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Buddhist Pilgrimage & Golden Triangle Tour

Duration: 15 Nights / 16 Days
Places Covered: Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Kushinagar-Saravasti-Balrampur -Lumbin-Kathmandu-Delhi

Day 01 : Delhi
Begin your tour.
Arrive into Delhi
Welcome to Vardhman's "Buddhist Pilgrimage & Golden Triangle Tour". On arrival in Delhi, you will be met and transferred by Vardhman's representative to your hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight : Hotel

Day 02 : Delhi
After breakfast proceed on a city tour of Delhi.
Combined city tour of Old & New Delhi.
Visit Qutab Minar, Humayun's tomb, Lakshminarayan Temple, a modern Hindu Temple, Parliament House, Government Secretarial Building and Connaught place, the shopping centre of New Delhi.
Visit Red Fort, built in 1648 by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan, Jama Masjid, one of the largest Mosque of India, Raj Ghat and Shanti Vana, the cremation sites of Mahatama Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Also drive past Chandni Chowk, shopping centre of Old Delhi.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 03 Delhi - Jaipur
This morning after breakfast drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival at Jaipur check into your hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 04 Jaipur
City tour of Jaipur
This morning you will experience the wonders of this magicial pink city, as you proceed on a tour of Amber fort - which is set on the dry wrinkled Aravali Hills, and surrounded by fortified battlements. We will ride up to this hilltop palace on a caparisoned, painted elephant. Later visit the Jagmandir or the Hall of victory glitterning with mirrors, Maharaja's City Palace and the Observatory - The Solar Observatory - an astronomical treasure house, with solar device that give accurate predictions till date. The City Palace reflects a blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. Drive past Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds, a five-storied structure of pink sandstone with semi-octagonal and delicately honeycombed windows overlooking the main street of the old city and through the rose pink residential and business areas of Jaipur.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 05 Jaipur - Agra
Today drive to Agra en-route visiting the old deserted town of Mughal Dynasty i.e. Fatehpur Sikri.
Rest of the day free for leisure.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 06 Agra - Varanasi (By train)
After breakfst proceed on a city tour of Agra.
Visit Taj Mahal, Red fort & Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula. Later you will visit a marble gallery - the flagship store in Agra which offers an excellant range of white marble, fashionable wear & exotic wooden articles, truly a one stop shop!
Evening transfer to the railway Station to catch train for Varanasi
Overnight: Train

Day 07 Varanasi
Arrive at Varanasi in the morning. Later proceed on a city tour of Varanasi.
Visit 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: Hotel

Day 08 Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning we enjoy a Boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats and later we drive to Bodhgaya (242 kms / 7 hrs). Arrive Bodhgaya and check - in at hotel. Bodhgaya is the most sacred place for Buddhists as it has a Peepul tree under which Gautama the Buddha attained enlightenment some 2500 years back.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 09 Bodhgaya
After breakfast embark on a 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.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 10 Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
After breakfast drive to Patna, enroute visit Rajgir & Nalanda. Rajgir is 70 kilometres away from Bodhgaya. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here, and used to meditate and preach on the Griddakuta, he hill of the Vultures. It was in Rajgir that Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons and converted King Bimbisara of the Magadh Kingdom and countless others top his creed. The places of interest are the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (built by the Japanese and can be reached by a chair lift rope way), the Griddakuta (where Lord Buddha used to preach and alongside is the cave of his most devoted disciples Ananda), Ajatashatru's fort (built by Ajatashatru's, king of Magadh), Bimbisara's Jail (where the king Bimbisara was imprisoned by his impatient son Ajatashatru), Swarna Bhandar (the treasury of Bimbisara) and then there are the Hot springs and more than 26 Jain temples around Rajgir.
Continue drive to Nalanda (14 kms), founded in the 5th century BC, Nalanda was one of the worlds greatest universities, and an important Buddha centre until it was sacked by the Afghans in the 12th century. When the Chinese scholar and traveller, Xuan Zhang, was here in the early 7th century AD, there were 10,000 monks and students in the residence. The brick-built remains are extensive and include the Great Stupa, which steps, terraces and a few intact votive stupas around it, and the Monks cells. There is also an interesting archeological museum housing the Nalanda University seal, scriptures and other remains found on the site.
Continue drive to Patna (145 kms / 4 hrs) and check - in at hotel. 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: Hotel

Day 11 Patna - Kushinagar
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar (253 Kms - 06 hrs). On arrival check - in at hotel.
Later we visit the Rambhar Stupa - which marks Buddha's cremation ground. Our second stop is Mahaparinirvana temple - which houses the recumbent figure of Lord Buddha.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 12 Kushinagar - Saravasti (Balrampur)
This morning after a leisurely breakfast drive to Saravasti (216 Kms - 05 hrs).
Visit Sahet-Mahet.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 13 Saravasti - Lumbini
Morning drive to Lumbini (197 Kms - 4.5 hrs) which is in Nepal. Arrive Lumbini and check - in at hotel. Lumbini is the place where Buddha was born 2500 years ago. Rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 14 Lumbini - Kathmandu (By flight)
Half Day sightseeing of Lumbini and later transfer to the airport to board flight for Kathmandu.
Upon arrival at Kathmandu check into your hotel.
Kathmandu - surrounded by green hills and mountains with snow-capped peaks against its northern and eastern background the Valley is indeed beautiful.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 15 : Kathmandu
After breakfast we embark on a city tour of Kathmandu visiting Pashupatinath Temple - the most sacred of the Hindu temples in Nepal dedicated to lord Shiva, built in 1696. We 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 you to Boudhanath - the worlds largest stupa; a sight of great reneration to the Buddhist. We 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: Hotel

Day 16 Kathmandu- Delhi (By flight)
Today after breakfast transfer to the Kathmandu airport to catch flight for Delhi. On arrival board the flight for your onward destination with sweet and unforgettable memories of "Buddhist Pilgrimage & Golden Triangle Tour" escorted by Vardhman Vacations.