8 Days Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour in North India

After you arrive at Delhi Airport, your Tour Manager from Tusk Travel will greet you with a warm welcome. They will then guide you to your pre-booked hotel and present you with all the essential documents related to your tour. Your Tour Manager will also provide a brief overview of your itinerary for the upcoming days.

Once you check in to your hotel, you will have the rest of the day to unwind and become familiar with your new surroundings. Feel free to take it easy and get acclimated at your own pace. Your overnight stay will be at the hotel.

In the morning, you will depart from Delhi to Lucknow via flight or train. After arriving in Lucknow, you will be chauffeured to Shravasti, which is approximately 170 kilometers away.

Shravasti is a historical city that was once the capital of Kosala Mahajanapada. It is also known as Sahet-Mahet and is famous for Lord Buddha's supernatural feats, including his depiction of sitting on a lotus. Additionally, Shravasti is associated with other stories related to Buddha, and it is said that he spent 24 rainy seasons there.

Upon reaching Shravasti, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will be spending the night.

Following breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on a sightseeing tour of Sahet Mahet, which was once the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Kosala, Jetvana Vihar, and the various Buddhist temples located there.

After the tour, you will proceed to Lumbini, which is located in Nepal and is approximately 225 kilometers away from Shravasti. Upon arriving in Lumbini, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will be spending the night.

Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. It is also recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

After breakfast, you will embark on a sightseeing tour of Lumbini. The tour will cover various places of interest such as the Mayadevi temple, the Ashokan Pillar, various Buddhist temples, the Pushkarni (sacred pool), the sanctum sanctorum of Buddha's birthplace, and various stupas.

Following the tour, you will continue your journey to another sacred Buddhist site, Kushinagar, which is located 161 kilometers away. Upon arriving in Kushinagar, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will spend the night.

Kushinagar is known as the place of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, which refers to his final bowing out. It is a significant pilgrimage site for Buddhists and has many important historical and religious sites to visit.

The following morning, you will visit the Mahaparinirvana temple and the Ramabhar Stupa, which is the cremation place of Lord Buddha. After the visit, you will enjoy breakfast before embarking on a 260-kilometer drive to Varanasi.

Upon reaching Varanasi, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will be staying overnight. Varanasi is a vibrant and colorful city that is regarded as one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. It is renowned for its sacred ghats (steps) leading to the Ganges River, which are frequented by pilgrims from all over India and the world.

In the early morning, you will embark on a boat ride on the Ganges River from the Ganga Ghats, where you will witness bathing and cremation rituals. Following breakfast, you will go on a city tour of Varanasi. The tour includes visits to the Bharat Mata temple, the Banaras Hindu University, the Vishwanath temple, and other places of interest.

After the city tour, you will leave Varanasi for Bodhgaya, which is located 242 kilometers away, via Sarnath. Sarnath is the place where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, and it is home to numerous attractions such as the Buddhist temple, stupas, archaeological museum, and ancient ruins.

Upon arriving in Bodhgaya, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you will be spending the night. Bodhgaya is a significant place for Buddhists as it is where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi Tree.

After having breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Mahabodhi temple and other significant monuments and edifices associated with Buddhism. Following the visit, you will be driven to Patna via Rajgir and Nalanda.

Rajgir holds great importance for Buddhists and Jains, as Lord Buddha spent 12 years here, and the first Buddhist council was held here. During your sightseeing in Rajgir, you will visit the Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara Jail, and other Jain and Buddha monuments. After Rajgir, you will proceed to Nalanda, which is located 14 km away.

Nalanda was a prominent center of learning in ancient times and was one of the greatest monastic universities in the world. During your visit to Nalanda, you will see the ruins of Nalanda University, temples, and stupas. From Nalanda, you will head to Patna, which is 90 km away.

Upon reaching Patna, you will be transferred to the railway station/airport to connect to your train/flight to Delhi.

After completing your tour of Buddhist pilgrimage sites, you will return to Delhi.

From there, you will be transferred to the international airport for your onward journey.