Temple Tour with Footprint of Lord Buddha

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

On reaching at Gwalior railway station our representative will receive you and then we proceed for sightseeing tour of Gwalior, known for its spectacular hilltop citadel. Here we visit the various Rajput Palaces, Gwalior fort, Hindu temples. Later we drive to Orchha. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Morning after breakfast sightseeing tour of Orchha & Jhansi, visiting Jahangir Mahal and Temple Krishna. "Orchha", meaning "Hidden" was the hallmark of Bundela dynasty. The origin of Bundelas in the 11th century is traced to a Rajput prince who offered himself in sacrifice to the mountain goddess Vindhyavasini. It is believed the goddess stopped the prince from sacrificing and named him Bundela (meaning, the one who offered blood). The Bundelas ruled over the area between the river Yamuna and Narmada, Later in the evening transfer to the railway station to board the train for Allahabad. Overnight stay on board.

On arrival at railway station meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. After fresh-n-up city sightseeing tour including Anand Bhavan. Overnights stay at hotel.

Morning after breakfast drive to Varanasi, on arrival check in at the hotel. After fresh-n-up temple tour visiting Durga Temple, Tulsi Manas, Birla Mandir, Shri Kashi Vishwanath, Visalakshi and Annapurneshwari etc. Overnight stay at hotel.

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 Dhamekh 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. Later back to Varanasi on arrival visit Aarti Darshan. Overnight stay at hotel.

Early morning drive 8 hours to Bodhgaya en-route visit Gaya.
Bodhgaya, one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage center in the world. It was here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Lord Buddha. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Morning after full day 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.

Morning after breakfast drive to Patna, en-route visit Rajgir & Nalanda. Rajgir is a lush green valley surrounded by rocky hills. Here on Griddhakuta or Vultures Peak the Buddha set in motion his second Wheel of Law and for three months every year during the rainy season preached many inspiring sermons to his disciples. The Buddha Sangha of Japan have constructed a massive modern stupa, the Shanti (peace) stupa at the top of the hill in commemoration. 12 km from Rajgir is Nalanda which was in Buddha's time a lovely resort of Saints and ascetics. Lord Buddha visited Nalanda several times and delivered some important sermons. It emerged as a university in the 5th century A.D. and remained the greatest seat of learning for 7 years. Great thinkers like Nagarjuna, the Mahayana Buddhist Philosopher. Dharmapala the Brahmin scholar, Aryadeva and Padmasambhava taught here.
Later drive to Patna, on arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Early morning drive to Kushinagar with hot lunch on way. On arrival check in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel. Located at 55 km from Gorakhpur, Kushinagar is the place where the Lord Buddha uttered his last words "Behold now, brethren, I exhort you, saying, decay is inherent in all component things! Work out your salvation with diligence!" and left for the heaven. A temple dedicated to the event - the Mahaparinirvana temple, stands testimony to the mournful demise. Among the various Stupas of Kushinagar, Rambhar Stupa needs your exploration for it is the place where Lord Buddha was supposedly cremated.

Morning after breakfast visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (where Buddha took his last breathe) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of lord Buddha), Japan Temple. Later drive to Ayodhya. On arrival check in at the hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Morning after breakfast temple tour of Ayodhya visiting Babri Masjid and Ram Janmabhumi, Kanak Bhavan, Nageshwarnath Temple, Treta ke Thakur, Lakshmana Ghat, Mani Parbat & Hanumangarh. Later in the afternoon drive to Lucknow. On arrival transfer to the hotel. Evening city tour of Lucknow. Overnight stay at hotel.

Ayodhya, which means 'that which cannot be subdued by war', where the turbulence always subsides letting the city return to its original, peaceful holy avataar. Ayodhya - a small, calm city where sadhus mingle with pious pilgrims and the occasional tourist, where even the sunset on the banks of the Sarayu river is good for the soul.

It is India's holiest cities, where the religious faiths of Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism and Islam converged together to create a place of monumental sacred importance. Ayodhya was described in the Atharvaveda as a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself. It was the ancient capital of the powerful kingdom of Kosala and an important trade centre in 600 BC. Historians have identified it as Saketa, an important Buddhist centre in the 5th century BC (the Buddha is said to have visited Ayodhya on many occasions) which it remained until the 5th century AD.

Morning sightseeing tour of Lucknow. In the afternoon transfer to the airport to board the flight for Delhi. Upon arrival at Delhi meeting and assistance followed by transfer to hotel. Overnights stay at hotel.

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

Tour & services Ends.