Footsteps of Lord Buddha

Morning transfer to Mumbai airport for a flight to Aurangabad, where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. Tour the nearby Ellora Caves (closed on Tuesdays) in the afternoon the 34 cave temples here are representative of the area’s Buddhist and Hindu past. The 17 Hindu caves in the centre are the most impressive with the massive Kailash Temple being the finest of all. The central depiction of the demon Ravana shaking Mount Kailash is a masterpiece.

Overnight in Aurangabad.

Today you’ll make an excursion to Ajanta Caves (closed on Mondays), which were carved from the living rock around 1500-2000 years ago but were largely unknown in more recent times until they were rediscovered in the early 19th century. This long period of abandonment contributed to the fine state of preservation of the Ajanta caves- some of the paintings which are believed to be over 2000 years old remain to this day. There are 30 caves in a horseshoe shape; your guide will explain the significance of each of these ancient treasures throughout your day long tour. Most depict scenes from the life of the Buddha and Buddhist fables and the level of artistic skill is truly astounding.

Overnight in Aurangabad.

Morning tour of Aurangabad Caves which date from the 1st century AD and visit to ‘Bibi Ka Maqbara’ - stunning likeness to the Taj Mahal, which is called the "Taj of the Deccan" because of the similarities in their architectural styles.  In the late afternoon transfer to Aurangabad airport for a flight to Delhi where you’ll be met and assisted with the transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Delhi.

After breakfast proceed to explore Delhi. You can visit Red Fort -A UNESCO World Heritage site and an iconic symbol of India's rich history. Jama Masjid- One of the largest mosques in India. Raj Ghat- The memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi, marking the spot where he was cremated. Chandni Chowk- A bustling market area in Old Delhi, famous for its narrow lanes, vibrant bazaars, street food, etc... Humayun's Tomb- another UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a magnificent example of Mughal architecture. Qutub Minar- another UNESCO World Heritage site, Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world. The complex also includes several other ancient and medieval structures like, Iron Pillar- Located in the courtyard of the Qutub Minar complex and it dates back to the 4th century CE. It stands over 7 meters tall and has not rusted in over 1,600 years, a testament to the advanced metallurgical skill of ancient Indians. Then driving past Rajpath (Parliamentary road) in Delhi offers a scenic and symbolic journey through the heart of India's capital, encompassing several significant landmarks and government buildings and then visit India Gate- an iconic war memorial, located at one end of Rajpath, commemorates the Indian soldiers who died during World War I.

Overnight in Delhi.

Transfer to Delhi airport and fly to Varanasi, the oldest continuously occupied city in India and a very sacred place in both Hinduism and Buddhism. You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, head down to the ghats which line the banks of the River Ganges for the nightly Aarti ceremony. This ritual involves thousands of tiny oil lamps being lit and set afloat on the river to the accompaniment of chants, gongs, prayers and a general sense of devotional fervour.

Overnight in Varanasi.

Arise early and return to the Ghats for a dawn boat ride on the Ganges. The sight of thousands of pilgrims bathing in the river as the sun rises is a truly unforgettable one and one of the most compelling experiences of any trip to India. Later tour the Old City of Varanasi before making an afternoon excursion to Sarnath. This is the site of the Buddha’s first sermon and an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists from throughout the world. Nearby there is an excellent museum housing an extensive collection of Buddhist art and sculptures found at the site.

Overnight in Varanasi.

After breakfast drive 6 hours to Bodhgaya, remainder of the day free.

Overnight in Bodhgaya.

Full day of sightseeing around Bodhgaya including visits to Mahabodhi Temple and Niranjana River. You’ll also see the Bodhgaya Stupa which was erected in the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment some two thousand five hundred years ago and the Bodhi Tree, the place of Buddha's enlightenment. Many international Buddhist communities have their own Temples here, full of colour and devotion.

Overnight in Bodhgaya.

Depart Bodhgaya and drive 4 hours to Patna. En route you will visit Rajgir and Nalanda, two more important sites in the life of the Buddha. Buddha delivered some of his famous sermons in Rajgir and converted many early devotees here. Once a great city, Rajgir is just a village today, but vestiges of a legendary and historical past remain Nalanda was the site of a famous university, one of the greatest centers of learning in ancient times and its monastery was a centre of Buddhist teaching; arguably the most importance location in the initial spread of Buddhism from India to China, Tibet and into south-east Asia. On arrival in Patna, check in at your hotel and relax.

Overnight in Patna.

A full day drive from Patna visiting Vaishali and Kesaria en route to Kushinagar. Vaishali is an important site for Buddhists and Jains alike; it was a flourishing city during the rule of the Maurya dynasty in the 3rd to 1st centuries BC and later during the Gupta dynasty (AD 320-550). It was the capital of the Licchavi republic, one of several tribal republics that once flourished in northern India. Such republics operated as some of the first formal democratic societies in the world, with representatives of the tribe meeting in a large assembly hall, presided over by a nonhereditary chief or raja, and debating and resolving issues through consensus or, if needed, by voting. A large mound excavated at Vaishali is believed to be an example of one of these ancient meeting places. The Kesaria Stupa is huge at nearly 30 metres in height. Remarkably it was largely unknown in modern times and only fully excavated by Archaeological Survey of India in 1998. It is believed to date back to somewhere around 200 AD and 750 AD has a circumference of almost 1400 ft. This amazing stupa serves as a splendid example of Buddhist architecture and archaeological preservation. Then continue on your drive to Kushinagar, check in at your hotel and relax.

Overnight in Kushinagar.

Sightseeing around Kushinagar, the place where the Buddha is believed to have left his earthly form. During the day you’ll visit Mahaparinirvana Temple – it is one of the four important pilgrimage sites of Buddhists and Ramabhar Stupa- it is the place where Buddha’s body was cremated;

Overnight in Kushinagar.

After breakfast, take 05 hours drive to Patna, remainder of the day free or you can visit Buddha Smiriti Park – this was constructed to commemorate the 2550th birth anniversary of Buddha and then to Golghar –a large granary which provides panoramic views of the city from its top after climbing its 145 steps.

Overnight in Patna.

Morning sightseeing of Patna visiting various sites around the city sacred to Sikhs and Muslims. These include the Takht Har Mandir Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, a 17th century Sikh guru. The temple here is made of white marble and was built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and contains the personal belongings of the Guru as well as holy texts. Adjacent to Takht Har Mandir Sahib is the Pathar ki Masjid, a mosque built by Parwez Shah, the son of Emperor Jahangir, during his tenure as governor of Bihar and it is called as “stone mosque”

Then you will be transferred to Patna airport to take your flight to Kolkata. At Kolkata, you’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Kolkata. 

After breakfast, you can proceed to explore Kolkata. Places of interest in the city include The edifice in marble which is the Victoria Memorial – commissioned for the English queen’s 1901 diamond jubilee and completed some 20 years later, Park Street cemetery which is a warren of grand mausoleums and lush undergrowth, the Marble Palace which somehow manages to make all of Kolkata’s other grand structures seem staid and under-stated, Jain Temples in North Kolkata which combine marble inlay work (a-la the Taj Mahal), mirrored hallways, statues and a constant stream of worshippers and then visit to the historic Kalighat temple which is situated on the banks of the Hooghly River. Then visit Howrah bridge – a famous landmark of Kolkata city and then evening take a walk in the markets- New Market – offers a variety of goods from clothing to spices & souvenirs or Park Street- a place for food lovers.

Overnight in Kolkata.

Today you will be transferred to Kolkata airport to take your international/domestic flight.

Tour Ends!