Home > Rural & Rustic Tour > Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour
Duration : 15 Days & 14 Nights
Location :Delhi - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Balrampur - Lucknow - Delhi
Location :Delhi - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Balrampur - Lucknow - Delhi
Day 01
Delhi Arrival
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE will receive you on arrival at the DELHI AIRPORT and transfer to your hotel.
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 will be at Delhi.
Day 02
Delhi:
After breakfast proceed for a day sightseeing tour of the city.
The city is dotted with historic monuments that are the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. Apart from the monuments, there are museums, markets, gardens and eating joints that you can visit on your tour of Delhi. Some of the important sightseeing places in Delhi are given below.
INDIA GATE: It is the war memorial dedicated to Indian soldiers, who died during World War I. The name of many soldiers who died during World War I is inscribed on its wall. Edward Lutyens, the man who planned and built New Delhi, designed India Gate. Almost every foreign tourist visits the monument. 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the eternal flame is added later. The eternal flame runs on gas and is a tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the nation.
RED FORT: Located in Old Delhi, the Red Fort or Lal Quila is a popular tourist attraction in Delhi. The fort was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1648, when he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. The construction of the Fort started in 1638 and it was completed 10 years later in 1648. Some of the important spots inside the Red Fort include royal baths or Shahi hamams, Shahi Burj, Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas.
JAMA MASJID: The largest mosque in India, the Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan 1656 AD. About 5,000 laborers and craftsmen worked for six years to complete the monument. The mosque can accommodate about 25,000 people. The mosque is located in the old Delhi. The domes are built in white marble. The prayer hall of the mosque has 260 pillars.
OLD FORT: Old Fort or Purana Quila as it is called is located near Pragati Maidan on the Mathura Road. You can club a visit to the Old Fort with your tour of Red Fort and Jama Masjid as the three monuments are located in Old Delhi and are not too far from one another. Humanyun’s started the construction of the fort in 1533 AD, but before the completion of the fort, Sher Shah Suri defeated him and captured Delhi. Sher Shah Suri completed the fort and named it -Shergah. He added many structures to the fort, of which Qila-I-Kuhna Mosque and Sher Mandal are worth mentioning. In 1555, Humanyun’s re-captured Delhi and converted Sher Mandal into a library.
HUMANYUN’S TOMB: Humanyun’s Tomb is mausoleum of the Mughal emperor Humanyun’s. Bega Begum also known as Haji Begum, wife of Humayun constructed the mausoleum for her husband. The tomb was built between 1562 and 1572 AD. The tomb was designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyuth.
QUTAB MINAR: The construction of the Qutab Minar was stated by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1199 AD but he died before completing it. His son-in-law and successor Iltutmish completed the construction of the building. Qutab Minar is located in Meharauli.
LOTUS TEMPLE: Also known as the Bahai Temple, the monument was opened to public only in 1986. Located near Nehru Place, the Lotus Temple is designed like a lotus flower. If you are looking for some moments of peace and tranquility in the crowded city, Lotus Temple is the ideal place to visit.
Apart from the above-mentioned sightseeing options, there are various other tourist attractions that you can visit on your tour of Delhi. Some other sightseeing places in Delhi include Lodi Gardens, National Museum, Jantar Mantar, Dilli Haat and the Garden of Five Senses.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 03
Delhi – Agra:
By Deluxe Train
Early morning drive to the railway station to board train for Agra. Reach and check into the hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. Proceed for the sightseeing.
THE TAJ MAHAL – AN EMPEROR’S LAMENT: Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal. It is a sublime experience of the greatest love story ever told. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Taj was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After her untimely death, Shah Jahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was placed to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum. Under the dome, below the ground level, in a dimly lit chamber, lie the mortal remains of Shahjahan and his beloved queen Mumtaz, reminding the world of their undying love. The Taj remains closed for visitors on Friday.
AGRA FORT – ARCHITECTURAL WONDER IN STONE: Within a radius of 3 kilometers, on the banks of the river Yamuna raises the crescent like Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. Later it was used by his son Jahangir also as the seat of power. Shahjahan modeled his creation, the Red Fort at Delhi on this fort. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river Yamuna as the Taj Mahal which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the fort. So very ironically, Shahjahan, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb in his old age was put in a cell from where he could gaze at the Taj Mahal at a distance, from his cell in the Agra Fort.
The fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sand stone. Many buildings were constructed within the fort of which very few remain till date. One of the most significant ones is the multi storied Jahangir Mahal built by Akbar for his wife Jodha Bai. The Mahal is reached through an impressive gateway and its inner courtyard consists of beautiful halls, profuse carvings on stone, exquisitely carved heavy brackets, piers and cross beams.
SIKANDRA: Sikandra, 10 Kms North West of Agra, is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar. The Tomb of Akbar shows an interesting fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture reflecting the spirit of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar began the construction of his own garden mausoleum during his lifetime, a red sandstone structure in a char-Bagh meaning 4-square formal garden.
ITMAD – UL – DAULAH’A TOMB: This tomb was erected by Nur Jahan in sweet memory of her father Ghiasud-Din-Beg between 1622 - 1628 A.D. This white marble structure of the pre-Taj era though smaller is often considered equal if not better to the great one itself. Overnight will be at Agra.
Day 04
Agra – Varanasi:
By Overnight Train
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for an excursion to Fatehpur Sikri.
FATEHPUR SIKRI – THE CITY OF VICTORY: 37 Kms from the city of Agra, stands Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital. Full credit goes to the Archeological Survey of India for this perfectly preserved example of a Mughal city at the height of the empire’s splendor. It is an attraction no visitor to Agra should miss. This sprawling structure is made of red sandstone and combines both Hindu and Mughal architecture. This walled city contains the mausoleum of the Sufi fakir, Saleem Chisti who is said to have granted Akbar and his Hindu queen Jodhabai their wish for a son. The main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri is through the 175 feet Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in the world. It was built by Akbar to commemorate his victory over Khandesh in Gujarat. The Panch Mahal is a five-storeyed tower, the highest point in Fatehpur Sikri. This extremely airy tower is supposed to have been used by one of the emperor's many queens.
Return back to Agra and then drive to railway station to board overnight train for Varanasi. Overnight will be on train.
Day 05
Varanasi:
Reach Varanasi and check into the hotel.
Picturesquely situated on the crescent shaped left bank of the holy River Ganges, Varanasi, one of the ancient seats of learning in India, is said to be a compound of the names of two streams, the Varuna and the Assi, which still flow in the north and south of the city respectively. This name seems to have been corrupted, in medieval times to Varanasi, which was in use till May 1956, when it was changed to Varanasi, by an order of the Government of India. Varanasi is probably one of the most ancient living cities in India. From time immemorial it has been a great religious center for Hindus and one of their most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of people every year. To every visitor Varanasi offers a breathtaking experience. The rays of the dawn shimmering across the Ganges; the high-banks; the temples and shrines along the banks bathed in a golden hue …soul stirring hymns and mantras along with the fragrance of incense filling the air…and the refreshing dip in the holy waters gently splashing at the Ghats. Varanasi – The land where experience and discovery reach the ultimate bliss. Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education. Some of the world – renowned exponents India has produced in these fields were schooled in Varanasi’s cultural ethos. Luminaries apart, Varanasi abounds in the art of silk weaving, an exotic work of art which manifests itself in precious Banarasi silk sarees and silk brocades which are cherished as collector’s items across the world today.
Proceed for the sightseeing.
Bharat Mata Mandir: Bharat Mata Mandir or Bharat Mata Temple is one of its kinds in Varanasi. Contrary to what most of the tourists believe, this temple is not dedicated to any God, Goddess or certain deity for that matter. It is dedicated to the human manifestation of India popularly called Mother India or Bharat Mata in Hindi. The temple was inaugurated by non other than Mahatma Gandhi, The father of the Indian Nation.
Banaras Hindu University: BHU was built in the year 1916-1917 under the special act of parliament passed in the year 1915 named BHU act. The act was passed by the interim parliament that worked under the imperial British government. Mahamna Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant did the conceptualization and implementation of this university. Raja of Kashi donated 1350 acres of land for the construction of the sprawling campus.
Durga Mandir:Goddess Durga is a significant manifestation of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. In fact she is said to be Shakti, or the manifestation of Parvati that signifies the female element of Power and harmony in nature. This is precisely because a Bengali Maharani built this temple in the 18th century.
Kashi Vishwanath Mandir: The Vishwanath temple is synonymous to Varanasi. Vishwanath Temple is the most sacred and the most famous temple in Varanasi. In fact, Vishwanath Temple is extremely popular in other parts of India too. A considerable chunk of foreign visitors in India come to Varanasi every year to get a glimpse of the Vishwanath Temple even though the followers of Semitic religions are not allowed to enter the sanctum of the temple.
Tulsi Manas Mandir: Tulsi Manas Temple has a very historical as well as cultural importance for not only Varanasi but also for the whole of India. This is because Ramayana was composed at this very place. Goswami Tulsi Das was the man who composed Ramayana in Hindi in the form of "Ram Charit Manas".
Visit Sarnath- 5 miles out of Varanasi: The great Buddha enhanced the sanctity of Varanasi by choosing the environs of the city to preach his first sermon at Sarnath, (only 10 Kms away) after attaining enlightenment. Later, Ashoka, the great Mauryan Emperor erected magnificent stupas and other buildings along with his mighty stone pillar, Dharmarajika Stupa. The 110 ft. tall Damekh Stupa marks the place where Buddha preached first sermon. Sarnath has been a premier centre for Buddhism. It is a rich collection of ancient Buddhist relics and antiques comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images on display at the Archaeological Museum (1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Open all days except Friday)
Enjoy the evening AARTI at the GHATS. The guide will be giving a commentary to you on the proceedings and meanings of the chants during the AARTI of the river.
Later spend the evening shopping in the lanes of Varanasi.
Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Day 06
Varanasi – Bodhgaya
By Road 242Kms/06hrs
Proceed in the morning to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions.
Cruise the Ganges. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the site of Varanasi’s Ghats is a cruise along the river at dawn. Hundreds of bathers, worshippers performing religious rites, holy men practicing yoga and people washing clothes gather at the river’s banks. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we’ll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water’s edge. Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Return to hotel for a sumptuous breakfast.
Drive to Bodhgaya. Carry packed lunch for the road as there would not be stop for meal. Reach and check into the hotel.
Bodhgaya is one of the sacred places for the Buddhists as well as for the Hindus. Here under the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the `Enlighted One'.
"The Buddha once lived here". Lord Buddha, who founded the first universal religion of the world, worked and lived much of his life in Bihar though he was born in Kapilavastu, now in Nepal. Most of the major events of his life, like enlightenment and last sermon happened in Bihar. Significantly, the state’s name originated from ’Viharas’ meaning Buddhist and Jain monasteries, which abounded in Bihar.
Though the Buddha was born as a Sakya prince in the Terai foothills of the Himalayas, Buddhism as a religion was really born in Bihar and evolved here through his preaching and the example of his lifestyle of great simplicity, renunciation and empathy for everything living. Perhaps the present day life of trauma and tension reminds us of the other alternative that was always available to us, the Buddha’s way of life, gentle and simple.
Several centuries after Buddha’s passing away, the Maurya emperor Ashoka (234-198 BC) contributed tremendously towards the revival, consolidation and spread of the original religion. It is the monasteries Ashoka built for the Buddhist monks and the pillars erected to commemorate innumerable historical sites associated with the Buddha’s life, mostly intact to this day, that helped scholars and pilgrims alike to trace the life events and preaching of a truly extraordinary man.
The Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, under the Bodhi tree, 10 km from Gaya, the ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre. The tree from the original sapling still stands in the temple premises. It is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centre as Buddhisrn was born here.
The magnificent Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries’ cultures and many heritages that came to pay their homage here. The temple definitely has architecture of the Gupta and later ages, inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. It is perhaps still the same temple Hiuen Tsang visited in 7th century.
Overnight will be at Bodhgaya.
Day 07
Bodhgaya
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing of Maha Bodhi Temple and Tree. Visit the Chinese Temple. In the afternoon proceed to visit the Niranjana Temple and River. Visit the school of the destitute.
Overnight will be at Bodhgaya.
Day 08
Bodhgaya – Nalanda – Rajgir – Patna
By Road 180Kms/04hrs
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed to visit the historical towns of Nalanda & Rajgir. Have lunch at Rajgir. Proceed to Patna after lunch.
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). Hiuen Tsang, the renowned Chinese traveler of the seventh century, says that according to tradition the place owed its name to a Naga of the same name who resided in a local tank. But he thinks it more probable that Lord Buddha, in one of his previous births as Bodhisatva, became a king with his capital at this place and that his liberality won for him and his capital the name Nalanda or "Charity without intermission". The third theory about the name of the place is that it derived from Nalam plus da. Nalam means lotus which is a symbol for knowledge and Da means given the place had many lotuses.
Nalanda has a very ancient history. It was frequently visited by Lord Vardhamana Mahavir and Lord Buddha in the 6th century BC. During his sojourns, the Lord Buddha found this place prosperous, swelling, and teeming with population and containing mango-groves. It is also supposed to be the birth place of Sariputta, one of the Chief disciples of the Lord Buddha.
RAJGIR - The Buddha lived in the sixth century BC. Mahavir was born in 567 BC and the traveler 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. It was in Rajgriha that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted king Bimbisara of the Magasha Kingdom and countless others to his creed. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but vestiges of a legendary and historical past remain, like the cyclopean wall that encircles the town and the marks engraved in rock that local folklore ascribes to Lord Krishna's chariot. This legend, like many others associates Rajgir to that distant time when the stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharata were being enacted. Rajgir is located in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills.
An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hill-top Stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by the Japanese. On one of the hills in the cave of Saptparni, was held the first Buddhist Council. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus.
Reach Patna and check into the hotel.
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.
Kusumpura became Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad and now Patna. Pataliputra was the capital of Magadha, a kingdom, which dominated and influenced the politics of India for a long time. Located on the banks where rivers Sone and Ganga merge, this city has witnessed the rules of Chanakya, Chandraguptha, Ashoka and the Nanda rulers.
Overnight will be at Patna.
Day 09
Patna – Vaishali – Kushinagar
By Road 253Kms/06hrs
Breakfast will be at hotel. Explore the side where Buddha was cremated and visit Mahaparinirvana Temple.
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. However, history records that around the time Pataliputra was the centre of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as centre of the Ganga, it was the seat of the Republic of Vajji. Vaishali is credited with being the World's First Republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient administration.
The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali more than once during his lifetime and announced his approaching Mahaparinirvana to the great followers he had here.
Hundred years after he attained Mahaparinirvana, it was the venue of the second Buddhist Council. According to one belief, the Jain Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavir was born at Vaishali. The Chinese travelers Fa-Hien and Hiuen Tsang also visited this place in early 5th and 7th centuries respectively and wrote about Vaishali.
While talking of the famous men and women associated with Vaishali, Amrapali was the cynosure not only of Vaishali but of the neighboring kingdoms as well. Therefore, to avert bloodshed, the parliament of Vaishali declared her to be a Court dancer besides consigning her to lifelong spinsterhood. Later she became a devout Buddhist and served the Lord Buddha.
Reach Kushinagar and check into the hotel.
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. The land is venerated as the site of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, his death and cremation that marked his final liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth.
This small town in the former kingdom of the Mallas was surrounded by dense forest. It remained oblivious to the outside world until it was rediscovered by the archaeologists in the nineteenth century.
The modern Indo-Japan-Srilanka Buddhist centre, Kushinagar is rediscovering its roots, and is home to many viharas, including a Tibetan Gompa devoted to Shakyamuni, a Burmese viharas, and temples from China and Japan.
Overnight will be at Kushinagar.
Day 10
Kushinagar – Kapilavastu – Lumbini:
By Road 180Kms/05hrs
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Drive to Lumbini visiting Kapilavastu enroute.
Reach Lumbini and check into the hotel.
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.
Relax and then proceed for the sightseeing.
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 will be at Lumbini.
Day 11
Lumbini – Balrampur:
By Road 185Kms/04hrs
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Enjoy sightseeing of Shravasti. Visit Saheth & Maheth villages.
During the time of Shakyamuni, 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.
Sudatta invited the Buddha to Sravasti and began to look for a suitable place to build a viharas. A beautiful park at the southern edge of Sravasti attracted his attention. The park belonged to Jeta, son of King Prasenjit of Sravasti. Jeta demanded that Sudatta cover the entire park with gold coins. Sudatta painstakingly paved every inch of the land with gold. Then Jeta said that since the trees were left uncovered they belonged to him. But finally, he had a change of heart and donated valuable wood to build the viharas. The park came to be known as Jetavana Viharas in recognition of Prince Jeta's donation to the sangh.
Buddha spent 25 years living in the monastery of Jetavana. Many Vinaya rules, Jatakas and Sutras were first discussed at this place. The Buddha is supposed to have astonished rival teachers by performing miracles at Sravasti. It is said that it was in Sravasti that the Buddha transformed Angulimal from a dacoit into a Buddhist monk. He also delivered many important sermons here. King Ashoka erected two pillars 21 meters high on either side of the eastern gateway of the Jetavana monastery. Sravasti was a flourishing center of learning during the Gupta period. When the famed Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited this site, he found several damaged stupas and ruins of monasteries and a palace.
Sravasti has two villages, Sahet and Mahet. From the Balrampur-Sravasti road one can enter Sahet, which is spread over an area of 400 acres and has a number of ruins. A little north of Sahet, towards the Rapti River, is the ancient fortified city of Mahet. The entrance to the mud fortification of Mahet is constructed in a beautiful crescent shape. Though it is an ancient structure, its five gates and walls are still visible. Pakki Kuti, Kuchhi Kuti and many other stupas tell the story of the great monasteries that once stood here.
Jetavana, a splendid monastery with inscriptions dating back to the 12th century, is thought to be one of the favorite sites of the Buddha. Emperor Ashoka is also said to have visited this site. There is a sacred pipal tree here, which is a sapling from the original Maha Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had attained nirvana. Today, Jetavana has two monasteries, six temples and five stupas. One temple was built by the monk Ananthapindika and called Gandhakuti. This is the most sacred temple in Jetavana since the Buddha is believed to have lived at this spot.
Sravasti was also under the influence of Lord Mahavira the last Jain Tirthankaras, and the splendid Shwetambara temple here attracts thousands of Jain pilgrims. The Sobhnath Temple is believed to the birthplace of the Jain Tirthankaras Sambhavnathji.
Overnight will be in Balrampur.
Day 12
Balrampur – Lucknow
By Road 153Kms/04hrs
After breakfast drive to Lucknow. Reach and check into the hotel.
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.
Despite the Indo-Persian legacy, Lucknow has a composite Indian culture. The welding of various cultural strains nurtured by centuries of Mughals and later Delhi Sultanate rule, to the folk traditions of the Indo-Gangetic plains has produced a complex, yet rich synthesis. The Urdu language acquired its baffling phonetic nuances and suave perfection here. It was in Nawab Wajed Ali Shah's court that the most advanced of all classical Indian dance forms, the Kathak, took shape. The popular Parsi theatre originated from the Urdu theatre of this city. The tabla and the sitar were first heard on the streets of Lucknow.
Enjoy shopping in evening.
Overnight will be at Lucknow.
Day 13
Lucknow
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for the sightseeing.
BARA IMAMBARA: The hall built by Asaf-ud-Daula for famine relief, is one of the largest in the world. There are excellent views of Lucknow from the top of the Imambara. An external stairway leads to an upper floor laid out as an amazing labyrinth known as the bhulbulaiya. The dark passages stop abruptly at openings which drop straight to the courtyard below. There's a mosque with two tall minarets in the courtyard complex and to the right of this is a well which is said to have secret tunnels opening into. The Imambara is open from morning to 6pm.
RUMI DARWAZA (GATE): This huge 60-feet-high door was also built by Asaf-ud-Daula. It is also called the 'Turkish Darwaza,' it is the entrance to the Bara Imambara. It is a massive gate on the western side of the front of Bara Imambara.
CHOTA IMAMBARA: Hussainabad or Chota Imambara was built by Mohammed Ali Shah in 1837 as his own mausoleum. The appeal of this structure lies in its furnishings comprising exquisite chandeliers of Belgium glass. The glittering brass-domes and ornate architecture of this building made a Russian Prince call it the "Kremlin of India." It contains the tombs of Ali Shah and his mother. A small bazaar, known as the Gelo Khana or "Decorated Place", lies inside the imposing entrance of the Imambara.
CLOCK TOWER: It is located very near to the Rumi Darwaza. Built in 1881 by the British, this 67 m-high clock tower on the river Gomti is said to the tallest clock tower in India. The tower has European style artwork. The parts of the clock are built of pure gunmetal and the pendulum hangs 14 feet. The dial of this clock is shaped like a 12-petalled flower and has bells around it.
SHAH NAJAF IMAMBARA: It holds the tombs of Ghasi-ud-Din Haidar and his two wives. Situated on the south bank of Gomti towards the west of Sikandar Bagh, the building is almost an exact replica of the tomb of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, at Najaf Ashraf in Iraq. The interior is used to store chandeliers, and elaborate creations of wood, bamboo and silver paper which are carried through the streets during the Muharram Festival. It is open from 6am to 5pm.
Overnight will be at Lucknow.
Day 14
Lucknow – Delhi
By Deluxe Train
Proceed for sightseeing of the city after a relaxing breakfast.
RESIDENCY: Built in 1800 by Saadat Ali Khan for the British Resident. There is a model room in the main Residency building which is worth visiting and a small museum on the ground floor. This group of buildings became the stage for the most dramatic events of the 1857 Mutiny the Siege of Lucknow. There is cemetery nearby with graves of those who suffered in the mutiny. The Residency is open from 9am to 5.30pm.
NOOR BAKSH: Noor Baksh Kothi (Light giving palace) is in Lal Bagh area next to the Methodist Church and now known as Noor Manzil. It was believed to be built by Saadat Ali Khan as a school for royal children. Some say Agha Mir - the then Prime Minister was its owner. Rafi Us Shan, son of Muhammad Ali Shah made this his residence till the end of Nawabi rule. Now it houses a psychiatric clinic for the mentally disturbed.
CHATTER MANZIL: The two Chattar Manzil near the Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, on the banks of the Gomti were Royal pavilions. The name comes from the gilt chattars or umbrellas atop the two main buildings. The Greater Chattar Manzil was once a king's palace. Under the existing river terrace was the ground floor with the tykhanas (cool underground rooms), cooled by the waters of the Gomti which lapped against its outer walls. Considering their size, surprisingly little is known about the Chattar Manzil Palaces. Today this building houses the Central Medicine Research body. The Lal Baradari was also the part of Chattar Manzil and was built as Coronation Hall and Durbar Hall.
STATE MUSEUM: The state Museum in Banarasi Bagh houses an impressive collection of stone sculptures, 1st-11th century exhibits of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain works, rare coins, marble sculptures and an Egyptian Mummy. Open 10.30am to 4.30 pm except Mondays.
Later proceed to the railway station to board train for Delhi. Reach Delhi and check into the hotel.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 15
Delhi – Departure
Morning enjoy the breakfast.
As per your INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TIMINGS you’ll be transferred to the airport to take your flight back home with sweet memories of TOUR
...........................................................................TOUR ENDS...........................................................................
INCLUSIONS:
Delhi Arrival
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE will receive you on arrival at the DELHI AIRPORT and transfer to your hotel.
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 will be at Delhi.
Day 02
Delhi:
After breakfast proceed for a day sightseeing tour of the city.
The city is dotted with historic monuments that are the most popular tourist attractions in Delhi. Apart from the monuments, there are museums, markets, gardens and eating joints that you can visit on your tour of Delhi. Some of the important sightseeing places in Delhi are given below.
INDIA GATE: It is the war memorial dedicated to Indian soldiers, who died during World War I. The name of many soldiers who died during World War I is inscribed on its wall. Edward Lutyens, the man who planned and built New Delhi, designed India Gate. Almost every foreign tourist visits the monument. 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the eternal flame is added later. The eternal flame runs on gas and is a tribute to soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the nation.
RED FORT: Located in Old Delhi, the Red Fort or Lal Quila is a popular tourist attraction in Delhi. The fort was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1648, when he moved his capital from Agra to Delhi. The construction of the Fort started in 1638 and it was completed 10 years later in 1648. Some of the important spots inside the Red Fort include royal baths or Shahi hamams, Shahi Burj, Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque, Diwan-e-Aam and Diwan-e-Khas.
JAMA MASJID: The largest mosque in India, the Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan 1656 AD. About 5,000 laborers and craftsmen worked for six years to complete the monument. The mosque can accommodate about 25,000 people. The mosque is located in the old Delhi. The domes are built in white marble. The prayer hall of the mosque has 260 pillars.
OLD FORT: Old Fort or Purana Quila as it is called is located near Pragati Maidan on the Mathura Road. You can club a visit to the Old Fort with your tour of Red Fort and Jama Masjid as the three monuments are located in Old Delhi and are not too far from one another. Humanyun’s started the construction of the fort in 1533 AD, but before the completion of the fort, Sher Shah Suri defeated him and captured Delhi. Sher Shah Suri completed the fort and named it -Shergah. He added many structures to the fort, of which Qila-I-Kuhna Mosque and Sher Mandal are worth mentioning. In 1555, Humanyun’s re-captured Delhi and converted Sher Mandal into a library.
HUMANYUN’S TOMB: Humanyun’s Tomb is mausoleum of the Mughal emperor Humanyun’s. Bega Begum also known as Haji Begum, wife of Humayun constructed the mausoleum for her husband. The tomb was built between 1562 and 1572 AD. The tomb was designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyuth.
QUTAB MINAR: The construction of the Qutab Minar was stated by Qutub-ud-din Aibak in 1199 AD but he died before completing it. His son-in-law and successor Iltutmish completed the construction of the building. Qutab Minar is located in Meharauli.
LOTUS TEMPLE: Also known as the Bahai Temple, the monument was opened to public only in 1986. Located near Nehru Place, the Lotus Temple is designed like a lotus flower. If you are looking for some moments of peace and tranquility in the crowded city, Lotus Temple is the ideal place to visit.
Apart from the above-mentioned sightseeing options, there are various other tourist attractions that you can visit on your tour of Delhi. Some other sightseeing places in Delhi include Lodi Gardens, National Museum, Jantar Mantar, Dilli Haat and the Garden of Five Senses.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 03
Delhi – Agra:
By Deluxe Train
Early morning drive to the railway station to board train for Agra. Reach and check into the hotel.
AGRA: Two great Mughal monarchs, Akbar and Shah Jahan, transformed the little village of Agra into a befitting second capital of the Mughal Empire - giving it the name Dar-ul-Khilafat {seat of the Emperor}. Today a visitor to Agra is caught up in a world of contrasting edifices, of red sandstone and white marble, narrow galleys and quaint buggies, and that irresistible charm that this favorite city of the Mughals still retains. It is not surprising, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage most conspicuously. Proceed for the sightseeing.
THE TAJ MAHAL – AN EMPEROR’S LAMENT: Agra is the city of the Taj Mahal. It is a sublime experience of the greatest love story ever told. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna River. The Taj was built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan as a memorial to his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. After her untimely death, Shah Jahan had her mortal remains buried in this mausoleum. And after his own demise he was placed to rest next to his beloved queen in the same mausoleum. Under the dome, below the ground level, in a dimly lit chamber, lie the mortal remains of Shahjahan and his beloved queen Mumtaz, reminding the world of their undying love. The Taj remains closed for visitors on Friday.
AGRA FORT – ARCHITECTURAL WONDER IN STONE: Within a radius of 3 kilometers, on the banks of the river Yamuna raises the crescent like Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces including the Jahangir Mahal, Diwan-i-Khas, Diwan-i-Am and Moti Masjid. Later it was used by his son Jahangir also as the seat of power. Shahjahan modeled his creation, the Red Fort at Delhi on this fort. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river Yamuna as the Taj Mahal which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the fort. So very ironically, Shahjahan, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb in his old age was put in a cell from where he could gaze at the Taj Mahal at a distance, from his cell in the Agra Fort.
The fort has four gates and is enclosed by a double barricaded wall of red sand stone. Many buildings were constructed within the fort of which very few remain till date. One of the most significant ones is the multi storied Jahangir Mahal built by Akbar for his wife Jodha Bai. The Mahal is reached through an impressive gateway and its inner courtyard consists of beautiful halls, profuse carvings on stone, exquisitely carved heavy brackets, piers and cross beams.
SIKANDRA: Sikandra, 10 Kms North West of Agra, is the final resting place of Emperor Akbar. The Tomb of Akbar shows an interesting fusion of Hindu and Mughal architecture reflecting the spirit of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar began the construction of his own garden mausoleum during his lifetime, a red sandstone structure in a char-Bagh meaning 4-square formal garden.
ITMAD – UL – DAULAH’A TOMB: This tomb was erected by Nur Jahan in sweet memory of her father Ghiasud-Din-Beg between 1622 - 1628 A.D. This white marble structure of the pre-Taj era though smaller is often considered equal if not better to the great one itself. Overnight will be at Agra.
Agra – Varanasi:
By Overnight Train
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for an excursion to Fatehpur Sikri.
FATEHPUR SIKRI – THE CITY OF VICTORY: 37 Kms from the city of Agra, stands Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital. Full credit goes to the Archeological Survey of India for this perfectly preserved example of a Mughal city at the height of the empire’s splendor. It is an attraction no visitor to Agra should miss. This sprawling structure is made of red sandstone and combines both Hindu and Mughal architecture. This walled city contains the mausoleum of the Sufi fakir, Saleem Chisti who is said to have granted Akbar and his Hindu queen Jodhabai their wish for a son. The main entrance to Fatehpur Sikri is through the 175 feet Buland Darwaza, the highest gateway in the world. It was built by Akbar to commemorate his victory over Khandesh in Gujarat. The Panch Mahal is a five-storeyed tower, the highest point in Fatehpur Sikri. This extremely airy tower is supposed to have been used by one of the emperor's many queens.
Return back to Agra and then drive to railway station to board overnight train for Varanasi. Overnight will be on train.
Day 05
Varanasi:
Reach Varanasi and check into the hotel.
Picturesquely situated on the crescent shaped left bank of the holy River Ganges, Varanasi, one of the ancient seats of learning in India, is said to be a compound of the names of two streams, the Varuna and the Assi, which still flow in the north and south of the city respectively. This name seems to have been corrupted, in medieval times to Varanasi, which was in use till May 1956, when it was changed to Varanasi, by an order of the Government of India. Varanasi is probably one of the most ancient living cities in India. From time immemorial it has been a great religious center for Hindus and one of their most sacred places of pilgrimage, being visited by millions of people every year. To every visitor Varanasi offers a breathtaking experience. The rays of the dawn shimmering across the Ganges; the high-banks; the temples and shrines along the banks bathed in a golden hue …soul stirring hymns and mantras along with the fragrance of incense filling the air…and the refreshing dip in the holy waters gently splashing at the Ghats. Varanasi – The land where experience and discovery reach the ultimate bliss. Varanasi is also renowned for its rich tapestry of music, arts, crafts and education. Some of the world – renowned exponents India has produced in these fields were schooled in Varanasi’s cultural ethos. Luminaries apart, Varanasi abounds in the art of silk weaving, an exotic work of art which manifests itself in precious Banarasi silk sarees and silk brocades which are cherished as collector’s items across the world today.
Proceed for the sightseeing.
Bharat Mata Mandir: Bharat Mata Mandir or Bharat Mata Temple is one of its kinds in Varanasi. Contrary to what most of the tourists believe, this temple is not dedicated to any God, Goddess or certain deity for that matter. It is dedicated to the human manifestation of India popularly called Mother India or Bharat Mata in Hindi. The temple was inaugurated by non other than Mahatma Gandhi, The father of the Indian Nation.
Banaras Hindu University: BHU was built in the year 1916-1917 under the special act of parliament passed in the year 1915 named BHU act. The act was passed by the interim parliament that worked under the imperial British government. Mahamna Pundit Madan Mohan Malaviya and Annie Besant did the conceptualization and implementation of this university. Raja of Kashi donated 1350 acres of land for the construction of the sprawling campus.
Durga Mandir:Goddess Durga is a significant manifestation of Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. In fact she is said to be Shakti, or the manifestation of Parvati that signifies the female element of Power and harmony in nature. This is precisely because a Bengali Maharani built this temple in the 18th century.
Kashi Vishwanath Mandir: The Vishwanath temple is synonymous to Varanasi. Vishwanath Temple is the most sacred and the most famous temple in Varanasi. In fact, Vishwanath Temple is extremely popular in other parts of India too. A considerable chunk of foreign visitors in India come to Varanasi every year to get a glimpse of the Vishwanath Temple even though the followers of Semitic religions are not allowed to enter the sanctum of the temple.
Tulsi Manas Mandir: Tulsi Manas Temple has a very historical as well as cultural importance for not only Varanasi but also for the whole of India. This is because Ramayana was composed at this very place. Goswami Tulsi Das was the man who composed Ramayana in Hindi in the form of "Ram Charit Manas".
Visit Sarnath- 5 miles out of Varanasi: The great Buddha enhanced the sanctity of Varanasi by choosing the environs of the city to preach his first sermon at Sarnath, (only 10 Kms away) after attaining enlightenment. Later, Ashoka, the great Mauryan Emperor erected magnificent stupas and other buildings along with his mighty stone pillar, Dharmarajika Stupa. The 110 ft. tall Damekh Stupa marks the place where Buddha preached first sermon. Sarnath has been a premier centre for Buddhism. It is a rich collection of ancient Buddhist relics and antiques comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisatva images on display at the Archaeological Museum (1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. Open all days except Friday)
Enjoy the evening AARTI at the GHATS. The guide will be giving a commentary to you on the proceedings and meanings of the chants during the AARTI of the river.
Later spend the evening shopping in the lanes of Varanasi.
Overnight will be at Varanasi.
Varanasi – Bodhgaya
By Road 242Kms/06hrs
Proceed in the morning to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghats and witness the living traditions of one of the world's oldest and most important religions.
Cruise the Ganges. Perhaps the best way to enjoy the site of Varanasi’s Ghats is a cruise along the river at dawn. Hundreds of bathers, worshippers performing religious rites, holy men practicing yoga and people washing clothes gather at the river’s banks. (To start at 0500 hrs. for the best lifetime experience) For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we’ll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. Thousands of faithful come daily to the banks to bathe and pray while in the background, temples and palaces rise in tiers from the water’s edge. Return for a walk through the cobblestone streets along the banks of "Ganga". As shops are opening, the place now becomes a beehive of activity as the faithful are coming and going.
Return to hotel for a sumptuous breakfast.
Drive to Bodhgaya. Carry packed lunch for the road as there would not be stop for meal. Reach and check into the hotel.
Bodhgaya is one of the sacred places for the Buddhists as well as for the Hindus. Here under the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the `Enlighted One'.
"The Buddha once lived here". Lord Buddha, who founded the first universal religion of the world, worked and lived much of his life in Bihar though he was born in Kapilavastu, now in Nepal. Most of the major events of his life, like enlightenment and last sermon happened in Bihar. Significantly, the state’s name originated from ’Viharas’ meaning Buddhist and Jain monasteries, which abounded in Bihar.
Though the Buddha was born as a Sakya prince in the Terai foothills of the Himalayas, Buddhism as a religion was really born in Bihar and evolved here through his preaching and the example of his lifestyle of great simplicity, renunciation and empathy for everything living. Perhaps the present day life of trauma and tension reminds us of the other alternative that was always available to us, the Buddha’s way of life, gentle and simple.
Several centuries after Buddha’s passing away, the Maurya emperor Ashoka (234-198 BC) contributed tremendously towards the revival, consolidation and spread of the original religion. It is the monasteries Ashoka built for the Buddhist monks and the pillars erected to commemorate innumerable historical sites associated with the Buddha’s life, mostly intact to this day, that helped scholars and pilgrims alike to trace the life events and preaching of a truly extraordinary man.
The Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, under the Bodhi tree, 10 km from Gaya, the ancient Hindu pilgrimage centre. The tree from the original sapling still stands in the temple premises. It is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centre as Buddhisrn was born here.
The magnificent Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries’ cultures and many heritages that came to pay their homage here. The temple definitely has architecture of the Gupta and later ages, inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. It is perhaps still the same temple Hiuen Tsang visited in 7th century.
Overnight will be at Bodhgaya.
Day 07 Bodhgaya
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for sightseeing of Maha Bodhi Temple and Tree. Visit the Chinese Temple. In the afternoon proceed to visit the Niranjana Temple and River. Visit the school of the destitute.
Overnight will be at Bodhgaya.
Day 08
Bodhgaya – Nalanda – Rajgir – Patna
By Road 180Kms/04hrs
Breakfast will be at hotel.
Proceed to visit the historical towns of Nalanda & Rajgir. Have lunch at Rajgir. Proceed to Patna after lunch.
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). Hiuen Tsang, the renowned Chinese traveler of the seventh century, says that according to tradition the place owed its name to a Naga of the same name who resided in a local tank. But he thinks it more probable that Lord Buddha, in one of his previous births as Bodhisatva, became a king with his capital at this place and that his liberality won for him and his capital the name Nalanda or "Charity without intermission". The third theory about the name of the place is that it derived from Nalam plus da. Nalam means lotus which is a symbol for knowledge and Da means given the place had many lotuses.
Nalanda has a very ancient history. It was frequently visited by Lord Vardhamana Mahavir and Lord Buddha in the 6th century BC. During his sojourns, the Lord Buddha found this place prosperous, swelling, and teeming with population and containing mango-groves. It is also supposed to be the birth place of Sariputta, one of the Chief disciples of the Lord Buddha.
RAJGIR - The Buddha lived in the sixth century BC. Mahavir was born in 567 BC and the traveler 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. It was in Rajgriha that Lord Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted king Bimbisara of the Magasha Kingdom and countless others to his creed. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but vestiges of a legendary and historical past remain, like the cyclopean wall that encircles the town and the marks engraved in rock that local folklore ascribes to Lord Krishna's chariot. This legend, like many others associates Rajgir to that distant time when the stirring events recorded in the epic Mahabharata were being enacted. Rajgir is located in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills.
An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hill-top Stupa "Peace Pagoda" built by the Japanese. On one of the hills in the cave of Saptparni, was held the first Buddhist Council. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir Hot Water Springs that have curative properties and are sacred to the Hindus.
Reach Patna and check into the hotel.
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.
Kusumpura became Pushpapura, Pataliputra, Azeemabad and now Patna. Pataliputra was the capital of Magadha, a kingdom, which dominated and influenced the politics of India for a long time. Located on the banks where rivers Sone and Ganga merge, this city has witnessed the rules of Chanakya, Chandraguptha, Ashoka and the Nanda rulers.
Overnight will be at Patna.
Patna – Vaishali – Kushinagar
By Road 253Kms/06hrs
Breakfast will be at hotel. Explore the side where Buddha was cremated and visit Mahaparinirvana Temple.
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. However, history records that around the time Pataliputra was the centre of political activity in the Gangetic plains, Vaishali came into existence as centre of the Ganga, it was the seat of the Republic of Vajji. Vaishali is credited with being the World's First Republic to have a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient administration.
The Lord Buddha visited Vaishali more than once during his lifetime and announced his approaching Mahaparinirvana to the great followers he had here.
Hundred years after he attained Mahaparinirvana, it was the venue of the second Buddhist Council. According to one belief, the Jain Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavir was born at Vaishali. The Chinese travelers Fa-Hien and Hiuen Tsang also visited this place in early 5th and 7th centuries respectively and wrote about Vaishali.
While talking of the famous men and women associated with Vaishali, Amrapali was the cynosure not only of Vaishali but of the neighboring kingdoms as well. Therefore, to avert bloodshed, the parliament of Vaishali declared her to be a Court dancer besides consigning her to lifelong spinsterhood. Later she became a devout Buddhist and served the Lord Buddha.
Reach Kushinagar and check into the hotel.
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. The land is venerated as the site of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, his death and cremation that marked his final liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth.
This small town in the former kingdom of the Mallas was surrounded by dense forest. It remained oblivious to the outside world until it was rediscovered by the archaeologists in the nineteenth century.
The modern Indo-Japan-Srilanka Buddhist centre, Kushinagar is rediscovering its roots, and is home to many viharas, including a Tibetan Gompa devoted to Shakyamuni, a Burmese viharas, and temples from China and Japan.
Overnight will be at Kushinagar.
Day 10
Kushinagar – Kapilavastu – Lumbini:
By Road 180Kms/05hrs
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Drive to Lumbini visiting Kapilavastu enroute.
Reach Lumbini and check into the hotel.
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.
Relax and then proceed for the sightseeing.
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 will be at Lumbini.
Day 11
Lumbini – Balrampur:
By Road 185Kms/04hrs
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Enjoy sightseeing of Shravasti. Visit Saheth & Maheth villages.
During the time of Shakyamuni, 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.
Sudatta invited the Buddha to Sravasti and began to look for a suitable place to build a viharas. A beautiful park at the southern edge of Sravasti attracted his attention. The park belonged to Jeta, son of King Prasenjit of Sravasti. Jeta demanded that Sudatta cover the entire park with gold coins. Sudatta painstakingly paved every inch of the land with gold. Then Jeta said that since the trees were left uncovered they belonged to him. But finally, he had a change of heart and donated valuable wood to build the viharas. The park came to be known as Jetavana Viharas in recognition of Prince Jeta's donation to the sangh.
Buddha spent 25 years living in the monastery of Jetavana. Many Vinaya rules, Jatakas and Sutras were first discussed at this place. The Buddha is supposed to have astonished rival teachers by performing miracles at Sravasti. It is said that it was in Sravasti that the Buddha transformed Angulimal from a dacoit into a Buddhist monk. He also delivered many important sermons here. King Ashoka erected two pillars 21 meters high on either side of the eastern gateway of the Jetavana monastery. Sravasti was a flourishing center of learning during the Gupta period. When the famed Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited this site, he found several damaged stupas and ruins of monasteries and a palace.
Sravasti has two villages, Sahet and Mahet. From the Balrampur-Sravasti road one can enter Sahet, which is spread over an area of 400 acres and has a number of ruins. A little north of Sahet, towards the Rapti River, is the ancient fortified city of Mahet. The entrance to the mud fortification of Mahet is constructed in a beautiful crescent shape. Though it is an ancient structure, its five gates and walls are still visible. Pakki Kuti, Kuchhi Kuti and many other stupas tell the story of the great monasteries that once stood here.
Jetavana, a splendid monastery with inscriptions dating back to the 12th century, is thought to be one of the favorite sites of the Buddha. Emperor Ashoka is also said to have visited this site. There is a sacred pipal tree here, which is a sapling from the original Maha Bodhi tree under which the Buddha had attained nirvana. Today, Jetavana has two monasteries, six temples and five stupas. One temple was built by the monk Ananthapindika and called Gandhakuti. This is the most sacred temple in Jetavana since the Buddha is believed to have lived at this spot.
Sravasti was also under the influence of Lord Mahavira the last Jain Tirthankaras, and the splendid Shwetambara temple here attracts thousands of Jain pilgrims. The Sobhnath Temple is believed to the birthplace of the Jain Tirthankaras Sambhavnathji.
Overnight will be in Balrampur.
Balrampur – Lucknow
By Road 153Kms/04hrs
After breakfast drive to Lucknow. Reach and check into the hotel.
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.
Despite the Indo-Persian legacy, Lucknow has a composite Indian culture. The welding of various cultural strains nurtured by centuries of Mughals and later Delhi Sultanate rule, to the folk traditions of the Indo-Gangetic plains has produced a complex, yet rich synthesis. The Urdu language acquired its baffling phonetic nuances and suave perfection here. It was in Nawab Wajed Ali Shah's court that the most advanced of all classical Indian dance forms, the Kathak, took shape. The popular Parsi theatre originated from the Urdu theatre of this city. The tabla and the sitar were first heard on the streets of Lucknow.
Enjoy shopping in evening.
Overnight will be at Lucknow.
Day 13
Lucknow
Breakfast will be at the hotel.
Proceed for the sightseeing.
BARA IMAMBARA: The hall built by Asaf-ud-Daula for famine relief, is one of the largest in the world. There are excellent views of Lucknow from the top of the Imambara. An external stairway leads to an upper floor laid out as an amazing labyrinth known as the bhulbulaiya. The dark passages stop abruptly at openings which drop straight to the courtyard below. There's a mosque with two tall minarets in the courtyard complex and to the right of this is a well which is said to have secret tunnels opening into. The Imambara is open from morning to 6pm.
RUMI DARWAZA (GATE): This huge 60-feet-high door was also built by Asaf-ud-Daula. It is also called the 'Turkish Darwaza,' it is the entrance to the Bara Imambara. It is a massive gate on the western side of the front of Bara Imambara.
CHOTA IMAMBARA: Hussainabad or Chota Imambara was built by Mohammed Ali Shah in 1837 as his own mausoleum. The appeal of this structure lies in its furnishings comprising exquisite chandeliers of Belgium glass. The glittering brass-domes and ornate architecture of this building made a Russian Prince call it the "Kremlin of India." It contains the tombs of Ali Shah and his mother. A small bazaar, known as the Gelo Khana or "Decorated Place", lies inside the imposing entrance of the Imambara.
CLOCK TOWER: It is located very near to the Rumi Darwaza. Built in 1881 by the British, this 67 m-high clock tower on the river Gomti is said to the tallest clock tower in India. The tower has European style artwork. The parts of the clock are built of pure gunmetal and the pendulum hangs 14 feet. The dial of this clock is shaped like a 12-petalled flower and has bells around it.
SHAH NAJAF IMAMBARA: It holds the tombs of Ghasi-ud-Din Haidar and his two wives. Situated on the south bank of Gomti towards the west of Sikandar Bagh, the building is almost an exact replica of the tomb of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, at Najaf Ashraf in Iraq. The interior is used to store chandeliers, and elaborate creations of wood, bamboo and silver paper which are carried through the streets during the Muharram Festival. It is open from 6am to 5pm.
Overnight will be at Lucknow.
Day 14
Lucknow – Delhi
By Deluxe Train
Proceed for sightseeing of the city after a relaxing breakfast.
RESIDENCY: Built in 1800 by Saadat Ali Khan for the British Resident. There is a model room in the main Residency building which is worth visiting and a small museum on the ground floor. This group of buildings became the stage for the most dramatic events of the 1857 Mutiny the Siege of Lucknow. There is cemetery nearby with graves of those who suffered in the mutiny. The Residency is open from 9am to 5.30pm.
NOOR BAKSH: Noor Baksh Kothi (Light giving palace) is in Lal Bagh area next to the Methodist Church and now known as Noor Manzil. It was believed to be built by Saadat Ali Khan as a school for royal children. Some say Agha Mir - the then Prime Minister was its owner. Rafi Us Shan, son of Muhammad Ali Shah made this his residence till the end of Nawabi rule. Now it houses a psychiatric clinic for the mentally disturbed.
CHATTER MANZIL: The two Chattar Manzil near the Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, on the banks of the Gomti were Royal pavilions. The name comes from the gilt chattars or umbrellas atop the two main buildings. The Greater Chattar Manzil was once a king's palace. Under the existing river terrace was the ground floor with the tykhanas (cool underground rooms), cooled by the waters of the Gomti which lapped against its outer walls. Considering their size, surprisingly little is known about the Chattar Manzil Palaces. Today this building houses the Central Medicine Research body. The Lal Baradari was also the part of Chattar Manzil and was built as Coronation Hall and Durbar Hall.
STATE MUSEUM: The state Museum in Banarasi Bagh houses an impressive collection of stone sculptures, 1st-11th century exhibits of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain works, rare coins, marble sculptures and an Egyptian Mummy. Open 10.30am to 4.30 pm except Mondays.
Later proceed to the railway station to board train for Delhi. Reach Delhi and check into the hotel.
Overnight will be at Delhi.
Day 15
Delhi – Departure
Morning enjoy the breakfast.
As per your INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT TIMINGS you’ll be transferred to the airport to take your flight back home with sweet memories of TOUR
...........................................................................TOUR ENDS...........................................................................
INCLUSIONS:
- ACCOMODATION AT SUGGESTED HOTELS,
- DAILY BUFFET BREAKFAST IN DELHI, AGRA, VARANASI, PATNA AND LUCKNOW,
- ALL MEALS IN BODHGAYA, KUSHINAGAR, BALRAMPUR & LUMBINI,
- AC VEHICLE WITH THE DRIVER FOR ALL TRANSFERS & SIGHTSEEING AS PER THE ITINERARY,
- MEET AND ASSIST AT THE AIRPORT/STATION ON ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE,
- ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE IN DELHI & AGRA,
- ENGLISH SPEAKING ESCORT FROM VARANASI-LUCKNOW,
- RICKSHAW RIDE IN DELHI,
- HORSE CART RIDE TO TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA,
- BOAT RIDE AT RIVER GANGES IN VARANASI,
- SARNATH EXCURSION,
- EVENING AARTI CEREMONY IN VARANASI,
- TRAINFARE IN AC CHAIR CAR FROM DELHI – AGRA / LUCKNOW – DELHI,
- TRAINFARE IN AC2 FROM AGRA – VARANASI,
- TOLL TAXES, DRIVER ALLOWANCE, PARKING, AND
- ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND SERVICE CHARGES.
- LUNCHES & DINNERS,
- MONUMENT ENTRANCES,
- CAMERA CHARGES AT THE MONUMENTS,
- PORTER CHARGES,
- TIPS &
- PERSONAL EXPENSES.
Home | About Us | Contact us | Signature Tour | North India Tour Packages | South India Tour Packages | Luxury Holiday Series | Request a Quote
Copyright © Mesmerizing india. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Mesmerizing india. All rights reserved.