Varanasi

Varanasi City Walk with Rahul - Begin your day with a 6 AM pickup from your hotel by a local guide for a sunrise boat tour. Experience the spiritual and cultural essence of the ghats, then return to the hotel for breakfast. Later, visit the ancient holy temples, and in the evening, witness the magnificent Ganga Aarti, a religious and spiritual ceremony performed every evening along the Ghats of the Ganges River in Varanasi.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple - The Vishwanath Temple, a renowned Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in Vishwanath Gali, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India. Situated on the western bank of the sacred Ganga River, it is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the most revered Shiva temples. The main deity is known as Shri Vishwanath and Vishweshwara, meaning Lord of the Universe. Varanasi, once called Kashi, gives the temple its popular name, Kashi Vishwanath Temple. It is a central place of worship in Shaiva culture according to Hindu scriptures. The temple was demolished several times by Muslim rulers, most recently by Aurangzeb, who built the Gyanvapi Mosque on its site. The current structure was built nearby by Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore in 1780.

Ganga Aarti - Attending a Ganga Aarti is a unique experience. This spiritually uplifting ceremony is performed daily to honor the River Goddess Ganga. As dusk falls, the ghats of the River Ganga host a spectacular ceremony. Diyas, chants, incense, flowers, and musical instruments create an atmosphere of divine bliss. The aarti ritual holds great religious significance, with fire offered to the river. Witnessing the event is essential to appreciate its grandeur. A complete guide for Ganga Aarti will be provided.

Bharat Mata Temple - Bharat Mata Temple is a top tourist attraction in Varanasi, located on the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus. Unlike other temples adorned with deities, this temple features a map of unified India at its center, offering a unique experience.

Shivala Ghat - Assi Ghat, one of Varanasi’s most famous ghats, is located in the southern part of the holy city. It is a popular tourist destination near Varanasi, mentioned in Hindu texts like the Kurma Purana and the Matsya Purana. It is ideal for recreational activities and immersing oneself in the spiritual atmosphere of Varanasi.

Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple - The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient yet restored Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. It marks the site where Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment.

Great Buddha Statue - The 80ft Buddha statue is a significant stop on the Buddhist pilgrimage and tourist routes in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Made of sandstone blocks and red granite, it is possibly the largest in India, consecrated on 18 November 1989 by the 14th Dalai Lama. The foundation stone was laid in 1982.

Thai Monastery - The Thai Monastery, Wat Thai Buddhagaya, was established in 1956 by the Thai government at the request of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to strengthen ties between the two countries. Built to propagate Buddhist philosophies, it is the only Thai Temple in India. Known for its exceptional architecture and beauty, it resembles Bangkok temples with a richly gilt and ornamental design. The temple houses a beautifully carved bronze statue of Lord Buddha, and a 25 m high statue of Lord Buddha was recently built in the garden.

Royal Bhutan Monastery - The Royal Bhutan Monastery in Bodhgaya, Bihar, is a magnificent Buddhist monastery featuring clay carvings depicting important events from Gautam Buddha’s life. Constructed by the King of Bhutan as a tribute to Lord Buddha, the monastery impresses with its splendid architecture, serenity, and a seven-foot-tall Buddha statue. Visitors from around the world seek peace here, believing that monks’ spiritual quests benefit the community.

Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple - Built in 1972 with international Buddhist community support, the Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple is beautifully carved from wood, resembling a Japanese shrine. It exemplifies Japanese architecture and Buddhist culture. Located about 15 km from the city center, it is a popular Bodh Gaya temple. Built to preserve and propagate Buddhism, its walls feature Buddha’s teachings. The temple gallery houses Japanese paintings depicting significant events in Buddha’s life, making it a must-visit for those interested in Buddhist culture.

Bodhgaya

Metta Buddharam Temple - The Metta Buddharam Temple, a Thai temple in Bodhgaya, features a stainless steel outer shell and a decorative mirror mosaic. The temple showcases Thai architectural style, with a wooden main floor and a marble-floored meditation room below. Decorated with handmade sculptures from white cement, clay, and epoxy, the temple captivates with its unique architecture and Lord Buddha statue. Evening lighting enhances its beauty.

Sujata Kuti - Sujata Stupa, dedicated to the milkmaid Sujata who helped Buddha end his seven-year fast, is a Buddhist stupa in Senanigrama (Bakraur), east of Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Located across the Phalgu River from Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, it is a 20-minute walk from Bodh Gaya. Built in the 2nd century BCE, it was dedicated to Sujata, who fed Buddha milk and rice, ending his fasting and enabling enlightenment.

Dungeshwari Cave Temples - The Dungeshwari Hills caves are believed to have sheltered Lord Buddha before he traveled to Bodh Gaya for enlightenment. Known as Mahakala caves, they now house several temples visited by pilgrims tracing Buddha’s journey. The caves feature Hindu and Buddhist shrines, attracting visitors with their association with Buddha. Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang mentioned these hills in his travelogue. The caves are famous for being Buddha’s meditation site before reaching Gaya.

Rajgir

Rajgir - Rajgir, meaning “The City of Kings,” is a historic town in Nalanda district, Bihar, India. As the ancient capital of the Haryanka, Pradyota, Brihadratha dynasties, and the Mauryan Empire, and home to historical figures like Buddha and Mahavira, it holds significance in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain scriptures. As of 2011, the town’s population was 71,459, with about 88,500 in the community development block. Rajgir was the first capital of Magadha, which evolved into the Mauryan Empire. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata through King Jarasandha. The town’s origin is unknown, but ceramics from around 1000 BC have been found. The 2,500-year-old cyclopean wall is also in the region. Rajgir is notable in Jainism and Buddhism.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa - Vishwa Shanti Stupa, or World Peace Stupa, is a large white Peace Pagoda in Rajgir, Nalanda District, Bihar, near Gitai Mandir. Buddha statues are mounted on the stupa in four directions. It includes a small Japanese Buddhist temple with a large park. A temple near the stupa conducts prayers for universal peace. The initial pagoda was completed in 1969, with new initiatives in 1993 resulting in its current form. It is one of around 80 Peace Pagodas built worldwide by the neo-Buddhist organization Nipponzan Myohoji, inspired by Nichidatsu Fujii and Mohandas K. Gandhi, as a response to the atomic bombing of Japan.

Nalanda University Ruins - Nalanda, about 90 km southeast of Patna, has a history dating back to Buddha’s time. The university was founded in the 5th century CE and thrived for 700 years. Its decline began in the late Pala period, with the final blow from Bakhtiyar Khilji’s invasion around 1200 CE. Subjects taught included Buddhist scriptures, philosophy, theology, metaphysics, logic, grammar, astronomy, and medicine. Chinese travelers Hiuen-Tsang and I-Tsing documented the university.

Griddhakuta Peak - Griddhakuta Peak, one of the oldest sites where Buddha preached his Lotus Sermon, resembles a vulture’s head with natural stone formations. Referred to as “Gujjhakut” in Buddhist texts, it was a favorite meditation site for Buddha. Visitors can feel the spiritual power at the peak, devoid of man-made grandeur. A Buddha statue (600 BCE) found here is housed at the Nalanda Archaeological Museum. The view of surrounding forests and the path to Ghoda Katora Lake enhances the divine experience.

Mendut Buddhist Monastery - King Bimbisara donated the Bamboo Grove, Veluvana, to Buddha for his residence. Today, it is a park with beautiful bamboo, flowers, and a large pond with Buddha’s image at the center.

Vaishali

Ashok Pillar - Kolhua, a famous Buddhist excavation site about 65 km northwest of Patna, revealed the Ashokan Pillar with a lion statue on top. Excavations also uncovered many Buddhist artifacts. Emperor Ashoka built the Lion Pillar at Kolhua from a polished red sandstone piece, surmounted by a bell-shaped capital, 18.3 m high. A life-size lion figure sits atop the pillar. A small tank, Ramkund, is nearby. The pillar beside a brick stupa commemorates Buddha’s last sermon.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa - This stupa symbolizes peace and love, enshrining Buddha’s relics in its foundation and top. Vaishali is where Buddha preached his last sermon before Nirvana. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa, built according to the Saodharma Pundarika Sutra (The Lotus Sutra), promotes love and peace, creating “The Pure Land” on earth. The stupa’s construction worldwide was initiated by Ven. Nichidatsu Fuji Guruji after witnessing the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb tragedies. The Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Vaishali, was built by Nipponzan Myhoji and Rajgir Buddha Vihar Society, with contributions from Indian and Japanese devotees. Buddha’s relics are enshrined in the foundation and top of the stupa.

Kushinagar

Parinirvana Stupa - At 80, Buddha felt his time in this world was ending. According to the Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta, he and his disciples embarked on a journey from Rājagṛha to Kushinagar, passing through Pāṭaliputta, Vesāli, Bhoganagara, and Pāvā. At Pāvā, Cunda invited them to a meal featuring sukaramaddava, Buddha’s last meal, after which he fell ill. After crossing the Kakkuttha River, Buddha completed his journey to Kushinagar. The Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta states Buddha attained parinirvana shortly after arriving in Kushinagar. Seven days later, his remains were cremated there.

Lumbini

Maya Devi Temple - The Maya Devi Temple, an ancient Buddhist temple at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal, near the Indo-Nepal border, is the main temple at Lumbini, traditionally considered Buddha’s birthplace. Adjacent to a sacred pool (puskarni) and garden, the archaeological remains date to third-century BCE brick buildings by Ashoka. A sixth-century BCE timber shrine was discovered in 2013, speculated to be the earliest evidence of Buddhist structures and Gautama Buddha’s life.

Myanmar Golden Monastery - The Myanmar Golden Temple in Lumbini, the city’s oldest structure, is built in Burmese architectural style and dedicated to Lord Buddha.

Kapilvastu

Saravasti

Jetavana - Jetavana, a famous Buddhist monastery garden, is located outside the ancient city of Savatthi, India. Buddha spent 19 of his 45 rainy seasons there. Anathapindika bought the garden for the community by covering it with gold, as the owner, Jeta, demanded. Jetavana is in a grove of trees on a low hill, with remains of monastery buildings, a Bodhi Tree, and a bathing pond.

The Karandavyuha Sutra (c400CE) mentions the Jeta Grove:

“When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva was about to come, myriads of Kalpataru trees, flower trees, Kumuda flower trees, and Campaka flower trees appeared. Furthermore, varied flowers, precious pools and trees also appeared. The sky rained down wonderful flowers, various jewels, Manis, pearls, emeralds, spiral shells, jades, corals, and many other treasures.”

Sarnath Varanasi

Dhamek Stupa - Dhamek Stupa marks where Buddha preached his first discourse to his first five disciples, who all became fully liberated. This event marked the sangha’s formation. Ancient sources describe the site as a Mriga-dayaa-vanam, a sanctuary for animals, with deer being common. After Buddha’s Parinirvana in 544 BCE, his remains were cremated and buried under eight stupas, with two more encasing the urn and embers. Dhamek Stupa was likely among these eight. In 249 BCE, Mauryan King Ashoka expanded Dhamek Stupa, which was further expanded in 500 CE. The stupa is a solid cylinder of bricks and stone, 43.6 meters high and 28 meters in diameter.

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar - Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, one of the country’s most beautiful temples, is dedicated to Lord Gautama Buddha. Known for its mural paintings depicting Buddha’s story and Buddhist teachings, the temple maintains a connection to Japanese traditions. It features a spectacular garden with a Bodhi tree, a large bronze bell, and a statue of Lord Buddha teaching Dharma to his disciples in Sarnath.

• Entrance fees of temple & monastery
• On-board WiFi
• Landing and/or facility fees
• Boat excursion & Ganga Aarti ceremony with guide
• Airport transfer
• Breakfast
• 3-star hotels

• Gratuities
• lunch & Dinner & personal drinks

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.