ITINERARY 2
Day 2: Sightseeing tour of Lumbini-Kapilvastu-Ramgram Day 3: Drive to Kushinagar and sightseeing tour Day 4: Drive to Rajgir via Vaishali and Kesharia Day 5: Morning sightseeing of Nalanda and Rajgir, drive to Bodhgaya Day 6: Bodhgaya sightseeing; race briefing in the evening Day 7: Race Day Day 8: Fly to Varanasi to enjoy old Indian Kashi Arybarta civilization Day 9: Morning visit Sarnath, and afternoon depart for Delhi (sightseeing tour directly from the airport) Day 10: Depart for Taj Mahal and enjoy a sightseeing tour of Agra Fort and market Day 11: Return to Delhi for sightseeing; depart via night flight. DETAILED ITINERARY: Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and connecting flight to Lumbini Day 2: Sightseeing tour of Lumbini-Kapilvastu-Ramgram Day 3: Drive to Kushinagar and sightseeing tour Day 4: Drive to Rajgir via Vaishali and Kesharia Day 5: Morning sightseeing of Nalanda and Rajgir, drive to Bodhgaya Day 6: Bodhgaya sightseeing; race briefing in the evening Day 7: Race Day Day 8: Fly to Varanasi to enjoy old Indian Kashi Aryabarta civilization Day 9: Visiting Sarnath, afternoon depart for Delhi Day 10: Taj Mahal Excursion Day 11 : Return to Delhi for sightseeing; depart via night flight
Day 1: Arrival in Lumbini
Welcome to Nepal. Our representatives will be at the Kathmandu airport to welcome you and transfer to the domestic terminal for your flight to Lumbini. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred into your hotel. In the evening, our guide will take you to the Lumbini Sacred Garden to visit Mayadevi temple, view sunset over the temple and a short meditation session.
After breakfast, we will embark on a guided tour of Kapilvastu region – the home of Siddhartha Gautam. We will visit Gotihawa – the natal town of Krakuchhanda Buddha, Kudan – where the Buddha met his parents for the first time after his enlightenment,Tilaurakot – the palace of Shakya kings where Buddha spent 29 years of his life, Niglihawa – the natal town of Kanakmuni Buddha and Ramgram – where Buddha’s relic still remains intact. You will also walk, albeit briefly, on the Mayadevi Maternity Route – the very route used by Mayadevi to return to her palace after giving birth to Siddhartha Gautam.
We will enter India today. After breakfast, you will be taken to Nepal-India border point at Belahiya to start Indian leg of the Buddhist circuits. After completing immigration, customs and other formalities, you will be driven to Kushinagar – the place where the Buddha attained Maha Parinirvana or breathed his last. After freshening up in our hotel, we will tour Kushinagar area where there important monuments related to the life of Buddha.
Today, we will tour two magnificent stupas on the way to Rajgir. Kesariya is regarded as the largest stupa in Asia. It is bowl-shaped as it is believed that Prince Siddhartha Gautam asked his followers to return to his country by giving them his alm bowl. Next, we continue to Vaishali where the Buddha is believed to have performed one of his five miracles – receiving honey from a band of monkeys. Ashok Pillar, Buddha Stupa and World Peace Stupa and coronation pond are the places to visit in Vaishali.
After breakfast, we will drive toward Rajgir. This is the place where Buddha is believed to have performed second of his five principle miracles – subduing an angry elephant. Some of the attractions of Rajgir are: Vulture Peak, World Peace Stupa, and Ashoka Stupa. Then we move on to Nalanda. Nalanda is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It used to be renowned center of learning between 5th and 12th century. Nalanda University ruins, Sariputra Stupa and archaeological museum are some of the places to visit in Nalanda. Then you drive toward Bodh Gaya. After freshening up in our hotel, we will visit Mahabodhi Temple in the evening.
Today we will tour Dhugneshwari caves and Sujata village. It is believed that Siddhartha Gautam meditated for six years inside a cave in Dhungeshwari hills before starting last leg of his meditation under a Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. There is a statue of a frail Buddha in one of the caves. It is a perfect place for meditation. Next, we will drive to Bakror and visit Sujata Stupa and Sujata Temple. It is believed that Sujata offered rice pudding to the frail Siddhartha Gautam and advised him to take middle path approach for meditation. After visiting these sites, we return to the hotel. In the evening, attend the race briefing session.
Today, we will take afternoon flight to Varanasi and explore the ancient Kashi Aryabarta civilization. Visit the narrow alleys of Varanasi, the Ganges and its numerous ghats and several ancient temples.
We will visit Sarnath today. Sarnath is one of the four important sites in the life of Buddha as it was on this place that the Buddha delivered his first sermon post enlightenment. There is a manficient Dhambek Stupa and remains of Ashokan pillar. The pillar was topped by a magnificent capital which is know kept in a Kolakata museum. Lion capital is also the emblem of the Indian government. In the afternoon, we will fly to New Delhi and check into our hotel.
Today, we will visit Taj Mahal – one of the 7th wonders of the modern world, a monument of love and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will start early in the morning. The drive to Taj Mahal takes approximately three hours. We will visit Taj Mahal and Agra Fort and buy souvenirs for our friends and family back home. At around 5 pm, we will leave for New Delhi.
We will visit local attractions of New Delhi today. We will start the day with a visit to Mahatma Gadhi Samadhi where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. Then we will visit Qutub Minar built during the Mughar era. We then continue to the Red Fort, locally known as Lal Qilla, and also visit the markets of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi. We then drive you to the airport for your return flight.
