Grand Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour: Path to Enlightenment

way to nirvana after he achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, and gave his famous first sermon at the deer park here in Isipatana. In the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka erected magnificent stupas and monasteries here, as well as an engraved pillar. When Chinese traveller Xuan Zang dropped by in AD 640, Sarnath boasted a 100m-high stupa and 1500 monks living in large monasteries. However, soon after, Buddhism went into decline, and when Muslim invaders sacked the city in the late 12th century, Sarnath disappeared altogether. It was only ‘rediscovered’ by British archaeologists in 1835. Also visit Sarnath Museum (closed on Friday) and Stupa.

g in campus, it is the largest residential university in Asia.

Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city's winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Bodhgaya - considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it's dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond.

r, Sujata Temple - which is across the Niranjana river & it's 30 minutes walk. Visit other Budhist Bodhgaya. Rest time free and easy to relax. Overnight at hotel. Visit Mahabodhi Temple for SIL & Bodhi Tree, Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, Sujata Temple - which is across the Niranjana river & it's 30 minutes walk. Visit other Budhist Bodhgaya. Rest time free and easy to relax.

spring in Rajgir, world peace Stupa, Bamboo's Garden.

Continue drive to Patna, check in at hotel.

Later visit Maha Parinirwana Temple (where Buddha took his last breath) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha) & Japan Temple.

Arrive Lumbini check in at hotel.

Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.

Temple, Shanti stupa & Great Drigung Kagyud lotus Stupa.

On arrival check in at hotel rest time free and easy to relax.

Visit Jetavana Monastery, Shobhnath Temple, Balrampur, Saheth and Ananda Bodhi Tree. Afternoon drive to Lucknow check in at hotel.

Enroute visit Sankasiya Stupa and Pillar.

Rest time free and easy to relax.

Rest time free and easy to relax.

Visit Qutab Minar & Humayun Tomb.