7 Days 6 Nights India, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Varanasi

Itinerary

Day 1
Travel to Ancient City of Rajgir

1400
Arrive at Gaya Airport by Thai Smile WE 327

1445
Meet & greet by tour guide at the airport’s arrival gate

1500
Travel to the ancient city of Rajgir, 2h30m, 72km

1730
Check in hotel in Rajgir for 2-nights

1830
Enjoy Indian Set Dinner at the hotel

2100
Before we say good night

Day 2
Explore the Famed Nalanda Mahavihara Ruins

0500
Enjoy breakfast at the 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

1300
Visit the Xuan Zang Memorial Hall & explore the famed Nalanda Mahavihara ruins and Archaeological Museum

1830
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel

2000
Before we say good night

Day 3
Hike up to Explore Gijjhakuta Vulture Peak

0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0700
Transfer to Gijjhakuta Vulture Peak, 0h15m

0715
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

0745
Along the way, stop by to visit the Boar’s Grotto where Venerable Sariputta attained enlightenment

0830
Snapshot photo of the surrounding hills of the ancient Rajgir

1000
Travel to Bodh Gaya, 2h15m, 69km

1030
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 at Bodh Gaya for 2-nights

1500
Walk to the Mahabodhi Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site

1515
Pay homage to the Buddha at the Mahabodhi Temple

1600
Explore the surroundings at the Mahabodhi Temple

1800
Enjoy Indian Set Dinner at the hotel

1900
Walk to the Mahabodhi Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site

1915
Pay homage to the Buddha at the Mahabodhi Temple

1930
Perform evening puja & meditate at the Mahabodhi Temple

2200
Before we say good night

Day 4
Explore 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
Explore the holy sites in Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built by Emperor Asoka in the 3rdcentury 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

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 5
Discover the Holy Site of Isipatana Deer Park

0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0700
Travel to Sarnath, 5h30m, 247km,

1300
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at Rangoli Restaurant

1400
Discover Isipatana, Deer Park, the holy site where the
Buddha delivered the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

1500
Pay homage at Dhammarajika Stupa & Dhammekh Stupa

1600
Explore the ancient heritage in Sarnath Museum

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

2100
Check in hotel in Varanasi for 1-night

2200
Before we say good night

Day 6
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 India 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 7
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 trip.