Duration : 10 Nights / 11 Days
Destinations Covered:-Delhi - Delhi - Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi -
Bodhgaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Sravasti - Delhi
Day
01: Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel.
Night stay in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old & New Delhi :
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of Old Delhi would entail visiting
the Raj Ghat - the memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was
cremated; Jama Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red
Fort once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul Empire.
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing tour of New Delhi would
include a visit to the Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive
along the ceremonial avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India
Gate, Parliament House, the President's Residence, Lotus Temple
and would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave. Later
evening transfer to Airport.
Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur- the fabled "pink city"of the
desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharaja of Jaipur. This
is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of
the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it.
The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to
the royal processions and splendours are now living. Arrive Jaipur
in approx 5 hours & transfer to hotel. Later visit the majestic
Amber Fort, is one that cannot be easily described. Ride up on
Elephants to the former capital of the royals set against the
backdrop of the wooded hills. Also visit the City Palace- still
home to the Maharaja although several of the rooms are now open to
the public. Many antiques and artefacts belonging to the ruling
family are housed here. Palace of Winds also known as Hawa mahal,
this elaborate building, now little more than a facade, is
encrusted with delicate screen sand carved balconies from which
the royal ladies, confined to their quarters, could sneak views of
the outside world. Past, present and future merge at Jai Singh's
observatory, where time has been accurately measured since the
17th century. Night stay in Jaipur.
Day 04: Jaipur - Agra - Varanasi
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a perfectly
preserved red sandstone "ghost town" which was the estranged
capital of mughal emperor Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when
its water supply failed. Arrive Agra & visit the magnificent Taj
Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world surely the most
extravagant expression of love ever created. 20,000 men laboured
for over 17 years to build this memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved
wife, Also visit the Red fort - the rusty and majestic red-
sandstone fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna and
the construction was started by Emperor Akbar in 1566. At the
Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience), a colonnaded hall of
red-sandstone with a throne alcove of inlaid marble at the back,
the Emperor heard public petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of
private audience) where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend
an ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded peacock
Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers of friendly
kingdoms. Late evening transfer to railway station to board the
train to Varanasi (Dep from Agra at 2100 hrs Arr Varanasi at 0830
hrs) Overnight in the train.
Day 05: Varanasi
Morning arrive Varanasi -said to be the India's most sacred city
situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga. It is also
the oldest living city in the world. As a place for devotion and
worship, with hundreds of temples dotting the city, sunrise on the
river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually uplifting
sight. It has a fascination uniquely its own, a quality of sublime
beauty, a timeless eternal appeal. Varanasi is the city which
cannot be described, only experienced. Arrive Varanasi & transfer
to hotel Later excursion to Sarnath -where the Buddha preached his
first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive
remains, as well as a modern temple. Evening view "Aarti" ceremony
on the Ghats. Night stay in Varanasi.
Day 06: Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning drive to Bodhgaya & transfer to hotel. Bodhgaya -As the
place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is the spiritual
home of Buhddhists. Bodhgaya situated near the river Niranjana, is
one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here
that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. Later
visit Mahabodhi Temple, Niranjana River, Sujata Village. Night
stay in Bodhgaya.
Day 07: Bodhgaya - Ragjir - Nalanda - Patna
After breakfast drive to Patna enroute sightseeing of Nalanda &
Rajgir. Rajgir -The picturesque Rajgir, or Rajagriha as it was
known in the past (literally, the abode of kings) is surrounded by
the meandering river Banganga and 5 hills. During the lifetime of
the Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom,
ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The hills and caves
surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers, ranging
from the materialism of the early Charavaka school to the
metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers. Like many others in
search of truth, Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal
heritage came to this city to seek the path of vation. Nalanda -Nalanda
was the most renowned university in ancient India. It derived its
name from Na-alam-da, meaning Insatiable in Giving, one of the
names by which the Lord Buddha was known Lunch at nice city
restaurant at Rajgir. On arrival Check-in to Hotel. Dinner & Over
Night stay at Hotel in Patna.
Day 08 : Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar enroute visiting Vaishali.
Arrive Kushinagar & transfer to hotel. Night stay in Kushinagar.
Kushinagar-Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally attained
Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a
beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha.
Day 09 : Kushinagar - Lumbini
After breakfast visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple & Stupas, later
drive to Lumbini & transfer to hotel. Lumbini - the birthplace of
the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500
years. Evening sightseeing tour of Lumbini including a visit to
the birth Place of Lord Buddha. Night stay in Lumbini.
Day 10 : Lumbini - Sravasti - Delhi
After breakfast drive to Lucknow enroute Sravasti. Sravasti-the
capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for
sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The
city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has
age-old stupas,majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is
said to have performed some miracles here. In Sravasti visit
Saheth - Maheth & Jetvan. Arrive Lucknow & transfer to airport to
connect the flight for Delhi. Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel.
Night stay in Delhi.
Day 11 : Departure
Transfer to airport to board the flight for onwards destination.