Overview
More than two thousand years ago, a king gave up everything in search of
enlightenment. From Prince Siddartha to Gautama Buddha. From human to divine.
Buddhism is a religion followed in various parts of India and Nepal. Buddhist
tour India is an enchanting experience which brings the followers near to the
truths of life. Most of the selected destinations in this Buddhist tour are
associated with the life of Lord Buddha. Buddhism is a way of finding peace
within oneself. It is a religion that helps us to find the happiness and
contentment we seek. Buddhists develop inner peace, kindness and wisdom
through their daily practice; and then share their experience with others
bringing real benefit to this world. They try not to harm others and to live
peacefully and gently, working towards the ultimate goal of pure and lasting
happiness for all living beings.
We have combined the tour of Golden Triangle with Buddhism. The doctrine or
philosophy declared by the Buddha is known as Buddhism. It is not a religion
or a system of faith or worship. Buddhism starts from the point of reasoning
or understanding. It does not advocate any prescribed system of ritual and
worship or supplication of deities or gods. It is distinguished and different
from other systems of "religion." Indulge yourself in exploring the Buddhist
Circuit.
This Buddhist tour will take you to the journey of most famous Buddhist circuits of
India along with the golden triangle tour of North India. Buddhist pilgrims and tourists while touring these Buddhist pilgrim
sites of India and Nepal can explore the monasteries, temples and other
heritage attractions. Among these Buddhist sites Lumbini is in Nepal and
Bodhgaya is a place where lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi
tree. Our Buddhist tour India is a blend of royal history of Rajasthan and
Buddhist sites of India.
We have combined the tour of Golden Triangle with Buddhism. The doctrine or
philosophy declared by the Buddha is known as Buddhism. It is not a religion
or a system of faith or worship. Buddhism starts from the point of reasoning
or understanding. It does not advocate any prescribed system of ritual and
worship or supplication of deities or gods. It is distinguished and different
from other systems of "religion." Indulge yourself in exploring the Buddhist
Circuit.
Package
Inclusions:
Single Room. Double Room on Sharing basis
Daily breakfast. Half board in Sravasti, Lumbini,Kushinagar and Bodhgaya
All transfers and sightseeing by Air-Conditioned Tata Indigo Car.
Services of local English speaking guides for the sightseeing.
Train fare from Varanasi to Agra in 02nd A/C class.
Elephant / Jeep ride in Jaipur.
Tonga ride in Agra.
Service Tax.
Package
Exclusions:
Any airport taxes.
Any airfares.
Any new tax imposed by the Government.
Any expenditure of personal nature such as tips, drinks, telephone charges,
laundry etc.
Any accommodation in Delhi in the end.
IMP
- Incase of waitlisted booking we have to hold the alternate, for which we will
advise the supplement OR reduction accordingly.
- The above rates are based on presently prevailing taxes and entrances to the
monuments. If there is any change, prices will also change accordingly.
- Check in and Check out time is 1200 Hrs.
- Given rates are based on present rate of exchange and incase of fluctuation
they may change.
Day 01 Arrive Delhi
Flight to Delhi. On arrival in India you will be greeted and escorted by Indo
Asia Tour's Executive to your hotel.
Check in time 1200 hrs noontime.
Overnight at the Hotle.
Day 02 Delhi
After breakfast visit Red Fort* ? the 17th century imposing fortress, the
Jama
Masjid (Friday Mosque), India's largest mosque where more than 20,000
people can
kneel in prayer and Raj Ghat Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial. In the afternoon visit
New Delhi. You will drive past President's Palace and India Gate (42m high),
built to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war.
Later visit Humayun's Tomb, and the Qutub Minar, the highest sands stone minaret
in the world (73 meters).
* Red Fort is closed
on Mondays
Day 03 Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti (approx. 175 kms / 04 hrs) (Flight +
Drive)
After breakfast, transfer to airport and connect the flight to Lucknow. On
arrival in Lucknow, drive to Sravasti
Sravasti seems to have fascinated Lord Buddha very much for he spent over 1/4th
of his life over here, recollecting the Jatakas or the stories of his previous
births. Today Sravasti is full of old stupas, majestic monasteries and several
temples. The city is believed to be founded by Mythological King Sravasti and
has old stupas, majestic monasteries and several; temples.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 04 Sravasti / Lumbini (approx. 240 Kms / 08 hrs)
Morning visit the stupa and monasteries town and then drive to Lumbini. Prince
Siddhartha was born here in about BC 563.
Lumbini - a place in the South-Western Terai of Nepal, evokes a kind of holy
sentiment to the millions of Buddhists all over the world-as do the Jerusalem to
Christians and Mecca to Muslims. Lumbini is the place Lord Buddha - the apostle
of peace and the light of Asia, was born in 623 B. C. On arrival, check in at
the Hotel.
Later visit Sacred Garden, a small complex lying at the southern end of Lumbini.
It marks the place where the Buddha is reputed to have been born and contains
all of the area's important historical monuments and archaeological finds. You
will visit Maya Devi Mandir, believed to date as far as the 3rd or 4th century
BC. Peepul tree, under which Maya Devi is believed to give birth, Ashokan Pillar
and Pushkarni.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 05 Lumbini - Khushinagar ( approx. 170 kms / 04 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Khushinagar- a small wooded town. It was here Lord
Buddha ended his earthly journey passed into Mahaparinirvana.
In the evening visit Mutkabandha Stupa- believed to have been built to preserve
the relics of Buddha.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 06 Khushinagar - Vaishali - (approx. 280 Kms / 06 hrs) - Patna - (approx.
70 Kms / 02 hrs)
After early breakfast, drive to Patna. Enroute visit Vaishali. Vaishali is an
important destination in the Buddhist circuit because this is where Buddha
announced his approaching Nirvana (salvation) to his disciples. Emperor Ashoka
erected a lion pillar here to mark this event and it stands till today. Also
visit the Vaishali Museum and see figures, old coins and photographs of the
excavations.
Later continue your drive to Patna. On arrival in Patna, check in at the hotel.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 07 Patna - Nalanda - (approx. 90 Kms / 02 hrs) - Rajgir - (approx.
12 Kms / 30 min) - Bodhgaya (approx. 80 Kms / 02 hrs)
After early morning breakfast drive to Nalanda, a great Buddhist centre for more
than 1000 years until the monastery, school and library were sacked and burnt by
Muslims. The Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsan stayed here for 5 years in the early 7th
cent. AD. There were 10.000 monks and students in residence. The remains are
still extensive and include the "Great Stupa" with steps, terraces and a few
still intact stupas around it.
Further drive to Rajgir or Rajagriha. It was the capital of Magadhan empire
before Pataliputra occupied from 1800 BC. Visit
Gridhkuta, the "Hill of
Vultures". It was one of Buddha's favorite places where he delivered many
important sermons. Also visit Saptaparni Cave on Vaibhara Hill. The first
Buddhist council was held here and Buddha's teachings were written down for the
first time. Visit Vishwa Shanti Stupa & Venuvana, the bamboo grove where Buddha
spent some time.
Later continue your drive to Bodhgaya. It was here that Siddhartha meditated for
48 days under a "Bodhi tree" and was enlightened on the 49th day and
became Buddha, the enlightened one!!!
On arrival in Bodhgaya, check in at the hotel
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 08 Bodhgaya
After breakfast, visit Mahabodhi temple with the tree,
below which Buddha was enlightened, the footprints of Buddha & the monastery.
Also visit Sujata village and Niranjana River.
Overnight at the hotel.
Day 09 Bodhgaya - Varanasi (approx. 243 Kms / 6 hrs)
After breakfast, drive to Varanasi. Varanasi derives its name from the two
streams ? Varuna in the north and Assi in the south. It is situated on the banks
of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing away all of
one's sins
On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 10 Varanasi - Agra (Overnight Train) (Marudhar
express - Dep 18:15 hrs / Arr 06:10 hrs)
Today early morning you experience the life of this ancient city. See the beauty
of the rising sun on the Ganges Boat Ride. Experience the early morning rituals
of the Hindus being performed, thousands of people taking a bath in the holy
river believing they will be free from the circle of rebirth. It is interesting
to see the pilgrims offering sweets, flowers and holy water to the Sun God.
In the afternoon excursion to Sarnath. Located thirteen kilometers northeast of Varanasi,
Sarnath is the auspicious place where Lord Buddha gave his first
sermon in the deer park after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Set amidst
well-maintained gardens, Sarnath's ruins are a pleasant place for a stroll or
for meditation.
In the evening, transfer to railway station to board the train to Agra.
Overnight in the Train.
Day 11 Agra
In the morning, arrive Agra. On arrival in Agra, transfer to hotel (Rooms will
be available from 1200 noon).
After breakfast, visit Taj Mahal- a poem in white marble, built by the Mughal
Emperor Shahjahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Today India's
most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice
is set amidst landscaped gardens
on the banks of the Yamuna River. Its marble
exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is
dazzling white during the day and glows pearl-like in the moonlight and during
the monsoon.
Later visit Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is
surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and
numerous palaces. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river
Yamuna as the Taj Mahal, which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the
fort. It is an imposing structure with walls of red sandstone almost three
kilometers long. Also enjoy Tonga Ride.
Also visit It-mad-ud-daullah.
* Taj Mahal is closed on
Fridays
Day 12 Agra - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur. On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri. It is a
beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th
century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. The Mughals later abandoned
this city for lack of water.
Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jaipur in the 18th century. It is a planned city
built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful
state. The whole city was painted pink to welcome the visit of Prince Albert in
1853. On arrival check in the hotel.
Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 13
Jaipur
After breakfast, half-day excursion trip takes you to Amber Fort with
Elephant/Jeep ride. En route, make a photo stop at the Palace of Winds
(Hawa
Mahal). In the afternoon visit the Pink City of Jaipur. You will visit
City
Palace, and Royal Observatory (Jantar Manter-1728-34).
Overnight in the Hotel.
Day 14 Jaipur - Delhi - Fly Out
After breakfast drive to Delhi. On arrival, transfer to airport to connect the
flight for onward journey.
End of Services
Tour Prices:
Prices: Prices valid from 01st Oct’2011
till 31st March’2012 except from 20th Dec till 10th Jan 2012.
|
Slab |
Prices for 03 Star
hotels |
Prices for 04 Star
hotels |
|
01 Pax |
US$
2317
Per Single
room. |
US$ 2699
Per single room. |
|
02 Pax |
US$ 1255
Per Person sharing a double room. |
US$ 1447
Per Person sharing a
double room. |
|
Dinner Supplement |
US$
98
Per person.
|
US$ 147
Per person. |
|
Supplement for Entrances |
US$ 91
Per person. |
US$ 91
Per person. |
|
Air Fare Supplement
DEL / LKO (Special
airfares)
|
US$
143 Per Person in Economy Class.
This is the present
Airfare in the economy class inclusive of all the taxes and surcharges & is
subject to change. This is special fare available as of today. |
