Category: Religious Tours

Trace the footsteps of Buddha as we take you through all the places across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and MP through this itinerary.

Duration: 9N/10D

Itinerary: Delhi – Lucknow – Shravasti – Lumbini – Kushinagar – Patna – Bodhgaya – Varanasi – Delhi

Lucknow is the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Toward its center is Rumi Darwaza, a Mughal gateway. Nearby, the 18th-century Bara Imambara shrine has a huge arched hall. Upstairs, Bhool Bhulaiya is a maze of narrow tunnels with city views from its upper balconies. Close by, the grand Victorian Husainabad Clock Tower was built as a victory column in 1881.

Shravasti  was a city of ancient India and one of the six largest cities in India during Gautama Buddha’s lifetime. The city was located in the fertile Gangetic plains in the present-day district of the same name, Shravasti, that belongs to Devipatan Division of Uttar Pradesh near Balrampur. It was the capital of ancient Kosala kingdom and is sacred to the Buddhists because it is here that Lord Buddha performed the greatest of his miracles to confound the Tirthika heretics. These miracles include Buddha creating multiple images of himself, which has been a favorite theme of Buddhist art.

Lumbinī is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Province No. 5 in Nepal. It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.

Kushinagar, district of the eastern Uttar Pradesh, is known for its cultural heritage all over the world. It is one of the four holiest places for the Buddhists. At Kushinagar, Great Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism, delivered his last sermon. Outside India, it is an International Buddhist Pilgrimage Centre.

Patna is an ancient city that sprawls along the south bank of the Ganges River in Bihar, northeast India. The state capital, it’s home to Bihar Museum, a contemporary landmark exhibiting bronze sculptures and old coins from the region. Nearby, Indo-Saracenic–style Patna Museum displays a casket believed to contain the Buddha’s ashes. Close to the river, the Golghar is a domed colonial granary overlooking the city.

Bodh Gaya is a village in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. Considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it’s dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond.

Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometres north-east in Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dhamma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.

Tour Plan

Day 1: ARRIVAL DELHI

Upon arrival at Delhi meeting and assistance followed by transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 2: Delhi – Lucknow – Shravasti

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to railway station to connect train for Lucknow.

Upon arrival at Lucknow meeting and assistance followed by transfer to Shravasti.

On arrival at Shravasti check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 3: Shravasti – Lumbini

After breakfast visit Sahet & Mahet. Later drive to Lumbini enroute visit to Kapilvastu, Kingdom of king Suyodhan, father of prince Siddhartha. On arrival at Lumbini check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 4: Lumbini – Kushinagar

Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to visit birth place of Lord Buddha, Ashoka pillar and Maya devi temple.

Later drive to Kushinagar. On arrival at Kushinagar check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 5: Kushinagar – Patna

Breakfast at the hotel and proceed to visit Rambhar stupa and Mahaparinirvana temple. Afternoon drive to Patna via Vaishali. On arrival at Patna check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 6: Patna – Bodhgaya

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Bodhgaya. On arrival at Bodhgaya check-in at hotel. Afternoon sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya. The Mahabodhi Temple built on the east of the sacred tree stands majestically 17 feet high on a base 5 feet square, and consists of a soaring pyramidal tower surmounted by a stupa. The Vajrasana or Diamond Throne lying between the Bodhi Tree and the temple marks the actual Spot where Buddha sat in meditation and attained supreme knowledge. A gilded Buddha smiles upon the visitors from a niche in the wall of the temple, and his footsteps carved in stone hold flower offerings from the devout. Unbelievable peace pervades the atmosphere giving credence to legend, besides the Mahabodhi temple, we would visit several Buddhist temples built by the followers of Buddhism from all over the world. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 7: Bodhgaya – Varanasi

Breakfast at the hotel and drive to Varanasi. On arrival at Varanasi check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 8: Varanasi

Morning boat cruise at the river Ganges to observe the way of life of pilgrims by the Ghats.

Later an excursion to Sarnath. It enjoys the extraordinary privilege of Lord Buddha delivering his first sermon after attaining enlightenment 2500 years ago. It is about 10 km from Varanasi and holds a number of Buddhist sites that include the famous Dhamek Stupa, the seat of the holy ‘Buddha’. You can also visit the ruins of Dharmarajika Stupa and Mulagandha kuti Temple, where Lord Buddha is said to have rested and meditated while in Sarnath.

The Ashoka Pillar built by the emperor Ashoka is a must see in Sarnath. The Lion Capital on top of this pillar is now the National Emblem of India and stands apart for its excellent artistry and carvings.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 9: Varanasi – Delhi

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to airport to connect flight for Delhi.

Upon arrival at Delhi meeting and assistance followed by transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Delhi departure

Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to international airport to connect flight for onward destination.

Tour Ends