On arrival in Delhi, you will be Greeted and Escorted by India Holiday Mall Tour Executive to your Hotel. (Rooms will be available from 1200 Noon.) Overnight at the Hotel

Delhi

After breakfast visit Red Fort – the 17th century imposing fortress, the Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque), India’s largest mosque where more than 20,000 people can kneel in prayer and Raj Ghat -Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial. In the afternoon, visit New Delhi. You will drive past President’s Palace and India Gate (42m high), built to commemorate the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. Later visit Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar, the highest sands stone minaret in the world (73 meters). Overnight at the Hotel IMP: Red Fort is closed on Monday. Read more

Delhi

After breakfast, transfer to airport and connect the flight to Lucknow. On arrival in Lucknow, drive to Sravasti Sravasti seems to have fascinated Lord Buddha very much for he spent over 1/4th of his life over here, recollecting the Jatakas or the stories of his previous births. Today Sravasti is full of old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. The city is believed to be founded by Mythological King Sravasti and has old stupas, majestic monasteries and several; temples. Overnight at the hotel Read more

Sravasti

Morning visit the stupa and monasteries town and then drive to Lumbini. Prince Siddhartha was born here in about BC 563. Lumbini - a place in the South-Western Terai of Nepal, evokes a kind of holy sentiment to the millions of Buddhists all over the world-as do the Jerusalem to Christians and Mecca to Muslims. Lumbini is the place Lord Buddha - the apostle of peace and the light of Asia, was born in 623 B. C. On arrival, check in at the Hotel. Later visit Sacred Garden, a small complex lying at the southern end of Lumbini. It marks the place where the Buddha is reputed to have been born and contains all of the area's important historical monuments and archaeological finds. You will visit Maya Devi Mandir, believed to date as far as the 3rd or 4th century BC. Peepul tree, under which Maya Devi is believed to give birth, Ashokan Pillar and Pushkarni. Overnight at the Hotel Read more

Lumbini

After breakfast, drive to Khushinagar- a small wooded town. It was here Lord Buddha ended his earthly journey passed into Mahaparinirvana. In the evening visit Mutkabandha Stupa- believed to have been built to preserve the relics of Buddha. Overnight at the hotel

Kushinagar

After early breakfast, drive to Patna. Enroute visit Vaishali. Vaishali is an important destination in the Buddhist circuit because this is where Buddha announced his approaching Nirvana (salvation) to his disciples. Emperor Ashoka erected a lion pillar here to mark this event and it stands till today. Also visit the Vaishali Museum and see figures, old coins and photographs of the excavations. Later continue your drive to Patna. On arrival in Patna, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel Read more

Patna

After early morning breakfast drive to Nalanda, a great Buddhist centre for more than 1000 years until the monastery, school and library were sacked and burnt by Muslims. The Chinese scholar Hiuen Tsan stayed here for 5 years in the early 7th cent. AD. There were 10.000 monks and students in residence. The remains are still extensive and include the "Great Stupa" with steps, terraces and a few still intact stupas around it. Further drive to Rajgir or Rajagriha. It was the capital of Magadhan empire before Pataliputra occupied from 1800 BC. Visit Gridhkuta, the "Hill of Vultures". It was one of Buddha's favorite places where he delivered many important sermons. Also visit Saptaparni Cave on Vaibhara Hill. The first Buddhist council was held here and Buddha's teachings were written down for the first time. Visit Vishwa Shanti stupa & Venuvana, the bamboo grove where Buddha spent some time. Later continue your drive to Bodhgaya. It was here that Siddhartha meditated for 48 days under a "Bodhi" tree and was enlightened on the 49th day and became Buddha, the enlightened one!!! On arrival in Bodhgaya, check in at the hotel Overnight at the hotel Read more

Bodhgaya

After breakfast, visit Mahabodhi temple with the tree, below which Buddha was enlightened, the footprints of Buddha & the monastery. Also visit Sujata village and Niranjana River. Overnight at the hotel

Bodhgaya

After breakfast, drive to Varanasi. Varanasi derives its name from the two streams – Varuna in the north and Assi in the south. It is situated on the banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing away all of one's sins On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel fter breakfast, drive to Varanasi. Varanasi derives its name from the two streams – Varuna in the north and Assi in the south. It is situated on the banks of River Ganges, which is believed to have the power of washing away all of one's sins On arrival, check in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel Read more

Varanasi

Today early morning you experience the life of this ancient city. See the beauty of the rising sun on the Ganges Boat Ride. Experience the early morning rituals of the Hindus being performed, thousands of people taking a bath in the holy river believing they will be free from the circle of rebirth. It is interesting to see the pilgrims offering sweets, flowers and holy water to the Sun God. In the afternoon excursion to Sarnath. Located thirteen kilometers northeast of Varanasi, Sarnath is the auspicious place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon in the deer park after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Set amidst well-maintained gardens, Sarnath’s ruins are a pleasant place for a stroll or for meditation. In the evening, transfer to railway station to board the train to Agra. Overnight on board Read more

Overnight on Train

In the morning, arrive Agra. On arrival in Agra, transfer to hotel (Rooms will be available from 1200 noon). After breakfast, visit Taj Mahal- a poem in white marble, built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna River. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is dazzling white during the day and glows pearl-like in the moonlight and during the monsoon. Later visit Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river Yamuna as the Taj Mahal, which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the fort. It is an imposing structure with walls of red sandstone almost three kilometers long. Also enjoy Tonga Ride. Also visit It-mad-ud-daullah. IMP: Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. Read more

Agra

After having breakfast, drive to Jaipur. On the way visit Fatehpur Sikri. It is a beautiful and deserted medieval city built by Akbar the Great in the 16th century to serve as the capital of his vast empire. The Mughals later abandoned this city for lack of water. After the sightseeing, continue your drive to Jaipur. Maharaja Jai Singh II built Jaipur in the 18th century. It is a planned city built with ancient Hindu rules as the colonial capital of a richly colorful state. The whole city was painted pink to welcome the visit of Prince Albert in 1853. On arrival check in the hotel On arrival in Jaipur, check in at hotel. Overnight at the Hotel. Read more

Jaipur

Jaipur

Jaipur

Taking flight back home / onward destination.