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Buddhist Tour - II

Duration: 16 Nights / 17 Days
Places Covered: Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Rajgir-Nalanda-Patna-Kushinagar-Sravast-Balrampur Lumbin-Kathmandu-Delhi

Day 01 : Mumbai
Begin your tour. Arrive into MumbaiWelcome to Vardhman's Buddhist Tour -II'! On arrival in Mumbai, you will be met and drive to Agra. transferred by Vardhman's representative to your hotel. Relax for the remaining part of the day.Overnight: Hotel

Day 02 : Mumbai
This morning after a leisurely breakfast, proceed on a city tour of Delhi.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.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 03 Mumbai - Aurangabad
Early morning transfer to railway station to catch train for Mumbai at 06:10 hrs. Arrive Aurangabad at 13:30 hrs and you will be met and transferred to your hotel by our representative. Relax for Afternoon city tour of Aurangabad visiting Bibi-Ka-Muqbara, Aurangabad Caves and Daulatabd Fort. Overnight: Hotel

Day 04 Aurangabad
Excursion to Ellora Caves (Caves closed on Monday)
Ellora Caves - Three distinct groups of temples relate the story of the evolution of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Chiseled out of rock by religious monks over the centuries, the sites were chosen for their seclusion. Over 2000 years old, they are compared to the Pyramids for their amazing construction, sculptures and frescoes. The most marvelous of all is the Stupendous Rock Temple of Kailash.
Later drive back to Hotel for overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel

Day 05 Aurangabad - Jalgaon - Bhopal
Excursion to Ajanta Caves (Caves closed on Monday)
Ajanta caves, 112 km from Aurangabad, the caves here which are over 2000 years old hewn out of a solid rock. The wall paintings and frescoes of these caves have a beautiful flow of line and a wealth of color. Evening transfer to airport for flight to Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai and transfer to hotel.
Later transfer to Jalgaon Railway Station to catch train for Bhopal at 16:50 hrs. Arrive Bhopal at 23:45 hrs and you will be transferred to your hotel by our representative.Overnight: Hotel

Day 06 Bhopal - Agra
Sightseeing tour of Sanchi 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. In the afternoon transfer to Bhopal railway station to catch train at 14:50 hrs. Arrive Agra at 20:35 hrs and you will be transferred by our representative to your hotel for overnight stay.Overnight: Hotel

Day 07 Agra -Varanasi
Early in the morning visit the magnificent Taj Mahal (closed on every Friday) during Sunrise. Taj Mahal is entirely made of white marble and its walls are decorated with exquisite Pietra Dura (stone inlay) work. Return to the hotel for breakfast and later visit Agra. Visit Agra Fort - built of red sandstone and marble is a hilltop citadel with fabulous courtyards, fountains and gates. Later in the evening transfer to the Railway station to board overnight Train for Varanasi.2015 hrs. - Leave for Varanasi by train.Overnight: Train

Day 08 Varanasi 0510 hrs.
Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Relax for a while and later visit Varanasi.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 centre ("golden" temple, ghats...), Bharat mata temple, Kashi Viswanath temple.Overnight: Hotel

Day 09 Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Half day tour of Sarnath.Half-day tour of Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, Sarnath was a renewed school of learning from 6th Century B.C. to 12th Century A.D. Visit the ruins, the stupa, the Buddhist Temple and the Museum.Later drive to 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 10 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 11 Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Early in the morning 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.

Upon arrival in Patna, check - in to your hotel. Later visit 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 itemsOvernight: Hotel

Day 12 Patna - Kushinagar
Morning drive to Kushinagar. On arrival, check - in at the hotel. Relax for a while and later 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 13 Kushinagar -Saravasti (Balrampur)
This morning after a leisurely breakfast drive to Saravasti. Upon arrival check into your hotel. Later visit Sahet-Mahet. Sahet & Mahet -15 kms from Balrampur and the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kosala. Sravasti has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Vihar and has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here. Overnight: Hotel

Day 14 Saravasti - Lumbini
Morning drive to Lumbini which is in Nepal. Arrive Lumbini and check - in at hotel. Lumbini - the birthplace of Buddha and is located just a few kilometres inside Nepal. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Hotel

Day 15 Lumbini - Kathmandu (By flight)
Half Day sightseeing of Lumbini.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.

Later transfer to airport to board flight for Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu 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: Hotel

Day 16 : Kathmandu
After breakfast 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 17 Kathmandu- Delhi
By flight Transfer to airport to board flight for Delhi. Arrival in Delhi Domestic airport and then transfer to International airport (by Shuttle service available free of cost at the airport) to board the flight for your onward journey to back home with sweet and unforgettable memries of ''Buddhist Tour -II'' escorted by Vardhman Vacations. END OF OUR SERVICES