India's Buddhist Heritage. A Cultural Tour of Buddhist Shrines in India.
13 Nights / 14 Days
Is the call of ‘Incredible India’ beckoning you? Do you want to be one with the spirit that is India? Then come with us to this mystical and glorious land and visit the sacred places of the Buddhists’: Sravasti, Lumbini, Kushinagar, Varanasi and Bodhgaya, from where Lord Buddha's message has spread to people all over the world.
The doctrine or philosophy declared by Buddha, the Buddhism - it is not a religion or a system of faith or worship. The Buddhism starts from the point of reasoning or understanding.
It does not advocate any prescribed system of ritual and worship or supplication of deities or gods. It is distinguished and different from other systems and religions.
‘It was at Isipatana in the deer park at Benares (Sarnath) that the fully enlightened one has established the supreme kingdom of truth. At the deer park, Isipatana, he addressed the five monks and set in motion the wheel of truth. This was the beginning of Buddhism in India’.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Mumbai (Bombay)
Namaste! Welcome to Mumbai – You are greeted the traditional Indian way and transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Hotel Taj President, Mumbai. (2 nights) (Dinner)
Day 2: Mumbai
After our good rest and breakfast at hotel, we’ll have a full day sightseeing tour of Mumbai (Bombay). This is one of the largest cities in the world and is home to the largest film industry. Bombay is a city full of life and history, and as the saying goes, "Bombay never sleeps".
We start our journey with the Gateway of India landmark archway, which includes the world's largest open-air “laundry”, also visit the Jain Temple, Marine Drive, the Hanging Gardens and the Prince of Wales Museum. Later in the afternoon have free time to immerse in the local bazaars. Bombay offers a lot of attractions in the field of art and theatre and this evening is a good time to experience them. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 3: Mumbai / Aurangabad (flight) & Ellora Caves (drive)
This morning we’re transferred to the airport and board the flight to Aurangabad. Once we’ve arrived, we check-in to our hotel. In the afternoon, have a visit to the Ellora Caves. About 18 miles away from the city of Aurangabad - a group of rock temples - possess a magnificent series of Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jain temples of the 9th Century A.D. Kailash Temple, hewn out of a single rock, carved with life size figures of gods and goddesses, is a wonder. There are 34 caves, of which 12 are Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain. The caves all face west so are best seen in the afternoon.
The Buddhist caves are to our far right as we face the curve of the Charanadari Hill, then come the Hindu ones, and finally, the Jain cave temples to the far left. Their historical value lies in the fact that human hands fashioned a three- storied building from solid rock with such painstaking skill that even the floors and the ceiling are smooth and leveled.
Tin Tala cave for instance, is a commodious monastery – cum - chapel, with cells enough to house 40 monks. It dates to the Rashtrakuta’ s period in the middle of the 8th century and, in fact, the third floor, which contains the most sculpted decoration, was being excavated even as the Hindus were carving the magnificent Kailash Temple further along the rock face. Overnight: Hotel Taj Residency, Aurangabad. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 4: Aurangabad / Ajanta Caves / Aurangabad / Mumbai (drive & fly)
In the morning, proceed for the sightseeing tour of Ajanta Caves. Northeast of Aurangabad, are the remarkable rock-cut monuments of Ajanta, containing important example of Buddhist Architecture and sculpture. These are undoubtedly the finest and most complete examples of early Buddhist paintings of India.
The cave temples are cut into the rocky sites of dramatic crescent shaped gorge at the head of which is a waterfall that feeds the natural pool, the Saptakunda. The earlier monuments date back to the second and first centuries BC, during the Satavahana period. There are chaityas halls, shrines and several viharas (monasteries).
The Ajanta Carvings of the Mahayana Phase rival those of the Gupta period monuments, to which they are stylistically related, demonstrating the artistic links between Deccan and central India in the fifth century. The series of paintings at Ajanta that cloaks the walls and ceilings is unparalleled in the history of Indian Art.
The viewpoint from where John Smith first glimpsed the caves provides a magnificent sight of the U-Shaped gorge and its scenic surroundings. Later in the evening we are transferred to the airport in Aurangabad in time for our flight to Mumbai. On arrival in Mumbai we are transferred to our airport Hotel. Overnight: Airport Hotel, Bombay. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5: Bombay / Bhopal (flight) & Bhopal / Sanchi / Bhopal (drive) & Bhopal / Agra (train)
Today is a very concentrated day and starts early in the morning, when we are transferred back to the airport in Mumbai for our flight to Bhopal. On arrival in the morning, we depart for Sanchi to visit the Sanchi Stupas and especially Temple No. 17. Crowning the hilltop of Sanchi nearly 91 meters in height, a group of Buddhist monuments commands a grand view even from a distance.
It is unique not only in its having the most perfect and well-preserved stupas but also in offering a wide and educative field for the study of the genesis, efflorescence and decay of Buddhist art and architecture, covering almost the whole range of Indian Buddhism.
The foundation of the great religious establishment at Sanchi was destined to have a glorious career as an important center of Buddhism for many centuries to come and was probably laid by the great Maurya emperor Ashoka (circa 273-236 B.C.).
Later in the afternoon we are transferred to the railway station, in time to connect with our train to Agra. Overnight: Hotel Taj View, Agra. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 6: Agra / Varanasi (Train: Marudhar Express, dep. 21.15; arr. next morning at 09.30 am)
Our morning tour of Agra starts with a visit to the World-famous Taj Mahal. Built by Shah Jehan as a mausoleum for his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj is built of white marble, beautifully carved and inlaid with semi-precious stones. Later we visit Agra Fort, where his son imprisoned Shah Jehan in the later years of his life to prevent him from spending the family fortunes on a black echo of the Taj Mahal.
Later in the evening & after dinner, we are transferred to the railway station in time to board the train to Varanasi. Overnight: Onboard Train. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7: Varanasi
On arrival in Varanasi we are transferred to our Hotel. Afternoon we tour Varanasi city & Sarnath. Sarnath, 10 km from the holy city of Varanasi, is an important site of the Buddhist Circuit. Buddha came to Sarnath soon after he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. He delivered his first sermon or Maha Dharma Chakra Pravartan (To Set in Motion the Wheel of Law) at the Deer Park in Sarnath.
Emperor Ashoka visited Sarnath 234 BC and erected a stupa here. Several Buddhist structures were raised at Sarnath between the 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD, like Dhamek Stupa, which is the most impressive stupa at Sarnath, and Chaukhandi Stupa, an impressive earthen mound covered by brickwork. Overnight: Hotel, Taj Ganges, Varanasi. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 8: Varanasi / Sarnath / Bodh Gaya (drive)
Early in the morning we enjoy a boat ride on the river Ganges and later, after breakfast at our hotel, we drive to Bodh Gaya. On arrival in Bodh Gaya, we will check-in to your hotel and after we’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Bodh Gaya is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in the World, a vital Buddhist center.
Devout Buddhists and visitors from all over the world visit Bodhgaya, to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or to simply absorb the aura of solemn grandeur that surrounds the place. The city is a quiet and peaceful place. The focal point of Bodhgaya is the Mahabodhi Temple. A 50-meter high pyramidal spire crowns the Mahabodhi temple, inside which, is a large gilded image of the Buddha.
The temple is believed to be standing on the site of a shrine, erected by Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. A Bodhi tree growing here is believed to be the direct descendant of the original tree, under which the Buddha sat, meditated and attained enlightenment. Most countries with a large Buddhist population have a temple or a monastery here, usually built in a representative architectural style.
The archaeological museum houses a small collection of Buddha figurines, and pillars that were discovered in the area. Across the river are the Dungeshwari and Suraya temples. Later in the evening we visit the Mahabodhi and other temples as well. Overnight: Hotel Lotus Nikko, Bodh Gaya. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 9: Bodh Gaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna (drive)
This morning we drive to Patna, en-route visiting Nalanda and Rajgir, important Buddhist sites as well. Rajgir or Rajagriha (as it was known in the past literally meaning 'The Abode of Kings) is surrounded by 5 hills and crisscrossed by the meandering river Banganga. During the lifetime of the Buddha, this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan Kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara.
The hills and caves surrounding Rajagriha were home to spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka School to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers. Nalanda, our following stop & visit, was the most renowned University in ancient India. It derived its name from Na-alam-da, which means 'Insatiable in Giving', one of the many names of the Lord Buddha. Later we proceed to Patna. Overnight: Hotel Maurya Patna. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 10: Patna / Vaishali / Kushinagar (drive)
In the morning we depart for Kushinagar, en-route visiting Vaishali. Vaishali is in the state of Bihar, and Lord Buddha often visited this place and preached his last sermon at Kolhua, a nearby location.
Emperor Ashoka erected one of his famous lion pillars here in the 3rd century BC, to commemorate the event. On arrival at Kushinagar, we will check-in at our hotel. Overnight: Hotel Lotus Nikko, Kushinagar. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 11: Kushinagar / Lumbini (Nepal) (drive)
In the morning we’ll have a sightseeing tour of Kushinagar. Kushinagar is in Uttar Pradesh State and it is significant because it is the place where Buddha attained the state of Mahaparinirvana or Permanent Bliss at the age of 80. The pilgrims as well as the tourists from all over the world visit Kushinagar for its historical significance.
Our visit here includes the Matha Kuar Shrine, a huge statue of Lord Buddha carved out of one single block of stone, as well Mahaparinirvana Temple, which lies behind the Nirvana Stupa on the same plinth level behind it. Later we proceed to Lumbini. Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and is 306 km from Kathmandu - Nepal. Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in Lumbini. It is believed that Buddha himself have identified four places of future pilgrimage in the Parinibbana Sutta, namely, the sites of his birth, enlightenment, first discourse and death.
All of these events occurred in open, under the trees. Lumbini is listed as a World Heritage Site. Here we start our visit with The Sacred Garden, where Buddha was born. An Ashoka pillar carries the inscription, identifying the spot as the birthplace of Buddha. Maya Devi, mother of Buddha, was on her way to her parent's home in Devadaha.
While taking rest in Lumbini under a Sal tree and admiring the beauty of the region, she felt labor pains. She gave birth to the child while holding a drooping branch of a Sal tree. Then visit the Ashokan Pillar itself, the first epigraphic evidence related to the life of Lord Buddha. It is a prominent landmark of the Sacred Garden. The inscription on the pillar is engraved in Brahmi script.
Emperor Ashoka visited the site on his 20th Reignal Year and erected the pillar as homage to the birthplace of Buddha. Also in the Garden is the Puskani Pond, south of the Ashokan Pillar, and it is believed to be the sacred pool in which Maya Devi took a holy dip just before giving birth to the Lord.
Little Buddha was given his first purification bath in this pond. Made of fine brick masonry, the pool has the protruding patios in descending order. Overnight: Hotel Nirwana, Lumbini. (1 night) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 12: Lumbini / Kathmandu (flight)
This morning after breakfast we drive to the airport in Lumbini, in time to board our flight to Kathmandu – the capital city of Nepal. On arrival in Kathmandu we are transferred to our Hotel. Later in the afternoon we take a city tour of Kathmandu, visiting Swayambhunath. This is one of the world’s most glorious Buddhist Chaityas.
It is said to be 2,000-years-old. Painted on the four-sides of the spire bases are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It is 3 km west of Kathmandu City and it is situated on a hillock about 77 m high. Later we visit Hanumandhoka (Durbar Square), the historic seat of the Royalties.
The Durbar Square, with its old temples and places, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that kings of Nepal are crowned and their Coronation solemnized. Overnight: Hotel Soaltee Crown Plaza, Kathmandu. (2 nights) (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 13: Kathmandu
Today after breakfast we visit the Bouddhanath. The Stupa of Bouddhanath lies 8 km east of Kathmandu. This colossal and ancient stupa is one of the biggest in the world. Later we visit the city of Patan. The ancient city of Patan, also known as Lalitpur, is the city of fine arts and it is located 5 km southeast of Kathmandu.
The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments. We’ll also visit Mahaboudha: A little further east from Patan Durbar Square lies this Buddhist temple made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of Lord Buddha engraved. The terra-cotta structure is one of the 14th century Nepalese architectural masterpieces; Rudra Varna Mahavihar: This unique Buddhist Monastery contains fine and amazing collection of images and statues in metal, stone and wood.
It is believed that the kings in the ancient times were crowned in this monastery. Many of the treasures offered by the devotees can be seen here even today; and The Ashokan Stupas: There are four ancient stupas, built in 250 B.C. by emperor Ashoka at the four corners of Patan. These stupas give evidence to the city’s ancient religious importance. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 14: Departure from Kathmandu
Today after breakfast we’re transferred to the airport in time for our onward destination, after what was an exciting journey through the Buddhist Heritage. (Breakfast)
- End of our tour and services -
Tour Details
* Tour Size: This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 10 participants.
Departure dates set for 2008
Jan 08, Feb 05, Mar 04, Apr 01, May 06, Jun 03, Jul 01, Aug 05, Sep 02, Oct 07, Nov 04, Dec 02.
* Tour highlights & World Heritage Sites (WHS)
- Ellora Caves – Aurangabad (WHS)
- Ajanta Caves – Aurangabad (WHS)
- Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi (WHS -1993)
- Taj Mahal (WHS - 1983)
- Agra Fort (WHS - 1983)
- Mahabodhi Temple – Bodhgaya
- Buddhist Monuments of Sanchi
- The Sacred Garden in Lumbini (listed WHS)
- Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath
- Swayambhunath in Kathmandu
- Durbar Square
- Patan City
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Land Prices for 2008
USD: 3,270.00 - per person in double occupancy
CAD: 3,435.00 - per person in double occupancy
Single supplement: USD: 910.00 / CAD: 955.00
Price includes:
- Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes
- Meals as mentioned (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
- All sightseeing and transfers by AC cars
- All flights as per itinerary
- Train tickets for the sectors mentioned in the itinerary
- Road taxes, parking fees, driver’s overnight wages
- Services of local English speaking guides
- Entrance fees to museums, parks and sites included in the itinerary
Price does not include:
- International airfares and airport taxes
- Insurance & visa fee (India & Nepal)
- Photo & video fees at the monuments
- Personal expenses / Beverages / Tips / Bills
- Services not mentioned above
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
India
Nepal
Cultural Journey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
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