Buddhist Pilgrimage 7N 8D

Morning having B/f then drive to Varanasi upon arrival having lunch at hotel Hence drive to Sarnath situated about 10 Kms from Varanasi is the place of where Buddha preached his first sermon after he attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. At Sarnath Museum (Every Friday closed) can see the Ashok Pillar with its four Guardia lions that has been as India’s national emblem. In the evening experience the Ganga Aarti, it refers to the songs sung to praise the deity by offering the lamps. Hindus in India worship the river Ganges as goddess. Every evening in Varanasi, Aarti is performed at Dashashwamedh Ghat. Dinner & O/N stay at Varanasi hotel.

Early Morning wake up. Visit to river Ganges – sightseeing of wonderful Ghats (Bank of river, enjoy boat ride with pictures view of Sunrise & several colorful Ghats on the bank of the Ganges River. Post Breakfast drive to Shravasti on arrival check into hotel, having Lunch Then Proceed to sightseeing the Maheth identified with the remains of the city, Maheth cover an area of about 400 acres. Excavations have exposed the massive gates of the city, ramparts and also the ruins of other structures, which stand testimony to the prosperity of ancient Shravasti, Saheth – known primarily as the site of the Jetvana monastery; Saheth covers an area of 32 acres. it becomes an important place of pilgrimage with numerous shrines, Stupa and monasteries, Dinner & Overnight stay at Hotel.

After Breakfast drive to Lumbini (Nepal, kindly carry double entry visa for India), Emigration INDIA & NEPAL upon arrival at hotel having lunch, located in the Terai plains of 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 one of the holiest places of Buddhism. Dinner at Hotel Overnight stay at Lumbini Hotel.

After having breakfast drive to Kushinagar upon arrival check inn at hotel take Lunch at hotel then proceed to visit Nirvana Stupa – standing at a height of 2.74 m, the nirvana stupa is built of bricks. This huge stupa was excavated in 1876. A copper vessel unearthed here bears an inscription in ancient brahmi stating that lord Buddha’s remains had been deposited here. Nirvana temple – This temple houses the 6m long statue of reclining Buddha which was unearthed in 1876. Carved from chunar sandstone, the statue has an inscription below that dates the statue to the 5^th century ad. Ramabharstupa – referred to as the mukt bandhan vihar in ancient Buddhist texts, this stupa marks the site where the lord Buddha was cremated. This large stupa rises to a height of 49 ft. Dinner & overnight stay at Kushinagar Hotel.

Breakfast at hotel hence drive to Rajgir en-route visiting Vaishali – an special place for the Buddhists as Buddha delivered his last sermon here and announced his impending “nirvana “ the 2^nd Buddhist council held after 100 years of Buddha’s  Parinirvana “ also took place here. Lunch at VAISHALI or Kesharia, after that drives to Rajgir. Dinner & Overnight stay at Rajgir Hotel

Breakfast at hotel. Then drive to Rajgir. The sightseeing places are Gridhkuta (vulture’s peak) – a hill on which Buddha mediated, Bimbisara prision – king bimbisar was imprisoned here by his son ajatshatru, Venuvan Vihara – a bamboo garden of king bimbisara, who made it as gift to lord Buddha. Lunch will be at restaurant in Rajgir.  Lunch at restaurant.  Proceed to Nalanda (17 kms, 30 mnts) sightseeing ruins of Nalanda University – the center of one of the oldest known universities of the world the ruin contains a number of Buddhist stupa & chaityas, monasteries, cells or rooms on four sides with a central courtyard. Drive to Bodhgaya. Dinner and overnight stay at Bodhgaya.

Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Mahabodhi Temple enjoy memorable time there.  Lunch at hotel. Then drive to airport to board the flight for your own destination.