10 Days Land of Lord Buddha

Day 1 Singapore Gaya (via Bangkok)

Upon arrival at Gaya, meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Free and easy after which.

(Dinner)

Day 2 Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya – the place where Lord Buddha got Enlightenment under a Peepal Tree. The magnificent Maha Bodhi Temple in Bodhgaya is an architectural amalgamation of many cultures. The temple bears the stamp of the architecture of the Gupta Dynasty and subsequent ages. On the walls of the temple, one sees Buddha carvings in different aspects, and in the sanctum sanctorum, a colossal Buddha is seen touching the ground, which has mythological significance in the Buddhist lore. The temple carries inscriptions recording the visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar in the 7th and 10th Centuries A.D. Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveler, also visited the temple in the 7th Century. We will also visit the Niranjana River. After which, proceed to visit the various temples such as Thai Temple, Japan Temple, Taiwanese Temple etc if time permits.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3 Bodhgaya Rajgir (Coach journey: 3Hrs) Nalanda Rajgir (Coach journey: 15 mins)

After breakfast drive to Rajgir. Enroute, visit Nalanda – the place that confers the lotus. It was one of the oldest universities of the World & International Centre for Buddhist Studies. It has 9 million books, 10 thousand students, 2 thousand teachers and was a center of great learning which reaches its zenith between 5th and 12th Century A.D. Both Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira visited this place. Emperor Ashoka built a Vihara, while Emperor Harshvardhan donated a 26m high copper image of Buddha and Emperor Kumar Gupta built a college of fine arts. After which, continue journey to Rajgir – meaning the Royal Palace. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. Visit Gridhakuta Hill – the seat from where Buddha delivered many of his sermons. It was here that the teachings of Buddha were recorded in writing for the first time. Many sites of the historical and archaeological significance surround the holy city of Rajgir. Also visit Venuvana and the Bamboo Grove.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4 Rajgir Vaishali (Coach journey: 3-4 Hrs) Kushinagar (Coach journey: 4-5 Hrs)

This morning, drive to Kushinagar. Enroute visit Vaishali. Vaishali is believed to be the first Republic of the World, having an elected body of representatives to hold special significance for Buddhist devotees. The Buddha preached the Radha Sutra to the eighty four thousand faithful gathered there. Women were also ordained for the first time into Buddhism. It was at Vaishali that the famous courtesan of the Lichchavi Empire, Amrapali, became a famous devotee of the Lord. She once entreated the Lord to grace her house. When Lord Buddha graciously accepted, the Lichchavi princes asked her to exchange this visit for a hundred thousand gold coins. Amrapali refused and after the Lord's visit, she was purged of her impurities and became a bhikshuni. Continue drive to Kushinagar – The Holy Place of Maha-Parinirvana (the place where Buddha entered perfect tranquillity the state of MahaPariNirvana).

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5 Kushinagar Lumbini (Coach journey: 4Hrs)

After breakfast, begin sightseeing of Kushinagar. Visit MahaPariNirvana Temple – the place commemorating the great decease with reclining statue of Lord Buddha. Ramabhar Stupa (cremation place of Lord Buddha) is supposedly the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated and his relics divided into eight equal parts. After which, we will drive to Lumbini – The Holy Place of Birth located at the foothill of Himalaya in Nepal, 22 kms from India border where Lord Buddha born on a full moon day under Sala tree 2600 years ago to Queen Mayadevi and King Suddodhana of Sakyan Dynasty.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6 Lumbini Sravasti (Coach journey: 4-5 Hrs)

After breakfast, visit Mayadevi temple and Ashokan Pillar & stupas. After lunch, drive to Sravasti and visit Sravasti Garden which is an important pilgrimage for Buddhists. Lord Buddha is believed to have spent 25 rainy seasons here preaching his teachings. The Buddha relics from Sravasti, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Kosala in India are enshrined at the Nava Jetavana Viharaya just opposite the archaeological site of the ancient Jetavana Monastery where the Buddha and his chief disciples spent nineteen Rains. The Buddha also spent another six Rains at another monastery here.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7 Sravasti Varanasi (Coach journey: 8Hrs)

This morning, set off to Varanasi. The name Varanasi, misheard by Europeans as Benares, is derived from its site between tributaries of the life-giving holy river Ganga, the Varuna and the Asi. Shiva is said to have poured the river down on the plains from the Himalayas; this mythical story leads Hindus to believe that Varanasi is the oldest city in the world. Probably founded by the Indo-Aryans around 1000 B.C., the city was established from earliest times as a famous seat of learning for Hindu thinkers, theologians, philosophers and poets alike. It has remained ever since a centre of the Hindu sciences.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Varanasi Sarnath (Estimate:16 Kms: 30 mins) Varanasi Bangkok

Early morning take a boat ride on the holy River Ganges. Witness the sunrise on the riverfront can be a spiritually uplifting sight. After breakfast, drive to Sarnath where Buddha preached his first sermon after he had attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. A lot has changed here since then but ancient aura is retained in the ruins and gardens. More importantly, at the museum in Sarnath is the Ashok Pillar with its four guardian lions that has been used as independent India's national emblem. After which, be transferred to airport for flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel for check-in. (Dinner will be served onboard flight)

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9 Bangkok City Tour

Morning Complimentary City Tour: Chao Phya Canal, Wat Arun, 4 Faced Buddha, ISO 9002 Gems Gallery.

(Breakfast)

Day 10 Bangkok Singapore

After breakfast, free and easy till time for departure transfer to the airport.

(Breakfast)