Buddhist Pilgrimage India — 16-Day Bus Tour, India
Buddhist Pilgrimage India — 16-Day Bus Tour
Overview
Sixteen days by coach through India's Buddhist heartland — beginning at the Great Stupa of Sanchi and the ruins of Kosambi, worshipping at Sarnath where the Buddha preached his first sermon, offering Sangika Dana and observing precepts beneath the Sri Maha Bodhi in Bodh Gaya, exploring Rajgir's Gijjhakuta Peak and the ruins of Nalanda University, and tracing the Buddha's final journey through Vaishali and Kushinagar to his birthplace at Lumbini in Nepal, before returning through Kapilavastu, Sravasti and Sankassa, with a stop at the Taj Mahal in Agra and the monuments of New Delhi.
Highlights
- Worship at the Great Stupa of Sanchi and the ancient ruins of Kosambi
- Offer Sangika Dana and observe precepts beneath the Sri Maha Bodhi in Bodh Gaya
- Join the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta chanting at the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Sarnath
- Visit Rajgir's Gijjhakuta Peak, Nalanda University and Vaishali's Kutagara Hall
- Trace the Buddha's final journey to Kushinagar and his birthplace at Lumbini, Nepal
- See the Taj Mahal in Agra and the monuments of New Delhi
Included
- Return flights between Katunayake and Bhopal, and New Delhi and Katunayake
- Air-conditioned coach travel throughout the pilgrimage
- Twin, triple or quad-sharing rooms with attached bathrooms
- Sri Lankan and Indian meals with bottled water
- Travel insurance
- All entrance fees
- Luggage and hand bag allowance
- Accompanying tour staff for your safety
Not included
- Passport, Indian and Nepal visa charges
- Any personal expenses — laundry, shopping, tips etc.
- Monument or camera fees not listed as included
- Meals other than specified
Gallery
Itinerary
Depart from Katunayake airport by flight to Bhopal, then transfer by road to Sanchi for an overnight stay.
Activities
- Flight to Bhopal
- Transfer to Sanchi
Explore and worship at the Great Stupa of Sanchi in detail, then travel by coach to Kosambi to visit the ruins of Ghositarama monastery, before continuing on to Varanasi.
Activities
- Sanchi Stupa worship
- Kosambi's Ghositarama ruins
- Drive to Varanasi
A morning of precepts and Sangika Dana with the whole Sangha community; worship at the Buddha's residence, the place where he met the five ascetics, and the site of the First Sermon; a visit to the Dharmapala Museum; and in the evening, join the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta chanting at the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara in Sarnath at 6pm.
Activities
- Precepts and Sangika Dana
- First Sermon site worship
- Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta chanting
Travel to Bodh Gaya, stopping at Sujata's village to worship at the site of her milk-rice offering and the place where the Buddha practised austerities before his enlightenment.
Activities
- Sujata village worship
- Place of austerities
- Drive to Bodh Gaya
A full day of ceremony at the Bodh Gaya pilgrim site — observing precepts at 6am, offering dana to the Maha Sangha and precept-holders at 7:30am, worshipping at the Vajrasana, the place of enlightenment, at 9am, a further dana offering at 11am, and the Bodhi Puja with precept observance beneath the Sri Maha Bodhi at 4:30pm.
Activities
- Precept observance
- Dana offerings to the Maha Sangha
- Vajrasana worship
- Bodhi Puja at Sri Maha Bodhi
Visit Rajgir's Gijjhakuta Peak (Vulture's Peak) and Saptaparni Cave, the site where King Bimbisara was imprisoned, the hot springs, Veluvanarama monastery, and the ancient ruins of Nalanda University.
Activities
- Gijjhakuta Peak
- Saptaparni Cave
- Nalanda University
Travel to Vaishali to visit the Kutagara Hall and the site where the Buddha's relics were enshrined, then continue to Kushinagar to worship at the Mancakaya, the place of the Parinibbana, offer robes at the cremation site, and visit Ananda Chaitya and other monuments.
Activities
- Kutagara Hall, Vaishali
- Parinibbana site worship
- Ananda Chaitya
Cross into Nepal to Lumbini, birthplace of Prince Siddhartha, and worship at the Lumbini pilgrim site.
Activities
- Border crossing to Nepal
- Lumbini pilgrimage worship
Visit the Nepal side of Kapilavastu, including the Tilaurakot ruins and the site of the royal palace, then explore the scenic foreign monasteries around the Lumbini pilgrim site.
Activities
- Tilaurakot ruins
- Royal palace site
- Foreign monasteries at Lumbini
Cross back into India to visit the Indian side of Kapilavastupura before continuing on to Sravasti.
Activities
- Kapilavastupura ruins
- Drive to Sravasti
Observe precepts and worship at the Jetavana Monastery pilgrim site, offer Sangika Dana, and visit Anathapindika's mansion, the place where the Angulimala Sutra was preached, and the site of the Twin Miracle.
Activities
- Jetavana Monastery worship
- Sangika Dana
- Anathapindika's mansion
Travel to Sankassa to worship at the site where the Buddha descended from Tavatimsa Heaven.
Activities
- Drive to Sankassa
- Sankassa pilgrimage worship
Visit Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal before continuing on to New Delhi.
Activities
- Agra Fort
- Taj Mahal
- Drive to New Delhi
Visit special sites around New Delhi, including the Kapilavastu relics on display and the city's landmark monuments.
Activities
- Kapilavastu relics viewing
- New Delhi city tour
A final free morning before transferring to Delhi airport for your return flight.
Activities
- Free time at leisure
- Airport transfer
Arrive back in Sri Lanka, concluding a pilgrimage across the sacred footsteps of the Buddha.
Activities
- Return flight
- Arrival in Colombo
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