Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour with Golden Triangle

Day 1, Delhi - Gaya (990 km) (Board Buddhist Train, Mahaparinirvana Express)

17:30 hrs - Assemble at Delhi Safdurjung Railway Station to board the Mahaparinirvana Express, a premier Buddhist train in India. After traditional welcome; check-in to your respective coaches. This is the only Buddhist train in India stationed to take tourists and pilgrims through the prominent Buddhist Pilgrimage sites in India, namely Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Nalanda, Rajgir, etc.

19:00 hrs - Departure Delhi via Mahaparinirvana Express for Gaya, the entry city of Bodhgaya, the epicenter of Buddhism in the world.

20:00 hrs - Dinner onboard and overnight stay on the Buddhist train as you move towards the first destination of Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour with Golden Triangle

Day 2,Gaya - Bodhgaya (16 km) (Mahaparinirvana Train Tour)

06:30 hrs - Begin day 2 with early morning tea and breakfast as you get ready onboard for an enlightening day in Bodhgaya.

08:30 hrs - Arrival at Gaya. Disembark the train and assemble to board the coaches for a drive to Bodhgaya tour, including a visit to the prominent Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree and other attractions associated directly with Lord Buddha.

12:30 hrs - In noon time, check in at hotel for lunch and enjoy time at leisure till tea time.

16:00 hrs - After tea, proceed for sightseeing of Thai Temple, Japanese Temple and the landmark attraction of Bodhgaya, Buddha Statue.

19:30 hrs - Return to Hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Bodhgaya.

Day 3, Bodhgaya - Nalanda - Rajgir - Gaya - Varanasi (Mahaparinirvana train Tour)

05:30 hrs - After early morning tea & breakfast, begin Day 3 by checking out the Hotel for Rajgir and Nalanda tour.

07:00 hrs - Departure Nalanda via coach towards Rajgir (85 km). Rajgir was known as Rajgriha during the times of Lord Buddha. This was the kingdom of Bimbisara which later came under Ajatshatru. This site is dotted with numerous Buddhist attractions etched in Buddhist character.

09:30 hrs - Upon arrival at Rajgir, begin sightseeing of the town via a visit to Bimbimsara Jail, Gridhakut hill, Venuvan, Saptaparni Caves, etc.

12:30 hrs - Lunch at a restaurant in Rajgir.

13:30 hrs - Proceed to Nalanda for sightseeing. Nalanda is one of the two glorious ancient universities where numerous disciplines were taught. The university complex invited students from the world over at that point of time. Currently, the complex is characterized by its ruins. Also visit Nalanda Museum, where you can see the rare antiquities belonging to the period of 5th to 12th century AD. The attraction here is the sculptures carved in stone, bronzes, stucco, terracotta and basalt. These impressive remains are associated with Buddhist faith and some of them belong to Jaina and Hindu heritage as well.

17:00 hrs -In evening, journey back to Gaya Railway Station via surface.

19:00 hrs - Upon arrival at Gaya Railway Station, board the Mahaparinirvana Express Buddhist train.

20:00 hrs - Dinner on-board. Depart Gaya at 2330 hrs to Varanasi (220 kms) by train.

Day 4, Arrive Varanasi (Mahaparinirvana Train Tour)

05:00 hrs - Get ready early morning on Day 4 with tea on-board as you arrive Varanasi, the city of lights and learning. Disembark the train and board buses.

06:00 hrs - 08:30 hrs - Arrival at Hotel, check in and breakfast.

08:30 hrs - Begin Sarnath tour (10 km) where Buddha preached his first sermon. Two stupas illustrate the beginning of Buddhism and turning the wheel of law by the lord himself. Continue Sarnath tour via a visit to Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath Museum, The Ashokan Pillar and Mulgandha Kuti Vihar or Deer Park.

12:30 hrs - Return to hotel for lunch

13:30 hrs - Time is free at leisure in Varanasi. You can visit the markets of the pious city optionally.

17:00 hrs - Visit to the river Ganges Ghat and undergo a special Boat ride on the mighty river (with required safety procedure adhered), Evening Aarti. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 5, Varanasi - Agra

After breakfast, check out from hotel 12:00 hrs. Proceed for city tour of Varanasi Tour visiting Bharat Mata temple, Tulsi Manas, Banaras Hindu University etc. Free for shopping .Evening Transfer to Mughal Sarai Railway station to connect train to Agra. (By Magadh Express: 2401: Dep 2220 Hrs).Overnight on board.

Day 6, Arrive Agra

Arrive Tundla Railway station at 0653 Hrs. Transfer to hotel.

After breakfast city tour of Agra. Visit the world famous Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in 1560 in memory of his queen Mumtaz Mahal to enshrine her mortal remains. This architectural marvel is a perfectly proportioned masterpiece fashioned from white marble that stands testimony to the skill of 20,000 craftsmen brought together from Persia, Turkey, France and Italy and who took 17 year to complete this ' Love Poem in Marble'. (Taj Mahal remains closed on all Fridays) Later visit the Agra fort containing the halls private and public audiences and other palaces for Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour with Golden Triangle.

Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 7, Agra - Fatehpur Sikri - Jaipur (232Kms / Approx. drive time 05 hours)

After breakfast leave Agra for Jaipur by surface. Enroute visiting Fatehpur Sikri.

Fatehpur Sikri is the Mughal ghost town built by Emperor Akbar in 1569, in honor of the great Saint Sheikh Salim Chisti who blessed the emperor and prophesized the birth of three sons to the heirless emperor. Akbar used Fatehpur Sikri as his capital and the city was in its complete splendour till 14 years, but slowly due to lack of water resources got abandoned. Visit the remarkably well-preserved, graceful buildings within the complex including the Jama Masjid, tomb of Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal Palace and other palaces that narrate the grandeur and splendour of the Mughal Empire at the height of its power.

Continue overland journey to Jaipur. On arrival, check into the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 8, In Jaipur

After breakfast, visit to Amber Fort. Amber is a classic, romantic Rajasthani fort representing the elaborate architectural legacy of Rajputana near Jaipur, Rajasthan. The rugged sandstone fort may look ravaged from the outside, but from inside, the fort is a great architectural specimen. Set atop a hillock, this fort accommodates the interiors that depict the paintings featuring hunting and war scenes, apart from festivals. Precious stones and mirror inlays are another great attraction of Amber Fort. Must visit structures of Amber include Jag Mandir or the Hall of Victor, Sheesh Mahal, Ganesh Pol, etc. Option of royal Elephant ride can also be availed here. On return from Amber Fort, enjoy a brief photography stop over at Hawa Mahal - the Palace of Winds, which is another landmark attraction of Jaipur.

After lunch, continue Jaipur sightseeing with a visit to the City Palace. This former Royal residence of the city is partly converted into a museum and offers a great sight. A small portion is still used by the Royal family of Jaipur.

Built in fortified campus style, this elegant palace occupies almost one-seventh of Jaipur’s land area. One of the major attractions in the museum is the portion known as Armoury Museum where you can spot an impressive array of weapons and arms used by Rajputs.

In the evening, visit Jantar Mantar, the largest stone and marble observatory in the world. Situated near the City Palace Gate, the observatory has 17 large instruments, many of them still in working condition. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Day 9, Jaipur - Delhi (252 Kms / Approx. drive time 05 Hrs.)

After breakfast drive to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, transfer to hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 10, Departure from Delhi

After breakfast, continue visiting the third important destination of Golden Triangle tour, Delhi. An amalgam of old and new, Delhi is a city of contrasts. On one hand, the capital of India is stringed with glorious monuments of Mughals and on the other the city is resplendent with the British Raj monuments. Continue exploring Delhi via visiting Rajghat, Red Fort, Chandni Chowk market, Jama Masjid.

After lunch, visit Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, India Gate and drive past President and Parliament House.

In evening, transfer to International airport to board connecting flight for onward destination and conclude Buddhist Pilgrimage tour with Golden Triangle.