Abode of Peace and tranquility in Buddha temples India
Witness the major hubs of Buddhist tour in India in Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Shravasti, Sankashaya, Nalanda, Rajgir etc. Buddha temples in India are the source of religious attraction and treasure its splendor art and architecture inherent in Buddhist pilgrimage tour of India. Buddha Tours in India from Top India Tour Operators for comprehensive Buddhist pilgrimage tour in India.
If you have always wanted to learn more about Buddha, Classic Holidays’s Buddhist Trail India tour package is for you. You will start your journey at Buddha's place of birth in Lumbini. You’ll follow the main travels of Buddha-from the site in Bodh Gaya where he was enlightened to where he passed over his monk life into Nirvana-which were the essential stations of his life.
The main stations of Buddha’s life were Bodh Gaya (where he was enlightened), deer park of Samath (preaching site), the Gridkutta mountain (vulture's peak) of Rajgir, and Kushinagar (where be passed over his monk life into the Nirvana). At each of these places, Buddhist communities erected temples and stupas so that the teachings of the Buddha remain omnipresent and the opportunity to worship and to meditate spreads everywhere. With the help of stories, legends and scholar speeches, these 2500-year-old sites allow the stages of life of Buddha become alive again allowing us to experience his life. To walk to where he walked. Not only can this trip allow you to learn more about Buddha, but also experience and be enlightened by his journeys and learnings.
9 Nights / 10 Days
Classic Holidays ten-day, eleven night tour to the following destinations will send you on a spiritual journey: Delhi - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Ragjir - Nalanda - Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Sravasti - Lucknow - Delhi.
Day 1 - Welcome to Delhi!
You will arrive at the Delhi International Airport where a reception will be held prior to your transfer to your hotel. Delhi is the capital of India, and home to over 16 million people. Delhi can be easily compared to cities like Athens, Rome and Istanbul when it comes to the cultural, architectural and historical richness.
Day 2 - From Delhi to Varanasi, by Air
On the second day of your Buddhist trail tour package, you will take a journey by air to a place called Varanasi, an ancient city situated along the banks of the Holy River Ganges. Varanasi is one of the world’s oldest centers of learning. The oldest name is Kashi, which means "city of light". The city is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the holy cities of the Hindus and for the Jain.
After arriving in Varanasi, you will be transferred to the hotel and after a briefrest you will travel to Sarnath (5 miles), one of the main centers of the Buddhist religion. Buddha preached his first sermon here after he received enlightenment. The entire complex, Dhamekh Stupa (5th to 6th century) or Dharma Chakra, also the largest building, was built to pay tribute to the place where Buddha preached his first five disciples. Visit also Dharmarajika Stupa (273-326 BC), where allegations are the bones of Buddha. Here Buddha meditated. Then, you will go back to the hotel to spend the night.
Day 3 - Exploring Varanasi
At early dawn, you will board a boat to ride on the river Ganges. Watch the sunrise and you can view hundreds of folks worshiping and taking a bath in the sacred river. Come back afterwards to the hotel for breakfast. Then, you can continue your metropolis tour of the older city by visiting the temples including Kashi Hindu University where more than fifty thousand students from all over the world study. You can also inspect the fort and museum on the bank of the river Ganges. Varanasi is where you will spend the rest of the night.
Day 4 - From Varanasi to Bodhgaya
On day four of your Buddhist trail tour package, your day will start with a drive to Bodhgaya right after breakfast. Upon arrival and transportation to the hotel, you will visit the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the Mahabodhi Temple Complex. The Mahabodhi Temple is a Buddhist synagogue in Bodhgaya in the northeastern Indian country Bihar. In Sanskrit, maha means big and bodhi means enlightenment or awakening. In conformity with the custom, it is that spot, at which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. At the west position of the pyramid-shaped big Stupa, there is the sacred Mahbodhi Tree. You will also see monasteries and shrines, after which you will stay the night in Bodhgaya.
Day 5 - Four Stop Trip: from Bodhgaya to Rajgir, to Nalanda and Patna
After breakfast on day 5 of your Buddhist trail tour package, you will drive to Patna. On the way, visit Rajgir and Nalanda. In year 427 AD, at the time of the cultural florescence of the Gupta dynasty, the university Nalanda was established in the rich landscape of the Ganges around the Buddhist memorials in Patna. From a Chinese traveler of the 7th century, Xuan Zhang, information was passed on that over 10,000 students and monks lived in Nalanda at that time. The32-foot-tall walls of Nalanda University house temples, monasteries and didactic buildings. The writings of the Buddhist scholars who lived and studied here were spread into South East Asia, the Far East as well as into the Himalayan countries. During the 12th century, the Afghan conquerors invaded and looted the University, ending the long history of Buddhist teachings.
While at the Nalanda University, you can visit a small museum that features stone friezes and Buddha figures. You will also see the peace pagoda built by the Chinese in memory of Xian Zhang, who lived in Nalanda for five years. Eight miles south of Nalanda lies Rajgir, located in a beautiful valley. A bridge connects Rajgir’s cliff with a Stupa built by the Japanese on a hill. Rajgir is a significant religious hub for Hindus and Jains because this is where 50 miles south of Patna, the ruins of one of the world’s first universities lies. Buddha and later lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, visited Nalanda. Chinese historian Hieun Tsang remained twelve years here, first as a student, then as a teacher. Here you can see the remains of Stupas--a powerful staircase, the decorative mural, auditoriums, and images of Buddha,. You will then drive to Patnawhere you will be transferred to your hotel for your overnight stay.
Day 6 - From Patna, to Vaishali, to Kushinagar
AAfter breakfast you will drive to Kushinagar. On the way, you can visit Vaishali, which is 30 miles away from Patna. Vaishali is the place where Buddha gave his final speech and emperor Ashok--in memory of this even--built a lion column. In the year 383 BC, the second Buddhist council was held there, and two sites were built here to commemorate event.
After arriving in Kushinagar, you will be transferred to your hotel.
When Buddha came to Kushinagar, he was 80 years old. At the bank of the Hiranvati River, he met Parinivana and consoled sad Ananda. It was in Kushinagar, that Buddha died. You will have an overnight stay in Kushinagar.
Day 7 - From Kushinagar to Lumbini
After breakfast, you will visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple and Stupas. Afterwards, you will drive over to Lumbini, where you will first transfer to your hotel. Lumbini is the cradle of Buddha which is why the evenings are especially spent sightseeing around Lumbini, including a visit to the birth Place of Lord Buddha. You will spend the rest of the night at Lumbini.
Day 8 - Lumbini - Sravasti
Your next stop after breakfast is Sravasti, where Buddha livedi n the Jetvana garden for 24 years. You will also visit the grandiose Stupas and temple. Sravasti is the one time capital of the kingdom Kosala. You will dine and stay overnight night at Sravasti.
Day 9 - From Sravasti, to Lucknow, to Delhi
On the last day of your tour after breakfast you will travel to Lucknow and board the air- conditioned train to Delhi. Then, you will be transported to the railroad station to travel back to Delhi. Upon your arrival in Delhi, you will be picked up from the railroad station and be transported to the hotel in Delhi where you will spend the rest of the night.
Day 10 - Final Stop: Delhi - Departure
Before you leave to go home, you will have time to discover Delhi.. In Old Delhi, you will discover Red Fort, made in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan who has resided previously in Agra. This imposing fortress’ 100-foot-tall red stone walls encircled beautiful gardens and exquisite palaces.
Found in front of the Jama Masjid, the construction was completed in 1656 AD in red sandstone and white marble. It is the largest mosque in India and 20,000 people can pray together here. You will also experience Delhi by taking a Rickshaw ride through the streets of old Delhi. In addition you will see the Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation) Memorial, which is close to the river Yamuna.
Your next stop is a visit to the Humayun Tomb, the tomb of the second Mughal emperor, which was completed by his wife in the 16th century. Shahjahan envisioned the Taj Mahal during the erection of this tomb. The Qutub Minar, a 220-foot-tall tower, was built between 1199 and 1368 AD by one of the first Muslim leaders in India. It runs counter to Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence of the President of India. After that you can see the buildings of government and parliament and India Gate (42m high), which was built in memory of the soldiers who died during the First World War. At the conclusion of your ten-day, eleven-night Buddhist trail India tour, you board your flight back home.
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