8 Days 7 Nights India, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Kusinara, Nepal, Lumbini, Kapilavatthu, Savatthi, Sarnath, Varanasi

8 Days 7 Nights India, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna, Kusinara, Nepal, Lumbini, Kapilavatthu, 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 1-night

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
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 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

0730
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0830
Travel to the ancient city of Rajgir, 2h30m, 72km

1100
Hike up to explore 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

1130
Along the way, stop by to visit the Boar’s Grotto where
Venerable Sariputta attained enlightenment

1200
Snapshot photo of the surrounding hills of the ancient Rajgir

1300
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel

1400
Travel to the archaeological site of Nalanda, 0h45m, 19km
Nalanda, Today
Nalanda, Today
Nalanda Mahavihara ruins and Archaeological Museum

1700
Travel to Patna, the capital of Bihar, 2h40m, 95km

2000
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel

2100
Check in hotel in Patna for 1-night

2130
Before we say good night


Day 3
Explore the Main Sites of Mahaparinibbana Vihara

0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0700
Travel to Kushinagar Town, 3h45m, 177km

1200
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at the hotel

1300
Visit the Ramabhar Stupa, the Buddha’s cremation place

1400
Explore the main sites of Mahaparinibbana Vihara

1700
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 4
Travel to Lumbini, the birth place of the Buddha

0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0700
Travel to Sonauli, India & Nepal boarder, 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 to hotel in Lumbini for 1 night

1900
Enjoy Buffet or Set Dinner at the hotel

2000
Before we say good night


Day 5
Travel to the Ancient City of Kapilavatthu

0500
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0600
Perform puja & meditate at Mayadevi Temple,
a 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 Siddhattha 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 6
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 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 1-night

2330
Before we say good night


Day 7
Discover the Holy Site of Isipatana Deer Park

0600
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel

0700
Travel to Sarnath, 0h30m, 8.2km

0730
Discover the 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 at the Sarnath Museum

1200
Enjoy Indian Buffet or Set Lunch at Rangoli Restaurant

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 to hotel in Bangkok for 1 night

2330
Before we say good night


Day 8
Explore the Royal Temples of Thailand

0700
Enjoy breakfast at the 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 flight TG 417
1950
Arrive at KLIA Terminal, end of the pilgrimage trip.