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Buddhist Pilgrimage and Taj Mahal Tour

Duration: 10 Nights / 11 Days
Places Covered: Delhi - Patna - Bodhgaya - Varanasi - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Sravasti - Agra - Delhi

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Begin your tour
Arrive into Delhi
Welcome to Vardhman's "Buddhist Pilgrimage and Taj Mahal Tour"!
On arrival in Delhi, you will be met and transferred by Vardhman's representative to your hotel. Relax for a while and later proceed for the half day sightseeing of 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.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 02: Delhi
Today, leave for sight-seeing tour of Old 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 - Patna - Bodhgaya
This morning after a leisurely breakfast transfer to Delhi airport to board flight for Patna. Upon arrival at Patna airport you will be met by the representative and dircetly drive to Bodhgaya. BodhGaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment, and the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world. Set in silvan solitude on the banks of river Nirnjana, came to this place after a long-hard journey in search of Supreme Knowledge. Here under the Bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment.
Check into your hotel upon arrival. Relax for a while and then proceed on a city tour.
In this large working Buddhist center, you will see the descendant of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat, as well as numerous international Buddhist monasteries built in their respective country's styles.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 04: Bodhgaya
Morning Sightseeing of Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi temple and various other temples. Bodhgaya in the state of Bihar, reckoned as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centre, is the place where Lord Sakyamuni (Gautam Buddha) entered into meditation after being moved by the sufferings of mankind. Visit Mahabodi Temple, Nilanjana. The magnificent Maha Bodhi temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation of many cultures.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 05: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Hinduism's holiest pilgrimage city, Varanasi, the "City of Light." Also known as Benares or Kashi, Varanasi is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. It is here that all Hindus aspire to come once in their lifetimes to bathe in the Ganges River from the ghats, or landings, all along the river. This act of worship releases the soul from earthly samsara, or the cycle of life, death and rebirth, caused by ignorance. We will have the opportunity to perform this ritual release as we take a holy dip in the Ganges River.

Check into your hotel upon arrival and then proceed to visit the Bharat Mata Temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Banaras Hindu University, which has an art gallery and the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb, built on the site of an ancient Hindu Temple. A walk through the old center ("golden" temple, ghats...), Bharat mata temple, Kashi Viswanath temple.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 06: Varanasi - Kushinagar
Early morning enjoy boat excursion (at your own cost) on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing ghats and cremation site, sunrise above the river, aarti. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Later proceed for Kushinagar (275 kms / 8 hrs).
Kushinagar known earlier as Kushinara. It was here that Buddha passed away into Mahaperinirvana. In this place the Mukutbandhana Stupa (Ram Stupa), which was built to hold the Buddha's cremated remains is naturally considered of great sanctity. There is also a large recline stone figure of Lord Buddha.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 07: Kushinagar - Lumbini
Morning visit various stupas and temples. Leave Kushinagar for Lumbini (in Nepal) (160 / 4 hrs) by surface. Sightseeing of Lumbini where Lord was born. Emperor Ashoka, in the twenty first year first year after his coronation, visited this Birthplace and raised a pillar on the spot. Overnight in Lumbini.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 08: Lumbini - Sravasti
Morning proceed to Sravasti (Sahet-Mahet) which is about 150 kms / 04 hrs drive. Sravasti- Saravasti , the capital of Kosala Mahajanapada , was the biggest town in the Gangetic plains during the Buddha's lifetime. Saravasti was host to the Master for 25 years during the annual vassavasa (rain retreat) when the Sangha congregated at one place.
Visit Sravasti (Sahet-Mahet), capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, an active centre for Buddhism.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 09: Sravasti - Agra
Morning free for leisure. Later transfer to Gonda Railway station to board overnoght train for Agra.
Overnight: Train

Day 10: Agra - Delhi
Arrive Agra at 04:45 hrs. After wash and change leave for full day city tour of Agra visiting world famous Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daulah. Later drive to Delhi airport (203 kms / 4 hrs) to connect flight for onward destination with sweet and unforgettable memories of your "Buddhist Pilgrimage and Taj Mahal Tour" escorted by Vardhman Vacations.
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