Buddhism, one of the major religions of the world find its roots in North Eastern India and spread across Nepal. Being one of the oldest religions on the globe, Buddhism flourished in India since 3rd Century BC. Buddhism encompasses a variety of traditions, beliefs and spiritual practices largely based on original teachings attributed to the Buddha and resulting interpreted philosophies.
Upon arrival, meeting & greetings at the airport and transfer to hotel. Later visit Mahabodhi Temple. (The Mahabodhi Temple (literally: "Great Awakening Temple") or the Mahabodhi Mahavihar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.) Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast at hotel, proceed for same day excursion tour to Rajgir & Nalanda. (Rajgir was once the ancient capital of the powerful kingdom of Maghada. Nalanda-a great center of Buddhist learning and one of the most famed university citadels of ancient times.) Upon arrival at Rajgir, visit Gridhakuta Hill (The Vulture Peak is Buddhist religious place. It is here that Lord Buddha meditated and carried out many sermons with his disciples). En route stop for visit to Bimbisara Jail. Lunch at hotel in Rajgir. Then visit Venuvan (The Bamboo Grove. This is the site of the monastery Venuvana Vihar built by the powerful Magadhan Emperor Bimbisar, for Lord Buddha to reside) & Hot water spring. Further, proceed to Nalanda, Visit Black Buddha & ruins of Old Nalanda University (Historical sources indicate that the University had a long and illustrious life which lasted almost continually for 800 years from the fifth to the twelfth century CE. It was a completely residential university believed to have 2,000 teachers and 10,000 students.) Drive back to Bodhgaya. Evening visit Mahabodhi Temple. Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast at hotel, proceed to visit Sujata Village (Sujata Village was believed to be the place where Prince Siddharta was offered with a bowl of kheer (rice milk) when resting under a Banyan Tree) & Niranajana River (Lord Buddha attained enlightenment at Gaya. His first bath in the River Niranjana known in Pāli as Lilajan is the most striking event in his process of becoming Buddha. A river mentioned in Ramayana as Phalgu and latter classical Sanskrit literature has been often stated to be the same as Niranjana.) Also, visit other International Buddhist Monasteries. Post lunch, drive to Varanasi. Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
Start your day with boating across the ghats of River Ganges, enjoying the panoramic Sunrise. Back to hotel for breakfast, later visit Sarnath (A place located 10 kilometres north-east of Varanasi city near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India). Dhamek Stupa (Dhamek Stupa is a massive stupa located at Sarnath, originated as pre-Buddhist tumuli, in which ascetics were buried in a seated position, called chaitya). Post lunch at hotel, visit Wat Thai & Sarnath Museum (Sarnath Museum is the oldest site museum of Archaeological Survey of India. It houses the findings and excavations at the archaeological site of Sarnath, the museum has 6,832 sculptures and artefacts.) Dinner & overnight at Varanasi
After early breakfast at hotel, proceed to Kushinagar (It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death) Post lunch, visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (Parinirvana Stupa is a Buddhist temple in Kushinagar which is said to be the death place of Gautama Buddha. Alexander Cunningham gains the most attention for his work in the area, because he conclusively proved that Gautama Buddha had died in the area.) Also visit the Ramabhar Stupa (was built over a portion of the Buddha's ashes on the spot where he was cremated by the ancient Malla people.) Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast at hotel, drive to Lumbini, Nepal (It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE.) Upon arrival at Lumbini, check-in at hotel. Post lunch visit Maya Devi Temple (Maya Devi Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple situated at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal. It is the main temple at Lumbini, a site traditionally considered the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The temple stands adjacent to a sacred pool and a sacred garden). Dinner & overnight stay at the hotel.
After a mouthwatering breakfast at hotel, drive to sravasti. Post lunch, visit Sahet Mahet (The city was the capital of the Kosala kingdom in the 6th century. The site is of tremendous Buddhist and Jain significance. As you visit Sahet, you can explore the numerous stupas, temples and monasteries that establish a connection between Sravasti and the Buddha's life.) Proceed towards Angulimal Cave (identified with the remains of the Angulimala Stupa as seen by the Chinese Pilgrims in 500 AD. Locally known as Pakki Kuti. This is a small passage within the stupa, Angulimala gufa. This is apparently a drainage channel for preservation purposes.) Later visit Jetwan Mahavihara (Jetavana was the place where the Buddha gave the majority of his teachings and discourses, having stayed at Jetavana nineteen out of 45 vassas, more than in any other monastery.) Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
After a palatable breakfast at hotel, drive to lucknow. Post lunch, transfer to lucknow airport to connect flight for Bhopal (It is the capital of Madhya Pradesh. Founded by Raja Bhoj, the city has many natural and artificial lakes and it is one of the greenest cities in the country.) Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel
After a luscious breakfast, proceed to SANCHI (A town in Madhya Pradesh,Known for its "Sanchi Stupas", it is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BC to the 12th CE and is one of the important places of Buddhist pilgrimage.) SANCHI STUPA REMAINS CLOSED ON EVERY TUESDAY Post lunch, transfer to Bhopal Airport to connect flight for Mumbai. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
After a flavorful breakfast at Hotel, check out & half day city tour of Mumbai (formerly called Bombay, is a densely populated city on Indian west coast, which is also known as the financial capital of India.) On the Mumbai Harbour waterfront, stands the iconic Gateway of India stone arch, built by the British Raj in 1924. Visit Sidhivinayak Temple. The Shree Siddhivinayak Ganapati Mandir (A Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesha.) Then Visit Gateway of India & photo stop at Dobhi Ghat (Washerman Colony). En route travel through Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Later transfer to Mumbai Airport to connect flight for Aurangabad. (A city in Maharashtra state, in India known for the 17th-century marble Bibi ka Maqbara shrine, styled on the Taj Mahal.) Overnight stay at the hotel.
After a toothsome breakfast full day Excursion tour to Ajanta Caves. (The Ajanta Caves are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE to about 480 CE in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra state of India. The caves include paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form.) Evening drive back to Aurangabad. Overnight stay at the hotel. AJANTA CAVES REMAINS CLOSED ON EVERY MONDAY
After a sumptuous breakfast at Hotel, visit to Ellora Caves, (Built during 600 to 1000 CE, they lie in the Sahyadri hills in Aurangabad and is a 2-hour drive from the Ajanta Caves. It comprises Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples and over 100 caves with only 34 open to the public excavated from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandari hills.) Also visit Daultabad Fort (Known as Devagiri or Deogiri, is a historical fortified citadel located in Aurangabad). Later visit Bibi Ka Maqbara (Mini Taj Mahal) a tomb located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, (It was commissioned in 1660 by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the memory of his first and chief wife Dilras Banu Begum and is considered to be a symbol of Aurangzeb's 'conjugal fidelity'). Evening transfer to airport & connect flight for Mumbai. Arrive Mumbai & connect flight for onward destination.