12 Nights/13 Days

"From Siddharth to Sakyamuni and finally to the Buddha or the Enlightened one - an incredible transformation of prince to an enlightened teacher , who walked the earth more than 2500 years ago. This tour will take you to the most important places to give you insight into the 800 years old Buddhist religion as well as the world's best monuments of great history and art. You will start the tour with visit to the World's greatest monument of Love -Taj Mahal, now a wonder of the World, The Nirvana city -Varanasi which still have traditions and cultural values intact just like it used to be centuries ago. Bodhgaya - the Mahabohi Temple where Lord Buddha got the enlightenment and continue traveling on his footsteps visiting Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Kushinagar and Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha and traveling back to Capital city Delhi

DAY 01 ARRIVE DELHI
Arrive Delhi, assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel, later proceed for sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting Rajghat memorial of Mahtama Gandhi - Father of the Nation, Red Fort, Jama Mosque, overnight stay.

DAY 02 DELHI - AGRA …..by train
Early morning transfer to railway station to board Shatabdi Express for Agra, on arrival transfer to hotel, followed by city tour of Agra visiting world famous Taj Mahal - built in 1652 by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in the memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal; Agra Fort - built by four successive emperors, within its walls is the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and also visit Sikandra the tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar, overnight stay.

DAY 03 AGRA - VARANASI …..by train
In the morning transfer to Tundla railway station to board train for Varanasi, on arrival transfer to hotel, overnight stay.

DAY 04 VARANASI
Early morning boat ride on the River Ganges to see the sunrise and visit the bathing Ghats, return to hotel for breakfast. Half day city tour of Varanasi visiting VishwanathTemple - the most sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, New Vishwanath Temple - the whole Gita engraved on its marble walls, Tulsi Manas Temple - with text of Ram Charit Manas engraved on its wall also visit Banaras Hindu University, latyer in the afternoon excursion to Sarnath, at the sacred Buddhist Centre, the Dhamek Stupa marks the spot of Buddha's first sermon, in the evening return to the hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 05 VARANASI - BODHGAYA …..by surface
After early breakfast proceed for Gaya (245/5hrs), on arrival check-in at the hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 06 BODHGAYA
Full day for religious activities at the Mahabodhi Temple - where Gautam Buddha got the supreme enlightenment under a Bodhi tree 25 centuries ago. The 55 m high temple is substantially the same temple that existed in the 7th century, overnight at the hotel.

DAY 07 BODHGAYA - RAJGIR - NALANDA - PATNA …..by surface
After breakfast drive to Patna (150kms/3hrs) en-route visiting Rajgir - the town where Buddha meditated and preached. Here at Gridharkuta Hill we shall see the monastery Venuvan Vihar, built by King Bimbisar as an offering to Buddha, also visit Nalanda - the great Buddhist University which came up after Buddha passed into Mahaparinirvana, on arrival check-in at the hotel in Patna, overnight

DAY 08 PATNA - KUSHINAGAR …..by surface
After early breakfast we drive towards Kushinagar (, en-route visiting Vaishali - the town Buddha visited on three occasions and where he announced his approaching Nirvana; continuing onto Kushinagar - where Buddha passed into Mahaparinirvana, on arrival check-in at the hotel, followed by visit to monasteries, overnight stay.

DAY 09 KUSHINAGAR - LUMBINI …..by surface
After breakfast leave for Lumbini (Nepal), on arrival check-in at the hotel at Bhairawan, later in the afternoon excursion to Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha, return to Bhairawan for overnight stay.

DAY 10 LUMBINI - BALRAMPUR
After breakfast proceed for Balrampur - en-route visiting Kapilvastu - the ancient capital of the mighty Sakya clan, where his father King Suddhodana ruled. Arrive Balrampur and check-in at the hotel, in the afternoon excursion to Sravasti - where Buddha confounded hois critics with a million fold manifestation ofhimself seated on a thousand petaled lotus while fire and water emanated from his body, bacj to Balrampur for overnight stay.

DAY 11 BALRAMPUR - LUCKNOW …..by surface
After breakfast proceed for Lucknow - the 18th century capital of Nawab - Wazirs, Lucknow created by Asaf - Ud - Daullah - a great patron of art and of beautiful courtesans, on arrival check-in at the hotel, overnight stay.

DAY 12 LUCKNOW - DELHI …..by train
In the morning proceed for sightseeing tour of Lucknow visiting Bara Imambara - one of the most imposing of India's buildings built by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daullah in 1784 and of great elegance where the main hall (50 ft) is the largest vaulted apartment in the world also visit Chhota Imambara and Museum, after lunch transfer to railway station to board Shatabdi Express for Delhi, on arrival transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

DAY 13 DELHI - ONWARD DESTINATION
Morning visit sights of New Delhi - Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar, India Gate, President House, Parliament House and drive through Rajppath, later in the evening transfer to International airport for your flight to onward destination.

END OF TOUR
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