The Buddhist Circuit Tour comprises of the four places that were extremely significant in the life of Buddha– the place where he was born, attained Enlightenment, preached first Sermon and then reached Nirvana. Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar are important places in the Buddhist Circuits that are linked to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. Along with these, there are various other important sites too where Buddha had travelled to, during his lifetime.
The teachings of Lord Buddha became popular after King Ashoka of India, embarked on a journey where he visited the important sites following the Footsteps of Lord Buddha. These places include Lumbini in Nepal and Bodhgaya, Sarnath as well as Kushinagar in India.
Day 01 Arrive Delhi (By Flight)
Arrive Delhi airport. Our representative will be at the airport to welcome you. Further he will transfer to the prebooked hotel and will assist you till check in. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 02 Delhi – Varanasi (By Flight)
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Delhi includes Raj Ghat Cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar & India Gate War Memorial. Drive past President House & Parliament House.
PM: Flight to Varanasi.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Delhi- India’s capital and a major gateway to the country. New Delhi also reflects the legacy the British left behind. The division between New & Old Delhi is the distinction between the capitals of the British & the Moghuls respectively.
Day 03 Varanasi
Early Morning boat tour on River Ganges to visit Bathing Ghats, return to hotel for breakfast.
City tour of Varanasi visiting various temples and noted Banaras Hindu University. Afternoon excursion to Sarnath. It was here that the Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon and set in motion the wheel of law of Buddhist faith. Evening visit river Ganga Ghat to attend the holy Aarti.
Overnight at hotel.
Varanasi: It has been known as Kashi and Banaras, its present name is a restoration of the ancient name meaning the city between the two rivers Varun and Asi. The internal city id one of the most important pilgrimages sites in India. Situated on the bank of the sacred river Ganges, Kashi , Vishwanath temple. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is popularly known as the Golden Temple due to the Golden Plating done on its 15.5 meter high spire.
Day 04 Varanasi – Bodhgaya (By Road) (250 Kms. / 5 hrs. appx.)
In the morning after breakfast drive to Bodhgaya.
On arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Later, visit Bodhgaya.
Overnight in the hotel.
Day 05 Bodhgaya
Buddha – BodhgayaAfter breakfast Sightseeing of Bodhgaya. Here under the Bodhi Tree, Shakyamuni Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, “the Enlightened one” the profounder of one of the great religious of the world. River Nirajnana in which the Buddha bathed after attaining elightment flows quietly outside the tiny hamlet. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Day 06 Bodhgaya – Patna (By Road) (115 Kms. / 3 hrs. appx)
In the morning after breakfast, drive to Patna. Enroute visit Nalanda and Rajgir.
On arrival, city tour of Patna.
Overnight stay in the hotel.
Nalanda and Rajgir. Nalanda-a great center of Buddhist learning and one of the most famed university citadels of ancient times. Rajgir was once the ancient capital of the powerful kingdom of Maghada. From the out skirts of Rajgir, a historic road leads to Gridha – Kuta or vultures peak where the Buddha preached, here the first Buddhist Council was held after the Lord’s Mahaparinirvana.
Patna- is the capital of Bihar and is located on the southern parts of the Ganges. Patna also flaunts immense historical significance and was the center of art and culture during the ancient times. There are many tourist attractions in Patna to catch a glimpse of, some of the prominent ones being.
Visit: Hanuman Mandir. Kumhrar, Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb, Golghar, Patna Museum, Patna Planetarium.
Day 07 Patna – Kushinagar (By Road) (224 Kms. / 5 hrs. appx.)
After breakfast drive to Kushinagar.
Upon arrival visit Kushinagar. Later transfer to the hotel for overnight stay.
Kushinagar- Nirvana Temple: Set in a leafy park at the heart of Kushinagar, the Nirvana Stupa, dating back to the reign of Kumaragupta I 413-55AD, enshrines. Japanese Temple: Built by the Atago Isshin World Buddhist Cultural Association, it consists of a single circular chamber, housing a golden image of the Buddha. Rambhar Stupa: About 1.5 km southeast of the Nirvana Temple, surrounded by rice, wheat and cane fields, lies at the Rambhar Stupa.
Day 08 Kushinagar – Lumbini (By Road) (120 Kms. / 2.5 hrs. appx.)
Morning visit Mahaparinirvana Temple and Rambhar Stupa. Later drive to Lumbini i.e. 170 kms or 4 hrs drive. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Later Sightseeing of Lumbini where the Lord Buddha was born. Visit the pillar raised by Emperor Ashok, In the twenty first year after his coronation at the birthplace. Overnight stay in the hotel.
Lumbini, the place where the Buddha was born in 623 BC, is situated in the Terai plains of southern Nepal. For those interested in the treasury of cultural and archaeological riches, Lumbini is the perfect place to be there with a number of stupa, monasteries, meditation centers and bahals courtyard, no other place evokes the time and aura of the Buddha like Lumbini.
Day 09 Lumbini – Sravasti (By Road) (155 Kms. / 4.5 hrs. appx.)
After early breakfast, drive to Sravasti. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel. Later proceed for the sight seeing visit Sravasti Sahet-Mahet capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala, an active centre for Buddhism. Overnight at hotel.
Saravasti- This was one of the largest cities in India at the time of the Buddha, and today is the small village of Sahetha-Mahetha, There are few places to see in Saravasti and most of them are associated with the Buddha. The prominent among them is the Jetavana. Angulimala: The dreaded dacoit Angulimal, who used to wear necklace of fingers that were chopped from his victims. Monasteries: There are few Chinese, Tibetan and Thai monasteries, which are a delight to watch. The beautiful among all is the Thai Monastery.
Day 10 Sravasti – Lucknow (By Road) (164 Kms. / 4 hrs. appx.)
Morning free for lsiure. Later drive to Lucknow.
On arrival, city tour of Lucknow. Overnight in Lucknow.
Lucknow- The legacy of the imperial splendor of Lucknow has always fascinated people all over the world. The ambience of Awadh has commonly been associated with the leisurely habits, etiquette, architecture, food and refinement, the residues of Nawabi culture. Place to visit here Bara Imambara, Chota Imamabad Rumi Darwaza, Shah Najaf Imambara, the Residency.
Day 11 Lucknow – Agra (By Train)
Morning train to Agra. On arrival, meet assist and transfer to the hotel.
Later: Half- day city tour of Agra. Overnight in Agra.
Day 12 Agra – Delhi (By Road) (205 Kms. / 4 hrs. appx.)
In the morning after breakfast, city tour of Agra.
Evening, drive to Delhi.
Overnight in Delhi.
Agra -Historians suggest Agra to be the Agravana in the epic Mahabharata. It is expected to be known as Agralapura during the medieval age. An archaeological fact pushes the existence of Agra back to three million years. The Lodhi dynasty ruled over Agra for a long time. It was in the onset of the sixteenth century that the Mughals took over the ruling of Agra from the hands of Lodhis.
Taj Mahal Shah Jahan the great emperor and a great builder constructed Taj Mahal in the loving memory of his beloved wife Anjuman Bano Begum. Shah Jahan met this beautiful girl in his young age and later gets married with her. Red Fort – The construction of the Agra fort was started around 1565 when the initial structures were built by Akbar.
Day 13 Depart Delhi (By Flight)
Early morning transfer to the airport for flight back home.
| City | Night(s) | 5* Hotels |
| Delhi | 01 | Radisson Blu |
| Varanasi | 02 | Radisson Blu |
| Bodhgaya | 02 | Bodhgaya Regency |
| Patna | 01 | Hotel Patliputra |
| Kushinagar | 01 | Lotus Nikko |
| Lumbini | 01 | Hokke Hotel |
| Sravasti | 01 | Lotus Nikko |
| Lucknow | 01 | The Piccadily |
| Agra | 01 | Radisson Blu |
| Delhi | 01 | Radisson Blu |
– Welcome on arrival with fresh flower garlands
– Meet assist at airport
– 12 Nights hotel accommodation as per the program.
– Daily Breakfast and Dinner.
– All Transfers, Sightseeing and Excursions as per itinerary by private vehicle
– Air-ticket Delhi – Varanasi in economy class.
– A/C chair car Train ticket for Lucknow – Agra.
– Entrance fees to monuments.
– Local English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Chinese / Russian speaking guide.
– Transport, Parking, Gasoline & Toll ways
– All taxes.
– Tips
– International Air Fare
– Visa Fees
– Travel Insurance
– Personal expenses and drinks.
– Accommodation in good hotels.
– Check-in / out time is 12 noon at most of the hotels.
– Extension to other places is also possible with a minimal extra cost.
– Additional nights are available at each place with minimal supplement.
– A visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
– If quoted hotel is not available, we will provide one of a similar category and standard.
– Small deviations in the tour program are sometimes necessary, depending on weather, road conditions, flight schedules and room availability.
– In case the government changes presently applicable taxes, increase in airlines prices, fuel surcharge our rates will need to be adjusted accordingly.
– In Asia, there is no relevance between the distance and time of travelling, as it depends upon the condition of the roads and congestion of the traffic.
– While every effort will be made to maintain the itinerary, in view of local strikes etc that are beyond our control all schedule and itineraries are subject to last moment changes.
– Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
– In Case of issuing Domestic or International air tickets, SGV is not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.