DAY 01 – ARRIVE DELHI
Upon arrival transfer to Hotel. Overnight stya t the Hotel in Delhi.
DAY 02 – DELHI – VARANASI BY FLIGHT BY Flight
After Breakfast Half day tour in Delhi visit Rajghat: Raj Ghat is a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, which was originally the name of a historic ghat of Old Delhi on the banks of river Yamuna. The memorial has been designed by Vanu G. Bhuta, reflecting the simplicity of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. Red Fort (Drive past): The Red Fort is a 17th century fort complex constructed by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan. Also known as Lal Qila, it served as a residence for Mughal Emperors. In the walled city of Old Delhi, the fort was the palace for Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan’s new capital, Shahjahanabad. India Gate: Situated in the heart of New Delhi, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens. Built in 1931, it commemorates the 90,000 soldiers of the Indian Army who lost their lives while fighting for the Indian Empire, or more correctly the British Raj, in World War I and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. President house (Outside only)– The house of President. Parliament house (Out side only) – The Parliament House is the house of the Parliament of India, located in New Delhi. Qutab Minar After Lunch at restaurant transfer to airport to catch the flight for Varanasi.
Upon arrival at Varanasi airport transfer to Hotel.
Overnight stay at the Hotel in Varanasi
DAY 03 : VARANASI / BODHGAYA (240 Km/06 hrs)
Early Morning Boat ride in Holy river Ganga. After Breakfast short sightseeing of Varanasi visiting Bharat Mata Temple, a fairly new temple built in 1936 and located at Kashi Vidyapeeth Campus, is a shrine dedicated to Mother India. This temple was built by a Gandhian follower Babu Shiv Prasad Gupt and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. It enshrines a marble structure of Mother India, a fine three dimensional structure of undivided India. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), is a Central university, located in Varanasi, India, which is also the largest residential university in Asia, The Durga Mandir (Temple) is situated in Ramnagar of Banaras (or Varanasi).
Then Excursion to Sarnath At a distance of 10 km from Sarnath, Varanasi, called ‘Kashi’ in the scriptures and popularly known as “Benaras”, is said to be the oldest living city in the world with a glorious history that goes back to thousands of years. Varanasi is a revered Hindu pilgrimage, well known for the pristine Ghats, bathe rituals and the numerous temples. The golden temple, with stunning golden towers does attract majority of the pilgrims and is definitely an attraction.
After Lunch at the Hotel Drive to Bodhgaya. Upon arrival transfer to Hotel.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
DAY 04 BODHGAYA/ NALANDA /RAJGIR
After Breakfast Morning visit Bodhgaya. Visiting Mahabodhi temple – The temple is an immense attraction to the Buddhists, and stands near the Maha Bodhi tree under which Tathagat, or Gautama attained enlightenment. The total height of the temple is 170 ft. Its basement is 48 square feet and it rises in the form of a slender Pyramid.
Mahabodhi Tree – The tree is considered holy since Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under it , it is probably the fifth succession of the original tree. Anyone, who likes an ambience of serenity, would understand this place’s surroundings to be perfectly weathered for meditation.
Drive to Rajgir. Upon arrival Rajgir visit Rajgir.
Rajgir – Rajgir (80 kms) was the capital of the mighty Magadhas, described in Mahabharata, during the 6th century BC. It is one of the most important tourist places in India. Being located in a valley, Rajgir is a very scenic place Nalanda – 96 kms from Bodhgaya, The place where an ancient university, famous all over the world ex In this first residential international university of the world, 2,000 teachers and 10,000 monks students from all over the Buddhist world lived and studied here.
Evening back to Rajgir.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Rajgir
DAY 05 – RAJGIR /VAISHALI/KUSHINAGER
After Breakfast drive to Kushinager enroute visit Vaishali Ashokan Pillar – The magnificent ashokan pillar with a lion adorning its top is a definite crowd-puller. This 18.3 m high pillar is made of a single piece of red sandstone and is a major attraction to the tourists.Fort Vishal – Fort Vishal is a one kilometer long fort and is known to be the part of the oldest democracy of the world which had housed the parliament of those times. Museum – The museum houses a rich collection of antiquities discovered from various sites in Vaishali.
.Then drive to Kushinagar.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
DAY 06 – KUSHINAGER/SRAVASTI (230 Km /06 Hrs)
After Breakfast visit Kushinager . Visiting Nirvana Stupa and temple – This stupa made of bricks, excavated by Carlleyl in 1867, stands at a height of 2.74 meter. The excavations leading to the finding of the copper vessel and the Brahmi inscription on it proving the matter that Buddhas ashes were buried in the pace, made this place a suddenly important destination for all Buddhists devotees. Besides, the huge reclining statue of Buddha in the temple is also very attractive.
Mahaparinirvana temple – This is more than 6 meters long statue of reclining Buddha. The image was unearthed during the excavations of 1876. Carved from Chunar sandstone, the statue represents the dying Buddha reclining on his right side.
Overnight stay the hotel in Kushinager
DAY 07 – SRAVASTI/LUCLKNOW (170 Km/05 Hrs drive)
After Breakfast visit Sravasti. Visiting The Ananda Bodhi tree : This tree, under which Lord Buddha Meditated for a night, is said to bless the devotees who meditate under it as it was specialized by Lord Buddha himself Jetavana : The Jetavana is said to once host Lord Buddha and his pilgrims, where One of his followers, a rich merchant, covered the whole ground of the park (vana) with gold coins. Lord Buddha used tehse coins to build a Vihara here. While there are stories that Jet Vana once housed a giant seven-storied-building, some others believe that the first statue of Lord Buddha was built here. Whatever the story, in reality, the place is a cool and peaceful alternative to forget any other care of life and this, makes one believe the facts that are running as folklore among the local community. There are, however, some sculptures built by The Ashoka which are nonetheless less attractive than other monuments built by him Shobhanath temple: the Jain pilgrims revere this temple, believed to be the birthplace of a Jain saint, Sambhavnath.
Overnight stay at the Hotel.
DAY 08 – LUCKNOW/SANKASIYA/AGRA (200 Km/05 Hrs. drive)
After Breakfast dive to Agra enroute visit Sankasiya. Sankisa is related to many Myths pertaining to Lord Buddha, especially his descending from the heaven after death makes it an ideal destination for Buddhist pilgrims. The place is as interesting as the stories related to Buddha, charming, quiet and enchanting
After visit drive to Agra.
Overnight stay the hotel in Agra.
DAY 09 – AGRA/DELHI
After Breakfast sightseeing of Agra visiting Taj Mahl and Agra Fort.The Taj Mahal, the most magnificent tribute to love and beauty and one of man’s proudest creations, is easily the most identified image to be associated with India. Built between 1631 and 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan for his beloved wife, this fairytale like marvel took twenty two years and the labor of twenty thousand workmen employed on it daily for its completion. The intensity of the Emperor’s love is carved in white marble as the most beautiful and wondrous expression of love ever. Agra Fort the magnificent towers, bastions, rampart, and gateways of the Agra Fort symbolize the stature and power of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Built between 1565 and 1571 AD, it is said that the emperor Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal, was imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb. The magnificent Agra fort, though started by Emperor Akbar, was completed by his grandson Shah Jahan.
Overnight stay at the Hotel in Delhi.
DAY 10 – DEPARTURE BY FLIGHT
After Breakfast transfer to airport to catch the flight for onward destination.