Get suffused in a spiritual journey that will take you to some of the prominent Buddhist sites in India. The Buddhist Tour Packages will cover Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Rajgiri, Nalanda, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Sravasti, and Lucknow.
Most of the destinations covered in this journey stands as a testimony to the various events that occurred in the life span of Lord Buddha.
A beautiful quote by the Lord himself “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” Buddha
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On arrival for your Steps of Buddha Tour at Bodhgaya Airport, meet and greet by Bugfree representatives, later drive to Bodhgaya Hotel. On arrival wash and change and have lunch in the hotel.
“Bodh Gaya is the place where Gautama Buddha attained unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment. It is a place which should be visited or seen by a person of devotion and which would cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence”.
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be, had been dwelling on the banks of the Nairanjana River with five ascetic followers for six years practicing austerities. Realizing that austerities could not lead to realization he abandoned them. His five ascetic companions disgusted at his seeming failure, deserted him and left for Sarnath.
Dinner & overnight at hotel.
Rajgir was the capital of Magadh Empire until Ajatshatru moved it to Pataliputra (Patna) in the 5th century BC. Rajgir is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site for Steps of Buddha Tour, as Buddha had spent 12 years here and the first Buddhist council after the Buddha attained Nirvana was held here. Visit Ajatshatru’s fort, Venuvana, Swarna Bhandar, the Cyclopean wall. Visit the Peace Pagoda on chair lift.
Lunch at Local Restaurant in Rajgiri. After lunch proceed for Nalanda University.
Nalanda founded in 5th century BC, was one of the world’s great universities. Visit the remains of the brick built Great Stupa and local archeological museum.
After an early breakfast proceed for the sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya.
The two major sacred sites in Bodhgaya are the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree, around which many other temple and monasteries of various Buddhist traditions (Japanese, Tibeten, Bhutanese, Vietnamese, Thai and others) have been built.
Every year, millions of Buddhist pilgrims, mainly from Asian countries, flock to Bodhgaya to be inspired, despite negative karma and earn merit by visiting the holy site where the Buddha became Buddha (“Enlightened one”).
Return back to hotel for Lunch. After early check out and proceed for Varanasi.
Varanasi
Throughout the day and night in the height of pilgrimage season, monks in colourful robes can be seen mediating where the Buddha did, studying Dhama texts, making offerings to the many statues and stupas on the site, and circumambulating (walking around) the sacred Mahabodhi Temple.
City tour of the religious town revered both by the Buddhists and Hindus alike. Visit the Mahabodhi Temple, known for its Bodhi Tree where Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha.
The tree standing today is believed to have grown from the original Pipal tree under which Lord Buddha mediated.
Later take a walk at local market and narrow lane of Banaras city, Glimpse of one of the world’s oldest living cities. You will be able to interact the local people, ask questions and sample local delicacies.
Few tourists ever wind their way through the bazaars in the Northern Gullis of the old city where you will find hidden alleys leading directly through the sacred zone of Banaras to the oldest Ghats of the city. Winding through the street of the Bengalis, visiting hidden shrines and the vistas of life along the riverside to the historic bathing site called Dasashwamedh, the ten-horse sacrifice Ghat.
Later check out and drive to Kushinagar. Stop Enroute at Sarnath.
Sarnath, 10 Kms. from Varanasi is the fabled place, which bears testimony to its great past where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples, expounding the principles of Buddhism. The remains date back to as far as the 3rd Century BC when emperor Ashoka founded various institutions, Stupas, monasteries and pillar edicts.
Visit the art Collection at the Archaeological museum. The main attractions is the superb capital from Ashokan Pillar-the Ashokan symbol of four back to back lions which has been adopted as the state symbol independent India. Also visit the Mahabodhi Buddha temple and walk around the deer park. Later see the monastery ruins area, Dhameka Stupa.
Lunch will be at local restaurant. After lunch continue your drive to Kushinagar. On arrival check into the hotel. Rest of the evening free at leisure and relaxation.
Here at the age of 80 Buddha passed into Mahaparinirvana. Buddha was finally freed from the eternal cycle of re-birth leaving with us all the wisdom and knowledge of Muktabandhanastupa built by Malla dynasty to house Buddha’s relics after the cremation.
On arrival visit Lumbini City.
Lord Buddha was born at Lumbini while his mother was on her way to parental home from Kapilavastu. Buddha was born in Lumbini during the full moon day in the month of Vaisakh in 623 BC. He was born under a Sal tree when Mayadevi was going to her maternal town on the occasion of delivery.
After sightseeing check into the hotel for overnight stay. Dinner & Overnight stay at the hotel while in Steps of Buddha Tour.
On arrival check into the hotel.
After lunch visit Sravasti. In the time of Buddha Sravasti was the capital Kingdom of Kosala. It is thought that Buddha spent 24 monsoon seasons in the Jetvana gardens here.
Then after lunch drive to Lucknow. On arrival check into the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure and Local Sighseeing.
After an early breakfast drive to Lucknow Airport. Arrive airport and connect flight for Delhi and further onward destinations.
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