Varanasi: 7-Day Buddhist Culture Tour with Hotel & Breakfast – Lumbini, Nepal

EXPERIENCE

Embark on a 7-day private guided Buddhist tour in India starting in Varanasi. Enjoy an itinerary that will take you to sacred sites and magnificent monuments linked to early Buddhism. Visit historical sites in Varanasi, India, and eight other destinations in Asia that will blow your mind.

Day 1:

Start your tour with a pickup from the arrivals terminal in Varanasi. Jump in the car and get a convenient transfer to the hotel to settle in. Next, visit Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon in Deer Park, which contains the most impressive remains and a modern temple. Then, see the outstanding Dharmarajika, Chaukhandi, and Dhamekh stupas. Finally, return to the hotel for an overnight stay in Varanasi.

Day 2:

After a tasty breakfast, travel from Varanasi to Bodhgaya by car. First, arrive at your hotel in Bodhgaya to check-in. Then, head out to get some lunch. After lunch, enjoy some sightseeing in Bodhgaya. Marvel at one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it’s dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark where the Buddha attained Enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. Finally, end your day with a return ride to your hotel in Bodhgaya.

Day 3:

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast before leaving Bodhgaya for Patna. First, visit the magnificent Rajgir and Nalanda. Feel relaxed and enjoy the spiritual site of Rajgir, a place of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. Rajgir is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Next up, visit Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara jail. Then, drive to Nalanda to visit one of the world’s oldest universities and the International Centre for Buddhist Studies. Finally, drive to Patna and enjoy an overnight stay here.

Day 4:

Leave Patna and drive to Kushinagar after breakfast. En route, stop at Vaishali. Walk around and admire the Buddhist pilgrimage and Lord Mahavira’s birthplace. Listen as your guide tells you about Buddha, who visited this place and spent quite a long time here. Next, arrive in Kushinagar and check in at your hotel. After lunch, visit the iconic Mahaparinirvana Temple, where Buddha took his last breath, and the Rambhar Stupa cremation site of Lord Buddha. Then, return to your hotel in Kushinagar for the evening.

Day 5

Kickstart your day with a tasty breakfast before you drive to Lumbini. Arrive in Lumbini and check into your hotel. Then enjoy some sightseeing. Finally, visit Maya Devi Temple and feel in awe as you see the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Walk around and admire the natural beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, visit the ancient Buddhist temple, Maya Devi Temple. End your day on a high as you enjoy an overnight stay in Lumbini.

Day 6

After a tasty breakfast, leave Lumbini and head to Sravasti. En route, visit the ancient city of Kapilavastu, the childhood home of Gautam Buddha. Next, head to Sravasti, where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. Feel zen as you walk around this spiritual place where Buddha is said to have performed many miracles. Next, continue to visit the Sahet Mahet and the Angulimal caves. Finally, end your day with an overnight stay in Shravasti.

Day 7

Start your day with breakfast before leaving Shravasti and heading to Lucknow Airport. On arrival, you can check in and relax before you catch a flight back to New Delhi.

HIGHLIGHTS

Feel in awe as you explore the ancient Buddhist culture and heritage of India
Embark on a scenic boat ride on the River Ganges and admire the natural beauty
Visit the Bodhgaya- Mahabodhi Temple, Thai Temple, and the iconic Bodhi Tree
Walk around the ancient ruins of Nalanda and Rajgir, that are jaw-dropping
See the Mahaparinirvana Temple and the ancient Mukutbandhan Stupa

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