Day 02 of Buddhist Tours starts with Delhi Sightseeing

Full day enjoy an interesting guided tour of Old & New Delhi.  Your first stop is Mahatma Gandhi Memorial at Raj Ghat; the famous Chandni Chowk bazaars, once the shopping arcade of Mughal royalty. Visit marble domes and slender minarets of the Jama Masjid. Your sightseeing tour of New Delhi this afternoon includes a drive along Rajpath to photograph the Parliament House, President’s Palace and India Gate, a memorial to India’s soldiers. Continue to Humayun’s tomb, forerunner to Taj Mahal and the Qutab Minar. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 03: Delhi to Gaya by Air.

Morning, you will be transferred to the Delhi airport to board the flight to Gaya. On arrival at the Gaya airport, you will be met by our chauffeur and transferred to the HOTEL BODHGAYA REGENCY. Thereafter, get ready to visit the Mahabodhi Temple. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Within the temple complex, you will be taken to the Bodhi Tree under which the Lord gained enlightenment. The site is a major pilgrimage for Buddhist and is thronged by followers of Buddhism from all over the world. From there you will be visiting the Wat Thai Temple. The shrine is unique and only Thai temple in India.Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 04: Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Patna  (approx. 5 hrs drive)

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to Patna. There will be a halt en route to explore attractions of Rajgir – the first capital kingdom of Magadha. It is famed for housing Buddhist ruins, rock-cut caves, shell inscriptions, Hindu Jain temples and forts etc. Also, you will be visiting the Nalanda. Dating back to the 450CE, Nalanda was a Buddhist university. Many of the notable guests of this longest running university in the Indian history were Mahavira and Buddha. After exploring the places, resume your drive towards Patna. Upon arrival, check-in at the HOTEL PANACHE PATNA. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 05: Patna – Vaishali – Kushinagar (approx. 6 hrs drive)

After having your breakfast, enjoy a road trip to Kushinagar, a Buddhist pilgrimage site. While on your way, visit Vaishali. A small district in Bihar, Vaishali is also a revered Buddhist, Hindu and Jain pilgrimage place. Lord Mahavira was born here whereas Lord Buddha has spent a significant time of his life here. After exploring the Vaishali, continue your journey to Kushinagar. On reaching, check-in at the HOTEL IMPERIAL KUSHINAGAR and relax. Kushinagar is another Buddhist pilgrimage where Lord Buddha attained Nirvana. Dotted with numerous stupas and monasteries, the sacred place is famed for deriving its name from that of Lord Rama’s son, Kush. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 06: Kushinagar – Varanasi (approx. 6-7 hrs drive).

After breakfast at the hotel, get ready for a city tour of Kushinagar. During the day trip, you will be visiting the Mahaparinirvana Temple. The holy shrine is a home to 6.10 m long statue of the Buddha in a reclining position. An important characteristic of the statue is that it is made up of a single piece of red sandstone of Chunar. Reckoned as the most sacred shrines of the Buddhists, the temple is visited by numerous devotees throughout the year. Subsequently, you will be traveling to the Wat Thai temple.

The temple is so splendid that it can be seen from anywhere in Kushinagar. Attracting tourists from all over the world, the temple portrays the typical Thai Buddhist architectural style. After paying homage, you will leave for Varanasi. After reaching, check-in at the HOTEL MERADEN GRAND VARANASI. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7: Varanasi

Early in the morning as you enjoy a boat ride on river Ganges in Varanasi in the wee hours. Thereafter, you can satiate your hunger with scrumptious breakfast. Post this, visit Sarnath where Buddha preached his message after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Ashoka adorned this place with numerous magnificent stupas and monasteries.

The afternoon is reserved for visiting the famous temples in Varanasi like the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Durga Temple. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu shrines of Lord Shiva and also houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Painted in red, the Durga Mandir is also known as the Monkey Temple.

The holy abode of Goddess Durga, the temple holds great religious importance and was built by a Bengali Queen in the 18th century. A visit to the Banaras Hindu University is also on the list. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 8: Varanasi – Delhi by Air. 

Early morning at sunrise, transfer to the River Ganges to enjoy a boat tour and visiting the bathing ghats. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Varanasi airport to board the flight to Delhi. 

Overnight Stay at Delhi Hotel.

Day 9: Departure from Delhi.

After Breakfast at the Hotel. After Checkout from the hotel – you can explore the city at your leisure. 

Later you will be transferred to the Delhi international airport to board the flight to back home.