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IN
THE FOOTSTEP OF LORD BUDDHA
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 "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
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Duration:
12 Nights / 13 Days
Places to Visit:
Delhi-Agra-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Khushinagar-Lumbini-Balrampur-Lucknow-Delhi
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Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel, later
proceed for sightseeing tour of Old Delhi visiting Rajghat,
the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi - the father of the nation,
moving on to Red Fort and Jama Mosque. Overnight stay at hotel.
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 Jahan in memory of his
wife Mumtaz Mahal; Agra Fort - built by four successive
emperors, within its walls is the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque).
Also visit Sikandra - tomb of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Overnight
at hotel.
Day 03: Agra - Varanasi
....(by Train)
In the morning transfer to Tundla railway station to board
train for Varanasi. On arrival transfer to hotel for overnight
stay.
Day 04: Varanasi
Early morning boat ride on the River Ganges to witness the
Sunrise and visit the bathing Ghats, return to hotel for breakfast.
Half day city tour of Varanasi visiting Vishwanath Temple
- 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; and Banaras Hindu University. In the afternoon, excursion
to Sarnath, at the sacred Buddhist Center, the Dhamek Stupa
marks the spot of Buddha's first sermon. Evening return to
the hotel for overnight stay.
Day 05: Varanasi - Bodhgaya
( By Surface 245km/5 hrs)
After early breakfast proceed to Gaya, 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 55m 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 150kms / 3hrs)
After breakfast drive to Patna, 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 for overnight stay.
Day 08: Patna - Kushinagar( By Surface
350km/8hrs)
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.
At Kushinagar, while entombing the relics of the Buddha, the
architectural form of the stupa was created. Later, generations
of devotees built stupas, chaityas and viharas here. On arrival
check-in at the hotel, followed by a visit to monasteries.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09: Kushinagar - Lumbini (By
Surface 140kms / 4 hrs)
After breakfast leave for Lumbini (Nepal). On arrival,
check-in at the hotel at Bhairawan. In the afternoon excursion
to Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha, return to Bhairawan
for overnight stay.
Day 10: Lumbini - Balrampur (By Surface
180kms / 5hrs)
After breakfast proceed for Balrampur, en-route
visiting Kapilvastu - the ancient capital of the mighty Shakya
clan, where Buddha's father King Suddhodana ruled. Arrive
Balrampur and check-in at the hotel, in the afternoon excursion
to Sravasti - where Buddha confounded his critics with a million
fold manifestation of himself seated on a thousand petaled
lotus while fire and water emanated from his body, back to
Balrampur for overnight stay at hotel.
Day 11: Balrampur - Lucknow ( By
Surface 175kms / 5 hrs)
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 for 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 Destinations
Morning visit sights of New Delhi - Humayun's Tomb, Qutab
Minar, India Gate, President House, Parliament House and drive
through Rajpath, later in the evening transfer to International
airport for your flight to onward destination.
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