Buddha

BUDDHIST CIRCUIT IN INDIA DURATION: 18 NIGHTS & 19 DAYS MINIMUM: 04 to 30 PAX

TOUR COST: RS. INR. PER PERSON. BELOW MENTIONED RATES ARE QUOTED FOR A/C. RAIL – HOTELS - COACH 04PAX: RS. 32,795 – 00 AMBASSDOR CAR 04 SEATER 06PAX: RS. 31,875 – 00 TATA SUMO 08 SEATER. 08PAX: RS. 30,421 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 09 SEATER 10PAX: RS. 29,995 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 12 SEATER 14PAX: RS. 28,980 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 15 SEATER 16PAX: RS. 27,980 – 00 TATA 407 – 609 18 SEATER 24PAX: RS. 26,995 – 00 27 SEATER COACH 30PAX: RS. 25,645 – 00 35 SEATER COACH CHILD FARE 05 YRS TO 12 YRS: RS. 15,500/- PER CHILD BELOW MENTIONED RATES ARE QUOTED FOR NON-A/C. RAIL – HOTELS – COACH. 04 PAX:RS. 22,795 – 00 AMBASSDOR CAR 04 SEATER 06 PAX:RS. 21,875 – 00 TATA SUMO 08 SEATER. 08 PAX:RS. 20,421 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 09 SEATER 10 PAX:RS. 19,995 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 12 SEATER 14 PAX:RS. 18,980 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 15 SEATER 16 PAX:RS. 17,980 – 00 TATA 407 – 609 18 SEATER 24 PAX:RS. 16,995 – 00 27 SEATER COACH 30 PAX:RS. 15,645 – 00 35 SEATER COACH CHILD FARES 05 TO 12 YRS: RS. 9,200/- PER CHILD. BELOW MENTIONED RATES ARE QUOTED FOR A/C. RAIL & HOTEL. TRANSPORTATION WILL BE NON – A/C. 04PAX: RS. 32,545 – 00 AMBASSDOR CAR 04 SEATER 06PAX: RS. 31,781 – 00 TATA SUMO 08 SEATER. 08PAX: RS. 30,421 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 09 SEATER 10PAX: RS. 29,545- 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 12 SEATER 14PAX: RS. 28,445 – 00 TEMPO TRAVELLER 15 SEATER 16PAX: RS. 27,980 – 00 TATA 407 – 609 18 SEATER 24PAX: RS. 26,995 – 00 27 SEATER COACH 30PAX: RS. 25,645 – 00 35 SEATER COACH CHILD FARES 05 TO 12 YRS: RS.14,200/- PER CHILD.

TOUR ITINERARY DAY 01: New Delhi Arrive New Delhi and transfer to HOTEL PAULS COURT. After break fast leave for New Delhi Local Sight Seeing QUTAB MINAR – LOTUS TEMPLE – RAJ GHAT – RED FORT – BIRLA HOUSE – TEEN MURTI BHAWAN – INDIRA GANDHI MUSEUM – BIRLA MANDIR – PARLIAMENT HOUSE – PRESIDENT HOUSE – INDIA GATE. Evening Shopping at Karol Bagh Market.

DAY 02: New Delhi – AGRA (220 KMS) 04 HRS DRIVE Early departure towards Agra by Shatabdi Express On arrival Agra transfers to HOTEL ATITHI. After fleshing up proceed towards Agra Local Sight seeing FATEHPUR SIRKI – AGRA FORT – TAJ MAHAL FOR SUN SET.

DAY 03: AGRA – VARANSI (600 KMS) 12 HRS DRIVE Early morning wakeup call at 0515hrs and proceed towards TAJ MAHAL FOR SUN RISE. After breakfast leave for Varansi. On arrival Varansi transfer to HOTEL PALLAVI INTERNATIONAL.

DAY 04: VARANSI – SARNATH – VARANSI After Break fast leave for Sarnath Local Sight seeing. SARNATH is about 20 kms from the holy city of Varansi, where more than 2,500 years ago Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon, after attaining Nirvana. The five disciples

Who had followed him were surprised to see the mesmerizing glowing countenance of Buddha, who convinced them and delivered the first sermon before them, now termed Dharamachakra Pravartan. This set in motion the great Buddhist tradition of the Sangha, for popularizing the teachings of the great ascetic, worldwide. Gautam Buddha with his five disciples formed the first Sangha along with Yasa of Varanasi and his 54 friends. The beginning of the celebrated Mantra, ‘Buddha Sharanam Gachhami’, owes its Origin to Sarnath. The three Jewels “I go for refuge to the Buddha, I go for refuge to the wheel of Law, I go for refuge to the Sangha” First laid down here, have remained unchanged ever since. Hence rightly, every Buddhist Pilgrim after Bodhgaya endeavors to be blessed with a visit to Sarnath in his lifetime. DHAMEKH STUPA bears particular significance at Sarnath as it signifies the “seat of the holy Buddha”, as he proclaimed his faith. It is about 34 meters. In height and including the foundations, it can be measured up to 42 meters. Besides Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath also has the ruins of Dharmajajika Stupa and that of the original Mulgandhakui Temple that according to Hieum Tsang was about 61 meters. High. Buddha is said to have rested and meditated here while in Sarnath. Emperor Ashoka (273 – 232 BC) converted to Buddhism after the kalinga War and also visited Saranth. A smooth glistening stone pillar, called the Ashokla Pillar commemorates his visit and laid the foundation of the Buddhist Sangha here. The Lion Capital on top of this pillar is now the National Emblem of India. The Chaukhandi Stupa was originally a terraced temple during the Gupta period (4th to 6th century). However in 1588 A.D., Govardhan, the son of Raja Todarmal, built an octagonal tower to commemorate the visit of Humayun – father of Akbar. Govadhan later went on to become the Governor under Akbar’s rule. Similarly Akbar, the great Mughal Emperor who revered all religions alike, raised the Chaukhandi Stupa in 1555 A.D.

DAY 05: VARANSI – BODHGAYA (200 KMS) 03 HRS DRIVE After Break fast leave for Bodhgaya. On arrival transfer to Hotel Bodhgaya Ashok. Evening visit to Bodhgaya Shopping. BODHGAYA in the state of Bihar, reckoned as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center, is the place where Lord Sakyamuni (Gautam Buddha) entered into meditation after being moved by the sufferings of mankind. The giant Bodhi Tree (Peepal) that we see today is believed to have grown from the original Bodhi Tree under which, sitting on the raised platform, prince Siddharth meditated and finally attained Nirvana. Then there is Chaukramana, the Jewel Walk, where it is believed that the Buddha strolled while in deep thought. The magnificent Maha Bodhi temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation of many cultures. The temple bears the stamp of the architecture of the Gupta Dynasty and subsequent ages. On the walls of the temple, one sees Buddha carved in different aspects, and in the sanctum sanctorum, a colossal Buddha, is seen touching the ground, which has mythological significance in the Buddhist lores. The temple carries inscriptions recording the visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China and Mayanmar in the 7 th and 10th centuries A.D. Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveler, also visited the temple in the 7th century. OTHER PALCES OF INTEREST Adjacent to the Mahabodhi temple is the Shaivite Monastery that has a cluster of four temples. Surrounded by enchanting greenery and marked by architectural marvels, these temples have several samadhis (commemorative stones) in their vicinity. Just across are a number of cells, meant for residential purposes of monks. Not far from the Shaivite Monastery is the Jagannath Temple, which is dedicated to lord Shiva, and has the statue of the deity, carved in glistening black stone.

DAY 06: BODHGAYA - NALANDA – RAJGIR – BODHGAYA NALANDA 110 kms North of Bodhgaya literally means the place that confers the lotus. It was one of the oldest universities of the world. It have nine million books, ten thousand students, two thousand teachers and was a center of great learning which reached its zenith between 5 th and 12th century A.D. Both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira visited this place. Emperor Ashoka built a Vihara, while emperor Harshvaardhan donated a 26mtrs. High copper image of Buddha and Emperor Kumar Gupta built a college

of fine arts. In 1951, an international center for Buddhist Studies was established in Nalanda. Nava Nalanda Vihar, 02 kms from here, is a similar institution. RAJGIR meaning ”The Royal Palace”, {Raja Griha} lays 12 kms south of Patna. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. The Gridhakuta Hill, in Rajgir, was the seat from where Buddha delivered many of his sermons. It was here that the teachings of Buddha were recorded in writing for the first time. An aerial ropeway takes visitors up the hill where the Japanese have built a beautiful Stupa. Many sites of historical and archaeological significance surround the holy city of Rajgir. Bimbisara Jail reminds one of the devoted Mauryan King Bimbisara (5th – 6th century BC) who, being a Buddhist, chose this as a place to spend his last days. From here he could see Buddha climbing up the Grihakuta Hill to do his meditation. Ajatashatru’s Fort is another place of tourist attraction. The sculpture which depicts the ‘Parinirvana’, or the ‘great cessation’ of Buddha is another monument of artistic and historical importance. It shows the Buddha lying on his right side with the right forearm resting under his head to commemorate the final salvation or ‘Mukti’, of the great founder of the Buddhist Faith. Other prominent sites of important at Rajgir include Saptdhara, the hot springs which supposedly have healing powers; Venuvan Vihara, the residence built by the king Bimbisara for Buddha; Jivaka’s Mango Grove, residence of an ardent Buddhist follower, Jivak who was a surgeon; and the Karanda Tank, bathing site of Lord Buddha. Also the first Buddhist Council was convened here, at the Mahaparinirvana of Buddha. Patna lays 102 kms from here and 34 kms from here are Gaya.

DAY 07: BODHGAYA Whole day Bodhgaya Local Sight Seeing.

DAY 08: BODHGAYA - VARANSI Arrive Varansi and transfer to Hotel Pallavi International. After Lunch leave for Varansi Local Sight Seeing.

DAY 09: VARANSI - GORAKHPUR (425 KMS) 09 HRS DRIVE After breakfast leave for Gorakhpur. On arrival at Gorakhpur transfer to HOTEL BOBINA.

DAY 10: GORAKHPUR - KUSHINAGAR - GORAKHPUR KUSHINAGAR (Kushinara of Yore) is a revered place for Buddhist pilgrims, 55 Kms away from Gorakpur. It was here that the Tathagata, the reciter of truth, breathed his last with the last words, “Behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying, decay is inherent in all component thing! Work out your salvation with diligence!” A temple dedicated to the event – the Mahaparinirvana temple today stands amidst a serene ‘sal’ grove…. As if still reminiscing the great demise. The huge statue of the Reclining Buddha, excavated in 1876 at the temple, is one of the most momentous of all sights for the devout. A devout monk, Haribala brought it from Mathura, during the reign of King Kumara Gupta in the 5th century A.D. The whole of Kushinagar, since the Mahaparinirvana of Gautam Buddha, was turned into a memorial site with stupas including the relic stupa-Mukutbandhana and Gupta period Chaitayas and Viharas, built by the devout kings, The Chinese travelers FAA Hein, Hieun Tsang and T. Issuing visited Kushinagar during different centuries and recorded a graphic account of the place which later fell to bad times, due to lack of patronage. These recording provided the vital clues for excavations done centuries later by Sir Alexander Cunningham. The visiting sites of Kushinagar fall in three categories: The Mahaparinirvana Temple, commemorating the place of the great decease with a reclining statue of Lord Buddha; Mata Kunwar Shrine contains a 10th century blue Schist image of Buddha and; Rambhar Stupa, which is supposedly the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated and his relics divided into eight equal parts. Apart from this, a Chinese Temple, a Buddhist Temple a Tibetan Temple and the Indo-Japan-Srilanka Buddhist Center hold significant religious value for pilgrims.

DAY 11: GORAKHPUR - KAPILAVASTU – GORAKHPUR GORAKHPUR: 110kms from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, Kapilavastu (piprahwa) on the Gorakhpur Gonda loop – line with Naugarh (35kms) is the nearest railway station. The Capital City of the Sakya clan, and one of the earliest republics, it was in Kapilavastu’s opulent environs, that the holy soul of prince Siddharth (Gautam Buddha) spent his childhood. Here he saw sorrow and pain, disease and death. Then, finally when he saw a radiant happy Sadhu who had conquered all these, he decided to renounce all worldly riches and pleasures to seek truth and embark on the path of salvation.

The place holds significant value for Buddhist pilgrims and has several Stupas. The archaeological excavations have revealed stone caskets containing relics believed to be that of Buddha’s.

DAY 12: GORAKHPUR – LUCKNOW (250 KMS) 05HRS DRIVE After breakfast leave for Lucknow. On arrival transfer to PRESIDENCY INN.

DAY 13: LUCKNOW After breakfast leave for Lucknow Local Sight Seeing.

DAY 14: LUCKNOW – New Delhi (500 KMS) 10HRS DRIVE After Breakfast leave for New Delhi. On arrival transfer to HOTEL PAULS COURTS.

DAY 15: New Delhi Transfer to Airport / Railway station.

TOUR ENDS PACKAGE INCLUDES * • •

All Hotel Accommodation on Twin Sharing & on EP. Plan Only. All transfer and sight seeing at New Delhi – Agra – Varansi – Bodhgaya – Gorakhpur and Delhi by A/C / NON A/C COACHS as per our Itinerary. All Hotels will 2 to 3 Star Categories.

PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE • • •

Expenses of personal nature such as tips, porter age, phone calls, insurance and laundry. Any item not specified in the itinerary. All Entrance Ticket.

PACKAGE DETAILS • • • •

Package starts from New Delhi and ends in New Delhi. Full payment is required three weeks in advance from date of commencement of Journey. Itinerary is subject to change without notice. Maximum four adults plus one child to a car.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellation charges to be levied are 15 days and more prior to the date of departure Rs.150/- Per Person. 10-14 days prior to the date of departure: 25% Percent. 7-9 days prior to the date of departure: 50% Percent. Under 7 days or no show: 100% Percent.