Delhi-Jaipur-Agra-Varanasi-Bodhgaya-Patna-Kushinagar-Lumbini-Sravasti-Delhi
(10 Nights / 11 Days )
Day
01 / Arrival Delhi
Arrive Delhi, meet assist at the airport & transfer
to hotel. Night stay in Delhi.
Day
02 / Delhi
After breakfast proceed for sightseeing tour of Old
& New Delhi :
OLD DELHI - A sight-seeing tour of
Old Delhi would entail visiting the Raj Ghat - the
memorial site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated; Jama
Masjid - the largest mosque in India and the Red Fort
once the most opulent fort and palace of the Moghul
Empire .
NEW DELHI - An extensive sight-seeing
tour of New Delhi would include a visit to the Humayun's
Tomb, the Qutub Minar, a drive along the ceremonial
avenue - Rajpath, past the imposing India Gate, Parliament
House, the President's Residence, Lotus Temple and
would end with a drive through the Diplomatic Enclave.
Later evening transfer to Airport.
Day
03 / Delhi - Jaipur
After breakfast drive to Jaipur- the fabled "pink
city"of the desert named after Jai Singh, the
former Maharaja of Jaipur. This is the only city in
the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe
through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it.
The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were
witnesses to the royal processions and splendours
are now living. Arrive Jaipur in approx 5 hours &
transfer to hotel. Later visit the majestic Amber
Fort, is one that cannot be easily described. Ride
up on Elephants to the former capital of the royals
set against the backdrop of the wooded hills. Also
visit the City Palace- still home to the Maharaja
although several of the rooms are now open to the
public. Many antiques and artefacts belonging to the
ruling family are housed here. Palace of Winds also
known as Hawa mahal, this elaborate building, now
little more than a facade, is encrusted with delicate
screen sand carved balconies from which the royal
ladies, confined to their quarters, could sneak views
of the outside world. Past, present and future merge
at Jai Singh's observatory, where time has been accurately
measured since the 17th century. Night stay in Jaipur.
Day
04 / Jaipur- Agra - Varanasi
Morning drive to Agra enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri-a
perfectly preserved red sandstone "ghost town"
which was the estranged capital of mughal emperor
Akbar, built in 1569 and deserted when its water supply
failed. Arrive Agra & visit the magnificent Taj
Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the world surely
the most extravagant expression of love ever created.
20,000 men laboured for over 17 years to build this
memorial to Shah Jahan's beloved wife, Also visit
the Red fort - the rusty and majestic red- sandstone
fort of Agra stands on the banks of the river Yamuna
and the construction was started by Emperor Akbar
in 1566. At the Diwan-I-Am (hall of public audience),
a colonnaded hall of red-sandstone with a throne alcove
of inlaid marble at the back, the Emperor heard public
petitions. At the Diwan-I-Khas (hall of private audience)
where marble pavilions with floral inlays lend an
ethereal ambience, the Emperor sat on his gem-studded
peacock Throne and met foreign ambassadors and rulers
of friendly kingdoms. Late evening transfer to railway
station to board the train to Varanasi (Dep from Agra
at 2100 hrs Arr Varanasi at 0830 hrs) Overnight in
the train.
Day
05 / Varanasi
Morning arrive Varanasi -said to be the India's most
sacred city situated on the western bank of the holy
river Ganga. It is also the oldest living city in
the world. As a place for devotion and worship, with
hundreds of temples dotting the city, sunrise on the
river front as seen from a boat can be a spiritually
uplifting sight. It has a fascination uniquely its
own, a quality of sublime beauty, a timeless eternal
appeal. Varanasi is the city which cannot be described,
only experienced. Arrive Varanasi & transfer to
hotel Later excursion to Sarnath -where the Buddha
preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains
the most impressive remains, as well as a modern temple.
Evening view "Aarti" ceremony on the Ghats.
Night stay in Varanasi.
Day
06 / Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning drive to Bodhgaya & transfer to hotel.
Bodhgaya -As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment,
Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. Bodhgaya
situated near the river Niranjana, is one of the holiest
Buddhist pilgrimage centres since it was here that
Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.
Later visit Mahabodhi Temple, Niranjana River, Sujata
Village. Night stay in Bodhgaya
Day
07 / Bodhgaya - Ragjir - Nalanda - Patna
After breakfast drive to Patna enroute sightseeing
of Nalanda & Rajgir. Rajgir -The picturesque Rajgir,
or Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally,
the abode of kings) is surrounded by the meandering
river Banganga and 5 hills. During the lifetime of
the Buddha this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan
kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The
hills and caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to
spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of
the early Charavaka school to the metaphysics of Upanishadic
philosophers. Like many others in search of truth,
Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage
came to this city to seek the path of vation. Nalanda
-Nalanda was the most renowned university in ancient
India. It derived its name from Na-alam-da, meaning
Insatiable in Giving, one of the names by which the
Lord Buddha was known Lunch at nice city restaurant
at Rajgir. On arrival Check-in to Hotel. Dinner &
Over Night stay at Hotel in Patna.
Day 08 / Patna- Vaishali- Kushinagar
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar enroute visiting
Vaishali. Arrive Kushinagar & transfer to hotel.
Night stay in Kushinagar. Kushinagar-Kushinagar is
where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparmirvana.
Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a
beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha.
Day
09 / Kushinagar - Lumbini
After breakfast visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple &
Stupas, later drive to Lumbini & transfer to hotel.
Lumbini - the birthplace of the Buddha, was located
in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years. Evening
sightseeing tour of Lumbini including a visit to the
birth Place of Lord Buddha. Night stay in Lumbini.
Day
10 / Lumbini - Sravasti - Delhi
After breakfast drive to Lucknow enroute Sravasti.
Sravasti-the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala,
has the honour for sheltering Buddha for 24 rainy
seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The city believed
to be founded by the mythological king Sravast, has
age-old stupas,majestic monasteries and several temples.
Buddha is said to have performed some miracles here.
In Sravasti visit Saheth - Maheth & Jetvan. Arrive
Lucknow & transfer to airport to connect the flight
for Delhi. Arrive Delhi & transfer to hotel. Night
stay in Delhi.
Day
11 / Departure
Transfer to airport to board the flight for onwards
destination.
