| |
DAY
01: DELHI
Breakfast at hotel.Morning leave for Delhi on arrival
lunch at restaurant Afternoon visit Qutab Minar India
Gate , Rajghat and Shanti Vana the cremation sites of
Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, Drive past Red
Fort, Parliament House and President House. Dinner and
overnight at hotel. Delhi is just not a city but it
is a book-- a book which narrates the history of India.
The city was built and destroyed seven times and has
been witness to the various events which has brought
India through the history books. Seven times this city
went through the pain of being built and rebuilt. Today
as the capital of India Delhi is the seat of administration
and the monuments which tell the saga of a bygone era
stand there. These icons are testimony to the grandeur
of past and also an attraction for the tourists. With
an area of 1483 sq. Kms, Delhi is all set to acquire
full statehood. The charm of Delhi has attracted Emperors,
Conquerors and poor in equally. It is correctly said
that Delhi is a land of 'Dilwalas' or for people with
heart. This phrase acquires a true colour when one goes
around the lanes of Delhi.
DAY 02 : Delhi/Sravasti
Breakfast at hotel. Morning transfer to airport to connect
flight for Lucknow. On arrival leave for Sravasti. Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
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. This holy
place also has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, an offspring
of the one, said to have been planted by Buddha's main
disciple
DAY
03 : Sravasti/ Lumbini
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for Lumbini, on arrival
transfer to hotel .Lunch at hotel, Afternoon half day
city tour visiting birth place of Lord Buddha. Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in
1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years. Lumbini grove,
the sacred site of Lord Buddha's birth is today a small
village in Nepal, 27 km from Sonauli on the Indo-Nepal
Border. Three hundred years after the Mahaparinirvana,
Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and erected a pillar
there. This pillar, though broken, still remains at
the site. It is known as the Rummendei Pillar after
the earlier name of the place (modern name Rupandhei)
in Nepal.
DAY
04 : Lumbini/ Kushinagar
Breakfast at hotel. Morning
leave for Kushinagar, on arrival transfer to hotel,
lunch at hotel. Afternoon visit Nirvana Temple and
Ramabhar Stupa. Dinner and overnight at hotel. Kushinagar
was an important centre under Mauryan King Ashoka,
a great Buddhist follower. Most of the religious structures
here were constructed between 3rd century BC and 5th
century AD. For a long time Kushinagar remained lost
in the jungles and was unknown to the world till 19th
century when the British rediscovered it in 1880.
Extensive excavations have indicated the presence
of large number monks here as late as 11th century
AD. A majority of tourists come to Kushinagar during
Buddha Purnima to celebrate the birthday of Lord Buddha.
The place has a tropical climate with extreme temperatures
during summers and winters. Winter days are pleasant
with dry weather and clear sky.
DAY 05 : Kushinagar/
Rajgir
Breakfast at hotel.Morning leave for Rajgir enroute
visit Vaishali carrying box lunch. On arrival transfer
to hotel Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Rajgir: 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. The first Buddhist structures at Rajgir
were raised when Ajatsatni built a monastery, and
a stupa over his share of the Buddha's ashes. That
reliquary is now a mound used as a graveyard. The
Japanese much later have built the World Peace Stupa,
with its gilded images of the Buddha. Rajgir also
has the Nipponzan Myohoji, the Japanese temple, and
the Centaur Hokke Club which offers some traditional
facilities to Japanese pilgrims.
| |
|
|
 |
Day 06
: Rajgir/ Nalanda
/Bodhgaya
Breakfast at hotel.Morning visit Nalanda University
and Gridhkut mountain. Lunch at hotel, afternoon leave
for Bodhgaya. On arrival transfer to hotel, dinner
and overnight at hotel.
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. The Archaeological Survey of
India maintains the Nalanda Museum across the road
which houses some exquisite bronzes of the 9th and
10th centuries, Pala dynasty, and other remains excavated
at the site. The beautiful Thai Temple and the Nava
Nalanda Mahavihara, a centre for research in Pali
and Buddhist studies, are 2 kms from the main site.
Day 07 : Bodghgaya
Breakfast at hotel. Visit temple and Niranjana river.
Meals and overnight at hotel.
As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya
is the spiritual home of Buhddhists. It attracts tens
of thousands of believers from all over the world.
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. Bodhgaya is 12 km from Gaya, 140 km
from Patna, 66 km from Rajgir and 482 km from Calcutta.
Day 08 : Sarnath/Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel.Morning leave for Varanasi, en-rout
visit Sarnath. On arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner
and overnight at hotel. Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi,
where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the
Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as
well as a modem temple. The Dharmarajika, Chaukhandi
and Dharnek stupas are outstanding. There are also
the remains of a monastery, and the beautifully polished
Lion Capital of Ashoka. Sarnath contains a rich library
and at the Mula gandha Kutir Vihara there are excellent
frescoes by Kosetsu Nosu. The Sarnath Museum, not
far from the site, contains some of the finest specimens
of Buddhist sculpture. At all centers of Buddhist
worship, the Vaisakha (April-May) full moon is observed
as the anniversary of three important events - the
Buddha's birth, Enlightenment and death, while the
Asadh (July - August) full moon is observed as the
anniversary of his first sermon.
Day 09 : Varanasi
Early morning boat cruise on river Ganges. Thousands
of pilgrims throng the water's edge, bathing, worshipping,
meditating. On stone platforms under palm leaf umbrellas,
the Pandas-Brahmin priests preside over rites and
rituals. The boat trip will cover various ghats including
the cremation sites. Because every pious Hindu believes
that to die in Kashi (Varanasi)and to be cremated
on the banks of the Ganges is to attain release from
the cycle of birth and death. Afternoon visit Sarnath
Sarnath, 7 km from the city where Buddha preached
his first sermon more than 2500 years ago. The land
of Varanasi (Kashi) has been the ultimate pilgrimage
spot for Hindus for ages. Often referred to as Benares,
Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world. These
few lines by Mark Twain say it all: "Benaras
is older than history, older than tradition, older
even than legend and looks twice as old as all of
them put together". Hindus believe that one who
is graced to die on the land of Varanasi would attain
salvation and freedom from the cycle of birth and
re-birth. Abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati, the origins
of Varanasi are yet unknown. Ganges in Varanasi is
believed to have the power to wash away the sins of
mortals.
Day 10 : Delhi
After break fast you will be transfer to your hotel.
|
|
