7 Days Varanasi to Lumbini Buddhist Expedition ( All Inclusive )

Welcome to Varanasi. We hope you have a safe and nice journey. We will pick you up from the Airport or Railway station. After picking you up we will go directly to the hotel for check-in. Fresh n up you will proceed to Sarnath. Sarnath is a place 20 km away from the city of Varanasi. This is the place where Buddha preached his first sermon to his five apostles and so Buddhism begins from there. After that emperor, Ashoka created a number of stupas and monuments to spread Buddhism. Also in Sarnath, there are several animals and birds which get the matter of attraction (especially Deer Park). There are also some of the remaining monasteries and the beautifully polished Lion Capital of Ashoka in the Sarnath Museum after that, we will go back to the hotel for a rest.

In the evening, you are going to get the most memorable moment of your life, because it will be taken to River Ganges. Now you are going to witness Ganga Aarti, Which is a grand event during the evening. It starts at 5.00 P.m. when people around the world gather to be a part of the event. You can experience a great rapture during the process of Aarti. At Dashaswamedh Ghat, a group of young clergymen well garbed in silky saffron and white robes conduct this ceremony. Each clergyman takes up a specific spot in the Ghat and starts the rituals by offering flowers to the river Ganga. The ritual includes many oil lamps on snake hood lamps which are waves in a synced motion chanting some mantras at the same time. You can witness thousands of small oil lamps floating on the river that would look like countless stars on the water. The ritual is well choreographed and seen. After the ceremony ended we would return to our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay in the hotel.

In the morning we will go ahead for Bodhgaya which is about 247 km long away from Varanasi and could take 7 hrs to reach Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is the place where Gautama Buddha attained inimitable, supreme Wisdom. On arrival at Bodhgaya check into the hotel and after lunch enjoy the sightseeing of Bodhgaya. It is counted as one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Explore the beauty of Buddhist culture and lifestyle with a saunter around this place. Visit places like the Great Buddha Statue, Niranjana River, and Sujata Temple. Sightseeing of Maha Bodhi Temple and Bodhi Tree. Visit the Chinese Temple. Also, visit the school of the destitute. After your sightseeing visit returns back to the hotel and stays overnight.

The unveiling and consecration of the Great Buddha Statue took place on November 18, 1989. The consecration ceremony was graced with the presence of His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama, who blessed the 25-meter statue, the first great Buddha ever built in the history of India. The Statue is now a symbol of the holy place Bodhgaya, next to Mahabodhi Temple which is a World Heritage site and enjoys constant visits of pilgrims from all over the world. Among local people, it is nicknamed "the 80-foot (25-meter) Buddha Statue."

Visit Sujata Kuti

The Mahabodhi Temple is one of the oldest brick temples in India. The original structure, later replaced, was built by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (died c. 238 BCE), one of Buddhism’s most important proselytes, to commemorate the Buddha’s Enlightenment. The temple is 55 meters (180 feet) in height. Its pyramidal shikhara (tower) comprises several layers of niches, arch motifs, and fine engravings. Four towers, each identical to its central counterpart but smaller in size and topped with an umbrella-like dome, adorn the corners of the two-story structure. A shrine inside the temple holds a yellow sandstone statue of the Buddha encased in glass.

Bodhi Tree is the main tree in Mahabodhi Temple.

At Morning check out from the hotel we will go ahead for Patna via Rajgir and Nalanda which is about 182 kms long way from Bodhgaya and could take 8 hrs to reach Patna. On the Way visiting Rajgir. Rajgir is a site of great holiness and magnitude for Buddhists. Rajgir is a wonderful place for Buddhist pilgrimage, as Buddha spent 12 years here and also the first Buddhist council after the Buddha was hosted here at the Saptaparni caves. Afternoon visit Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara jail.

Right at the northern side of the jail also lies the beautiful Maniyar Math. It is widely known that King Bimbisara decided to spend the rest of his life in the Bimbisara's Jail. The location of the jail provided king Bimbisara a perfect view of Griddhakuta Hill, from where he was able to Lord Buddha going atop the hill for meditation.

After that drive to Nalanda. It was one of the oldest Universities in the World and the International Centre for Buddhist Studies. Now we will drive to Patna. On arrival at Patna, we transfer to the hotel for an overnight stay.

At Morning check out from the hotel we will go ahead for Kushinagar via Vaishali which is about 256 km a long way from Patna and could take 7 hrs to reach Kushinagar. On the way visit Vaishali. Here the Buddha announced his approach to Mahaparinirvana. Vaishali is a great Buddhist pilgrimage and also the birthplace of Lord Mahavira. It is said that the Buddha visited this place thrice and spent quite a long time here. The Buddha also delivered his last sermon at Vaishali and announced his Nirvana here. After his death, Vaishali also held the Second Buddhist Council.

After that, we will go directly to Kushinagar (the place where Lord Buddha left the world, making an invaluable contribution to the development of mankind, the great religion known as Buddhism). On arrival in Kushinagar, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (where Buddha took his last breath) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha). Overnight stay at Kushinagar hotel.

Excavated in 1867, Parinirvana Stupa is a huge stupa made of brick. The stupa has a Brahmi inscription on its walls and a reclining Nirvana statue of Buddha inside it. The statue is placed on a brick pedestal and the face of Buddha is towards the west. As per the Brahmi inscription, the cremated remains of Buddha are buried here, making it an important religious destination for people following Buddhism. Excavation of the site also uncovered a huge copper vessel. The Parinirvana Temple, which is carved from Chunar sandstone, is one of the sacred places for Buddhist devotees.

rld as it is said that this is the exact spot where Lord Buddha was cremated and got Mahaparinirvana after his death in 483 BC. The stupa was constructed by the Malla Kings who ruled over Kushinagar when Buddha was alive. In ancient Buddhist texts, this Stupa has been referred to as Mukut-Bandhan Chaitya or Mukta-Bandhan Vihara.

At Morning check out from the hotel we will go ahead for Lumbini which is about 180 km long way from Kushinagar and could take 5 hrs to reach Lumbini. On arrival in Lumbini, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon visit the birthplace of Buddha - Maya Devi Temple. This place is blessed with its tranquility and natural beauty, which fully corresponds to the perception of the place where the legend was born. Overnight stay at Lumbini hotel.

Maya Devi Temple is located right next to the sacred pool called Pushkarini and a sacred garden. This temple marks the spot where Maya Devi gave birth to Gautam Buddha and the archaeological remains of this place date back to the time of Ashoka, around 3rd century BCE. Gautam Buddha was said to have been born in 563 BC. The temple was designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange in 1978 and the work is still under process which comprises of landscaped lakes and a number of monasteries being built by various architects from all over the world. Fortunately, none of the monuments or temples was affected by the Nepal earthquake in 2015.

At Morning check out from the hotel we will go ahead for Shravasti via Kapilavastu which is about 225 km long away from Lumbini and could take 6 hrs to reach Shravasti. On the way visit Kapilavastu - the childhood home of Gautama Buddha.

After that, we will go direct to Shravasti where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. He is said to have performed many miracles and levitated. During the monsoon, he used to stay at the Jetavana monastery on the outskirts of this town. Visit Sahet Mahet and Angulimal caves. After visiting all sightseeing overnight stay in Shravasti Hotel.

The city was the capital of the Kosala Kingdom in the 6th century. Geographically, it was at the center of eastern, western, and northern India whose roads met at a junction here. The site is of tremendous Buddhist and Jain significance. As you visit Sachet, you can explore the numerous stupas, temples, and monasteries that establish a connection between Sravasti and the Buddha's life. Meanwhile, in Mahet you’ll find Buddhist, Brahmanical, and Jaina structures as well as medieval tombs. Lord Buddha is said to have rested on this site during the annual Cassava.

Pakki Kuti or Angulimala Stupa was excavated along with other ruins of Shravasti city in the year 1863 and is considered to be one of the largest mounds found in the Mahet area of Shravasti. Fa-Hien, a famous Chinese traveler, Hiuen Tsang, a Chinese Scholar, and Alexander Cunningham (a British engineer) identified this renowned tourist attraction in Shravasti as the stupa of Angulimala, while some other scholars believed it to be the ruins of the Hall of Law, supposed to have been built by Prasenjit in honor of Lord Buddha.

At Morning check out from the hotel we will go ahead for Lucknow which is about 154 kms long way from Shravasti and could take 4 hrs to reach Lucknow. Once we reach Lucknow covers Imam Bara, Rumi Darwaza and other historical monuments. In the evening transfer direct to Lucknow Airport for flight for onward journey to New Delhi to catch your flight for home with the book of memories.