(13 Nights/ 14 Days)

Day 01: Arrive Kolkata

Meet and garland upon arrival in Kolkata. Transfer to Hotel by AC transport.

Overnight at hotel.

Day 02: Kolkata - Varanasi By Train

After breakfast city tour of Kolkata Visit Victoria Memorial, a splendid architectural structure in white marble, modeled on the Taj Mahal, was built in the early 20th century. In memory of Queen Victoria and was formally inaugurated by the Prince of Wales in 1921. Visit India Museum established in 1878. The musuem is built in Italian architectural style and is consideres as the largest museum of country which has six sections: Art, Archaeology, Anthropology, Geology, Zoology and Industry. Visit Mother Teressa House. After lunch board train for Varanasi at 1655 hrs.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 03: Varanasi – Sarnath - Varanasi

Arrive Varanasi at 0050 hrs, transfer to hotel.

Varanasi is famous for spiritualism, mysticism, Indian philosophy and Hinduism. All these are reflected in numerous sects, temples, Ashrams and Ghats.

Early morning enjoy the boatride on River Ganga. After breakfast drive to Sarnath and visit archaeological museum, Buddhist Stupas and temples at Sarnath. Later visit Bharat Mata Temple. Evening enjoy Aarti ceremony at Rive Ganges.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 04: Varanasi – Bodhgaya (275 Kms, 07 Hrs)

After breakfast drive to Boghgaya. After lunch visit Mahabodhi Temple include tall stone lotuses, figures of Buddha sitting in different postures on the walls, his footprints on the stones and a colossal golden Buddha in the sanctum sanctorum. The Bodhi Tree is situated in the premises of the temple, is the one under which Buddha attained illumination.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 05: Bodhgaya - Rajgir – Nalanda - Patna (120 Kms)

After breakfast drive to Patna enroute visit Rajgir, 120 kms from Bodhgaya. Visit Griddhkuta “Hill of Vultures”, where Buddha delivered some of his most famous sermons. On the top of hill can visit Shanti Stupa. Visit Saptparni caves where first Buddha Council was held which is also the source of Rajgir’s hot springs, visit Venuvana, first Buddhist monastry ever given to Buddha by King Bimbisar.

Then after lunch take a 20 kms drive to Nalanda, founded in the 5th century B.C. Visit an archeological museum houses the Nalanda University seal, sculptures and other remains found on the site. Then drive to Patna , 90 kms from Rajgir and check in Hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 06: Patna - Vaishali - Kushinagar

Morning drive to Kushinagar enroute visiting Vaishali, where the Lord Buddha preached his last sermon. The excavations carried out in Vaishali have brought to light Buddha stupa 1 and 11 (14th century B.C) built in brick with a casket containing part of ashes of Buddha. Visit Ashok Pillar, erected by Emperor Ashok to commemorate the spot of the last sermon.

Proceed to Kushinagar, appr. 250 kms from Vaishali and check in Hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 07: Kushinagar - Lumbini (180 Kms/05 Hrs)

Morning visit Kushinagar, one of the major Buddhist pilgrimage destinations as Lord Buddha attained Parinirvana or final Nirvana here. Visit Mahaparinirvana Stupa, which built on the spot where Lord Buddhat passed away or cremated. Visit Nirvana temple that houses the 6 m reclining statue of Lord Buddha which represents the last moments of his life before the Mahaparinirvana.

After lunch drive to Lumbini and check in Hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 08: Lumbini - Sravasti (225 Kms/05 Hrs)

After breakfast visit The Birth Place of Lord Buddha - Lumbini.

Visit Lumbini Park where located Ashok Pillar carries the inscription - where the Buddha was born; Mayadevi temple devoted to the mother of Lord Buddha which housed a stone picture of giving birth to Lord Buddha. Visit China temple which is beautiful pagoda style temple with many prayer and meditation cells.

After Lunch drive to Sravasti and check in Hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 09: Sravasti - Lucknow – Agra (Train 13239) 2355/0545

After breakfast visit Sravasti where the Lord Buddha preached after the enlightment. Visit The Ananda Bodhi tree where Lord Buddha meditated for a night, visit Jetavan where Lord Buddha performed some miracle.

After lunch drive to Lucknow. Arrive Lucknow and have dinner. After dinner board train for Agra at 2355 hrs.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10: Agra

Arrive Agra at 0545 hrs. After breakfast visit Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World; build by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaj. The Taj Mahal is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture.

After lunch visit Agra's Red Fort, built over three generations by the Moghul emperor. Its walls & palaces are silent witnesses to the rise and falls of the Imperial Moghul Empire.

Day 11: Lumbini - Sravasti (225 Kms/05 Hrs)

Morning catch train to Bhopal. After arrival have lunch and then drive to Sanchi 1 hr drive to see Sanchi Stupa.

The Stupa at Sanchi is one the most wonderful structures of ancient India. Around the main Stupa, there is a path for circumambulation. This path is enclosed by a railing with gates at each of the four directions. The railings and gates of the Sanchi Stupa are richly sculptured with different motifs and designs. Another interesting characteristic about the Sanchi Stupa is that Lord Buddha has been symbolically represented by footprints, wheels, thrones etc rather than by his own image. The gateways of Sanchi stupas contain ornamented depiction of incidents from the life of the Buddha and his previous incarnations as Bodhisattvas described in the Jataka tales. The Buddha has been shown symbolically in the form of tree or through other inanimate figures.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 12: Bhopal – Bhusawal - Aurangabad (Train No 12628) 0700/1300 Hrs

Morning board train to Bhusawal. After arrival have lunch and drive to visit Ellora Caves.

The Ellora Caves are an impressive complex of Buddhist, Hindu and Jain cave temples built between the 6th and 10th centuries AD near the ancient Indian village of Ellora. The caves have a slightly less dramatic setting than those at Ajanta, but more exquisite sculptures. Ellora is a World Heritage Site and the most visited ancient monument in Maharashtra State.

After visit Ellora caves drive to Aurangabad and check in hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13: Aurangabad

After breakfast full day city tour of Aurangabad. Visit Daultabad Fort, which was build in 12th century on top of a hill. The Daulatabad fort emerges dramatically over 600 ft above the Deccan plain.

Visit Ajanta caves. Ajanta is world's greatest historical monument recognised by UNESCO far near from Jalgaon city of Maharashtra, India. There are 30 caves in Ajanta. These caves were discovered in AD 1819 and were built up in the earlier 2nd century BC-AD. Most of the paintings in Ajanta are right from 2nd century BC-AD and some of them about the fifth century AD and continued for the next two centuries. All paintings shows heavy religious influence and centre around Buddha, Bodhisattvas, incidents from the life of Buddha and the Jatakas. The paintings are executed on a ground of mud-plaster in the tempera technique.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 14: Aurangabad – Mumbai By Flight, Mumbai – Kolkata by flight

Morning fly to Mumbai. After arrival transfer to Hotel. Afternoon visit Gateway of India, visit Victoria terminus, Prince of Wales museum crowned by a sparkli ng white dome. It boasts a good collection of ancient Indus Valley artifacts dating back to 2000 BC, plus some priceless Tibetan and Nepali Art. There is an entire gallery devoted to Buddhist tankha scrolls and another to Tibetan bronzes, but the chief attraction here is the collection of over 2000 miniature paintings from the various art schools of India. Later board flight for Kolkata.

Arrive Kolkata and have dinner then drop at International airport to connect next destination.