Footsteps of Lord Buddha

Day 01 : Arrive Mumbai

Meet on arrival at Airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02 : Mumbai

Morning after breakfast visit Elephanta Caves - one hour boat ride across Mumbai Harbour brings lush green Elephanta Island. Here, visit some of the huge and intricately carved Elephanta Caves that date back to the 8th century. Afternoon, city tour of Bombay - visiting 'Gateway of India' overlooking the Harbour, the 'Towers of Silence', 'Marine Drive', the 'Colaba Causeway' - the commercial heart of Bombay and the Dhobi Ghat, the unique and colourful outdoor 'laundry'. Drive upto the Malabar Hill to the lovely 'Hanging Gardens' and the Kamla Nehru Park from where you will get a wonderful view of Mumbai and the Arabian Sea, spread out before you. Also visit Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi, and the bustling Crawford Market. Evening transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03 : Mumbai - Aurangabad

Morning transfer to railway station to connect train # 7617 Tapovan Express dep. Mumbai at 06:10 hrs ar. Aurangabad at 13:30 hrs. Arrive Aurangabad transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour of Aurangabad visiting Bibi-Ka-Muqbara, Aurangabad Caves and Daulatabd Fort. Evening transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04 : Aurangabad - Excursion to Ellora Caves

Morning visit Ellora Caves - 30 kms from Aurangabad lie the finest rock cut cave temples of Ellora - 10th & 11th century, which encompasses the three religion - Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Of the 34 caves that are both monasteries and temples, the most remarkable is the magnificent Kailasa temple. The entire structure was carved out of a monolith and took over 100 years to complete. (Ellora Caves closed on all Tuesdays). Drive back to Hotel. Evening free for leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05 : Aurangabad - Jalgaon - Bhopal

After breakfast drive to Ajanta Caves - located 100 kms, a 2½ hour drive, northeast of Aurangabad in the Waghora valley. These magnificent rock-cut caves, 30 in number, date from 2nd BC to 7th Century AD. They are exclusively Buddhist, unique in that they combine three forms of Art - architecture sculpture and painting. Later transfer to Jalgaon Railway Station to connect train # 2627 Karnatak Express dep. 16:50 hrs. arr. 23:45 hrs. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel. (Ajanta caves are closed on Mondays)

Day 06 : Bhopal - Agra

Sightseeing tour of Saanchi Stupa. A lot of Buddhist travellers across the world visit this serene hill crowned by a group of stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from 3rd century BC to 12th century AD. Afternoon connect Train # 2001 Bhopal Shtabadi Express dep. Bhopal at 14:50 hrs arrive Agra at 20:35 hrs. Transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07 : Agra - Varanasi (overnight train)

Morning sightseeing tour visiting the magnificent Taj Mahal, which is entirely made of white marble and its walls are decorated with exquisite Pietra Dura (stone inlay) work. Post lunch tour of the imposing Agra Fort - built of red sandstone and marble is a hilltop citadel with fabulous courtyards, fountains and gates. Evening transfer to the Railway station for Varanasi. Overnight stay at hotel. (Taj Mahal is closed on all Fridays).

Day 08 : Arrive Varanasi

Arrive Varanasi in the morning and transfer to hotel visiting Sarnath enroute, the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Afternoon proceed for the city tour visiting various temples including The Vishwanath Temple, built by the Birlas, was planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Bharat Mata Temple houses, instead of gods and goddesses, a huge relief map in marble of the whole of Indian subcontinent. The Tulsi Manas Temple, built in 1964, is dedicated to Lord Rama. Evening view "Aarti" ceremony on the Ghats. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Sarnath enjoys the extraordinary privilege of Lord Buddha delivering his first sermon after attaining enlightenment 2500 years ago. It is about 10 km from Varanasi and holds a number of Buddhist sites that include the famous Dhamekh Stupa, the seat of the holy 'Buddha'. You can also visit the ruins of Dharmajajika Stupa and Mulgandhakuti Temple, where Lord Buddha is said to have rested and meditated while in Sarnath. The Ashoka Pillar built by the emperor Ashoka is a must see in Sarnath. The Lion Capital on top of this pillar is now the National Emblem of India and stands apart for its excellent artistry and carvings.

Day 09 : Varanasi / Bodhgaya (242 Kms / 07 hrs)

Morning take a Boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats and later we drive to Bodhgaya. Arrive Bodhgaya and check - in at hotel. Bodhgaya - most sacred place for Buddhists as it has a Peepul tree under which Gautama the Buddha attained enlightenment some 2500 years back. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10 : In Bodhgaya

After breakfast start sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi Temple - depicting the various phases of Buddha's journey towards enlightenment, showing different aspects of his life; Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum - houses a small collection of Buddhist sculpture from the 1st century B.C, to the 11th century A.D; Jagannath Temple close by has a four armed statue of Shiva in black stone. Evening transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Bodhgaya is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage center in the world. It was here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha.

Day 11 : Bodhgaya / Patna (109 Kms - 4.5 hrs)

After breakfast drive to Patna. Enroute visit Gridhakuta Hill and Bimbisara Jail in Rajgir. Proceed to Nalnada (14 kms from Rajgir) which was one of the oldest Universities of the world and International Centre for Buddhist studies. Arrive Patna. Post lunch city tour visiting Har Mandir Sahib - also known as Patna Sahib consecrates the place where the 10th Guru of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh was born in 1776; Golghar - is a large dome-like structure from where one can have a fine view of the Ganga and the surroundings of the city; Patna Museum - has a rich collection of Mauryan and Buddhist sculptures, terracotta and other interesting items of the items. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 12 : Patna / Kushinagar (253 Kms - 07 hrs)

Morning drive to Kushinagar, on arrival check - in at hotel. Later we visit the Rambhar Stupa - which marks Lord Buddha's cremation ground. Our second stop is Mahaparinirvana temple - which houses the recumbent figure of Lord Buddha.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Located at 55 km from Gorakhpur, Kushinagar is the place where the Lord Buddha uttered his last words "Behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying, decay is inherent in all component things! Work out your salvation with diligence!" and left for the heaven. A temple dedicated to the event - the Mahaparinirvana temple, stands testimony to the mournful demise. Among the various Stupas of Kushinagar, Rambhar Stupa needs your exploration for it is the place where Lord Buddha was supposedly cremated.

Day 13 : Kushinagar / Saravasti (Balrampur) - (216 Kms - 05 hrs)

Morning drive to Balrampur. On arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Sahet-Mahet. Overnight stay at hotel.

Sravasti situated 134 km from Lucknow and 29 km from Balrampur, Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. It is sacred to Buddhists because it is here that Lord Buddha performed the Tirthika heretics.

Day 14 : Saravasti / Lumbini (197 Kms - 4.5 hrs)

Morning drive to Lumbini. Arrive Lumbini transfer to hotel. Lumbini is the place where Lord Buddha was born 2500 years ago. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 15 : Lumbini / Kathmandu (By flight)

Half Day sightseeing of Lumbini and later at 1545 hrs. Transfer to airport to board flight for Kathmandu (Buddha Air Flight). Arrive Kathmandu at 1620 hrs and transfer to hotel. Kathmandu - surrounded by green hills and mountains with snow-capped peaks against its northern and eastern background the Valley is indeed beautiful.
Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 16 : Kathmandu

After breakfast start city tour of Kathmandu visiting Pashupatinath Temple - the most sacred of the Hindu temples in Nepal dedicated to lord Shiva, built in 1696. Carry on the sightseeing tour of the Patan - a city of architecture and fine arts. Sometimes known as "Town with a Thousand Golden Roofs". Visit Tibetan Handicraft center at Jawalakhel to watch carpet weaving.

Post lunch Sightseeing tour of Swayambhunath - the oldest Buddhist shrine. Looking east from here, one can see the entire Kathmandu valley spread out below. A short drive will take to Boudhanath - the worlds largest stupa; a sight of great reneration to the Buddhist. Continue to Kathmandu Durbar Square - the temple of the Living Goddess and the old Royal Palace. Finally, visit Kasthamandup - a temple built from a single tree from which the Kathmandu derives its name. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 17 : Dept Kathmandu

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for onward destination.