Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour
DAY -1: Delhi 
Arrive DELHI. Meet on arrival by company representatives. Proceed to hotel
and relax.
DELHI, the capital of kingdoms and empires is now a sprawling metropolis with
a fascinating blend of the past and the present. It is a perfect introduction
to the composite culture of an ancient land. A window to the kaleidoscope
- that is India.
Overnight at Delhi.
DAY-2: Agra 
Early morning proceed to Agra by Shatabdi Express Train. Breakfast to be served
in the train. Upon arrival transfer to Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing of the
Taj and Fort.
Visit the
TAJ MAHAL - one of the Seven Wonders of the World was built
by Shah Jahan in 1631 AD and was completed in 1651AD. Taj Mahal - The symbol
of Love was built in the memory of Mumtaz Mahal (Shah Jahan' s second Wife).
DAY-3: Agra - Varanasi (by AIR)
After breakfast drive to Fatehpur Sikri and visit the Bulund Darwaza.
The deserted, red Sandstone City, Emperor Akbar built that as his capital
and palace in the late 16th century is an exhilarating experience. It a veritable
fairytale city and its "ruins" are in pristine condition ... it's
not hard to imagine what the court life must have been like in the days of
its grandeur. Also visit the Bulund Darwaza, the largest gateway in the world.
Transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi. Arrive Varanasi and visit Sarnath.
Reach and proceed to Sarnath.
Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi for a day excursion:
One of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his
first Sermon in 590 BC. Witness the ruins of a once flourishing Buddhist monastery
and then visit a fine Museum which houses an excellent collection of Buddhist
art and sculptures found at the site.
Overnight at Varanasi. VNS - HOTEL HINDUSTAN INTERNATIONAL.
DAY-4: Varanasi
- Bodhgaya
Morning boat ride on the Sacred River Ganges to rituals performed by priests
and devotees. Half day guided tour of Varanasi including the Kashi Vishwanath
Temple, Gyanvapi Mosque and Benaras Hindu University. After lunch proceed
for Bodhgaya.
Overnight at Bodhgaya. B'GAYA - LOTUS NIKKO B'GAYA / SUJATA
Morning after an early breakfast proceed to Bodhgaya. Packed lunch to be served.
DAY-5: Bodhgaya Sightseeing of Maha Bodhi Temple and Tree. Visit the
Chinese Temple. In the
afternoon
visit Niranjana Temple and River. Visit the school of the destitute. Lunch
and dinner at Bodhgaya. Overnight at Bodhgaya. B'GAYA - LOTUS NIKKO B'GAYA
/ SUJATA
DAY-6: Bodhgaya - Nalanda - Rajgir - Patna
Early morning proceed to visit the historical towns of Nalanda & Rajgir.
Have lunch at Rajgir. Proceed to Patna after lunch. Overnight at Patna. PATNA
ASHOKA.
NALANDA - 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. It is also linked by rail with Patna, Rajgir and Bakhtiyarpur
(on Delhi-Howrah main track).
RAJGIR - The Buddha lived in the sixth century BC. Mahavir was born in 567
BC and the traveller in Bihar will encounter them both constantly. Rajgir
is 10km south of Nalanda and sacred to the memory of the founder of both Buddhism
and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season
here, and used to meditate and preach on Griddhkuta, the 'Hill of the Vultures'.
Lord Mahavir spent fourteen years of his life at Rajgir and Nalanda.
Patna, the capital city of Bihar, is a historical city, which has like Delhi,
experienced the trauma and pain of being conquered. The heritage of Patna
or Pataliputra as it was known, goes back to two millennia. This city was
the seat of administration for many rulers and each of them ascended with
a new name for their capital.
DAY-7: Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
Explore the side where Buddha was cremated and visit Mahaparinirvana Temple.
Overnight at Kushinagar.
KUSHINAGAR - LOTUS NIKKO
VAISHALI - Vaishali has a past that pre-dates recorded history. It is held
that the town derives its name from King Vishal, whose heroic deeds are narrated
in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
KUSHINAGAR - The Buddha is believed to have breathed his last in this land
with pastoral surrounding, the small hamlet of Kushinagar, 53 km west of Gorakhpur.
DAY-8: Kushinagar - Lumbini
BY ROAD. Proceed after breakfast. Reach and sightseeing.
The birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, Lumbini, is the Mecca of every Buddhist,
being one of the four holy places of Buddhism. Buddha himself identified four
places of future pilgrimage: the sites of his birth, enlightenment, first
discourse, and death. Hence the birth of Gautam Buddha makes it one of the
most sacred places in the world. The Sal tree where Siddhartha was born is
difficult to locate now. But Ashoka, in the 21st year of his reign visited
the forest and raised a pillar on the spot where Siddhartha was born.
The Mayadevi Temple : This Mayadevi temple dedicated to the mother
of the Buddha has been digged out and restored. The temple has a stone artifact
depicting the nativity of the Buddha. Maya Devi, his mother, gave birth to
the child on her way to her parent's home in Devadaha while taking rest in
Lumbini under a Sal tree in the month of May in the year 642 BC. The beauty
of Lumbini is described in Pali and Sanskrit literature. Maya Devi- it is
said was spellbound to see the natural splendor of Lumbini. While she was
standing, she felt labor pains and catching hold of a drooping branch of a
Sal tree, the baby, the future Buddha, was born.
Overnight at LUMBINI - NIRVANA / PAWAN
DAY-9: Lumbini - Balrampur by road, Sight seeing of Shravasti visit
: Saheth & Maheth BALARAMPUR LOTUS NIKKO
During the time of Sakyamuni, a rich and pious merchant named Sudatta lived
in Sravasti. While on a visit to Rajgir, he heard the Buddha's sermon and
decided to become the Lord's disciple. But he was caught in a dilemma and
asked the Lord whether he could become a follower without forsaking worldly
life. To his query, the Buddha replied that it was enough that he followed
his vocation in a righteous manner.
DAY-10: Balrampur - Lucknow. Reach and sight Seeing : explore this
royal city of Nawabs.
Lucknow is caught in a time warp. It exists in an in-between land of the past
and the present looking back constantly to the memories of a colonial-Nawabi
past. There is at the same time a sense of pride at the thought of being after
Delhi, the most important center of power in free India. Politics has indeed
been Lucknow's forte but culture has been its historical identification.
DAY-11: Lucknow - Delhi : by Shatabdi Express (1545 - 2145).
Arrive Delhi and check in at hotel.
DELHI: Full day tour of Old & New Delhi
Overnight at Delhi.
DAY-12: Delhi - Park
DELHI - Free to explore city and last minute shopping. Check out in the evening
and proceed for The Dances of India Show. Have dinner then transfer to Airport
for flight home.
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour, India Religious Tour Reservation
Form
123
Taj Mahal 
