Buddhist Temple Trip

Sometime during the sixth century BC a solitary, wandering ascetic sat to meditate beneath a shady tree, resolving not to rise until he had attained the ultimate knowledge of spiritual enlightenment. Thus began Buddhism, one of the world's great religions and pilgrimage traditions. There are between four and sixteen principal Buddhist pilgrimage sites, with the most important located primarily in the Ganges Valley of India.

The most important place of Buddhist pilgrimage is Lumbini, located near the Nepal-India border. This is where Gautam Buddha was born to a royal family in 556 B.C.E. Many auspicious signs accompanied the Buddha's birth, including the sprouting of the bodhi tree. The great Buddhist ruler Ashoka visited the site two centuries later, constructing a stupa (mound, usually of earth) and pillar in recognition. Although largely destroyed now, these remain important marks of the Buddha's birthplace.

The Buddha attained enlightenment at the age of 29 in the city of Bodhgaya in India. After settling under a tree, the Buddha made the resolve not to move until he had achieved enlightenment. After three days and nights of profound meditation this goal was realised. The bodhi tree under which the Buddha sat has been destroyed both intentionally and naturall,y many times since this time of enlightenment. It has continued to resprout and is visible today.

The Mahabodhi Temple marks Bodhgaya. The origins of the Temple are unclear. Some claim the Temple could have been built as early as the third century by Ashoka, others claim the Temple was built between the fifth and seventh centuries. A thriving Monastic Order continues in the area today, with three monasteries catering for locals and foreigners alike.

At Sarnath in the Ganges Valley of India, the Buddha proclaimed the law of faith. It was here that he taught the keys aspects of Buddhism: the four noble truths, the eightfold path and the middle way philosophy. The Buddha encouraged followers to avoid extremes of austerity or pleasure. The remains of monasteries dating from the third century B.C.E. to the first century C.E. indicate a thriving monastic community.

Another of the most commonly visited places of Buddhist pilgrimage is Shravasti. It is here that the Buddha is said to have performed great miracles. One story tells of how on throwing down the seed of a mango, a great mango tree instantly arose. Another story tells of how the Buddha stood in the air, the lower part of his body engulfed in flames, with five hundred jets of water streaming from the top of his body.

In Sankashaya the Buddha descended from the Tushita Heaven. It is said that during the forty-first year of the Buddha's life, he went to the Tushita Heaven to teach Dharma to his mother, who had died shortly after the Buddha's death. Ashoka later built a Temple on the site. Today, little of the site's glory remains. This is the only important place of Buddhist pilgrimage where no temples, or monasteries exist today.

Nalanda is important both because it was blessed with the presence of the Buddha, and because of the famous monastic university developed there. This university also named Nalanda (meaning 'insatiable in giving') played a central role in the development of Buddhism in India.

Rajgir is another place in the Ganges Valley where the Buddha walked and preached. Perhaps the most important event of the Buddha's visits to Rajgir was the conversion of two future disciples, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana. While Sariputra was credited with greater intelligence, Maudgalyayana wielded a greater power for miracles.

Other commemorative monuments to the spread in Buddhism in India include Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati, and Nagarjunakonda where great Buddhist stupas and Buddhist university sites remain. India also boosts the famous Buddhist Cave Temples, Ajanta, Ellora, Kanheri and Karli located in western India. The places of birth and enlightenment are perhaps the two most important sites of pilgrimage for Buddhists in the world today. These are accompanied by a number of other sites marking the spread of Buddhism throughout the Indian sub-continent.

Tour Programme : 11 Nights / 12 Days
Destinations: Kathmandu - Lumbini(Nepal) - Sravasti - Kushinagar - Varanasi(Sarnath) - Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Patna(Vaishali) - Kolkata

Day 01 : Arrival Kathmandu
On arrival at Kathmandu airport greeting and assistance by our company,s representative, transfer and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 2 Kathmandu
After breakfast at the hotel, full day guided city tour including Patan, Swambhunath, Bhadgaon and Bodhnath. Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 3 Kathmandu – Lumbani
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Lumbini. Lunch en route. On arrival check-in at hotel. Visit the site where Buddha was born. Dinner and overnigjht stay.

Day 4 Lumbani – Sravasti
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Sravasti, where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 5 Sravasti – Kushinagar
After breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Kushinagar. Visit the site of Lord Buddha's cremation and visit the Mahaparinirvana temple. Lunch, Dinner and overnight stay at hotel.

Day 6 Kushinagar - Sarnath – Varanasi
After breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Varanasi visiting Sarnath en route. Lunch at Sarnath. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 7 Varanasi
Early morning boat excursion on the river Ganges. Breakfast at the hotel. Guided city tour of Varanasi. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8 Varanasi – Bodhgaya
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Bodhgaya. Check-in and lunch at the hotel. Afternoon, visit the Mahabodhi temple where Buddha attained enlightenment. Dinner & overnight stay.

Day 9 Bodhgaya
After breakfast full day for Prayers & meditation in Bodhgaya. Lunch & Dinner at hotel.Over night stay at the hotel.

Day 10 Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda – Patna
After breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Patna visiting Rajgir and Nalanda enroute. Lunch at Rajgir. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 11 Patna - Kolkata – Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Vaishali. Lunch at the hotel. Transfer to the airport to board flight for Kolkata/Delhi. On arrival Meeting and greeting by company,s representative, transfer to International airport for onward journey.

Buddhist Temple Trip, Reservation Form

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