Footmarks of Lord Buddha - PI-019
An amazing fable often heard of a wealthy prince, who left all the luxuries of life in search of the ultimate truth; he returned as an enlightened one and his preaching became the fastest widespread religions of the world. Lord Buddha''s life inspired many an artist who left behind an artistic heritage of immense beauty all over India. From the Stupa of Sanchi to the ruins of Nalanda and the ultimate caves of Ellora and Ajanta; Buddha''s preachings reached all over in India through the art form. Many travelers rave about Ajanta, saying it is the best thing they have seen in India.
Day 1: Mumbai
Monday, November 25, 2024 - Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Arrive at Mumbai international airport, met and greeted by our representative and transfer to hotel.Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 2: Mumbai
Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Morning half day city tour visiting
Prince of Wales Museum housing colection of Indo Saracenic architecture,flora fountain,Victoria Terminus, St Thomas Cathedral, Crawford market,Malabar hills and hanging garden. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 3: Mumbai - Aurangabad
Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Thursday, November 28, 2024
Morning after breakfast transfer to the airport to take the flight to Aurangabad. Met and greeted by our representative and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit
Ellora Caves. Ellora's shrines are not exclusively Buddhist, but of the Hindu and Jain faiths as well.These monolithic carvings are intricate and are carved from top to bottom. The most famous amongst these is the Kailash cave dedicated to Lord Shiva. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 4: Aurangabad - Bhopal
Thursday, November 28, 2024 - Friday, November 29, 2024
Morning after breakfastleave for
Ajanta caves visiting 2000 years old30 rock hewn caves where paintings recount the life of Lord Buddha and the tales of this prince's earthly experiences.The beautiful morals and the frescos still retain their colours and charms which attracts thousands of tourists.Late afternoon depart to Jalgaon railway station for Bhopal.Overnight in the train.
Day 5: Bhopal - Sanchi - Bhopal
Friday, November 29, 2024 - Saturday, November 30, 2024
Morning arrive at Bhopal and transfer to hotel.Afternoon excursion of Sanchi stupa. Sanchi is located near the ancient city of Bhopal in the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the city of the great Stupa, a dome shaped monument covering relics of Buddha, and the remains of a Buddhist monastery.Sanchi is a place of Buddhist Piligrimage. Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 6: Bhopal - Agra
Saturday, November 30, 2024 - Sunday, December 1, 2024
Afternoon transfer to railway station to depart for Agra by New Delhi Satabdhi Express. Arrive Agra and transfer to the hotel.Overnight stay at hotel.
Day 7: Agra
Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Monday, December 2, 2024
After breakfast visit Fatehpur - Sikri(40 kms. from Agra)-once the capital of Mughal Empire and abandoned after 15 years due to scarcity of water. Its fortifications and Palaces are in a wonderful state of preservation.Afternoon half day city tour visiting the World famous
Taj Mahal built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan in the year 1652 as a memorial for his beloved wife MumtazMahal.The grandeur called the Taj is perhaps the most photographed, filmed, described and sketched building of the world.
Taj Mahal is where fantasy coincides with reality in perfect harmony. An inspiration for innumerous artists over the centuries, the Taj is an ode to love. It took 22 years to create this jewel.Agra Fort built and renovated over the centuries, this massive fort gained recognition only during the Mughal reign. Tomb of Itmad-ud-daullah- built by Empress Noorjehan in the memory of her father.Overnight stay at Hotel.
Day 8: Agra - Varanasi
Monday, December 2, 2024 - Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Day at leisure. Evening transfer to the railway station for Varanasi by Madudhar Express. Overnight on board.
Day 9: Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 - Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Morning after breakfast Ghat tour of Varanasi. After early lunch drive down to Bodhgaya.On arrival check-in and overnight stay at hotel.
Day 10: Bodhgaya
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - Thursday, December 5, 2024
Full day sightseeing of Bodhgaya. Here under the Bodhi tree ( Tree of Awakening ). Shakyamuni Gautamaattained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the "Enlightened One", the propounder of one of the great religions of the world. The tree that stands today is believed to have grown from the original Peepal tree under which Lord Buddha meditated. River Niranjana in which the Buddha bathed after attaining enlightenment flows quietly outside the tiny hamlet where the story of Prince Siddhartha ended and the saga of the Buddha began. Overnight stay at Hotel
Day 11: Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna
Thursday, December 5, 2024 - Friday, December 6, 2024
Morning after breakfast drive to Patna. Enroute lunch in Rajgir at Hotel Hokke via Nalanda unversity ruins. Rajgir is 12 kms south of Nalanda on the road to Bodhgaya and is located in a verdant valley surrounded by rocky hills. It is sacred to the memory of founders of both Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha spent many months of retreat during the rainy season here and used to meditate and preach on the Griddhankuta, the hill of the Vultures. An aerial ropeway provides the link with a hilltop stupa built by the Japanese. One one of the hills is the cave of Saptparni, the first Buddhist Council was held. The Saptparni cave is also the source of the Rajgir hot water springs that have curative properties and are sacred to Hindus. Nalanda is famous as an ancient seat of learning and has the ruins of one of the world's most ancient university. Founded in the 5th Centuary AD, this great seat of learning flourished until the 12th Century. Both the founders of the two religions Buddhism and Jainism, the Buddha and Parsvanath Mahavir, visited Nalanda. The Chinese chronicler Huien Tsang spent many years here both as a student and as a teacher. Arrive Patna and check-in at Hotel for overnight stay.
Day 12: Patna - Delhi
Friday, December 6, 2024 - Saturday, December 7, 2024
Transfer to airport to depart for Delhi. Upon arrival transfer to city for sight seeing of New Delhi. Drive past President House,
Parliament House (House of Representatives) and
India Gate - War Memorial (stop for photography), Qutab Minar - 72.55 meters, high Victory Tower, onto
Bahai Temple (lotus temple) Humayun's Tomb- built of red sandstone and is a first substantial example of the Mughal architecture, Laxmi Narayan Temple - a modern Hindu temple built by the Birlas, leading Indian industrialists. Later after dinner at the city restaurant, departure transfer to airport to fly back home onward destination.
