Buddhist Temple Tour Packages 4N - 5D

Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival Bodh Gaya

Arrive Gaya from Colombo and meet up with our representative at Railway Station. Private transfer to Bodhgaya. Check in Hotel. Wash and change in Hotel & visit of the Mahabodhi Temple the holy Bodhi tree where Lord Buddha got enlightenment. Praye time in Bodhgaya at the temples.

Day 2 : Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Patna

Early Morning after breakfast, Check out from Hotel and transfer to Patna. After sightseeing of Dungeswari Caves. En route stop at Rajgir & Nalanda. During the lifetime of the Buddha Rajgir was the capital of the Magadha Empire. In the rock cut caves here the Buddha spent many rainy seasons, meditating and preaching. The teachings of the Buddha were penned down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the first Buddhist council. Visit the – Gridhkuta Vulture’s peak – a hill on which Buddha meditated. Bimbisara’s prison – King Bimbisara was imprisoned here by his son Ajatsatru. Also visit Venuvan Vihara - a bamboo garden of King Bimbisar which he gifted to Lord Buddha. Just 15 Kms away we arrive Nalanda which is the location of the ancient Buddhist University built in 5th Century AD. This great seat of learning flourished until 12th Century AD. Take a guided visit of very interesting ruins of Nalanda University the centre of one of the oldest known universities of the world. The ruins contain a number of Buddhist Stupas & Chaityas, Monasteries, hostels, rooms on four sides with the central courtyard. Arrival Patna and check in Hotel. Overnight at Hotel in Patna.

Day 3 : Patna-Vaishal I- Kushinagar

Early breakfast and Check out from Hotel & drive to Kushinagar. En route to Kushinagar stop to visit Vaishali for visit to holy sites. Later continue the drive to Kushinagar. On arrival Kushinagar check in Hotel. Overnight at Hotel in Kushinagar. Vaishali is the holy site where Buddha is believed to have preached his last sermon and announced his impending Nirvana. . A life size-pillar beside a brick stupa at Vaishali commemorates Buddha's last sermon. The lion faces north, the direction Buddha took on his last voyage. At Vaishali is the shaded stupa which is supposed to have housed the casket relic with the ashes of Buddha. This was also the place where the 2 Buddhist council was held after 100 years of Buddha’s Nirvana.

Day 4 : Kushinagar- Varanasi

Today Morning after breakfast, visit of Kushinagar. Kushinagar is the place where Buddha chose for his Mahaparnirwana, or final exit from this earth. Kushinagar has two important places – One is where The Buddha attended Nirvana or passed away, The Other place is where he was cremated. The Mahaparnirwana stupa is surrounded by ruins of ancient monasteries. The Rambhar Stupa that marks Buddha's cremation ground. Also visit the temple with the beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha among other temples. Check out Hotel & Drive to Varanasi. The city is regarded as an auspicious place of cremation among Hindus. It is a magical city where the most intimate rituals of life and death take place in public on the city's famous Ghats. In past, the city has been known as Kashi & Benares, but its present name is a restoration of an ancient name meaning the city between two rivers - Varuna and Assi. Evening attend an Aarti ceremony by the Ghats in Varanasi. Overnight at Hotel in Varanasi.

Day 5: Sarnath sightseeing. Departure Varanasi Airport.

Early morning by 7 AM visit Sarnath. Visit the Dhamekh Stupa which is one of the prominent Buddhist structures in India. Dhamek Stupa was constructed by the great Mauryan King, Ashoka. Also visit Ashoka Pillar and Sarnath Museum. Later transfer to the Airport to proceed for onward destination. Colombo .