Upon arrival at New Delhi airport, our representative will be there to greet you and then take you to the accommodation. After check-in formalities, rest of the day will be free for your own leisure activities.
Overnight at Hotel in New Delhi

Meal plan: Breakfast only

After breakfast, today will be a full day local tour around New Delhi and Old Delhi. Visit Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, later drive pass to Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate.

Post lunch at Delhi local city restaurant, proceed for Old Delhi sightseeing tour visit Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and drive pass to Red Fort, an optional can be taking a short rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk spice market and shop some souvenirs.
Overnight at Hotel in New Delhi.

Meal Plan: Breakfast only

After breakfast, check out from hotel and drive to Jaipur, en route visit Rail Museum at Rewari and enjoy your Tea / Coffee Snacks.

Upon arrival at Jaipur check-in to your hotel for night stay. Rest of the day free for your own leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel in Jaipur.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Jaipur: Jaipur is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Also known as the Pink City, due to the dominant color scheme of its buildings. It is located 268 km (167 miles) from the national capital New Delhi. 

Jaipur is a popular tourist destination in India and forms a part of the west Golden Triangle tourist circuit along with Delhi and Agra (240 km, 149 mi).^[11] It also serves as a gateway to other tourist destinations in Rajasthan such as Jodhpur (348 km, 216 mi), Jaisalmer (571 km, 355 mi), Udaipur (421 km, 262 mi), Kota (252 km, 156 mi) and Mount Abu (520 km, 323 mi). 

On 6 July 2019, UNESCO World Heritage Committee inscribed Jaipur the ‘Pink City of India’ among its World Heritage Sites.^[12] The city is also home to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar.

After breakfast, proceed for full day guided tour of Jaipur, visit Amber Fort with Elephant ride / Jeep ride (Optional tour to Nahargarh Fort and Jaigarh Fort if time permits), visit City Palace, Jantar Mantar and drive pass to Jal Mahal and Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds) and Birla Temple.

After finishing your sightseeing tour, later free for shopping or drive back to your hotel for night stay.
Overnight at hotel in Jaipur

Meal plan:  Breakfast only.

After breakfast, later check out and drive to Agra,  en route visit to Fatehpur Sikri, the oldest deserted town built by Mughal Kingdom in 1571 and built by red stone, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, Buland Darwaza, Diwane e Khas and Pancrh Mahal. Later continue drive to Agra. Upon arrival at Agra check-in to your hotel for night stay.
Overnight at hotel in Agra.

Meal plan:  Breakfast only.

Early morning before breakfast, Sunrise visit the world’s most popular and beautiful monument Taj Mahal and Mehtab Bagh.

After finishing your guided tour to Taj Mahal, later get back to your hotel for breakfast and refresh, check-out from hotel and  proceed for guided tour to Agra, visit Agra Fort (Moti Masjid, Octagonal Tower, Jahangir Palace, Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas), Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb and Jama Masjid.

After the tour, continue drive to New Delhi. Upon arrival, check-in to your accommodation. Overnight stay in New Delhi.

Meal plan:  Breakfast only.

Taj mahal: The Taj Mahal, literally means ‘ crown of the palace’ is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658) to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.

Today, after an early breakfast, we will catch a morning flight to Varanasi. 

Later proceed for guided tour to Varanasi visit, Tulsi Manas Temple, Durga Temple, Shri Vishwanath and Sankat Mochan Temple are the four famous temples in Varanasi.

Experience the Ganges Aarti ceremony in the evening which is performed at the banks of the Ghat.
Overnight at hotel in Varanasi.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Varanasi: Varanasi, also known as Benaras, is a city in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh dating to the 11th century B.C. Regarded as the spiritual capital of India, the city draws Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges River’s sacred waters and perform funeral rites. Along the city’s winding streets are some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath, the “Golden Temple,” dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.

Varanasi grew as an important industrial centre famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism here around 528 BCE when he gave his first sermon, “The Setting in Motion of the Wheel of Dharma“, at nearby Sarnath.

Early morning boat ride at River Ganges and  drive back to your hotel and enjoy the breakfast.

Post breakfast, proceed for guided tour to Sarnath, an important site for the Buddhist pilgrims, visit the Dhamek Stupa, the Archaeological museum and the Chaukhandi Stupa. Rest of the day free for your own leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel in Varanasi.

Meal plan:  Breakfast only.

Sarnath: Sarnath is a place located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The Deer Park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna.

Also referred to as Isipatana, this city is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage to which his devout followers should visit. It was also the site of the Buddha’s Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which was his first teaching after attaining enlightenment, in which he taught the four noble truths and the teachings associated with it.

After breakfast, check out from accommodation and drive to Bodhgaya. Upon arrival at Bodhgaya check-in and refresh yourself at the hotel, later proceed for half day guided tour to Bodhgaya, visit Mahabodhi Temple, Sujata Village, Niranjana river, 80ft high lord Buddha Statue & Various international monasteries.
Overnight at hotel in Bodhgaya.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Bodhgaya: Bodh Gaya is a religious site and place of pilgrimage associated with the Mahabodhi Temple Complex in Gaya district in the Indian state of Bihar. It is famous as it is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained Enlightenment (Pali: bodhi) under what became known as the Bodhi Tree. Since antiquity, Bodh Gaya has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration both for Hindus and Buddhists.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha, the other three being Kushinagar, Lumbini, and Sarnath. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple, located in Bodh Gaya, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After breakfast, later check out from hotel and drive to Patna, en route visit to Rajgir & Nalanda, visit Gridhkutta (Vulture ‘s peak), World Peace Stupa, Venuvanaram & Bimbisar Prison at Rajgir.

After lunch at Rajgir, later drive to Nalanda to visit the ruins of world ancient University. It was one of the oldest Universities of the World & International Centre for Buddhist Studies.

Upon arrival at Patna check in your hotel for night stay. Rest of the day free for your own leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel in Patna.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Nalanda: Nalanda University (also known as Nalanda International University) is an international and research-intensive university located in the historical city of Rajgir, in Bihar, India.It was established by an Act of Parliament to emulate the famous ancient university of Nalanda, which functioned between the 5th and 13th centuries. The idea to resurrect Nalanda University was endorsed in 2007 at the East Asia Summit, represented mostly by Asian countries including China, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam, apart from Australia and New Zealand, and as such, the university is seen as one of the flagship projects of the Government of India. 

It was an eminent centre of learning long before Oxford, Cambridge and Europe’s oldest university Bologna were founded. Nalanda University in northern India drew scholars from all over Asia, surviving for hundreds of years before being destroyed by invaders in 1193.

Nalanda’s traditional history dates to the time of the Buddha (6th–5th centuries bce) and Mahavira, the founder of the Jaina religion. According to a later Tibetan source, Nagarjuna (the 2nd–3rd-century ce Buddhist philosopher) began his studies there.

Today morning after breakfast, later check out from hotel and drive to Kushinagar, en route visit to Vaishali, Vaishali is a very special place to Buddhists as The Lord delivered his last sermon and announced his impending Nirvana. See the majesty of Ashok Pillar, Lotus Tank and Chaumukhi. Later drive to Kushinagar, Upon arrival at Kushinagar check-in to your hotel for night stay.
Overnight at hotel in Kushinagar.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Kushinagar: Kushinagar is a town in the Kushinagar district of the Indianstate of Uttar Pradesh. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death. It is an international Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The followers of Buddhism, especially from Asian countries, wish to visit this place at least once in their lifetime. 

Parinirvana Stupa

The reclining Nirvana statue of the Buddha is inside the Parinirvana Stupa. The statue is 6.10 metres long and is made of monolith red sandstone. It represents the “Dying Buddha” reclining on his right side with his face towards the west. It is placed on a large brick pedestal with stone-posts at the corners.

Nirvana Chaitya (Main Stupa)

Nirvana Chaitya]is located just behind the Main Parinirvana Temple. It was excavated by Carlleyle in the year 1876. During excavations, a copper plate was found, which contained the text of the “Nidana-Sutra” which concluded the statement that plate had been deposited in the Nirvana-Chaitya by one Haribala, who also installed the great Nirvana Statue of Buddha in the temple front.

Ramabhar Stupa

Ramabhar Stupa, also called a Mukutbandhan-Chaitya, is the cremation place of Buddha. This site is 1.5 km east of the main Nirvana Temple on the Kushinagar-Deoria road.

Matha Kuar Shrine

A colossal statue of Lord Buddha is installed, which is carved out of one block which represents Buddha seated under the “Bodhi Tree” in a pose known as “Bhumi Sparsh Mudra” (Earth touching attitude). The inscription at the base of statue is datable to the 10th or 11th century A.D.

Other major places

• Indo-Japan-Sri Lanka Temple: Indo-Japan-Sri Lanka temple is a marvel of Buddhist architectural grandeur of modern times.
• Wat Thai Temple: It is a huge complex built in a typical Thai-Buddhist architectural fashion.
• Ruins and brick structures: These are located around the main Nirvana Temple and Main Stupa. These are the remains of various monasteries of different sizes constructed from time to time in the ancient period.
• Several museums, meditation parks and several other temples based on architecture of various eastern countries.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has proposed the Kushinagar-Sarnath Buddha Expressway to connect Buddhist pilgrimage towns. The expressway will be around 200 km long and will reduce the distance from both town from Seven hours to one and half hours.

Today morning after breakfast at hotel, check-out from accommodation and proceed for half day guided tour to Kushinagar, visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (where Buddha took his last breathe) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha) and Japan Temple. Later afternoon drive to Lumbini. Upon arrival at Lumbini check-in to your hotel for night stay.
Overnight at hotel in Lumbini.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Lumbini: Lumbinī is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.

Lumbini has a number of older temples, including the Mayadevi Temple, and various new temples, funded by Buddhist organisations from various countries, have been completed or are still under construction. Many monuments, monasteries and a museum, and the Lumbini International Research Institute are also within the holy site. Also, there is the Puskarini, or Holy Pond, where the Buddha’s mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms.

Lumbini was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.

Today morning after breakfast at hotel, later visit the holy birth place of Lord Buddha. Later check out from hotel and drive to Shravasti, en route visit to Kapilvastu. If time permits, we visit Sahet and Maheth in Shravasti. Upon arrival at Shravasti check-in to your hotel for night stay.
Overnight at hotel in Shravasti.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

Shravasti: Shravasti was a city of ancient India and one of the six largest cities in India during Gautama Buddha‘s lifetime. The city was located in the fertile Gangetic plains in the present-day district of the same name, Shravasti.

Shravasti is located near the West Rapti River and is closely associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have spent 24 Chaturmases here. Age-old stupas, majestic viharas and several temples near the village of “Sahet-Mahet” establish Buddha’s association with Shravasti. It is said that the Vedic period king, Shravasta, founded this town.

After an early breakfast, check-out form accommodation and drive to Lucknow  airport to board the flight for New Delhi. Upon arrival at New Delhi check-in to your hotel for night stay. Rest of the day free for your own leisure activities.
Overnight at hotel in New Delhi.

Meal plan: Breakfast only.

After breakfast at hotel, we drop you at the airport or railway station. Bid Adieu. Until we meet again for another adventurous trip in with The Exotic Odyssey. Thank you for travelling with The Exotic Odyssey.