become the Buddha, and founded Buddhism. Your last stop is Sarnath, where after attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Buddha came and delivered his first sermon.

Day 01 – Arrive Delhi

You will be met on arrival and transferred to your chosen hotel in Delhi. The country's energetic capital, offers a panorama of fascinating but very conflicting images, from the forts, tombs and ruins in Old Delhi to high-rise buildings and stately homes on wide, tree-lined avenues in New Delhi.  Overnight in Delhi.

Day 02 – Train Delhi to Lucknow & drive Lucknow to Sravasti (170 kms/04 hrs)

Morning transfer to New Delhi Railway Station for the 6am Shatabdi Express to Lucknow. Arriving at 1230 you will be met and transfred to Sravasti for an overnight stay. You may like to get out and explore the Jetavana Monastery, which was erected in a garden outside the walls of the city and presented to the Buddha by a wealthy banker, Anathapinaka.

Day 03 – Drive Sravasti to Lumbini (260 kms/06 hrs)

Morning tour of Sravasti visiting the ancient twin villages of Sahet-Mahet, dotted with age old stupas, majestic monasteries and temples, excavations have exposed the massive gates of the city, ramparts and also the ruins of other structures, which stand testimony to the prosperity of ancient Sravasti. Also visit the Sobhanath Temple – believed to the be the birth place of Jain tirhtankar “Sambhavanth’ making Shravasti and important centre for Jainas.

Later drive to Lumbini to check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 04 – Drive Lumbini to Kushinagar (170 kms/04 hrs)

The day starts early with a boat ride on the holy river Ganges, followed by a sightseeing tour of Lumbini visiting the Sacred Garden, the Mayadevi Temple, which houses a bas relief depicting the nativity, and the Puskarni pond, where Queen Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, had taken a bath before giving birth to Buddha. Later drive to Kushinagar, another of the four holy sites for Buddhists and your overnight stop.

Day 05 – Drive Kushinagar to Patna (250 kms/ 07 hrs)

A morning visit to the Mahaparinirvana Temple to view a wonderful statue of the reclining Buddha and then on to Ramabhar Stupa which marks the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. Later see the Mathakuar Temple before departing for Patna via Vaishali, where Buddha delivered his last sermon, and announced his impending ‘nirvana’. Vaishali is also the birthplace of Lord Mahavira, the Jain Guru.

On arrival in Patna you will be delivered to your chosen hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 06 – Drive Patna to Bodhgaya (200 kms/07 hrs)

This morning you will drive to Bodhgaya with stops at Nalanda and Rajgir en route. Bodhgaya is the place where the young ascetic attained enlightenment to become the Buddha - thus Buddhism was born here under the Peepal Tree. On arrival you will be delivered to your Bodhgaya hotel for a 2 night stay.

Day 07 – In Bodhgaya

A full day with time on your own and touring that includes The Mahabodhi Temple Complex where, at the western side, stands the large and historic Bodhi Tree under which Shakyamuni Buddha, then known as Gautama, attained enlightenment some 2540 years ago. Overnight in Bodhgaya.

Day 08 – Drive Bodhgaya to Varanasi (242 kms/07 hrs) )

Your drive to Varanasi takes you via Sarnath - After attaining enlightenment in Bodhgaya, Buddha came to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon. The Emperor Ashoka erected a stupa here. Several Buddhist structures were raised here between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, and today it presents the most expansive ruins on the Buddhist trail. After the visit, continue to Varanasi where you overnight at your selected hotel.

Day 09 – Fly Varanasi to Delhi

The day starts early – watching the sun rise over the golden city of Varanasi as your boat gently drifts down the holy river Ganges provides memories that will last forever. The people go about their day, bathing and worshipping at the Ghats and the sun slowly warms you, this is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Return to your hotel for a well earned breakfast and later set out to visit the the bathing ghats, the Kashiviswanath Temple, the Durgakund and Sankatmochan - Shrine of Monkey God Hanuman. In the early afternoon you will be transferred to Varanasi Airport for your flight to Delhi where you will be transferred to your hotel for a 2 night stay.

Day 10 – In Delhi

A full day’s sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi visiting the mighty Red Fort; Friday Mosque -Jama Masjid; silver street of Chandni Chowk; Raj Ghat - the cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi; The Hindu temple - Birla Mandir; India Gate & Rajpath; Rashtrapati Bhawan – the President's House; Humayun’s Tomb; Qutab Minar - a 73m high victory tower and the Bahai Temple – beautifully shaped to resemble a lotus flower. Overnight in Delhi.

Day 11 – Depart Delhi

You will be transferred to the International Airport for your onward flight.

FOOTSTEPS OF BUDDHA

* Small supplements may apply for travel between 01st and 15th November'2008 and during the month of February '2009. Chritmas / NYE supplements may apply for travel between 20th December '2008 and 05th January'2009.

Inclusions:-

# Accommodation on twin sharing bed and breakfast basis (except in Sravasti, Kushinagar and Bodhgaya where all meals are included ) at the hotels of your choice.

# All arrival-departure transfers and land transportation using an aircon car exactly as per the itinerary.

# Sightseeing tours along with a local English Speaking Guide and including entrance fee to monuments exactly as mentioned above in the Itinerary.