Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour India and Nepal - 13 Days

Upon your arrival in Patna, one of our representatives will welcome you and escort you to the designated hotel. After checking in you can take a brief rest and freshen up. Then, we will visit the Buddha Smriti Park if the time permits, i.e., if your arrival is scheduled in the morning. 

Buddha Smriti Park is also known as Buddha Memorial Park which was established to commemorate the 2554th birthday of Lord Buddha. The Pataliputra Karuna Stupa, a meditation center, a library with countless volumes on Buddhism, a museum, and a Park of Memories are all part of this multi-purpose park, which aims to highlight life and teachings of Lord Buddha. The stupa houses one of the eight original relics of Gautama Buddha and other relics brought by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and monks from Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. In the evening, you can spend the time in the markets or the surroundings. 

After breakfast, we leave Patna and move towards Bodhgaya. On the way, we will halt at Nalanda to explore Nalanda University Archaeological Site that dates back to 450 CE. Mahavira and Buddha were among the famous visitors to this institution that has existed for the longest time in Indian history. After exploring the university complex, and its ruins and visiting the Xuan Zang Memorial Hall which is a Chinese Pagoda, we will resume our drive. 

Again we stop at Rajgir, the Magadha Empire's ancient capital and a Buddhist pilgrimage site. It is well known for having Buddhist ruins, rock-cut caves, shell inscriptions, Hindu Jain temples, forts, and other historical structures. We will visit the huge Vishwa Shanti Stupa on Ratnagiri Hill which was built by Japanese Buddhists. The stupa houses Buddha statues during birth, enlightenment, teaching, and death. Griddhakuta (Vulture Peak) was another location where Lord Buddha preached. Venuvanaram and Bimbisar Prison are also worth seeing.

After exploring the important sites in Rajgir, we will drive to Bodhgaya, today’s final destination. Upon arrival, we will check in and take a rest.

After breakfast, we will prepare to visit the Mahabodhi Temple. The temple is the location of Lord Buddha's enlightenment and is included as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple houses a massive golden Buddha in the sanctum sanctorum, as well as tall stone lotuses, representations of Buddha sitting in various postures on the walls, his footsteps on the stones, and a colossal golden Buddha on the walls. We can see the Bodhi Tree in the temple within the temple grounds, which is where Buddha obtained enlightenment.

There are many stupas and temples built by different countries. We will visit the Wat Thai Temple, the only Thai temple in India. If time permits, we will also pay our visits to temples such as the Chinese Temple, Royal Bhutan Monastery, Japanese Temple, etc. 
After exploring for the whole day, we will return to the hotel. 

Today we travel from Bodhgaya to Varanasi. Once we arrive in Varanasi, we check in at the hotel, take a rest, and freshen up. We will visit Dashashwamedh Ghat on the banks of the Ganges to witness the evening Aarti. Enjoy a night's stay at the Varanasi hotel.

The day begins early as we take a boat ride on the Ganges in Varanasi early in the morning. After that, we return to the hotel for a hearty breakfast. Then, we will proceed with our visit to the magnificent Stupa at Sarnath, where the Buddha presented his first sermon following his enlightenment at Bodhgaya. This area was embellished by Ashoka with a large number of exquisite stupas and monasteries.

We will discover the remnants of Dharmarajika Stupa and Mulagandhakuti Temple, where Lord Buddha is supposed to have rested and meditated while in Sarnath. The Ashoka Pillar is also a must-see in Sarnath. The Lion Capital is also notable in the town for its exceptional workmanship and sculptures. We return to the hotel for the night. 

We leave Varanasi after breakfast and proceed towards Kushinagar. Kushinagar is where Lord Buddha gained Nirvana. It is also the place where took his last breath. The sacred site, which is dotted with several stupas and monasteries, is known for taking its name from Lord Rama's son, Kush. Upon arrival, we will check in, rest, and explore the surroundings. 

Our Kushinagar sightseeing commences after breakfast with a visit to the Parinirvana Temple and Stupa, which was built in 1876. It is famed for its reclining statue of Lord Buddha and Brahmi inscriptions on its walls indicating that Lord Buddha's cremated bones were placed here. For many Buddhist enthusiasts, this makes it a very hallowed spot. 

We will also visit the Nirvana Stupa, where a copper cup carrying Lord Buddha's ashes was unearthed during the excavation. The Mahaparinirvana temple and the Rambhar stupa are the day's main attractions. The Mahaparinirvana temple is considered one of Buddhism's sanctuaries most hallowed housing a 6.10 m long statue of the Buddha in a reclining position. 

The Ramabhar Stupa houses the cremation site of Lord Buddha and is located in a lovely and lush green environment. Other sightseeing sites today include the Kusinara Archaeological Site, and the Japanese Temple to see the magnificent Ashta Dhatu (eight metal) statue of Lord Buddha that was brought over from Japan.
Sun Stupa, Kushinagar Museum, Wat Thai Temple, and Meditation Park are also worth seeing in Kushinagar. We return to the hotel after exploring.

Morning exploration around Kushinagar and after breakfast, leave for Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha in Nepal. The drive goes through the Nepal-India border named Sunauli. 
After lunch, we will visit the sacred garden that houses the Marker Stone of Buddha’s birth, the Mayadevi Temple, the Sacred Pond, and the Asoka Pillar. If time permits, we also visit the World Peace Stupa and numerous stupas and monasteries built by different countries in the monastic zone.

After breakfast, we will drive to Tilaurakot, where Buddha spent his first 29 years of life as a prince. The Tilaurakot palace's basement and other historical relics believed to be 2500 years old can still be seen. 

Following lunch, we will go to Gotihawa, the exact birthplace of Lord Buddha. We can see ancient brick structures of stupas and monasteries outside of the current Gaotihawa village. The ruins of the broken Ashokan Pillar, which symbolizes Lord Buddha's birthplace, are located in the center of the main mound.
We return to our hotel for the night. 

Today, we will move to Kathmandu from Lumbini. The 6-7 hour drive is scenic as we pass by the beautiful villages and the stunning landscape of Nepal from the low lands of Terai to the high hills. 

Once we arrive in Kathmandu, we will check in at the designated hotel and rest. In the evening, you can stroll around the streets of the commercial hub, Thamel, and its surroundings where you can see some small monuments.

We drive to Swoyambhunath Stupa after breakfast and explore this beautiful Buddhist site. It is located 3 kilometers west of Kathmandu and is regarded as one of Nepal's holiest Buddhist stupas. It is said to have evolved naturally when the valley was formed around 2,000 years ago from a primordial lake. This stupa is the oldest of its sort in Nepal, and it is home to a number of shrines and monasteries. It is believed that this place serves as a vital link between the Buddhadharma's flourishing throughout South Asia and its flourishing in Tibet.

Then, we will drive south from Swoyambhunath to Pharping. It is believed to be the place where Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava attained enlightenment. We will discover the Sakya Tharig Monastery, the Asura Cave, the Pharping Vajraogini Temple, and the Yanlesho Cave. After visiting these holy sites, we will return to Kathmandu city. 

Today’s activities include the visit to the Boudhanath Stupa, Kopan Monastery, and Namo Buddha. 
After breakfast, we leave for Boudhanath Stupa. It is the largest in the country and one of the largest in the world. Some claim that Boudhanath includes the remnants of the former Buddha, Kashyapa, while others claim it contains a portion of bone from the skeleton of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. The massive Boudhanath stupa serves as a horizon between the earth and the sky, providing a gateway to heaven.

From Boudhanath, we drive to Kopan Monastery, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located atop the Kopan hill to the north of Boudhanath. Around 360 monks from various sections of the country live in the monastery. The atmosphere is infused with spiritual feelings and pleasant energy, allowing you to find inner calm.
After exploring Kopan Monastery, we will drive to Namobuddha which is also known as the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery. It was built by Khyabje Thrangu Rinpoche and is one of the most important Buddhist sites in Nepal.

We will return to Kathmandu in the evening and stroll around the Thamel market and ancient markets of Ason, Indrachowk, and Basantapur. You can buy some souvenirs for your friends and families from the stores in the market. In the evening, we will enjoy our traditional Nepali dinner with a cultural show at an authentic Nepalese restaurant. 

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport around 3 hours prior to the scheduled flight back to your home country. If your departure is scheduled in the evening or late evening, you can once again stroll around the Thamel market or visit the place of your choice.