Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour with Golden Triangle

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Duration: 14 nights / 15 days
Destinations Covered: Delhi - Agra - Jaipur - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Vaishali - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti - Balrampur - Lucknow - Delhi

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Day 01: Delhi
Arrive Delhi in the late evening and transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 02: Delhi
Full day city tour. Visit Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana - the cremation sites of Mahatma
Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Jama Masjid and drive past Red Fort and Chandni Chowk. Afternoon visit Qutub Minar built by Qutub-ud-Din Aibek in 1199, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate (War Memorial Arch), Lakshminarayan Temple - a modern Hindu Temple. Also drive past President's House, Parliament House, Government Secretariat Buildings & Connaught Place shopping centre. Overnight at Delhi.

Day 03: Delhi - Jaipur
Morning commence drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival, check in into hotel. Evening free time to enjoy the city atmosphere which by many means is fabulous. Overnight at hotel.

Day 04: Jaipur
The day is to be started with the Elephant ride at Amer Fort, followed by the city tour covering - Hawa Mahal, Royal Observatory, City Palace, Nawab Sahab Ki Haveli and Johari Bazar, etc. Night stay at the hotel.

Day 05: Jaipur - Agra
Today, we will drive to Agra en-route visiting the old deserted town of Mughal Dynasty i.e. Fatehpur Sikri. On arrival, check in the hotel. Afternoon city tour covering Taj Mahal, Red Fortand and the Tomb of Itmad-ud-daula’s Tomb. Overnight at hotel.

Day 06: Agra - Varanasi
Morning transfer to Airport to catch flight to Varanasi. On arrival, transfer to hotel. Afternoon city tour of Sarnath, famous for its Dhamekh Stupa and for it being the place where Buddha preached his first sermon enshrining the principle of his teachings into laws. Overnight at hotel in Varanasi.

Day 07: Varanasi
At dawn enjoy boat ride at River Ganges, followed by a city tour covering - Vishwanath Temple, Bharat Mata Temple, etc. Overnight at hotel.

Day 08 & 09: Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Stay there for two nights with excursions to Rajgir/ Nalanda / Sapta pari cave and Venevamas. Above two days you will come across with many locales of Buddhist significance, i.e. Rajgir: an important Buddhist pilgrimage since the Buddha spent 12 years here, and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha attained Nirvana was held here. Nalanda : founded in the 5th century known as center of intellectualism. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Bodhgaya - Vaishali - Kushinagar
Proceed to Vaishali, a very special place to Buddhists as The Lord delivered his last sermon & announced his impending " Nirwana". See the majesty of Ashok Pillar – Lotus tank, Chaumukhi & proceed to Kushinagar for overnight stay.

Day 11: Kushinagar - Lumbini
Morning visit Mahanirvana Temple, the modern Japan/Srilanka Buddhist center & monasteries, then proceed to Lumbini. Spend your night here in a hotel.

Day 12: Lumbini - Kapilvastu - Sravasti - Balrampur
Morning visit to Ashoka’s pillar (249 BC) rediscovered in 1890’s inside thick sal forest, a temple of Mayadevi, the ruins of an old monastery and some new stupas, then in the afternoon proceed to Balrampur enroute visiting Sravasti where you will see the extensive ruins of this ancient city & Jetavana Monastery. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 13: Balrampur - Lucknow
Morning city tour. Later continue drive to Lucknow. On arrival check in hotel. Spend your night here.

Day 14: Lucknow - Delhi
Morning city tour covering Imambara, Rumi Darwaza. Transfer to Airport for flight to Delhi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Overnight at hotel.

Day 15: Departure from Delhi
After breakfast, day at leisure. Evening transfer to airport for return flight.