Buddha Enlightenment Tour With Taj

Arrival: Welcome on arrival at Delhi Airport, where a Magadh tours executive will meet and greet at the airport with a traditional welcome.

Transfer: After meet-and-assist services, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Delhi.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart for Agra, The city of Taj Mahal.

Arrive: Check-in at Hotel in Agra.

Proceed to Visit:

Taj Mahal (Closed on every Friday): The world-renowned symbol of love, built by Emperor Shah Jahan.

Agra Fort: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and a former imperial residence of the Mughal dynasty.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Agra.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart to Lucknow. 

Enroute Visit Sankasia: The Sacred site, where Lord Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven.

Ashokan Pillar: Built by Emperor Ashoka to mark the sacred spot. The elephant capital of the pillar still remains.

Ruins of ancient stupas and monasteries surrounding the area.

Arrive: Check-in at Lucknow Hotel and take rest.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Lucknow.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Sravasti: One of the six largest cities in ancient India and a prominent Buddhist site.

Proceed to visit Buddhist Sites:

The ruins of Jetavana Monastery: where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons.

Ananda Bodhi Tree: Planted as a symbolic substitute for the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment.

Saheth-Maheth ruins of stupas and monasteries: is a major Buddhist archaeological and pilgrimage site, featuring the ruins of ancient stupas, monasteries, and temples associated with Lord Buddha.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Sravasti.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart to Lumbini: Located in Nepal, it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha.(Kindly obtain double entry visa for India & single entry visa for Nepal).

Enroute visit Kapilvastu- Ancient capital of the Shakya kingdom where Buddha spent his early years as Prince Siddhartha.

Complete immigration formalities at the India-Nepal border.

Arrive Lumbini, proceed to visit:

The Holy Birthplace of Lord Buddha: is a sacred place located in Rupandehi District of southern Nepal, and it is world-famous as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.

Maya Devi Temple: Marks the exact birthplace of Buddha.

Ashokan Pillar: The tall stone columns erected by Emperor Ashoka (3rd century BCE) after his conversion to Buddhism.

Sacred Pond: also known as Pushkarini, lies just beside the Maya Devi Temple, the exact site where Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) was born around 563 BCE.

Various international monasteries in the monastic zone.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Lumbini.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer: Depart to Kushinagar: The place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana (final liberation).

Arrive: On arrival, transfer to hotel.

Afternoon proceed to visit:

Mahaparinirvana Temple: Marks the sacred place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, or final nirvana, after his death.

Ramabhar Stupa: It is considered one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, symbolizing the Buddha’s final release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).

Indo-Japan Temple: A prominent Buddhist temple built through the collaboration between India and Japan.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Kushinagar.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive to Varanasi: One of the oldest living cities in the world and a major spiritual hub.

Arrive and check-in at the hotel and take rest.

Afternoon excursion to Sarnath Visit:

Dhamekha Stupa: A massive and sacred monument marking the spot where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. 

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar: The Vihara enshrined with the sacred relics of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Ashokan Pillar: Marked the site of Buddha’s first sermon. It is famed for its Lion Capital, now the national emblem of India.

Deer Park: A sacred site where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment, marking the beginning of the Buddhist Sangha.

Sarnath Museum (closed on Friday): It is dedicated to preserving and displaying artifacts related to Buddhism, especially those connected to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha.

Enjoy Aarti on holy river the Ganges. 

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Varanasi.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit: 

Dungeshwari cave – The place, where lord Buddha spent severe six years before getting enlightenment under Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya. 

Mahabodhi Temple: is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

Sujata village: Associated with a Woman Sujata, who offered milk-rice (sweet rice pudding) to Lord Buddha before getting enlightenment.

Niranjana River: Bodhgaya is situated on the bank of river Niranajana – it is considered to be Holy symbol of Buddhism connected with the life of Lord Buddha.

Various international monasteries: The monasteries of different countries E.G. Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, etc. including 80 ft. Buddha statue.

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Bodhgaya.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Excursion to Rajgir Visit:

Griddhakuta Hill: Known as Vulture’s Peak because its shape resembles a vulture’s beak. Buddha spent a lot of time meditating and teaching here.

Venuvana Monastery: the first monastery gifted to Gautama Buddha by King Bimbisara of Magadha.

Proceed to Nalanda (30 minutes), home to the ancient Nalanda University, a great center of learning in ancient India.

Nalanda University ruins: One of the world’s oldest universities and a center of learning for Mahayana Buddhism.

Nalanda Archaeological Museum: the ancient International Monastic University established in 5th century BC, which taught Vedas, Logic, Grammar, Medicine, Meta-Physics, Prose Composition and Rhetoric.

Evening: Drive back to Bodhgaya. 

Overnight: Stay overnight at hotel in Bodhgaya.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Day free for leisure or shopping.

Check-out from hotel.

Transfer: Timely transfer to airport to catch the flight for onward destination.