Lumbini, the birthplace
of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after being untraced for 1,500 years.
At the excavation site in the Maya Temple, are the ruins of a monastery
and a pool. There are ruins of a stupa at Sravasti as well. Kusinagar
is where the Buddha finally attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins
are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining
Buddha. At Gorakhpur, en-route to Kusinagar, there is the Rahul Sankritayan
Museum with a collection of thangka paintings. An inscribed relic casket
was dug out of the ruins of a stupa at Piprahwa, now identified as
Kapilavastu. Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon in
the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modem
temple. The Dharmarajika, Chaukhandi and Dharnek stupas are outstanding.
There are also the remains of a monastery, and the beautifully polished
Lion Capital of Ashoka. Sarnath contains a rich library and at the
Mula gandha Kutir Vihara there are excellent frescoes by Kosetsu Nosu.
The Sarnath Museum, not far from the site, contains some of the finest
specimens of Buddhist sculpture. |
Day 01: Delhi
Meet assist at the airport & transfer to hotel. Night stay
in Delhi
Day 02: Delhi - Lucknow - Sravasti
Morning transfer to railway station to
board Shatabdi exp. For Lucknow.
Sravasti : Another of the most commonly
visited places of Buddhist pilgrimage is Shravasti. It is here that
the Buddha is said to have performed great miracles. One story tells
of how on throwing down the seed of a mango, a great mango tree instantly
arose. Another story tells of how the Buddha stood in the air, the
lower part of his body engulfed in flames, with five hundred jets of
water streaming from the top of his body., Arrive Lucknow , After lunch
leave for Sravasti by road , Arrive Sravasti & transfer to hotel. Dinner
and overnight at hotel
Day 03: Sravasti - Lumbini
One of the most important place of Buddhist
pilgrimage is Lumbini, located near the Nepal-India border. This is
where Gautam Buddha was born to a royal family in 556 B.C.E. Many auspicious
signs accompanied the Buddha's birth, including the sprouting of the
bodhi tree. The great Buddhist ruler Ashoka visited the site two centuries
later, constructing a stupa (mound, usually of earth) and pillar in
recognition. Although largely destroyed now, these remain important
marks of the Buddha's birthplace.
Morning visit Sahet Mahet. Later leave
for Lumbini- the birthplace of the Buddha, was located in 1890 after
being untraced for 1,500 years, enroute visit Kapilavastu - it was
in Kapilavastu's opulent environs, that the holy soul of prince Siddharth
(Gautam Buddha) spent his childhood. Here he saw sorrow and pain, disease
and death. Then, finally when he saw a radiant happy Sadhu who had
conquered all these, he decided to renounce all worldly riches and
pleasures to seek truth and embark on the path of salvation. On arrival
transfer to hotel . Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 04: Lumbini - Kushinagar
Morning visit Birth place of Lord Buddha
, Later leave for Kushinagar - Kushinagar is where the Buddha finally
attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa
and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha ,on arrival transfer
to hotel . Afternoon visit Nirvana Temple , Ramabhar Stupa & Cremation
site of Lord Buddha . Dinner and overnight at hotel
Day 05: Kushinagar - Patna
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for
Patna en-route visit Vaishali carrying box lunch. On arrival transfer
to hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 06: Patna - Rajgir - Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya : The Buddha attained enlightenment
at the age of 29 in the town of Bodhgaya in India. After settling under
a tree, the Buddha made the resolve not to move until he had achieved
enlightenment. After three days and nights of profound meditation this
goal was realised. The bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat has been
destroyed both intentionally and naturally many times since this time
of enlightenment. It has continued to re sprout and is visible today.
Morning leave for Bodhgaya - As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment,
Bodhgaya is the spiritual home of Buddhists. It attracts tens of thousands
of believers from all over the world. Bodhgaya situated near the river
Niranjana, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centre's since
it was here that Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree,
enroute visit Nalanda & Rajgir - Like many others in search of truth,
Prince Siddhartha, after he renounced his royal heritage came to this
city to seek the path of vation. On arrival transfer to hotel. Dinner
and overnight at hotel.
Day 07: Bodhgaya
Breakfast at hotel. Visit temple and
Niranjana river. Meals and overnight at hotel.
Day 08: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
Breakfast at hotel. Morning leave for
Varanasi, carrying box lunch. 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.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 09: Varanasi - Delhi
After breakfast transfer to railway station
. Back to Delhi tours ends here . |
