Overview of Buddhist Tour India

This 6-day Buddhist Tour India covers important destinations linked to the life of Gautama Buddha. The journey includes Patna, Rajgir, Bodh Gaya, and Varanasi. In Rajgir, you will visit sites such as Ajatshatru’s Fort, Venuvana Monastery, Swarna Bhandar Caves, and Vishwa Shanti Stupa, along with the ancient Nalanda University. In Bodh Gaya, explore the sacred Mahabodhi Temple and nearby monasteries. The tour also includes a boat ride on the Ganges River in Varanasi and a visit to Sarnath, where Buddha delivered his first sermon.

Itinerary at a Glance

DAY 1: DELHI TO PATNA BY FLIGHT AND RAJGIR BY SURFACE (105 KM)
DAY 2: RAJGIR TO BODHGAYA BY SURFACE (78 KM)
DAY 3: BODHGAYA
DAY 4: BODHGAYA TO VARANASI BY SURFACE (260 KM)
DAY 5: VARANASI
DAY 6: VARANASI TO DELHI BY FLIGHT AND DELHI DEPARTURE

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: DELHI TO PATNA BY FLIGHT AND RAJGIR BY SURFACE (105 KM)
Upon arrival at Patna airport, you will be met and transferred approx. 2hours (92.8km) to Rajgir. En route, visit Nalanda University, which is one of the first universities in the world which is said to have been visited by Buddha during his teachings.
Upon arrival in Rajgir, check into your hotel and have the remainder of the evening free at your leisure.

DAY 2: RAJGIR TO BODHGAYA BY SURFACE (78 KM)
Enjoy a morning visit to the city of Rajgir, filled with a number of temples, monasteries, and pagodas. you will tour Ajatshatru’s Fort, Venuvana Monastery, Swarna Bhandar Caves, and the Cyclopean Walls. The final stop will be to visit the Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), where you will take a chairlift to the top.
Afterward, depart for Bodhgaya. The drive will take approximately 1.3 hours (78.4km). Upon arrival, check into your hotel.

DAY 3: BODHGAYA
After breakfast, you will visit the sites of Bodhgaya. Start with the Mahabodhi Temple, also known as the ‘Great Awakening Temple’ and is one of the earliest Buddhist temples that still survives today. Parallel to the temple is the Jewel Walk, also known as Chankaramana, a low platform that has impressions of Buddha’s footprints.

Next to the Animeshlochana Temple is the Bodhi Tree, where it is believed that Buddha gained enlightenment after meditating underneath the tree facing east for 49 days.

You will also see Vajrasana, the seat where Buddha sat in meditation, the ancient railings which surround the Mahabodhi Temple, and the nearby shrine Ratnagar, which is a sacred place for Buddhists.

Surrounding the area are a number of monasteries that have been built by the people of Tibet, Japan, China, and Thailand. Each monastery reflects the style of their respective countries.

DAY 4: BODHGAYA TO VARANASI BY SURFACE (260 KM)
After breakfast and check-out, leave for Varanasi arriving later in the afternoon. The drive will take approx. 3.5hours (256km).
As the religious capital of Hinduism, Varanasi is the oldest living city in India as well as one of the seven sacred cities of Hinduism and Jainism. This evening we take a rickshaw ride through the streets of Varanasi to the ghats of the River Ganges to witness the Pooja ceremony of Ganga Aarti (a prayer ceremony).

DAY 5: VARANASI
Early morning wakeup and cruise on the River Ganges to view the ghats at sunrise when they are abuzz with activity. As you cruise along the ghats you will have an ideal vantage point to view these activities.

After returning to the hotel for breakfast, commence on a city tour of Varanasi. Visit Bharat Mata Mandir, the temple is inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, Another is the Durga Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Durga, and the nearby Tulsi Manas Temple which is dedicated to Lord Rama. Later we drive Banaras Hindu University – The largest residential university of Asia, founded by Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Here you will see the new Vishwanath Temple which is located inside the University Campus.

This afternoon, travel to Sarnath, Important where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his disciples expounding the principles of Buddhism.

Please note: Refrain from taking photos of any burning ghats, as this is a funeral ceremony and is inappropriate.

DAY 6: VARANASI TO DELHI BY FLIGHT AND DELHI DEPARTURE
After check-out from your hotel, you will be transferred to Varanasi airport where you will catch flight for Delhi. When you will reach delhi our reprsenative will waiting for your and transfer from Domestic airport to International airport to board flight for onward Journeys.

Included and Excluded