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Pathway to Enlightenment
13 nights - 14 days
Delhi - Agra - Varanasi - Bodh Gaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Sravasti - Delhi
Siddhartha Gautama, the prince of a small kingdom in present day Nepal, found enlightenment in India and came to be known as Gautam Buddha. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries and stupas over the relics have become an inseparable part of Indian art, culture and architecture. Nalanda was once a world center for Buddhism and its philosophy. Early 20th century saw re-emergence of Buddhism and today some of the famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India attract large number of devotees and visitors every year. Most of them are situated around the River Ganges. The significant sites to be visited as great Buddhist centres are Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Sravasti, Kushinagar, Nalanda and Rajgir.
| | | Day 01 | To Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Meeting, assistance on arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight.
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| Day 02 | Delhi
Morning set out on a guided tour of Old Delhi. Visit Jama Masjid, built in the Mughal era, it is one of the largest and best known mosques in India. Enjoy rickshaw ride through the lanes of Chandni Chowk Bazaar. Also visit Raj Ghat- the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. Afternoon sightseeing of New Delhi. Visit Humayun's Tomb. Drive past Safdarjang Tomb and visit Qutab Minar, 72 meters high, tallest brick minaret in the world. Get close to the divinity at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. Drive past the Embassy area and visit Rashtrapati Bhawan (President's Palace), India Gate and the Parliament building. Overnight.
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| Day 03 | To Agra
Morning board Shatabadi Express on an air-conditioned Executive Chair car for Agra. Transfer to your hotel and later proceed for sightseeing tour of Agra City. Capture the architectural heritage of India through various monuments in Agra. Visit Agra Fort, the walled palatial city where lived the great Mughals. Also visit Itmad-ud-Daula tomb, built by Nur Jehan, the Queen of Jehangir. Evening at leisure. Overnight.
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| Day 04 | Agra
Sunrise visit to Taj Mahal, 'the jewel of Muslim Art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage'. Early afternoon visit to Fatehpur Sikri, the political capital of Mughal Empire during Akbar's reign. Evening proceed towards Tundla railway station to board Lichchavi Express for an overnight journey to the holy city of Varanasi, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Overnight on board train.
NB: Taj Mahal remains closed on Fridays. So, please plan your days and itinerary accordingly.
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| Day 05 | To Varanasi
Early morning arrival at Varanasi. Transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Immerse in the mesmerizing evening Aarti ceremony by the River Ganges. Overnight.
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| Day 06 | Varanasi
Enjoy early morning boat ride down the River Ganges. Return to hotel for breakfast. Set on a guided tour of the Varanasi city visiting the Bharat Mata Temple that has a huge relief map of the Indian sub-continent showing all its rivers, mountains and pilgrimages. Visit Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir and other temples. In the afternoon visit the Buddhist centre, Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first Sermon. Overnight.
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| Day 07 | To Gaya
Morning drive to Gaya. On reaching Gaya, check-in at hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
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| Day 08 | Bodh Gaya
Full day sightseeing of the holy city of Bodh Gaya where Buddha attained enlightenment. Visit the Mahabodhi Temple and other Buddhist temples built by various countries. Overnight.
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| Day 09 | To Patna
Morning drive to Patna. Enroute visit Rajgir and ruins of ancient University of Nalanda. On arriving Patna, check-in at hotel for overnight stay.
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| Day 10 | To Kushinagar
After early breakfast drive to Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha preached his last Sermon. Enroute visit Vaishali. On reaching Kushinagar check-in at hotel. Evening visit Buddhist temples and Stupas. Overnight.
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| Day 11 | To Lumbini
After breakfast leave for Lumbini in Nepal. On arrival check-in at hotel. In the afternoon set on a guided tour of Lumbini, the birth place of Gautam Buddha. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, Lumbini offers some majestic view of the lofty mountains, lush green gardens full of pretty flowers and green and shady Sal trees (Shorea). Overnight.
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| Day 12 | To Sravasti
After breakfast drive for Sravasti. Whole day sightseeing of the ancient city of Sravasti, where Lord Buddha preached most of his Sermons. Evening drive to Gonda railway station for an overnight train to Delhi. Overnight on board train.
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| Day 13 | Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Transfer to hotel for rest and stay until late evening.
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| Day 14 | Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward journey.
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| Delhi - Agra | 204 km | 5.0 hrs |
| Varanasi - Bodh Gaya | 243 km | 6.0 hrs |
| Bodg Gaya - Patna | 193 km | 5.0 hrs |
| Patna - Kushinagar | 350 km | 9.0 hrs |
| Kushinagar - Lumbini | 170 km | 5.0 hrs |
| Lumbini - Sravasti | 240 km | 7.0 hrs |
| * Approx driving time in private driven AC car. Tempo traveller and Mini coach will take a bit longer. |
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