The path of Siddhartha
A trip in the high significance holy sites of Buddhism , retracing the steps of the most important places of the Lord Buddha's life, where he lived, where he attained Enlightenment and preached first Sermon and reached Nirvana. The journey starts from Delhi the capital of India and cover the buddhist holy places in India and Nepal.
Day 01: Arrival in Delhi
Upon arrival at the airport in Delhi, meeting with our staff and transfer to hotel. Overnight.
Day 02: Delhi
Breakfast and proceed for city tour of Old and New Delhi, external visit of the Red Fort, a UNESCO heritage site and built by Moghul Emperor Shah Jahan in 1648. Visit the Jama Masjid, also commissioned by Shah Jahan and finished in 1656. Passing through the 17th century old Chandni Chowk market. Visit the Raj Ghat, the cremation site of Gandhi. Proceed for New Delhi and panoramic visit of government buildings. Visit of India Gate, arch erected in memory of Indian soldiers who died fighting for the British in World War I. Visit the Qutub Minar complex, a tower of 73 meters, engraved with verses of the Koran, built in 1193 by Qutab-ud-din Aibak. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 03: Delhi / Lukhnow (by flight)
Breakfast and transfer to the airport to board the flight for Lukhnow. Upon arrival, meet with our staff and transfer to hotel. Visit of Lukhnow, capital of Uttar Pradesh, famous for Imambara, ancient tombs of important people built inside with gardens, mosques and monuments. Visit the Great Imambara (Bara Imambara), the tomb of Asaf-ud-Daula of Nawab dynasty, who built it in 1784 (closed during Muharram). Adjacent, the mosque of Asaf-ud-Daula (entrance only for Muslims) that can be observed from neighboring Victoria Gardens. Visit the Little Imambara (Hussainabad Imambara) named Chota Imambara or Palace of Lights (closed during Muharram), ancient congregation hall for Shia Muslims, built by the third Nawab of Awadh, Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh in 1837, for his mother and himself, at the time of famine to provide an income for victims. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 04: Lucknow - Balrampur (Km. 170 - approx 3 hours)
After breakfast drive to Balrampur. Visit Sravasti, in the fertile plain of the Ganges, one of the oldest cities of India and which was the abode of Buddha. Visit the Jetvana Gardens and Saheth, place full of monasteries and shrines linked to Buddhism as well as quite a few Stupa. Most belong to the Stupa Kushana period while the most of the temples are built in Gupta style. Visit of Maheth, which was the actual site of the former Shravasti cities and has been identified with the remains of proper city . Visit the Jetvan monastery, sacred to Buddhists because it was the second monastery dedicated to Buddha, where he spent 25 years for spreading his teachings. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 05: Balrampur - Lumbini (Km. 163 - approx 3 hrs)
Breakfast and leave for Lumbini, in southern Nepal, Buddhist place of pilgrimage. In the evening, proceed for Lumbini tour, to visit the place of Buddha's birth, it remained a mystery for almost 1,500 years and discovered only in 1890. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 06: Lumbini - Kushinagar (Km. 140 - appox 3 hrs)
Breakfast and departure to Kushinagar, another symbolic place of International Buddhism. Visit the Nirvana Stupa (Mahaparinirvana) dating back to the reign of Kumaragupta I in 400 A.D. Here, in 486 BC, the Sakyamuni Buddha entered into Parinirvana, was freed from reincarnation. In the sanctuary, the enormous gold statue of Buddha is lying . Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 07: Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna (Km. 220 - approx 5 hrs)
Breakfast and leave for Patna enroute visiting Vaishali to see the ruins of Mukutbandhan Stupa, a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha. Arrival in Patna. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 08: Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya (Km. 150 - approx 4 hours)
After breakfast drive to Bodhgaya. Visit Nalanda, the most important ancient Buddhist universities in India, a place often visited by Shakyamuni Buddha and surrounded by temples, stupas, Buddhist monasteries. Proceed for Bodhgaya enroute visiting Rajgir, the capital of many empires to enjoy the unspoiled landscapes of the region where Prince Siddhartha came to seek solace after the renunciation of the world. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 09: Bodhgaya
Breakfast and visit to Bodhgaya, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center in the world, the place where Siddhartha Gautama, towards 530 a. C., attained enlightenment. Visit of important sites such as the Mahabodhi Temple, the seventh century. A. C., the most imposing building of the Bodhgaya complex that host a large statue of Buddha. It has developed the largest Buddhist site consists of temples, monasteries, shrines and stupas. Here lies the sacred Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained the supreme knowledge. Visit the Sujata Village, which takes its name from a young woman who nourished the Buddha ending with rice milk to his years of harsh asceticism to begin the return to a "middle way". Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 10: Bodhgaya - Varanasi (Km. 255 - approx 4 hrs)
Breakfast and departure to Varanasi, one of the most ancient and holy city for Hindus. Walk through the old part of Varanasi and visit of Bharat Mata temple, the Golden Temple (Temple Vishwanath), and the Aurangzeb Mosque. Visit the evening ceremony at Ghats. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Varanasi - Delhi (by flight)
Morning boat ride on river Ganges to attend the rituals of purification, offered by pilgrims during rising sun, between incense and the spiritual atmosphere of the city of Varanasi. Visit the sacred Sarnath, where Siddhartha gave the first speech. Transfer to airport to board the flight for Delhi. Meet and assist on arrival and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 12: Departure from Delhi
Morning in time transfer to airport to connect flight for onward destinations.