Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Assistance on arrival at Delhi International airport by tour representative,
transfer to hotel, relax & overnight at hotel in Delhi.
Day 02: Delhi - Kathmandu (By air at 1000 hrs / 1300 hrs)
After breakfast transfer to airport to board the flight for Kathmandu,
assistance on arrival at Kathmandu airport transfer to hotel. Relax
for some time & taking a flying visit of Kathmandu town See
the Royal Palace & Thamel the market place. Evening free for
individual activities, overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 03: Kathmandu
After breakfast take a sight seeing tour of Kathmandu visiting Pashupatinath
temple- the most sacred of the Hindu temples in Nepal dedicated
to lord Shiva, built in 1696. A short drive will take you to Boudhnath-
the worlds largest Stupa, having four eyes in four directions is
symbolized as watch for welfare and behavior of human beings, built
by king Man dev as per the advice given by goddess Mani Jogini.
The Lamas of Nepal who are real devotees of Lord Buddha always dwell
at surrounding of Stupa. A very short excursion to Kopan Monastery
and lunch break one hour.
Early evening visit sightseeing tour of Swayambhunath- the oldest
Buddhist shrine. Looking east from here, one can see the entire
Kathmandu valley spread out below. A short drive will take you to
National museum, which gives you a general idea of ancient Nepal.
There are various rare collections of sculptural work done on bronze,
silver and gold in the art gallery attached with the museum. We
continue to Kathmandu durbar square – the temple of the Living
Goddess and the old Royal Palace. Finally, visit Kasthamandup –
a temple built from a single tree from which the Kathmandu derives
its name. Transfer to hotel.
Day 04: Kathmandu - Bhairawa
Wake up, take breakfast, then drive to Bhairawa (7-8 hour 262 km
west of Kathmandu and 21km ahead of Lumbini), transfer to hotel
at Bhairawa. Rest of the day is free to relax, overnight in Bhairawa.
Day 05: Bhairawa - Lumbini
In the early morning, drive to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord
Buddha, image of Maya Devi, Lord Buddha, old monastery, ponds and
pillars are interesting to see. Very recently, several Buddhist
countries have built several beautiful shrines in Lumbini. An international
committee has also been set up for the development of this sacred
historical place. The visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha,
the realm of the Shakya is not only for spiritual enlightenment
but also for solace and satisfaction that one normally gets in a
calm and peaceful place like it.
Day 06: Lumbini - Sonauli - Sarasvati - Balrampur
A short drive to Sonauli border, Arrival Sonauli: Pick up from Sonauli
Border and transfer to Balrampur enroute sightseeing of Saravasti
- The city believed to be founded by the mythological king Sarasvati,
has age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha
is said to have performed some miracles here. This holy place also
has the famous Anand Bodhi tree, an offspring of the one, said to
have been planted by Buddha's main disciple Anand. Overnight in
Balrampur.
Day 07: Balrampur / Kushinagar (216 kms. / 5 hrs)
Morning drive to Kushinagar. Arrive Kushinagar and check –
in at hotel. Later visit the Rambhar Stupa, which marks Buddha’s
cremation ground. Also visit the Mahaparinirvana temple, which houses
the recumbent figure of Lord Buddha.
Day 08: Kushinagar / Patna (253 kms. / 6 hrs)
Morning drive to Patna, Arrive Patna and check – in at hotel.
Afternoon city tour visiting Har Mandir Sahib, also known as Patna
Sahib, consecrates the place where the 10th Guru of the Sikhs Guru
Gobind Singh was born in 1776; Golghar – is a large dome-like
structure from where one can have a fine view of the Ganga and the
surroundings of the city; Patna Museum – has a rich collection
of Mauryan and Buddhist sculptures, terracotta and other interesting
items.
Day 09: Patna / Bodhgaya (109 kms. / 4.5 hrs)
Morning drive to Bodhgaya. Arrive Bodhgaya and check – in at
hotel. Bodhgaya – most sacred place for Buddhists as it has
a Peepal tree under which Gautama the Buddha attained enlightenment
some 2500 years back.
Day 10: Bodhgaya
Morning sightseeing tour of Bodhgaya visiting Mahabodhi Temple –
depicting the various phases of Buddha’s journey towards enlightenment,
showing different aspects of his life; Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum
– houses a small collection of Buddhist sculpture from the
1st century B.C, to the 11th century A.D; Jagannath Temple close
by has a four armed statue of Shiva in black stone.
Day 11: Bodhgaya / Varanasi (242 kms./06 hrs.)
Morning transfer to Varanasi, Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel
visiting Sarnath enroute, an important Buddhist pilgrimage point.
Day 12: Varanasi / Agra (Overnight Train)
Enjoy a boat ride on river Ganges. There are about hundred Ghats
in the city Also visit The Vishwanath Temple, built by the Birlas,
was planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Bharat Mata Temple
houses, instead of gods and goddesses, a huge relief map in marble
of the whole of Indian subcontinent. The Tulsi Manas Temple, built
in 1964, is dedicated to Lord Rama. Evening transfer to Railway
station to connect your train to the city of Taj – Agra. Overnight
Train.
Day 13:Agra
In Agra: Arrive Agra in the morning , met on arrival and transfer
to your hotel. Afternoon proceed for the city sightseeing tour visiting
The Taj Mahal, which is entirely made of white marble and its walls
are decorated with exquisite Pietra Dura (stone inlay) work and
later visit the Red Fort- a hilltop citadel with fabulous courtyards,
fountains and gates.
Day 14: Agra / Jaipur (250 kms. 05 hrs)
Morning drive to Jaipur enroute visiting the deserted town of Fatehpur
Sikri. Arrive Jaipur and check – in at hotel. Jaipur has been
like that since 1727 when Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II had it built.
Day 15: Jaipur
Morning excursion to Amber Fort, situated just outside the city,
is perhaps the most beautiful example of Rajasthani forts. You can
have the unique experience of traveling on elephant back to and
from the top of the hill on which the fort is situated. Afternoon
sightseeing tour of Jaipur including, City Palace in the heart of
Jaipur is known for its blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture.
Not far away is the Central Museum with its large collection of
woodwork, Another monument near the City Palace, Jantar Mantar,
is the largest of the five observatories built by Sawai Jai Singh.
The Hawa Mahal or the Palace of Winds was constructed for the royal
ladies to watch the royal processions without being seen.
Day 16: Jaipur / Delhi (250 kms. 4.5 hrs) - Back Home
After breakfast checkout & drive to Delhi, on arrival transfer
to hotel for wash & change, after farewell dinner transfer to
International airport to board the flight back home.
Optional BUDDHIST PILGRIMAGE Kathmandu and Lumbini 6 NIGHT /
7 DAYS
Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu
Welcome to Kathmandu - the Capital City of Nepal. For most of the
visitors, the city is the starting and ending point for their journey
to Nepal. Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in
Kathmandu, You'll be met by our Airport representative and assisted
for your transfer to Hotel.
Day 02: Visit Buddhist Religious Sites in Kathmandu, Overnight
in Hotel, Kathmandu
Full day tour to various popular Buddhist sites in the Valley will
be organized for you. You'll visit Swayambhu Nath Stupa, Bauddha
Nath Stupa, Kashya Swayambhu Stupa, White Monastery, Kapan Monastery
and several other Buddhist shrines, Vihars and spots.
Day 03: Visit Patan City & Pharping Village. Overnight in
Hotel Kathmandu, Kathmandu
After breakfast visit Buddhist Vihars, Maha Bauddha temple, Ashokan
Stupa , Machhendra Nath temple in Patan City.
After Lunch, drive to Pharping village - 18 Kms.- 1hour drive, where
you'll visit various monasteries, temple of Vajra Jogini, recently
built Stupas, temple of Shesh Narayan and a cave of Padma Sambhawa.
Drive back to Kathmandu in the evening.
Day 04: Drive to Lumbini, Overnight in Hotel, Lumbini
The road to Lumbini from Kathmandu is about 310 Kms and it takes
about 7/8 hours drive. Almost half of the road till Narayan Ghat
follows river, then passes through various interesting high-way
settlements, forest and fields. The journey is rewarding as it offers
the interior beauty of Nepal.
Day 05: Visit Lumbini Garden & Surroundings, Overnight in
Hotel, Lumbini
Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha and the founder of Buddhism,
known as Buddha or the enlightened one. This is confirmed by the
existence of an inscribed pillar erected 318 years after the event
by the great Buddhist emperor Ashoka, who visited Lumbini in 245
BC and left a number of his famous inscribed pillars in the region.
Day 06: Fly back to Kathmandu, Overnight in Hotel, Kathmandu
You will be transferred to Bhairahawa Airport for about 20 minutes
for your flight to Kathmandu. Your flight takes about 45 minutes.
We receive you here in Kathmandu Dom. airport and transfer you to
Hotel. After arriving back to Kathmandu, enjoy free time for personal
activities such as shopping, strolling, personal exploring etc.
Day 07: Kathmandu back home
In time transfer to international airport to board the flight back
home.
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