Footsteps of Lord Buddha

Footsteps of Lord Buddha (Tour Code: IN/008) – The Buddhist Tour Package will lead you to all those places where Lord Buddha has left his indelible imprint. Visit these places on your Buddhist tour and learn more about the teachings & philosophy of Lord Buddha. On this 09/10 nights tour we take you on a spiritual journey covering Delhi – Sravasti – Lumbini – Kushinagar – Vaishali – Patna – Nalanda – Rajgir – Bodhgaya – Varanasi – Delhi. With so many options to opt from an array of extensions and diversions, that include The Taj Mahal or Jaipur, or rather strictly Buddhist places of Dharamshala, Lahaul-Spiti, Leh-Ladakh, Udaigiri-Ratnagiri or for that matter Ajanta-Ellora or Sanchi.

Itinerary

DAY 01   Arrival day In Delhi

On arrival in Delhi, our representative will meet, assist and transfer you to the hotel. Later in the day we set out for a sightseeing tour of Delhi that may include India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Qutab Minar, Red Fort and Chandni Chowk Late evening back to the hotel, welcome dinner along with a briefing session at the hotel and overnight at the hotel in Delhi.

DAY 02   Delhi / Lucknow / Sravasti

Post breakfast check out from the hotel and transfer to New Delhi airport in time to connect our noon flight for Lucknow. Arrive Lucknow by afternoon and drive to Sravasti (270 km / 5.5 hrs), which is an ancient city also known as Savathi. This area is associated with Lord Buddha as one can see many old buildings and structures that are present there. Upon arrival we check in at our hotel, day up to dinner at leisure. Dinner and Overnight at hotel in Sravasti.

DAY 03   Sravasti / Lumbini (Nepal)

Breakfast at hotel and after breakfast we check-out and take a tour of Sravasti including Sahet-Mahet – a capital of an ancient kingdom of Kosala. Also visit Sobhanath Temple, Jain temple, Ananthapindika Stupa and Agulimala Stupa. Post lunch we drive to Lumbini (225 kms / 4 hrs).  Arrive Lumbini at PM hours, check in at the hotel, dinner and overnight at hotel in Lumbini (Lumbini is in Nepal and to enter this and again exit, a multiple entry Indian visa is required)

DAY 04   Lumbini / Kushinagar

Breakfast at Hotel. Check-out and visit the city of Lumbini, that is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. Lumbini is also one of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Here we visit Mayadevi temple, Ashokan Pillar, Buddhist temples, Pushkarni (the sacred pool), sanctum sanctorum of Buddha’s birthplace and stupas. Lunch will be served during our city tour. Evening drive to Kushinagar (175 / 3.5 hrs.). Upon arrival in Kushinagar, check-in at the hotel, dinner and overnight at hotel in Kushinagar.

DAY 05   Kushinagar / Patna

This morning post breakfast we visit Kushinagar. “Now, O Brothers ! I do remind you, all component things are subject to decay. Work for your salvation in the earnest”. is the last sermon Lord Buddha preached in 543 BC when he arrived at Kushinagar, where he gained Mahaparinivana (death). After an extensive excavations main stupa was exposed in 1876 AD. In addition a 6.10 m long statue of reclining Buddha was discovered. A Burmeese Monk, came to India in 1903 and made Mahaparinivana Temple into a living shrine of Lord Buddha. Post lunch we drive to Patna (270 km / 6 hrs). Arrive Patna, check-in at hotel and overnight at hotel in Patna.

DAY 06   Patna / Vaishali / Bodhgaya

Breakfast at hotel. Post breakfast, check out from hotel and visit Vaishali (40km / 1.5 hrs). Vaishali – is a special place for the Buddhists as Buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his implanting ‘nirvana’. This place is also birthplace of Lord Mahavira – The Jain Guru, and is also a sacred place for the Jain community. We visit Abhishek Pushkarni, Ashoka Pillar, Lotus Tank, Chau-Mukhi Mahadeo and the Vaishali Museum. Later we drive to Bodhgaya (190 kms / 4 hrs) . Check-in at hotel and overnight at hotel in Bodhgaya.

DAY 07  Bodhgaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Bodhgaya

Breakfast at the hotel and post breakfast we visit Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree, the Tibetian Monastery and the Great Buddha Statue. Also today we will visit Rajgir (90km / 2hrs) – the first Buddhist Council, Rajgir is a very scenic place. The small hill grit town is covered with lush green forest which adds to the beauty of the place.  Also we will visit Nalanda (further from Rajgir 20 km /.5 hr) – the great Buddhist University and the Great Stupa and the Archaeological Museum. Back to Bodhgaya (110 km / 2.5 hrs), and overnight at the hotel in Bodhgaya.

DAY 08   Bodhgaya / Varanasi

Breakfast will be served at the hotel and post breakfast check out from the hotel to drive to Varanasi ( 280 kms / 6 hrs). Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and evening we will witness the Ganges Aarti on the river bank, also stroll in the traditional market place of Varanasi. back to hotel and overnight at the hotel in Varanasi.

DAY 09   Varanasi – Sarnath – Varanasi

Post breakfast we will visit Sarnath (13 kms) – a place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment and revealed the eight fold path of the Buddhist doctrine. Here we Visit Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Dhamek Stupa, Dharamika Stupa and the Archaeological Museum. Back to Varanasi. Visit to Kashi Vishvanath Temple. Enjoy the evening in the bright and vibrant Ghats of Varanasi also witness the evening ‘Aarti’ at the ghat. Back to hotel, dinner and overnight at hotel in Varanasi

DAY 10   Varanasi / Delhi / Home

Pre-breakfast we visit the ghats of Varanasi, also take a boat cruise on the Ganges. Back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast we include the last moment places in this city, or we have an option to revisit a few places in Varanasi. Or as an option just relax in your hotel until the afternoon. We then transfer you to airport to connect your flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi in the evening and connect your onward international flight back home or take an extension programme of one night to Agra to see Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort.

Tour Highlight

This is a private tour where we introduce you to the religion and take you through the art of meditation. The monks shall preach you the right paths and initiate you to debate the religion itself.

To do no evil;

To cultivate good;

To purify one’s mind.

– This is the teaching of the Buddha.

With the hectic pace and demands of modern life, many people feel stressed and over-worked. It often feels like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done. Our stress and tiredness make us unhappy, impatient and frustrated. It can even affect our health. We are often so busy we feel there is no time to stop and meditate! But meditation actually gives you more time by making your mind calmer and more focused. A simple ten or fifteen minute breathing meditation as explained below can help you to overcome your stress and find some inner peace and balance. Meditation can also help us understand our own mind. We can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy. Overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts is the purpose of the transforming meditations found in the Buddhist tradition. This is a profound spiritual practice you can enjoy throughout the day, not just while seated in meditation.

We take you for meditation on this tour and an expert will guide you to perfect the art of meditation.