Budhist pilgrimage
in the Footsteps of Lord Buddha
BODH GAYA
12 day tour

Day 02 Delhi – Kanpur
Morning drive to Kanpur. Enorute Lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive Kanpur in the evening.
Transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 03 Kanpur to Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Varanasi.
En-route Lunch at a local restaurant.
On arrival transfer to hotel
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Varanasi –Bodh Gaya
Early morning enjoy the boat ride on the Holy River Ganges.
Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast visit Saranath – After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya the Buddha went to Sarnath; and it was here that he preached his first discourse in the deer park to set in motion the 'Wheel of the Dharma'. It is one of the most holy sites as in this place the stream of the Buddha's teaching first flowed. Dhameka stupa - is the most conspicuous structure at Sarnath. Dhamekha means, this is the spot where the Buddha delivered his first sermon. Dhamekha seems to be a distorted form of Dharma Chakra which means turning the wheel of the Dharma. It is also said that at this spot the five ascetics who left Gautama Buddha in Bodh Gaya used to live in huts. The original stupa was constructed by Ashoka. The present size of the stupa is 31.3 m high and 28.3 m in diameter. The lower portion of the stupa is covered completely with beautifully carved stones. The design consists of a bro ad band of Swastika (fylfot) carved in different geometrical patterns with a finely chiseled lotus wreath, running over and below the swastikas. The Dhamekha stupa is considered to be the sacred place where the voice of Buddhism was first heard and visit Deer park.
Lunch at hotel.
Free for shopping at Varanasi as Very famous for its silk products. Afternoon drive to Bodhgaya.
On arrival transfer to hotel.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 05 Bodh Gaya
Breakfast at hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure for religious activities at Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya–The Prince Siddhartha attained Enlightment under the Bo-tree after years of self emancipation. Bodhagaya is a small and quiet town, which is the most important of all the Buddhist sites in the world. King Ashoka erected a shrine near the Bodhi tree which was replaced by Mahabodhi Temple in the 2nd century BC. It houses a gilded image of the Lord Buddha in the pose signifying enlightenment; there are carvings on the stupas depicting tales from Lord Buddha's lives. The original Bodhi tree was said to have been destroyed and the present tree behind the temple complex is believed to come from the sapling which was carried to Sri Lanka from the original tree and then brought back to Bodhgaya.
Then visit Sujatha village, Niranjana River, various monasteries etc.
Lunch at hotel. Evening leisure for own activities.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 06: Bodh Gaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna
Breakfast at hotel.
Then drive to Rajgir and then visit Veluvana Vihara, Bimibisara Prison. Rajgir is 10km south of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of Buddhism. Venuvana - Site of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by king Bimbisara for Lord Buddha to reside. This was the King's first offering to Lord Buddha. Bimbisara Prison - King Bimbisara was imprisoned here by his impatient son and heir, Ajatashatru. The captive king chose this site for his incarceration. From this spot, he could see Lord Buddha climbing up to his mountain retreat atop the Griddhakuta Hill. There is a clear view of the Japanese Pagoda. The stupa of peace was built on the top of the hill.
Then drive to Nalanda –where ruins of the great ancient university have been excavated, is situated at a distance of 90 km. south east of Patna by road. It falls on way to Rajgir. Hieun Tsang thinks that Lord Buddha, in one of his previous births as Bodhisatwa, became a king with his capital at this place and that his liberality won for him and his capital the name Nalanda or "Charity without intermission". Nalanda has a very ancient history. It was frequently visited by Lord Vardhamana Mohave and Lord Buddha in the 6th century BC. During his sajourns, the Lord Buddha found this place prosperous, swelling, and teeming with population and containing mango-groves. It is also supposed to be the birth place of Sariputra, one of the Chief disciples of the Lord Buddha. Museum - Opposite the entrance to the ruins of the university and houses, it has a small but beautiful collection of Buddhist and Hindu bronzes and a number of undamaged statues of the Lord Buddha that were found in the area. Then visit ruins of the famous Nalanda University and the Museum.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch drive to Patna.
On arrival at Patna transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight stay

Day 07 Patna – Kushinagar
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning drive to Kushinagar.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
En-route also visit Vaishali. - is believed to be the First Republic of The World, Having an Elected Body of Representatives Hold Special Significance for Buddhist Devotees. the Buddha preached the Radha sutra to the eighty four thousand faithful gathered there.
On arrival at Kushinagar – Visit Mahaparinirvana temple - In his eightieth year the Buddha and a group of monks arrived in this small place. Ananda described it as 'a wattle and daub town'. Exhausted and sick the Buddha was unable to go on and he laid down to rest between two sal trees. His final hours and the events that filled it are movingly described in the last part of the Mahaparinibbana Sutta which you will find in the Long Discourses. The Nirvana Temple and stupa later built over the site of the parinivana as well as the ruins of several monasteries are set in attractive
Check in at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Day 08: Kushinagar – Lumbini
Breakfast at hotel. Then half day sightseeing which includes visit to Rambhar Stupa (Cremation Centre) –About 1 km away, this large stupa rises to a height of 49 ft. It marks the site where the Lord Buddha was cremated. In ancient Buddhist texts this stupa has been referred to as Mukut-Bandhan Vihar and Mahaparinivana Temple – This temple stands on the same plinth as the main Nirvana Stupa behind it. The reclining Nirvana statue of Lord Buddha inside the temple is 6.10 metres long and is made of monolith red - sand stone. It represents the "Dieing - Buddha" reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. It is placed on a large brick-pedestal with stone-posts at the corners. There is an inscription datable to the 5th Century A.D. recording that the statue was "the appropriate religious gift of the Mahavihara Swami Haribala”.
Lunch at hotel.
After lunch drive to Lumbini. On arrival at check in at hotel.
Dinner and Overnight at Hotel.

Day 09: Lumbini to Sravasti
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit Lotus Pond, Mahamaya Temple, the Birth place of Lord Buddha - Shakyamuni Buddha was born in Lumbini, in southern Nepal, two thousand five hundred years ago. Since his time, Nepal has been a sacred ground for Buddhist as the birth place of Buddha….and the monasteries.
Lunch at hotel.
After lunch drive to Sravasti.Enroute also visit Kapilavastu.
On arrival at Sravasti and transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 10 Sravasti to Lucknow
Breakfast at hotel.
Sravasti- Buddha spent 25 years living in the monastery of Jetavana. Many Vinaya rules, Jatakas and Sutras were first discussed at this place. The Buddha is supposed to have astonished rival teachers by performing miracles at Sravasti. It is said that it was in Sravasti that the Buddha transformed Angulimal from a dacoit into a Buddhist monk. He also delivered many important sermons here. King Ashoka erected two pillars 21 meters high on either side of the eastern gateway of the Jetavana monastery. Sravasti was a flourishing center of learning during the Gupta period. When the famed Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited this site, he found several damaged stupas and ruins of monasteries and a palace. Morning visit Saheth (Jethavana) – and Maheth (Angulimala Caves)- Sravasti has two villages, Saheth and Maheth. From the Balrampur-Sravasti road one can enter Sahet, which is spread over an area of 400 acres and has a number of ruins. A little north of Sahet, towards the Rapti River, is the ancient fortified city of Mahet.
Lunch at hotel.
After lunch drive to Lucknow.
On arrival check in at hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 11 Lucknow to Delhi
Early breakfast and drive to Delhi.
En-route lunch at local restaurant.
On arrival transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight stay

Day 12: Departure
Early morning transfer to airport for flight to Colombo

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