India and Nepal Buddhism Tour

Itinerary Details Expand All [+]

• Day 01 – Delhi Arrival

  As you arrive in Delhi you’ll be greeted by one of our representatives who will escort you to the pre-booked hotel. You’ll complete all the check-in formalities and make your way to your room. You can relax and unwind destressing yourself from the stress of the long journey. The remaining day will be at your disposal so you can spend it as you want. You can either explore your property, rest the entire day, or visit the nearby sites. Have an overnight stay at your hotel thinking about the happenings of the next day.

• Day 02 – Delhi Sightseeing

  Have a yummy breakfast in the morning and then get ready to have a delightful tour of Delhi. You can visit Delhi’s local markets and buy souvenirs for your friends and family members. You can either explore Janpath or Sarojini Nagar where you can find cheap accessories, clothes, handicrafts, shoes, cosmetics and perfumes. While exploring the markets you can also try out the street food that will burst your mouth with unique flavors. If you don’t want to explore the markets you can visit famous attractions like Red Fort, India Gate, Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and Humayun’s Tomb. In the evening you’ll return to your hotel and have an overnight stay.

• Day 03 – Delhi to Patna

  On the third day of the tour, you will wake up early and have a yummy breakfast. Post breakfast you’ll pack your bags and leave for Delhi Airport. From the Delhi Airport, you’ll catch a flight to Patna. Patna was founded as Patliputra in the fifth century BC and is one of the fastest-progressing cities in the country. Patna was visited many times by Lord Buddha and hence it holds great relevance for the Buddhists. It has many monasteries and temples that will satisfy your craving for nirvana and enlightenment. Upon reaching Patna you’ll be transferred to your pre-booked hotel and have an overnight stay.

• Day 04 – Patna to Vaishali

  Post a lip-smacking breakfast you’ll leave for Vaishali. Vaishali holds great relevance for the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist devotees. Lord Mahavir was born here and it is known to be the world’s first republic. Vaishali has been named after King Vishal. It is also the place where Gautam Buddha delivered his last sermon marking the town as a significant Buddhist site. King Ashoka erected one of his pillars at Vaishali to mark this event after the massacre of Kalinga. You’ll visit the Ashoka Pillar that King Ashoka built to memorialize Lord Buddha’s last sermon. At the top of this pillar is the figure of a lion that captures the attention of the devotees. After touring the famous sites you will return to your hotel in the evening and have a delightful overnight stay.

• Day 05 – Patna - Rajgir

  Post breakfast you’ll pack your bags and check out from your hotel as you will drive to Rajgir. Here, we will climb the peak by cable car. Rajgir is a mystical town and a sacred site for the Buddhists. This place has been mentioned in the Buddhist and Jain scriptures. This place was visited many times by Gautam Buddha. You can see here rock-cut caves, Hindu Jain temples, Buddhist ruins, shell inscriptions, forts, and other historical structures. En route, you will stop by to visit Nalanda which is known to be the home of Nalanda University which is hailed to be one of the greatest learning centers of the ancient world. Upon reaching Rajgir you’ll be escorted to your hotel. After relaxing for some time you’ll head out to enjoy the cable car ride. Return to your hotel as the day comes to an end and have an overnight stay.

• Day 06 – Rajgir – Bodhgaya

  Start your day with a delicious breakfast and then check out from your hotel as you will embark on a scenic drive to Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya is the place where King Siddhartha got enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and became the enlightened Buddha. It is a well-known pilgrimage town dotted with medieval, ancient, and modern monasteries. Mahabodhi Temple Complex is the main pilgrimage site of Bodhgaya with shrines, sculpted images, and monuments that were established over two thousand years ago. The Maha Bodhi Temple has also been declared a World Heritage Site. After reaching Bodhgaya you’ll check in to your pre-reserved hotel and have an overnight stay.

• Day 07 – Bodhgaya sightseeing

  Start your day on a delightful note as you enjoy a mouthwatering breakfast at your hotel. Post breakfast you’ll visit the Mahabodhi Temple that has been constructed on the site where Gautam Buddha received enlightenment. As you stroll around the complex of the temple, you’ll see different-sized platforms and stupas surrounding the main temple. The main temple has been constructed out of stone blocks and on the walls you can see carvings of bodhisattvas, Buddha, and interesting stories from Buddhist tradition. After exploring the temple you will get back to your hotel and have an overnight stay.

• Day 08 – Bodhgaya – Varanasi

  Relish a scrumptious breakfast and then check out from your hotel as you will board a train or drive to Varanasi. Varanasi is a holy city dotted with thousands of temples that offer tranquility and bliss to the devotees. It also has many ancient sites and is home to thriving cultures from different parts of India. Some of the well-known temples of the city are Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Durga Temple, Nepali Hindu Temple, Maa Annapurna Temple, Kaal Bhairav Mandir, Tridev Temple, Kardmeshwar Mahadev Temple and Tulsi Manas Temple, etc. Out of the seven sacred cities Varanasi is hailed to be the holiest. You can enjoy here scenic boat rides, try out the local delicacies, and explore the enchanting ghats where pujas and rituals are performed. Upon arrival in Varanasi, you’ll check in to your pre-booked hotel and have a restful sleep.

• Day 09 – Varanasi

  After a tasty breakfast, you’ll proceed for a boat ride. You will enjoy the boat ride on the Ganga River and discover the holy city. During the boat ride, you will pass through many picturesque ghats such as the Dashashwamedh Ghat, Darbhanga Ghat, and Chet Singh Ghat. After the boat ride you’ll be taken to the ghats where the funeral is performed. You’ll also visit some of the famous temples such as the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Bharat Mata Temple, and Durga Temple. You’ll visit the Dhamek Stupa in the afternoon. Dhamek Stupa is an architectural marvel and a religious site situated in Sarnath. This Buddhist monument was built by Emperor Ashoka in the third century BCE. It testifies to the knowledge and skills of ancient Indian engineers and architects. The base of the stupa has been finely crafted with stones, which are fitted together precisely without any mortar. As the day ends you’ll return to your hotel and have an overnight stay.

• Day 10 – Varanasi - Kushinagar

  Have a tasty breakfast and then you can spend the morning as you like as the entire morning is free for leisure. You can explore your property, visit the nearby sites, or buy souvenirs from the local markets. In the afternoon you’ll check out from your hotel as you will be taken to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is one of the most famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites. It is believed to be the site where Buddha got Mahaparinirvana. Buddha died in Kushinagar making it a highly revered site. A stupa was built by Emperor Ashoka here to mark the Parinirvana site. You’ll cover the journey from Varanasi to Kushinagar via train. Once you arrive in Kushinagar you’ll meet our representative who will make all the arrangements to escort you to your pre-reserved hotel. You will check in to your hotel and have a restful sleep.

• Day 11 – Kushinagar

  Savor your morning breakfast and then get ready for sightseeing in Kushinagar. You’ll visit the monasteries and ancient stupas that commemorate the cremation and death of Gautam Buddha. Some of the famous attractions here include Ramabhar Stupa, Nirvana Chaitya, and Matha Kuar Shrine. You’ll visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple which houses the reclining Buddha Statue, a monolithic sculpture that has been carved out of a single sandstone block. The statue is six meters long and represents the final moments of Gautam Buddha. As the day ends you’ll return to your hotel and have a relaxing sleep.

• Day 12 – Kushinagar – Lumbini

  Today, you will head to Nepal by driving across the border. The first destination that you will visit is the Lumbini which is known to be the birthplace of Buddha. Lumbini is a revered Buddhist site dotted with monasteries and temples. In 1997 it acquired the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ashoka Pillar is one of the prime attractions of Lumbini. It is a monolithic column that marks the spot of the visit of Emperor Ashoka to Lumbini. There is also a pond in Lumbini where Queen Maya bathed after giving birth to Prince Siddhartha who later became Gautam Buddha. You’ll explore the splendid sites of Lumbini and have an overnight stay at your Lumbini hotel.

• Day 13 – Lumbini - Kathmandu

  On the thirteenth day of the tour, the morning time will be at your disposal and you can spend it as you like. In the afternoon, you will check out from your hotel and take a flight to Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and the country’s largest city. It is dotted with castles, stupas, and temples and holds great relevance for the Hindus and Buddhists. Once you arrive in Kathmandu, you will meet one of our representatives who will escort you to your pre-reserved hotel where you will have an overnight stay.

• Day 14 – Kathmandu

  Post breakfast you’ll visit the two magnificent and ancient stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath. Boudhanath Stupa was constructed during the fifth century AD and is a popular pilgrimage site. The dome of the stupa contains the remains of a Kashyap sage increasing its significance to both Hindus and Buddhists. Swayambhu stupa is perched in the Kathmandu Valley on the top of a hillock. At the temple complex, you can see stone and wooden carvings, statues, and murals depicting different aspects of Hinduism and Buddhism. The temple also houses a huge amount of resident monkeys. After visiting the stupas you can spend the day as you want. You can explore the city of Kathmandu or visit the local markets where you will find cheap clothing, handicrafts, and souvenirs. In the evening you will return back to your hotel for a relaxing night stay.

• Day 15 – Kathmandu

  On the fifteenth day of the tour, you will visit the Nagarkot village, a quaint village with scenic surroundings and awe-inspiring vistas. The history of Nagarkot dates back to ancient times when it was used as a fortification and was strategically positioned to act as a vantage point for protecting and monitoring the valley against potential invasions. Nagarkot houses several shrines and temples dating back centuries, reflecting the blend of Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Another wonderful option for the tourists is to trek to the Changu Narayan, a fourteenth-century World Heritage temple. Get back to your hotel in the evening and have a soothing sleep in the comfort of your hotel room.

• Day 16 – Kathmandu - Delhi

  Start your day with a luscious breakfast and then spend your morning as you want relaxing in your hotel room or exploring your property. In the afternoon you will check out from your hotel and fly to Delhi. After arriving in Delhi you will meet our representative outside the Delhi airport. Our representative will escort you to your pre-reserved hotel where you will have a delightful overnight stay.

• Day 17 – International Departure

  In the morning you will relish your breakfast and then check out from your hotel as you will be transferred to the airport from where you’ll catch your flight to the next destination. This tour will remain etched in your heart forever and you’ll feel like a new person after this delightful journey.