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Day 01: Delhi (Arrival)
Around midnight arrival in
Delhi. The cosmopolitan city and capital New Delhi is the main
gateway for the travellers to India. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel.
Day 02: Delhi
In the morning we have sightseeing in Old Delhi. We take a Rickshaw Ride parallel to the
Red Fort through the old city and famous Silk Road and Silver
Bazaar. Sightseeing of Old Delhi includes "Rajghat", the site where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and
Jama Masjid, the great
mosque of old Delhi. Today we also visit the famous "Humayun Tomb" which is the first
substantial example of Mughal architecture in India and "Qutub Minar". "Qutub Minar" is 71
meter high and consists of five stories. In 1199 work began on this tower which was
intended to be the most glorious tower of victory in the world. This tower
was damaged twice and repaired in 1326 and 1368. Before we proceed to the hotel we drive through the
embassy area in New Delhi where we visit the
India Gate and see some impressive
Government Buildings.
Day 03: Delhi - Agra (about 200 km)
Today we drive to
Agra.
In the evening arrive in Agra. Rest of
the day at leisure.
Day 04: Agra
We start today our sightseeing by a visit to the
Agra Fort, built by three of the greatest Mughal emperors. The construction of this massive structure began in
1565 under Akbar's reign and continued till the time of his grandson's reign, Shah Jahan who built the impressive
imperial quarters and mosque. After the visit of Agra Fort we proceed to visit the most
beautiful monument of India, the
Taj
Mahal,
an enduring monument to love, with a
continually fulfilling beauty. It was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between
1631-52, as a tomb and memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace),
who died at the age of 39 giving birth to her 14th child.
Day 05: Agra - Lucknow (about 363 km)
Today we drive to Lucknow. In the evening arrive in Lucknow. Rest of the day at leisure in Lucknow.
Day 06: Lucknow - Sravasti (about 170 km)
Today we will drive to Sravasti. Sravasti (ancient Savatthi) was the capital of Kosala
Mahajanapada and was the biggest town in the Gangetic plains during the Buddha's lifetime.
Sravasti was host to the Master for 25 years during the annual vassavasa (rain retreat)
when the Sangha congregated at one place. In the evening we visit the famous monastery
where Lord Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons preaching. Overnight stay in Sravasti.
Day 07: Sravasti - Lumbini
Today we will drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Lumbini was located in 1890
after being untraced for about 1500 years. In the evening we have a sightseeing in Lumbini and visit the birth place of Lord Buddha. Overnight stay in Lumbini.
Day 08: Lumbini - Kushinagar
Today we drive to Kushinagar. Kushinagar is the place that the Buddha chose for his
Mahaparinirvana, or final exit from this earth. Kushinagar or Kushinara
as it was then known was the capital of the Malla republic, one of the republican states of northern India during
the 6th and 5th centuries BC. There are several new monasteries and temples. In the
evening we visit the Rambhar Stupa that marks Buddha's cremation ground. Mahakashyapa lit
the funeral pyre at Mukutabandha Vihara (Rambhar Stupa) in Kushinagar. Today not much
remains of this stupa expect a large brick mound rising to a height of almost 15
metres set within a well-kept park. We also visit the large Burmese Chandramani Bhikshu Bharamasala.
This is the oldest monastery in Kushinagar.
Day 09: Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna (about 253 km)
Today we drive to Patna. Enroute we visit Vaishali. Patna, the ancient Indian town of
Pataliputra was thriving township during the Buddha's lifetime. Patna,
the state capital of Bihar is situated on the banks of the Ganga. It is the major entry point for pilgrims who wish
to travel on the footsteps of the Buddha. In the evening we will drive to Kumrahar to see the
ruins of Pataliputra, which is about 6 km from Gandhi Maidan. The remains of a massive
assembly hall with bases of 80 pillars have been excavated at the site, of which only one pillar remains intact.
Day 10: Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir (about 100 km)
Today after having breakfast we visit Patna Museum, Golghar. The British established the
Patna Museum in the year 1917. This museum has more than 50,000 rare and valuable
antiquities and art objects. The most prized possession here is the Holy Relic Casket
containing the sacred ashes of the Buddha, unearthed in Vaishali. Golghar is a mammoth
concrete granary built by the British, subsequent to the great famine of 1770. Two spiral
staircases from either side lead to the top, which affords a panoramic view of the Ganga and the town. After having a sightseeing we drive to Rajgir and enrote we visit Nalanda,
the ancient Buddhist university. After visiting Nalanda we drive further to Rajgir. During the
lifetime of the Buddha, Rajgir (Rajgriha) was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous king Bimbisara. This town attracts various pilgrims and tourists.
Day 11: Rajgir - Bodhgaya (about 70 km)
Today we will visit the Vishwa Shanti Stupa. It is a marble structure with niches bearing
golden images of the Buddha, built by the Nipponza Myohoji sect of Japan. Then we will drive further to Griddhakuta. The strange rock protrusion resembling a vulture's beak probably gave
the hill its name. In the rock cut caves here the Buddha spent many rainy seasons,
meditating and preaching. After visiting the Rajgir we drive to Bodhgaya. Bodhgaya (once
Uruvela village) is the place where 2500 years ago in the 6th century BC, a young ascetic,
Siddhartha attained enlightenment to become the Buddha and found Buddhism, one of the
world's oldest religions. Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of the Buddhists. Today we visit the
Mahabodhi temple built to mark the spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment. The
famous Mahabodhi temple, which stands in the centre of the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, has
been restored and rebuilt over the centuries. The Mahabodhi Temple Complex houses all the
major pilgrimage spots. A large circular stone with the Buddha's footprints is kept in a small
shrine on the left. We also visit the Bodhgaya museum that is located near the Mahabodhi
temple. It houses antiquities excavated in and around Bodh Gaya. It has a large collection of
Buddhist and Hindu relics, terracotta seals, scriptures and pillars from the Sunga period.
Day 12: Bodhgaya - Varanasi (about 242 km)
In the morning we drive further to
Varanasi. Varanasi is without doubt India's most sacred
city and thus visited by over one million people. Varanasi is also called the city of light and
also known as Kashi or Benaras. Buddha visited this city in 500 BC. Varanasi is regarded as
one of the oldest and the holiest city. According to the Indian chronicles, Varanasi was
established as a city around twelve hundred years ago before the Christian era.
Day 13: Varanasi - Delhi (flight)
In the early morning we take boat ride on the holy River Ganges and enjoy sunrise on the
boat.
Ghats (flight of steps) and the activities of pilgrims on that
are the principal attraction for visitors to Varanasi. Thousands of pilgrims and devotees visit this city to make holy
prayers, to meditate and to purify themselves through taking a bath in the holy river Ganges.
Later we visit the city of Varanasi and drive further to
Sarnath
(about 10 km). Sarnath is the
place where Buddha delivered his first sermon at deer park. In the evening we drive to the
airport to catch the flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, you will be met by an
Indo Vacations representative and transferred to the hotel. Rooms are available to get fresh and change
before we depart to the airport with Indo Vacations representative.
Day 14: Flight to home
Around midnight flight
to home destination.
Tour Reservation
To get more
information or to book this tour please submit the
Query Form
or send us an
e-mail !
Your
booking will be activated only after we get a reconfirmation from
your side.
Our
Services Include:
Accommodation in double rooms on twin sharing basis with bath and WC
in the
chosen category.
Rooms
on the departure day.
American/continental Breakfast.
Services of qualified local guides (English speaking
or languages of your choice)
at every place of
sightseeing.
All
Transfers and departures on arrival and departure by Indo
Vacations
representative.
All Transfers and Sightseeing throughout the tour by an
air-conditioned Car with
driver. For groups an individual air-conditioned bus (Except
Standard Hotels) will be
provided.
Exclusions:
Any Kind of Personal Expenses such as Tips, Laundry, Telephone Bills
and Alcoholic
beverages.
Camera Fees (Still
or Movie).
Any Flight Charges.
Monument Entrances.
Unspecified Meals etc.
We always look
forward for any changes in the itinerary as wished by you for
your individual trip.
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If
you are willing to travel in a group - the
Group Departure
dates are available
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Check
our
Festival calendar
to know about the dates
of various festivals of North India
during your
travel ! |
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Visit
North India Tours
for more Tours & information on North India ! |
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If you are interested in above tour
please
e-mail us
with the number of participants
and the wished dates to
enable us to workout the
tour cost !
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Please have a look at our
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testimonials of tourists & guests
who have
traveled with us.
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