12 Days 11 Nights India, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Vaishali, Kessaputta, Kusinara, Lumbini, Savatthi, Sarnath, Varanasi
Itinerary
Day 1
Practice Meditation at Mahabodhi Temple
1400
Arrive at Gaya Airport by Thai Smile WE 327
1500
Meet & greet by tour guide at the airport’s arrival gate
1530
Check in hotel in Bodh Gaya for 2-nights
1700
Enjoy Indian Set Dinner at the hotel
1800
Walk to the Mahabodhi Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site
1815
Pay homage to the Buddha at the Mahabodhi Temple
1830
Perform evening puja & meditate at the Mahabodhi Temple
2000
Explore the surroundings of the Mahabodhi Temple
2200
Before we say good night
Day 2
Discover the Holy Sites in Mahabodhi Temple
0500
Walk to Mahabodhi Temple for morning puja & meditation
0515
Perform puja & practice meditation at the Sacred Bodhi Tree
0630
Discover the holy sites in Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built
by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century B.C, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site:
• The Main Temple, faces east and contains a gilded statue
of the seated Buddha holding earth as witness to his
Enlightenment achievement
• Sacred Bodhi Tree, to the west of the main temple, the
shades under which Siddhartha Gautama meditated and
attained Enlightenment. This peepal tree’s botanical name is
Ficus religiosa. It was under this tree that the Buddha spent
the 1st week in meditation after attaining Enlightenment. The
present tree is probably the fifth succession of the original
tree which was earlier destroyed several times by man-made
misery and natural calamities
• Animisa-locana Cetiya, situated at the north east of
Mahabodhi Temple, this is the place where the Buddha
spent the 2nd week in meditation in standing posture gazing
at the Bodhi Tree with motionless eyes for one whole week
• Cankamana, is the place where the Buddha spent the
3rd week in meditation practicing walking meditation,
the raised platform with lotus flowers mark the spot where
the Buddha kept his feet while walking
• Ratanaghara or the Jewel House, located at the north-west
of the main temple, is the place where the Buddha spent
the 4th week in meditation
• Ajapala Nigrodha Tree, a pillar marks the spot where the
tree once stood marking the place where the Buddha spent
the 5th week in meditation after attaining Enlightenment and
delivered a discourse on the equality of mankind
• Mucalinda Sarovar, the lake where the Buddha spent the
6th week in meditation after his Enlightenment
• Rajayatana Tree, situated to the south of the Temple, this is
the tree where the Buddha spent the 7th week in meditation
0800
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0900
Visit Brahmayoni Hill, where the Buddha delivered the fire
sermon, (Adittapariyaya Sutta) to a thousand former
fire-worshipping ascetics, who all became enlightened while
listening to this discourse
1030
Transfer to Sujata Village to visit the Sujata Stupa and temple
1300
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel
1400
Travel to Pragbodhi Hill, 0h45m, 21km
1500
Walk uphill to discover a small cave where Siddhartha
Gautama spent 6 years for austerity practices
1600
Hike up to the top of Pragbodhi for a panoramic view of Gaya
1700
Transfer back to the hotel for rest and refresh
1800
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at hotel
1900
Perform evening puja at Mahabodhi Temple
2030
Practice meditation at the Sacred Bodhi Tree
2230
Before we say good night
Day 3
Hike up to Explore Gijjhakuta Vulture Peak
0600
Walk to Mahabodhi Temple for morning puja & meditation
0615
Perform puja & practice meditation at the Sacred Bodhi Tree
0800
Enjoy breakfast at hotel
0900
Travel to the ancient city of Rajgir, 2h30m, 72km
1130
Stop by at the eastern gate of Rajgir to visit the Bimbisara Jail
1300
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel
1400
Check in hotel in Rajgir for 2-nights
1500
Hike up to explore the Gijjhakuta Vulture Peak, one of the
several sites frequented by the Buddha and his disciples for
training, retreat and the scene for many of his discourses
1530
Along the way, stop by to visit the Boar’s Grotto where
Venerable Sariputta attained enlightenment
1600
Snapshot photo of the surrounding hills of the ancient Rajgir
1830
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel
2000
Before we say good night
Day 4
Explore the Famed Nalanda Mahavihara Ruins
0500
Enjoy breakfast at hotel
0600
Travel to Veluvana, Bamboo Grove, to visit the park where
the Buddha spent his 2nd, 3rd, 4th rain-retreats in Rajagaha
0615
Perform morning puja and meditation at the Veluvana,
the Bamboo Grove
0800
Hike up to the peak of Sattapanni Hill to explore the
Sattapanni Cave, where the First Buddhist Council was held
after the Mahaparinibbana of the Buddha
0930
Snapshot photography at Sattapanni Cave overlooking the
farm lands below
1100
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel
1200
Travel to the archaeological site of Nalanda, 0h45m, 19km
Nalanda, Today
Nalanda, Today
Nalanda Mahavihara ruins and the Archaeological Museum
1830
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel
2000
Before we say good night
Day 5
Explore the Asokan Lion Pillar at Ancient Vesali
0500
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0600
Travel to Patna, the capital of Bihar, 2h50m, 108km
0900
Explore the ancient heritage of Patna Museum
1100
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at Lemon Tree Hotel
1200
Travel to the ancient city of Vesali, 2h0m, 59km
1400
Explore the 3rd century B.C, Asokan Lion Pillar
1600
Discover the Vijjians Stupa, the place where the Ratana Sutta
discourse was delivered by the Buddha
1730
Check in hotel in Vesali for 1-night
1830
Enjoy Indian Buffet & Set Dinner at the hotel
2000
Before we say good night
Day 6
Discover the main sites of Mahaparinibbana Vihara
0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0700
Travel to Kushinagar Town, 3h45m, 177km
0900
En-route, stop by at Kessaputta town to visit Kesariya Stupa,
the place where the Buddha delivered the discourse of
(Kalama Sutta) to the clan called the Kalamas
1000
Continue the journey to Kushinagar Town
1300
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel
1400
Visit the Ramabhar Stupa, the Buddha’s cremation place
1500
Discover the main sites of Mahaparinibbana Vihara
1730
Check in hotel in Kushinagar for 1-night
1830
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel
2000
Before we say good night
Day 7
Travel to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha
0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0700
Travel to Sonauli, India & Nepal border, 4h0m, 149km
1200
Enjoy Buffet Lunch at Nansc Hotel in Sonauli Town
1300
Journey to Ramagama Stupa to explore the only stupa
that contains Buddha Relic, 0h40m, 27km
1400
Perform puja and meditate at the Ramagama Stupa
1600
Travel to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha, 01h15m, 46km
1730
Check in hotel in Lumbini for 1 night
1900
Enjoy Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel
2000
Before we say good night
Day 8
Travel to the Ancient City of Kapilavatthu
0500
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0600
Perform puja & meditate at Mayadevi Temple,
UNESCO World Heritage Site
0800
Travel to the ancient Kapilavatthu to see the ruins of the
Sakyan City where the Buddha grew up in, 0h55m, 46km
0900
Explore the home-town of Siddhartha Gotama, Kapilavatthu
1100
Enjoy Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel
1200
Depart for Savatthi, 06h15, 152km
1800
Check in hotel in Savatthi for 1 night
1900
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel
2000
Before we say good night
Day 9
Explore the Ruins of Jetavana Monastery
0500
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0600
Explore the ruins of Jetavana Monastery
0800
Visit Anathapindika Stupa and Angulimala Stupa
1100
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel
1200
Travel to Varanasi, the oldest city in India,
located on the banks of the Ganges River, 09h30m, 324km
1600
Enjoy tea and coffee break at the local Dhaba
2200
Enjoy supper at the hotel
2300
Check in hotel in Varanasi for 2-nights
2330
Before we say good night
Day 10
Discover the Holy Site of Isipatana Deer Park
0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0700
Travel to Sarnath, 0h30m, 8.2km
0730
Discover Isipatana, Deer Park, the holy site where the
Buddha delivered the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
0830
Pay homage at Dhammarajika Stupa & Dhammekh Stupa
1000
Explore the ancient heritage in Sarnath Museum
1200
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at Rangoli Restaurant
1400
Visit Benares Hindu University & explore Ramnagar Fort
1700
Enjoy lassi and tea at Ramnagar Fort
1800
Watch the Ganga Aarti, performed daily by a group
of priests at the Dashashwamedh Ghat
1930
Enjoy authentic Indian Dinner at Palace on Ganges
2200
Before we say good night
Day 11
Cruise & Admire the Sunrise over the Ganges River
0500
Travel to Dashashwamedh Ghat to embark on the
Ganges River Cruise
0530
Cruise & admire the sunrise along the Ganges River
0700
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel
0900
Visit the Mother of India Temple
1200
Enjoy Indian Set Lunch at the hotel
1300
Transfer to the airport for flight check-in
1630
Depart for Bangkok by Thai Smile WE 328
2135
Arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport
2300
Check in hotel in Bangkok for 1 night
2330
Before we say good night
Day 12
Explore the Royal Temples of Thailand
0700
Enjoy breakfast at hotel
0800
Explore the Royal Temples of Thailand
• Wat Pho & Wat Arun
1200
Enjoy Thai Set Lunch at Savoey Restaurant
1330
Transfer to the airport for flight check-in
1640
Depart for Kuala Lumpur by TG 417
1950
Arrive at KLIA Terminal, end of the pilgrimage trip.