The Footsteps of Buddha / Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour Packages 12 Days

Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour Packages

If you are interested in visiting the ancient cities that are important and connected with the life of Gautam Buddha for the scores of reasons,buddhist pilgrimage tour packages is a perfect trip for you! 

Your trip begins with an arrival in Delhi and then flight to Varanasi, where you'll visit  some of the holy sites including Sarnath, where Buddha preached his first sermon as a Buddha. You will  continue to Bodhagaya, the holiest of spots of Buddhism, as it was here under the Bodhi Tree, that Gautama, Prince of Kapilvastu, attained Nirvana and became the Buddha, the enlightened one.

Along the way, visit Nalanda, Rajgir and Vaishali, all important centers in the Buddha’s lifetime. Later visit Kushinagar, the place where Buddha passed away. 

Cross the Indo-Nepal border and continue to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha! Before returning to Delhi for your flight back home, you'll also visit Saravasti, where Buddha confounded his critics with a million fold manifestation of himself, seated on thousands petaled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body.

This is truly an amazing trip for the people who are interested in Buddhism or followers of Buddhism.

In this Nepal and India Buddhist pilgrimage tour, you will find peace and delve deeper into your spirituality while you learn about and experience the wonders of Buddhism. 

 
 
 
 
 
  • Day 01 Arrive Delhi, transfer to hotel
  • Day 02 Fly Delhi -Varanasi
  • Day 03 Tour of Varanashi & Kushinagar
  • Day 04 Varanasi-Bodhgaya (approx 6 Hrs./300 kms.)
  • Day 05 Tour of Bodhagaya
  • Day 06 Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Rajgir (approx. 2 Hrs./80 Kms.).
  • Day 07 Rajgir-Vaishali (approx. 3-4 Hrs./160 Kms)
  • Day 08 Vaishali-Kushinagar (approx. 6-7 Hrs./200 Kms)
  • Day 09 Kushinagar-Lumbini (approx. 5 Hrs./200 Kms.).
  • Day 10 Lumbini-Sravasti (approx 6-7 hrs/250 Kms )
  • Day 11 Tour of Sravasti
  • Day 12 Sravasti-Lucknow-Delhi-U.S. or extension
 

Day 01 Arrive Delhi, transfer to hotel

Upon arrival in  Delhi, you will be met and transferred to Hotel.

Overnight in Delhi.

Day 02 Fly Delhi -Varanasi

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi. You will be met by your local guide upon arrival and transferred to hotel. 

Evening visit Ghats to witness evening prayers.

Dinner at Hotel.

Overnight in Varanasi.

Day 03 Tour of Varanashi & Kushinagar

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Early morning transfer to the riverfront for a dawn boat ride along the Ghats River Ganges when devotees offer their morning Prayer venerating holy water.

Return to the hotel for breakfast.  

Later excursion to Sarnath: where Buddha preached his first sermon middle way to final Nirvana in the Deer park. The Dhamek Stupa marks the spot. The four headed iron pillar (20 meter high) also known as the Ashoka Pillars in the archeological museum. The Vihara built by the Mahabodhi society enshrines the sacred Buddhist relics found at the other sites and houses frescoes depicting scenes from Buddha’s life and fruit market.

Evening optional to visit local bazaars or the River Ganges ghats.

Overnight in Varanasi.

Day 04 Varanasi-Bodhgaya (approx 6 Hrs./300 kms.)

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Drive to Bodhgaya. Arrive and check-in hotel and lunch.

Later visit Bodhgaya: The holiest of spots of Buddhism, as it was here under the Bodhi Tree, that Gautama, Prince of Kapilvastu, attained Nirvana and became the Buddha, the enlightened one. The tree that stands today is believed to have grown the original one under which Lord Buddha meditated. Visit the Mahabodhi temple, which is in the complex surrounded by relics of the Jataka tales immortalizing stores of the blessed ones life and his previous incarnations.

Overnight at Bodhgaya.

Day 05 Tour of Bodhagaya

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

This morning visit Niranjana river- Budha bathed in the nearby Niranjana (now called Lilanja) River after attaining enlightenment. The Niranjana River is about 250m east of the temple. Prince Siddharta crossed this river to reach the Bodhi tree.

Continue to  Dungeshwari Cave Temples, also known as Mahakala caves, lies 12 km north-east of Bodhgaya in Bihar. Where three caves contain Buddhist shrines, where the Buddha is believed to have meditated.Gautama Siddhartha is believed to have piously meditated at this place for six years before he went to Bodhgaya for the final realization. Two small shrines are built to commemorate this phase of Buddha. A golden emaciated Buddha sculpture memorising the rigid penance is enshrined in one of the cave temples and a large (about 6 feet tall) Buddha’s s statue in the other. A Hindu goddess deity Dungeshwari is also placed inside the cave temple.

Later visit Sujata Village: Sujata was the name of the young woman who fed rice milk to the emaciated Siddhartha Gautama, thus ending his years of harsh asceticism and beginning his return to a "middle path." Today, just across the river from Bodh Gaya, is a village named after this brave young woman (for at the time, Siddhartha was a horrendous sight to see).

Overnight at Bodhgaya.

Day 06 Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Rajgir (approx. 2 Hrs./80 Kms.).

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Drive to Rajgir. Arrive and tour of Rajgir: At Rajgir the first Buddhist council was convened at the Sapatparni cave, immediately after the mahaparinirvana of the Lord Buddha. Here you will see the site of the Monastery, Venuvana Vihar – built by the king Bimbisara as an offering to the Buddha, Karanda Tank where the Buddha used to bath. Halfway up the Gridhakuta hill are the ruins of an ancient stupa.

Check-in hotel and lunch.

Later excursion to Nalanda (approx. 30 min/12 Kms.) Nalanda is the site of Buddhist University of great repute which came up much after Buddha passed into mahaparinirvana. The ruins reflect the architectural style of three famous periods in Indian history, the Mauryas, the Guptas and the Pala periods. There are ruins of temples and shilas with in the university complex, and the Nalanda museum houses several undamaged statues of the Buddha, a collection of Buddhist bronze and coins.

Return to Rajgir and overnight.

Day 07 Rajgir-Vaishali (approx. 3-4 Hrs./160 Kms)

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Drive to Vaishali. Arrive and check-in hotel and lunch.

Later visit Vaishali. As long ago as the 6th century BC, Vaishali was the capital of a republic. Mahavira, a Jain Tirthankar (teacher) was born here, and Buddha preached his last sermon here. Tere’s little to see: an Ashoka pillar (with its lion capital intact) and a few dilapidated stupas (one contains an eighth of Buddha’s ashes).

Overnight at Vaishali.

Day 08 Vaishali-Kushinagar (approx. 6-7 Hrs./200 Kms)

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Early morning drive to Kushinagar. Arrive and check-in hotel.

Visit Kushinagar: Buddha attained Maha Nirvana here. At the place where he passed away is a large statue in Maha Nirvana posture. There is also a stupa at the place where his last rites were performed.

Overnight at Kushinagar.

Day 09 Kushinagar-Lumbini (approx. 5 Hrs./200 Kms.).

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

On the way to Lumbini this morning, go through immigration in India side, cross the border to Nepal, get the Nepal visa for $ 25 (subject to change) and drive to Lumbini.

Arrive and check-in hotel and lunch.

This afternoon tour of  Lumbini: This is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, a Royal and heir to the throne of the Kingdom of the Kapilvastu. At the time of his birth his mother was en-route to her parent’s home but she gave birth at Lumbini, which was meant to be just a resting place for the night. Here there are still exist a small pond where the queen bathed her newborn child, and it is believed that 7-lotus flower blossomed and these he took seven steps.

Overnight in Lumbini.

Day 10 Lumbini-Sravasti (approx 6-7 hrs/250 Kms )

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Drive to Saravasti. You will be driving a rough rough road today. So even for the distance of 250 km., it'll take about 7 hours.

Arrive and check-in hotel. Rest of the day is at leisure or rest.

Overnight in Sravasti.

Day 11 Tour of Sravasti

MEAL: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

This morning visit  Saravasti:  Saheth-Maheth or Saravasti it was known in ancient times, was here where Buddha confounded his critics with a million fold manifestation of himself, seated on thousands petaled lotus, as fire and water emanated from his body.

In the third rainy season after his enlightenment, the Buddha visited Saravasti, and stayed at the beautiful pleasure garden, Jetvana, a gift of devotion from the rich merchant Sudatta, who built numerous shrines, monasteries, store houses and wells of which only the ruins remains today. 

Overnight at Sravasti.

Day 12 Sravasti-Lucknow-Delhi-U.S. or extension

MEAL: Breakfast

Early morning drive to Lucknow (approx. 6 Hrs./200 Kms.).

Arrive in Lucknow and transfer to airport for flight to Delhi, fly to Delhi and continue to  U.S. or extend your trip to South India, Nepal or Bhutan.

 
 
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