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Buddhist Cultural Tour |
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| Destinations Covered: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti - Kapilavastu -Lumbini - Kushinagar - Vaishali - Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya - Varanasi - Lucknow - Sankasya - Agra. | |||||
Your itinerary day by day
Day 01: Delhi
Begin your tour
Land Delhi railway station/airport
Welcome to Vardhman's "Buddhist Cultural Tour"
Vardhman's representative will meet & greet you & then transfer to your hotel. Fresh up & then proceed for sightseeing of Delhi. Visit Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Humayun's tomb, Jama Masjid, Lakshminarayan Temple, Parliament House, Government Secretarial Building, Raj Ghat and Shanti and Connaught place, the shopping centre of New Delhi
Overnight: Hotel
Day 02: Delhi-Lucknow-Sravasti
This morning after breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the railway station to board the train for Lucknow. On arrival at Lucknow, you will be met and transferred to Sravasti by our representative to your hotel. Later visit Sravasti.
Sravasti - Saravasti, the capital of Kosala Mahajanapada , was the biggest town in the Gangetic plains during the Buddha's lifetime. Saravasti was host to the Master for 25 years during the annual vassavasa (rain retreat) when the Sangha congregated at one place.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 03: Sravasti-Kapilavastu -Lumbini
After breakfast at the hotel visit Sahet Mahet. Later leave for Lumbini enroute visit Kapilavastu - the place where the Lord spent the first thirty years of his life. It was Kapilavastu, where he witnessed four events - sorrow of a beggar, sadness of an old man, pain of a sick and a dead body and finally decided to renounce all the worldly pleasure and search for the truth and salvation.
On arrival transfer to your pre-booked hotel. Relax for the remaining part of the day.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 04: Lumbini-Kushinagar
After an early breakfast visit Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. King Ashoka visited Lumbini in 250 BC and erected a monolithic pillar, 36 feet in height to mark the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Shakyamuni has remnants of an old monastery and an image of Maya Devi (Lord Buddha's mother is preserved here).
After sightseeing of Lumbini drive to Kushinagar. Kushinagar known earlier as Kushinara. It was here that Buddha passed away into Mahaperinirvana. In this place the Mukutbandhana Stupa (Ram Stupa), which was built to hold the Buddha's cremated remains is naturally considered of great sanctity. There is also a large recline stone figure of Lord Buddha. Arrive Kushinagar and check into hotel for an overnight stay.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 05: Kushinagar/Kushinara - Vaishali - Patna
After an early breakfast visit all the places of tourist interest in Kushinagar.
The two places most frequently visited in Kushinagar are the Mahaparinirvana Stupa, which is built on the place of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (Great Nirvana or passing away), and the place of his cremation, which is 1.6 km away. Close to the Mahaparinirvana Stupa is located a 1500 year old Buddha-image of the Buddha as he attained Parinirvana. The Mahaparinirvana Stupa is surrounded by ruins of ancient monasteries.
Then, drive to Patna. En-route visit Vaishali, which is 55 kms from Patna. Vaishali was thrice visited by Lord Buddha and the scene of the second great Buddhist council and it long remained a strong hold of Buddhism.
Arrive Patna and check into hotel. Relax for the rest of the day.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 06: Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya
After an early breakfast drive to Bodhgaya, en-route visit Nalanda (2 hours drive from Patna), then drive to Rajgir. Rajgir is situated in a lush green valley enclosed by five hills and historic stonewalls. Rajgirha, Now Rajgir, was once the ancient capital of powerful kingdom of Magadh. The Buddha chose this famous for many of his retreats and sermons. It was here the first Buddhist council was held. After sightseeing of Rajgir drive again for 3 hours to Bodhgaya.
Arrive Bodhgaya and check into hotel. Relax for the remaiing part of the day.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 07: Bodhgaya
Early morning visit temple of Bodhgaya.
Set in silvan solitude on the banks of river Nirnjana, came to this place after a long-hard journey in search of Supreme Knowledge. Here under the Bodhi tree, he attained enlightenment.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 08: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
On the day 8 of your tour drive to Varanasi after breakfast. On arrival transfer to hotel.
Afternoon visit Sarnath - where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modern temple. Varanasi- one of the oldest living cities in the world, contemporary of Thebes and Babylon. It is also one of the holiest Hindu cities and still thriving on its religious past.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 09: Varanasi-Lucknow
Early morning enjoy boat excursion (at your own cost) on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing ghats and cremation site, sunrise above the river, aarti. Watching people bathing and worshipping at the ghats is one of the most extraordinary experiences of a visit to India. Later proceed on a City tour of Varanasi.
Visit the Bharat Mata Temple with a big relief map of India in Marble, Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Banaras Hindu University, which has an art gallery and the mosque of Moghul Emperor Aurangazeb, built on the site of an ancient Hindu Temple. A walk through the old center ("golden" temple, ghats...), Bharat mata temple, Kashi Viswanath temple.
Late in the evening transfer to Varanasi railway station to catch train for Luknow.
Overnight: On board Train
Day 10: Lucknow
Arrive Locknow and transfer to hotel by our representative. Relax for a while and later, proceed on a full day combined city tour of Lucknow is caught in a time warp. It exists in an in-between land of the past and the present looking back constantly to the memories of a colonial-Nawabi past. There is at the same time a sense of pride at the thought of being after Delhi, the most important center of power in free India. Politics has indeed been Lucknow's forte but culture has been its historical identification.
Despite the Indo-Persian legacy, Lucknow has a composite Indian culture. The welding of various cultural strains nurtured by centuries of Mughal and later Delhi Sultanate rule, to the folk traditions of the Indo-Gangetic plains has produced a complex, yet rich synthesis. The Urdu language acquired its baffling phonetic nuances and suave perfection here. It was in Nawab Wajed Ali Shah's court that the most advanced of all classical Indian dance forms, the Kathak, took shape. The popular Parsi theatre originated from the Urdu theatre of this city. The tabla and the sitar were first heard on the streets of Lucknow.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 11: Lucknow - Sankasya - Agra
Early morning drive to the Romantic city of Taj Mahal- Agra and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day at leisure
Overnight: Hotel
Day 12: Agra - Delhi
Early in the morning visit Taj Mahal (closed on every Friday) during Sunrise. Return to the hotel after breakfast and then proceed on a city tour of Agra.
Visit Red fort & Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula. Later you will visit a marble gallery - the flagship store in Agra which offers an excellant range of white marble, fashionable wear & exotic wooden articles, truly a one stop shop!.
Later drive to Delhi and transfer to hotel. Relax for the remaining part of the day.
Overnight: Hotel
Day 13: Delhi
This morning after breakfast transfer to Delhi airport to board flight for your onward destination with sweet and unforgettable memories of your tour escorted by Vardhman Vacations.
END OF VARDHMAN SERVICES
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