Buddhist Circuit tour of Nepal and India

Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu. Meet & transfer to Hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Swyambhunath. O/N Hotel.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to Hotel. After refreshment, start the sightseeing tour of Swyambhunath, one of the world's most glorious and oldest Buddhist Chaityas. It is said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the four sides of the bases are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.

DAY 2

Full day Sightseeing Tour of Namo Buddha and Patan. O/N Hotel.

After breakfast drive to Namo Budhha via Dhulikhel. At Namo Buddha - a holy site for Buddhists, lies a greatly revered Stupa and Monastery set on the same spot where Shakyamuni Buddha is believed to have fed his own flesh to a starving tigress. Continue to Patan Durbar Square, visit the Buddhist Bihars of which Golden Temple known as ‘Hiranyavarna Mahabihar’ is the most important one because it houses important Buddhist deities within the monastery.

DAY 3

Morning Flight to Lumbini. Sightseeing tour of Ramgram & Lumbini Garden. O/N Hotel.

Fly Kathmandu to Bhairahawa. Upon arrival drive to Ramgram. There is a Stupa called Ramgram Stupa which built during the time of Buddha. The remains of stupa and monastery as mounds are beside the bank of Jahari river in Kerwani village.

Drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Emperor Ashoka of erstwhile Magadha Kingdom of India made a pilgrimage here in the 3rd century BC and erected a world famous pillar with inscription stating- ”Here the Shakyamuni Buddha was born”. Several sites of religious significance like the holy tree and the pond near the spot where Buddha was born, and the stupas and shrines representing different countries dot the area around making it an interesting place to immerse yourself into Buddha's life.

DAY 4

Sightseeing Tour of Buddhist sites near Lumbini. O/N Hotel.

We will be visiting more Buddhist sites near Lumbini, which includes:

Tilaurakot / Kapilvastu: The ancient capital of Sakya, Kapilvastu, has now been identified with Tilaurakot, a site in ruins located 25 km west of Lumbini. Excavations have revealed the foundations of a citadel with defense wall, gateways, monasteries and stupas.

Sagarhawa: Sagarhawa lies 3.5 kin. north of Tilaurakot and west of Banganga river. It is a rectangular depression. Excavations done in 1896 traced seventeen stupas and large monuments made from well-burnt bricks. Findings of casket and other rare antiquities indicate them to be votive stupas of the war dead. However, these stupas remain no more as they were excavated to their foundation without restoration.

Gotihawa: Gotihawa lies 5-km southwest of Taulihawa town and is considered the natal town of Krakuchanda Buddha. The place has ruins of ancient habitation, stupas and monasteries. The place was visited by Ashoka as evidenced by a pillar with inscriptions. The pillar is broken with the upper part missing.

Kudan: Kudan is located 2-km southwest of Taulihawa on way to Gotihawa. There are huge structural ruins indicating wreckage of monasteries and stupas with a tank nearby. This is where Lord Buddha gave Buddhist Religion to his son & brother.

Niglihawa: Niglihawa, 7-km northwest of Tilaurakot, was another site visited by Ashoka and marked with a pillar. The pillar is broken into two pieces. The standing base pillar has Ashokan inscription in Brahmi script and the upper pillar has Devanagari* inscription marking Ripu MaiWs visit in 1312 AD. There are ruins of monasteries, stupas and habitation. It is identified as ancient town of Sobhawati, birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha

DAY 5

Travel from Lumbini to Sravasti. O/N Hotel.

Drive from Lumbini to Sravasti. Sravasti is the place where Lord Buddha spent a majority of his monastic life.

DAY 6

After breakfast drive to Kushinagar. Visit Mahaparinirvan Temple, Cremation Stupa etc. O/N Hotel.

Kushinagar is the place where Lord Buddha preached his last sermon and said, "All Things must Pass. Decay is inheritance in all things’". Ramabhare Stupa & Mahaparinirvana Temple are the major attraction of Kushinagar.

DAY 7

After breakfast drive to Rajgir (360 kms / 08 hours) Enroute visit Vaishali. O/N Hotel.

Vaishali holds special significance for Buddhist devotees. Similarly, Rajgir is sacred to the memory of the founder of both Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here.

DAY 8

Drive to Bodhgaya via Nalanda (105 kms / 2 ½ hours). O/N Hotel.

It is believed that Lord Buddha, in one of his previous births as Bodhisatwa, became a king with his capital at this place and that his liberality won for him and his capital the name Nalanda. Continue drive to Bodhgaya, one of the major highlight of the tour.

DAY 9

At Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi Temple, Sujata Kuti, Niranjana River, Big Buddha etc. O/N Hotel.

Bodhgaya, the place where Siddhartha reached the tate of Enlightenment commonly referred to as Buddhahood. Siddhartha attained enlightenment meditating under the Bodhi Tree, which still stands today in its original place.

DAY 10

After breakfast drive to Varanasi (280 kms / 06 hours). After lunch visit Sarnath. O/N Hotel.

Proceed to Varanasi. Varanasi is one of India’s oldest and holiest cities, where age-old temples overlook the broad waters of the Ganges. Afternoon visit Sarnath hold a high significance, as this is where the Buddha turned the Wheel of Law and here Buddha delivered his first sermon, after attaining Nirvana.

DAY 11

Fly to Kathmandu. Upon arrival transfer to Hotel. O/N Hotel.

Those interested can take early morning boat ride in the Ganges River for sunrise and to watch other religious activities. Transfer to airport to get on the flight to Kathmandu

DAY 12

Morning sightseeing tour of Bouddhanath & transfer to airport for departure

Morning sightseeing tour of Bouddhanath, which is declared to stand as the largest Buddhist shrine of South Asia. The ancient colossal chorten was built in the 6th century by King Man Dev. It rests on a series of three terraces and from the bird's eye view it takes the relevant shape or of a lotus flower which indeed remains a very holy object for all the devout Buddhists of the world. The chorten is surrounded by a circular market, which forms a part of Tibet town. In this case, also the four pairs of the Buddha's eyes give a vivid flash to the four cardinal directions, meaning to keep a diligent watch over the people and their commitments all day all night. The chorten embraces the authentic philosophy of Mahayana the faith of which is known as Lamaism in Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan and Tibet.

After Boudhanath tour transfer to airport for departure.