BODHGAYA VARANASI TOUR

Day 01: ARRIVE GAYA AIRPORT / RAILWAY STATION

Upon your arrival at Gaya Airport or Gaya Station, our representative will meet and greet you. Transfer to hotel by AC transport.

Bodhgaya - one of the most important Buddhists pilgrimage sites where Buddha attained Enlightenment underneath the Mahabodi tree.

In the evening, visit the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree. These are significant places where Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment and the Bodhi tree is the very spot where he meditated. The temple complex is filled with a sense of serenity and awe-inspiring beauty, making it an ideal place for meditation and reflection.

Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 02: BODHGAYA

Morning after breakfast, worship at Mahabodhi Temple and madidate under the Bodhi tree. This Buddhist site has more significance as it inscription the exact location where Lord Buddha achieved enlightenment and overcame the forces of evil and temptation to attain blissful Nirvana.

Later, proceed towards the international monasteries of Thai, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Japan to explore their unique Buddhist culture and practices. Also visit 80 feet high Buddha statue.

After lunch visit Sujata Village, also known as Senani Village. This village holds importance in Buddhist history as it marks the place where the young maiden Sujata offered rice milk to end Sakyamuni's hard austerity. This incident inspired Lord Buddha to walk on the 'Middle Path' in every aspect of life. The site where he received the offering is marked by the Sujata Temple.

Later, visit Dungeshwari Caves - it believed that Prince Siddhartha performed austere meditation for years at this place, reducing himself to a skeleton.

Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: BODHGAYA - RAJGIR - NALANDA – BODHGAYA

Morning after breakfast, same day excursion to Rajgir. Rajgir - holds great sanctity and importance among Buddhism pilgrimage. Upon arrival, visit Gridhkutta Hill, Bimbisar Jail, and Ajatashatru's Fort.

After lunch drive to Nalanda (15 Kms). Nalanda is one of the oldest universities in the world and an international centre for Buddhist studies. It was one of the greatest monastic universities of the ancient world, established in the 5th century BC. Lord Buddha and the founder of Jainism religion, Lord Mahavir, taught at this university for years. A monument also honours the Chinese traveller monk and writer, Hiuen Tsang, who studied at this university in the 7th century A.D.

By evening, drive back to Bodhgaya.

Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04: BODHGAYA - VARANASI

Morning after breakfast, drive to Varanasi (250 Kms/06 hrs). Varanasi - India's holiest and world's oldest living city popularly known as Kashi, Benares or Banaras, located on the sacred Ganges River.

Upon arrival, check-in at hotel and enjoy your lunch.

After lunch, drive to Sarnath (15 Kms/ 30 minutes) – one of the four major pilgrimage destinations for Buddhists the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon to his five disciples after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Also visit Dhamekh Stupa remarkable structure was built by Emperor Ashoka, Deer Park- The site of Buddha's first teachings and Archaeological Museum (Note: The museum at Sarnath is closed on Friday).

Evening witness Aarti ceremony at the Dashashwamedh Ghat - located at the banks of the holy River Ganga and near to Kashi Vishwanath Temple - Dedicated to Lord Shiva one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. After Aarti ceremony, return back to hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: VARANASI / DEPARTURE

Early morning boat ride at river Ganges. Later back to hotel. After breakfast, visit temples of Varanasi. In-time transfer to Varanasi airport or railway station for onward journey.