India Buddhism Tour
India is the birthplace of Buddhism and home to most of the highly significant Holy sites of Buddhism. This is where Lord Buddha was born, attained Enlightenment, preached his first sermon and reached Nirvana. This tour includes visits to Lumbini, Bodh Gaya (where he attained enlightenment), Sarnath (where he preached his first sermon) and Kushinagar where he achieved Mahanirvana. Other venerable locations featured on this tour include Rajgir, Nalanda and Sravasti.
The best time to visit India is from October to March.
Touring style: Professional English-speaking guide and driver, private basis.
Guide Price: £1655 per person (based on 2 adults sharing a room).
Air-conditioned private vehicle, English-speaking driver/guide and additional local guides in each city.
Standard hotel accommodation including breakfast.
Entrance fees to monuments.
Not Included - International flights.
The guide price is subject to availability, fluctuations in the exchange rate and travel dates. Please call us for an individual quote.
- Day 1: Arrival by flight to Bodhgaya
- Day 2: Tour Bodhgaya, Rajgir and Nalanda University
- Day 3: Drive to Varanasi and tour Sarnath where Buddha delivered his first sermon after nirvana
- Day 4: Sunrise boat ride in Varanasi before heading to Kushinagar
- Day 5: Kushinagar - resting place of the Buddha
- Day 6: Lumbini - birthplace of Buddha
- Day 7: Lumbini-Sravasti-Lucknow-Agra. Overnight on the train
- Day 8: Agra touring
- Day 9: Agra-Delhi and departure
Day 1: Arrival by flight to Bodh Gaya
Arrive by flight to Bodh Gaya where you will be met for a private transfer to your hotel.
Bodh Gaya, the birthplace of Buddhism where the Buddha attained Nirvana is dotted with monasteries and a tranquil ambience to start your journey to retrace the steps of the Buddha. In the afternoon, make a visit to the Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Standing in the middle of Bodh Gaya town, the iconic sandstone temple rises to a height of about 52 m. On the left of the Mahabodhi Temple lies the Bodhi tree, a central symbol in Buddhism. It marks the spot where the original Bodhi tree once stood, under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Finish the day with a visit to The Great Buddha Statue an awe-inspiring sight, standing at a height of about 25 m.
Overnight in Bodh Gaya.
Day 2: Bodh Gaya to Rajgir and Nalanda University
After breakfast, drive to the picturesque town of Rajgir, a town surrounded by five hills, where Buddha preached two of his famous sermons.
Continue to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Nalanda. a quaint hamlet scattered with the ruins of the Buddhist University of Nalanda, 11 monasteries and six brick temples.
Return to Bodh Gaya for an overnight stay.
Distance and journey times:
Bodh Gya - Rajgir (85 Km / 2 Hrs) Nalanda (12 Km/15 Mins) - Bodh Gaya (105 Km/2.5 hrs)
Day 3: Bodh Gaya to Varanasi and Sarnath
Drive to Varanasi. In the afternoon, head to Sarnath, one of the most revered Buddhist pilgrimage centres in the world, Sarnath, is believed to be the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining nirvana.
Visit the Dhamekh Stupa which marks the spot where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon and the Chaukhandi Stupa where Lord Buddha met his first five disciples and the famous Bodhi tree grew from a cut taken from the original Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
Overnight in Varanasi.
Distance and journey times: Bodh Gaya - Varanasi -Sarnath (240 Km/6 Hrs)
Day 4: Varanasi to Kushinagar
Take an early morning boat ride on the River Ganges to witness the holy rituals on Ghats. After visiting Banaras Hindu University, Tulsi Manas temple and Bharat Mata temple, drive to Kushinagar, the resting place of the Buddha.
Overnight.
Distance and journey times: Varanasi - Kushinagar (275 Km/7 Hrs)
Day 5: Kushinagar and Lumbini
Kushinagar is a famous pilgrim site, noted for the Buddhist shrine of Mahaparinirvana Temple. The temple here houses a 6-m-long idol of Lord Buddha reclining on his right side. Head to the Kushinagar Museum after visiting the Mahaparinirvana Temple. Other important sites include the Nirvana Stupa, the Wat Thai temple, the Japanese temple and the Ramabhar Stupa, where the Buddha was cremated.
From here, you will proceed to Sunaulli to complete border formalities to enter Lumbini (Nepal).
Overnight
Distance and journey times: 350 km, 8 hrs.
Day 6: Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha
Lumbini is an important place of pilgrimage. Siddhartha Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of Lumbini. Made up of ancient monasteries ruins, the sacred Bodhi tree, an ancient bathing pond, the commemorative Ashokan pillar erected by King Ashoka in 249 BC, and the Maya Devi Temple marking the spot where Buddha was born.
Overnight.
Day 7: Lumbini - Sravasti - Lucknow - Agra
After breakfast, drive to the ancient city Sravasti, a major pilgrimage site and an important centre for Buddhist learnings. Visit Ananda Bodhi Tree and Jetavana, one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in India. After a visit to the Sahet Mahet Archeological Site, transfer to Lucknow Railway Station for the overnight train to Agra. Alternatively, you may choose to stay in Lucknow to explore this beautiful city.
Distance and journey times:
Lumbini to Sravasti: 154 km, 4 hrs (allow extra time for border formalities)
Sravasti to Lucknow: 156 km, 4 hrs.
Day 8: Agra
You will be met at the train station for a transfer to your hotel.
This afternoon, you will visit Sikandra, the tomb of the greatest Mughal Emperor, Akbar. Afterwards, visit Agra Fort, the 16th-century Mughal monument situated 2 km from the Taj Mahal. The grand structure of the Agra Fort is made up of red sandstone with enclosure walls, the Jahangir Palace and the Khas Mahal, built by Shah Jahan.
This evening, visit the Taj Mahal at sunset.
Overnight in Agra.
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Day 9: Departure
Transfer to the Delhi International Airport for your departure flight.