Golden Triangle With Buddhist Circuit 15 Nights And 16 Days
Buddhism is a world-known religion that arose in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (now in Bihar, India), and it's based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama -"Buddha."
Buddhism spread outside of Magadha, starting in the Buddha's lifetime. In modern times, two major branches of Buddhism exist, the Theravada in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and the Mahyna throughout the Himalayas and East Asia. Buddhism is one of the most common religion in the Himalayan areas such as Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal, and Lahaul and Spiti areas of upper Himachal Pradesh. According to the 2001 census, Buddhists make up 0.8% of India's population or 7.95 million individuals.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival Delhi
Arrival at New Delhi International Airport, assistance on arrival and transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 2
Delhi/Jaipur
After 5 Hrs drive (260 Kms).
After Breakfast drive to Jaipur.
Arrive & check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 3
Jaipur
Post breakfast, depart for Amber Fort (12 km) - Visit the imposing Amber Fort on the outskirts of the Pink City. Afternoon tour of the Pink City visiting the Imposing City Palace now a museum, the ancient Observatory, the Palace of Winds and the picturesque bazaars of the walled city.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 4
Jaipur / Agra
After breakfast, drive to Agra. (240kms /5 to 6 Hours) via Fatehpur Sikri - the extraordinary city built by Akbar the Great, deserted 14 years later, but which, during its brief span, exceeded London in both grandeur and population.
Arrive & Check at the Hotel.
Afternoon visit the Red Fort built by three generations of Mughal Emperors between 1565 and 1573. Later visit Taj Mahal, a monument of love built by the Mughals, an incredible 20,000 Workmans laboured on it, day and night, for over 20 years.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 5
Agra / Lucknow
Post breakfast, drive to Lucknow (10 - 11 hrs) en-route visit SANKASIA, where Lord descended from heaven after giving a sermon to his mother after seven years of her death. Later continue drive to Lucknow,
Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 6
Lucknow - Varanasi
After an early breakfast, 7 hrs drive to Varanasi.
Arrive & transfer to hotel en-route Visit Sarnath - 5 miles out of Varanasi - it is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world, where Buddha preached his first sermon in 590 B.C. Sarnath has an excellent Museum filled with sculptures found at the site.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 7
Varanasi
Early Morning boat ride on the Ganges river at dawn to see the Hindu pilgrims flock to the ghats and have a ritual morning bath, practice yoga and perform 'puja' to the rising sun....all rituals evolved and derived from thousands of years of worship and traditions.
Also, cruise past the Manikarnika ghat to see the pyres lit for the first cremations of the day.
Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, walk through the myriad of narrow lanes in the Old City, past the many ancient temples, shrines and little shops crammed with customers looking for the high silver and gold brocades.
The most famous temple is the Kashi Vishvanath or "Golden" temple, which, though off-limits to non-Hindus, seen from the top floor of the old house opposite it.
Evening visits the Ghats to see the puja ceremony on River Ganges.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 8
Varanasi / Bodhgaya After breakfast, drive to Bodhgaya (06 hrs) Holding extreme religious importance to the Buddhists, Bodhgaya lies13 km south of Gaya, beside the river Phalgu. It was here that the Lord Buddha sat under the Banyan tree and attained enlightenment, and a descendant of the original tree still flourishes there today. Bodhgaya is a small and quiet town, which is the most important of all the Buddhist sites in the world. Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 9
Bodhgaya
After breakfast, visit one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres.
It was here that Gautama attained enlightenment and became Buddha under the "Bodhi" tree Satabodhi temple, Japanese and Tibetan monasteries, along with Magadha university museum, are also to be visited.
Evening st free for you to explore on your own.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 10
Bodhgaya / Rajgir / Nalanda / Patna
After breakfast, drive to Bodhgaya (6 Hrs), en-route visiting Rajgir and Nalanda. Rajgir (2 hrs & 30 mins) capital of 6th century Magadha Empire.
It was a revered site of Buddha's discourses. Buddha spent many years here. Visit Gridhrakula, Sapataparni cave, Ajatsatru fort and Venuvana. And visit Nalanda - the world's oldest university founded in the 5th century.
Also, visit monasteries and temples with impressive Buddhist & Hindu images.
The Institute for research into Buddhism and Pali literature, which houses rare manuscripts, is also worth visiting for the enthusiasts. The archaeological museum is also for unique collections.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 11
Patna / Kushinagar (7 To 8 Hours Drive)
After breakfast, drive to Kushinagar en-route visiting Vaishali, where Lord Buddha preached his last sermon announcing his approaching Nirvana.
Visit stupas holding urns containing ashes of Buddha and Ashok pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka to mark places sanctified by Buddha.
The place is also known for its famous Madhubani paintings.
Pursue the drive to Kushinagar.
Arrive & Check-in at Hotel.
Kushinagar is the place where Buddha entered perfect tranquillity in the state of Maha Pari Nirvana.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 12
Kushinagar / Sravasti (Balrampur)
Post breakfast, drive to Balrampur.
Arrive & check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 13
Sravasti / Lumbini
After breakfast drive to Lumbini (6hrs). Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal.
Arrive & check-in at the hotel.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 14
Lumbini / Kathmandu
After Breakfast, Depart to Kathmandu by Flight.
Arriving at the Kathmandu transfer to Hotel Kathmandu City: Known as Kantipur, the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal.
Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Kasthamandap, the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and the Durbar Square ate with its an array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient place of the Nepalese Royalty. Swayambhunath: - Located approximately 4 km/2.5 miles. Buddhist stupa is said to be 2000 years old.
The stupa, which forms the main structure, is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 15
Kathmandu
After breakfast proceeds for Patan - 20 km from Kathmandu - the city with thousands of golden rooftops where they made the film "Little Buddha," A famous ancient town of Kathmandu valley.
Overnight stay at the hotel.
Day 16
Kathmandu / Delhi Departure By Flight After breakfast, transfer to Kathmandu airport. Arrive Delhi - proceed for a city tour of OLD DELHI visiting Jama Masjid. At the Chandni Chowk board cycle rickshaws and see the sights & sounds of this busy street with its quaint shops & ancient gateways. After the Lunch tour of NEW DELHI - drive past the stately government buildings of the British era designed by Lutyen's, including the India Gate & the Presidential Palace. Continue onto the beautiful Humayun's tomb of the Mughal era & after that, visit the towering minaret of Qutab Minar. After dinner, transfer to IGI airport to catch flight for onward journey.
Inclusion
Accommodation on Double / Twin Sharing Basis as Per Package Selected. Daily Breakfast.
All Sightseeing as per Itinerary.
All Transportation and Sightseeing by A/C Vehicle
All permit fees & hotel taxes (as per itinerary).
Exclusion
Any personal expenses or optional tours.
Any extra meals ordered.
Tips, Insurance, Laundry, Porterage, and Phone calls.
Any Drinks (Alcoholic, Mineral, Aerated) excluded from the package.
Cost incidental to any change in the itinerary or stay on account of flight cancellation due to bad weather or ill health, or roadblocks and any factors beyond the control.
Any services not mentioned in the inclusion list.
Terms
Booking rates are subject to change without prior notice.
All transfers and sightseeing shall be provided by an exclusive vehicle unless otherwise specified.
Tour-programme is subject to change depending upon circumstances.
Nufly Tours reserve the right to modify the itinerary at any point of time, due to many reasons including but not limited to force majeure events, strikes, fairs, festivals, weather conditions, traffic problems, flights, cancellation (or) re-routing of flights, closure (or) entry restrictions at a place of a visit, etc. In the occurrence of any unfortunate events, we will do our best to make suitable alternate arrangements. (Note: We would not be held liable for any refunds/compensation claims arising out of this.)
The cost of deviation and extension of your ticket validity is not included in the package.
Please refer to our cancellation policies for the refund details.
For all disputes of whatsoever, nature relating to the tours marketed/coordinated by NUFLY Tours. The courts in the state of Tamil Nadu shall alone have jurisdiction, and the Laws of the Republic of India shall apply.
Cancellation
25 % of the package cost will be charged if cancelled before 20 days of the departure date.
50 % of the package cost if cancelled before 15 days of the departure date.
75 % of the package cost if cancelled before 8 days of the departure date.
No Refund to avail if cancelled before 7 days of the departure date.