In the footsteps of Buddha
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Prices start from : £ 2,225 Travel between : 01 Sep 18 and 20 Sep 18 Rating : 0 Star Icon
Board Basis : Bed & Breakfast Duration : 12 nights Book by : 31 Jul 18 Includes : Flights from London with Virgin Atlantic Airport taxes 12 nights accommodation on Bed & Breakfast basis All transfers, sightseeing and excursion as detailed in the itinerary by air-conditioned car Entrance fees Services of local English speaking guide as per the itinerary during city tours Boat ride on the River Ganges Train fare (shared cabin) for the sector Lucknow / Delhi (air-conditioned chair car)
Detailed Itinerary
India is the birth place of Buddhism and is home to most of the high significance Holy sites of Buddhism. This is where Lord Buddha was born, attained Enlightenment, preached his first Sermon and reach Nirvana. This tour includes visits to Lumbini* (birth place), Bodh Gaya (where he attained enlightenment), Sarnath (where he preached his first sermon) and Kushinagar where he achieved Mahanirvana. Other venerous locations featured on this tour include Rajgir, Nalanda and Sravasti.*now part of Nepal
City Hotel Featured Delhi Metropolitan Hotel Patna Chanakya Patna Hotel Bodhgaya Lotus Nikko Varanasi Radisson Hotel Kushinagar Lotus Nikko Lumbini Indo Hokke Sravasti Lotus Nikko Lucknow La Place Sarovar Portico
Day 1: Arrive Delhi. - Upon arrival at Delhi airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay.
Day 2: Delhi to Patna by flight - Transfer to Delhi airport for your flight to Patna. Upon arrival at Patna airport you will be transferred to your hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 3: Patna to Bodh Gaya - This morning you will drive to Bodh Gaya with stops en route at Nalanda, a great centre of Buddhist learning, and Rajgir where Lord Buddha often visited to meditate and preach. Upon arrival in Bodhgaya, check in at your hotel
Day 4: Bodh Gaya - Day at leisure to explore Bodh Gaya the holy city where the Buddha attained enlightenment. There are plenty of temples and sites to visit.
Day 5: Bodh Gaya to Varanasi - After breakfast you will depart for Varanasi. After checking into your hotel there is plenty of time to explore the colourful bazaars selling exquisite and bright silks, as well as temples, Mosques and Palaces.
Day 6: : Varanasi - Enjoy an early morning boat-ride on the River Ganges, and see people bathing and worshipping at the ghats. Later you will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city visiting the Bharat Mata and Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and the Mosque of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. After lunch continue on a visit to Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first sermon and also attained nirvana. Day 7: : Varansi to Kushinagar - After breakfast you will drive to Kushinagar. After checking into your hotel you will visit the Mahaparinirvan Temple, where Buddha took his last breath, and Nirvana Stupa – a huge brickwork stupa. A copper vessel was unearthed at this site. It bore an inscription in ancient Brahmi, which stated that Lord Buddha’s remains had been deposited here.
Day 8: : Kushinagar to Lumbini* - Enjoy a morning drive to Lumbini, visiting Gorakhpur Museum, which has an excellent collection of paintings and relics of Lord Buddha. Gorakhnath Temple is one of the most prominent and magnificent temples. Upon arrival in Lumbini you will check in at your hotel
Day 9: : Lumbini to Sravasti - This morning explore the Ashoka Pillar, a commemorative monument built by King Ashoka in Lumbini, and Mayadevi Temple – an old Buddhist monastery. After lunch travel on to Balrampur visiting Sravasti, an ancient deserted town surrounded by ruins, visit the Jetavana Monastery, before checking in to your accommodation.
Day 10: Sravasti to Lucknow - Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Balrampur before continuing on to Lucknow for an overnight stay.
Day 11: Lucknow - This morning’s tour includes visits to Bara Imambara (Bara means big, and an Imambara is a shrine built by Shia Muslims & Chattar Manzil (Umbrella Palace), Jama Masjid, the Rumi Darwaza and the Clock Tower.
Day 12: Lucknow to Delhi by train (Shatabdi express) Morning at leisure before transferring to Lucknow railway station in time to board the train for Delhi. Local snacks, tea or coffee and dinner will be served on board.
Day 13: Delhi. - Transfer to the airport to board flight for onward journey.