Homage to Buddha - A Pilgrim's Trail

|| Tour One || Tour Two || Two Three ||

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DAY 01, DELHI - GORAKHPUR :

Transfer to the railway station to connect 2554 Vaishali express for Gorakhpur at 1945 hours. Overnight enroute on the train.

DAY 02, GORAKHPUR - LUMBINI :

Breakfast onboard. Arrive Gorakhpur at 0840 hours and depart by car/motor coach for Lumbini, birth place of Lord Buddha, to arrive in 3-4 hours time and check into the hotel. Afternoon at disposal for meditation and prayers. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 03, LUMBINI :

Full day at disposal for meditation and tour. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 04, LUMBINI - KUSHINAGAR :

Early morning depart by car/motor coach for Kushinagar to arrive the historic town where lord Buddha attained Nirvana and died. Rest of the day at disposal for meditation and visit cremation stupa, Mahaparinirvana Temple, IndoJapan - Sri Lanka Buddhist Centre and numerous Buddhist monasteries. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 06, PATNA - BODHGAYA :

Morning after breakfast depart by car/motor coach for Bodhgaya to arrive in 3 hours drive and check into the hotel. Bodhgaya is the place where Lord Buddha attained enlightment over 2500 years ago. Afternoon visit Mahabodhi Temple which enshrines a gilded image of Lord Buddha in Bhumisparsh Mudra (earth touching posture). In the courtyard stands an offshoot of the original BODHI TREE under which Lord Buddha meditated. Evening at disposal for meditation and visiting places. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 07, BODHGAYA :

Full day at disposal for meditation and tour. Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 08, BODHGAYA - VARANASI :

Morning after breakfast depart by car/motor coach for Varanasi to arrive by lunch time and check into the hotel. The ancient capital of Hindu faith and learning. Varanasi is the odest living city in the world. It is India in a nutshell-an inextriable maze of narrow, winding streets and alleys domes and temples.

SARNATH :

Afternoon take a half day excursion to Sarnath where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon after gaining enlightment at Bodhgaya and therefore, the most significant historically in Buddhism. Visit Cowkandi Stupa, Ashok Pillar, Damek Stupa, Mulagandhakuti Vihara and Archaeological Museum. Drive back to Varanasi for overnight.

DAY 09, VARANASI - BHUSAVAL :

Morning transfer to the railway station to connect 1094 Mahanagari Express for Bhusaval at 1130 hours. Full day and overnight enroute on the train.

DAY 10, BHUSAVAL - AJANTA :

Arrive Bhusaval railway station at 0555 hours, pick up and drive by car/motor coach for Ajanta to arrive in 30 minutes time and check into the hotel. After breakfast leave for full day Ajanta caves tour to arrive the well known throughout the world for their beautiful frescoes and wall paintings. The 30 rock - hewn caves here - full of vivid sculptures and wall paintings ( many still glowing with their original colours) are the finest achievement of the Buddhist monks who arrived here in the 2nd century B.C. and reflect the zenith of ancient Indian art and architecture.

The principal interest of the cave is their depiction of eight centuries of religious life, specifically of Buddhism. Here one can see, the development of Buddhist art, thought and belief. The Ajanta caves are all monolithic - all carved from the bare rock alone, with no additions and all carefully chipped away from the ceiling down methodically to reveal pillars, monks beds and beautiful facades. The technical feat is staggering, for there was no room for the slightest error in carving.Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 11, AJANTA - AURANGABAD :

Morning after breakfast take a half day tour of Ajanta caves. Afternoon depart by car/motor coach for Aurangabad. Arrive and check into the hotel. Rest of the day free.Overnight at the hotel.

DAY 12, ELLORA CAVES :

Morning visit the most fascinating rock-cut-caves. It is the meeting -point of three faiths, Jain and Hindu structures having risen alongside each other as the original Buddhist impetus slowly tailed off. There are total of 34 rock -cut-caves in all - 12 Buddhist (AD 600-800), 17 Hindus (AD 900) and 05 Jain (AD 800-1000). You will visit the Buddhist caves at the southern end first. Ten of these are Mahayana ( who favoured statue worship) and contain images of Buddha, the remaining two are Hinayana ( who preferred relic worship) and contain only stupas. They are all "vihara" monasteries, except for cave 10, the only "Chaitya" or temple of the group. It contain a gigantic Buddha figure, seated in "meditative" pose on a lion throne, flanked by attendants and flying figures. The figure is franted by a metre high "dagoba" stupa. It derives its ceiling ribs, which resemble wooden beams. Further moving on, caves is the largest vihara being suggested by the rows of stone benches within cave 12, the huge three -story "Tin Thai" used to accommodate three levels of student monks, and was used as a training/sleeping area. The large square hole high up on the courtyard wall was the monk's "notice board", giving details of the coming day's programme of prayer and study. The top floor has eight large Buddha figures, all exceptionally fine, and the walls are carved with attractive reliefs. It would indeed be a fascinating experience to witness 600-800 AD world famous rock-cut marvels. Return to the hotel and later transfer to the Manmad railway station to connect overnight train for Delhi.

DAY 13, DELHI :

Arrive New Delhi railway station in the afternoon and rest of the day will be at your disposal for personal activities. Later, transfer to the airport to connect the onward flight.