Taj Mahal Tours

Taj Mahal with Buddist Tours

Duration: 12 Nights / 13 Days
Destinations: Delhi - Agra - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Vaishali - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Balrampur

India, a country thousands of years old hold within an everlasting treasure of its culture and wisdom. Centuries ago, Lord Buddha was born here and walked on its soil spreading the message of Universal Brotherhood and Peace. Perhaps, the every day life of violence and tension reminds us of the alternative that was always available to us, the buddha's way of life - gentle and simple. This 12 Days Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour will take you on the footsteps of Lord Buddha.

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Arrive Delhi. Welcome and assistance upon arrival at the airport. Later transfer to hotel.

Day 02: Delhi
Morning free to relax and adjust to the time zone. Afternoon visit one of the Buddhist Culture center.

Day 03: Agra
Proceed for sight-seeing of the city after breakfast. First, proceed to TAJ MAHAL which is just walking distance from the hotel.

TAJ MAHAL: The fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, built it in 1631 in the memory of his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in Behrampur in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after giving birth to their 14th child. Her death so crushed the emperor that all his hair and beard were said to have grown snow white in a few months. When Mumtaz Mahal was still alive, she extracted four promises from the emperor: first, that he build the Taj; second, that he should marry again; third, that he be kind to their children; and fourth, that he visit the tomb on her death anniversary. He kept the first and second promises. Construction began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. Twenty thousand people were deployed to work on it. An Iranian architect designed it and it is best appreciated when the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. It is a "symbol of eternal love".

Having buried her down at Behrampur, it was time for the emperor to keep his promise and build a tomb there itself. But by and by, it was felt that it was virtually impossible to transfer all the marble there, as it would cost an entire fortune and an entire lifetime. So, when Agra was chosen as the only alternative, astonishingly her grave was uprooted and brought to Agra, only to be finally transferred to the monument, completed twenty-two years later.

Proceed to Agra and visit Agra Fort- which was built by Akbar In 1525 AD. After Agra Fort we will visit Baby Taj - The interiors of which are considered better than the Taj.

Visit TAJ MAHAL at sunset. Overnight will be at Agra.

Day 04: Agra - Varanasi
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Varanasi. Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Sarnath - a place where Buddha first preached his sermon.

Day 05: Varanasi
Early morning sunrise boat cruise over river Ganges. Later depart by private motorcoach /Car to Bodhgaya. Arrive and check in at hotel.

Day 06: Bodhgaya
Full day visit to Bodhgaya a place where Lord Buddha entered a state of mediation under the 'Bodhi' tree (banyan tree) and attained Nirvana (the enlightenment). On the walls of Mahabodhi temple, one can see images of Lord Buddha in different aspects.

Day 07: Bodhgaya - Rajgir
Morning depart by motorcocach /car to Rajgir. Arrive and check in at hotel. Visit Rajgir - a sacred town to all Buddhist where Lord Buddha meditated and preached on the Hill, Karanda Tank where Lord Buddha would bathe, seven hot springs where Lord Buddha for its healing powers. Also visit the ancient Nalanda University founded in the fifth century B.C. Ancient Buddhist texts revelas that Lord Buddha studied here. A Chinese travel Heum Tsang, who spent several years at this University wrote about this great seat of learning. Visit the Archaeological museums.

Day 08: Rajgir - Vaishali - Patna
Morning depart by private motorcoach/car to Patna visiting enroute Vaishali - a place where Lord Buddha visited frequently and during the last visit here told his disciplines that they would see him no more as he was to attain the Mahaparinirvana (the ultimate bliss). Visit the Buddhist stupas. Arrive Patna and check in at hotel.

Day 09: Patna - Kushinagar
Morning depart ofr Kushinagar by motorcoach/car. Arrive and check in at hotel. Afternoon city tour of Kushinagar where Lord Buddha breathed his last and attained Mahaparinirvana saying decay is inherent in all component things. Visit the Nirvana temple which enshrines a colossal statue of Lord Buddha in a reclining position.

Day 10: Kushinagar - Lumbini - Balrampur
Morning depart for Lumbinin by motorcoach/car on Indo-Nepal border. Lumbini, a tiny village situated on the fotthills of Himalayas witnessed the birth of a Prince called Shakyamuni Gautam Siddhartha who later vecame Lord Buddha the awakened one. Visit the sacred pond, Ashoka Pillar, Mahadevi temple.

Later drive to Balrampur. Arrive and check in at hotel.

Day 11: Balrampur - Sahetath - Lucknow
Leave for Lucknow by motorcoach/car via Satehmath famous for Buddhist Stupas. Arrive Lucknow and check in at hotel.

Day 12: Lucknow - Delhi
Transfer to airport for flight to Delhi. Arrive and check in at hotel.

Day 13: Delhi - Onward Journey
Transfer to airport flight to your onward destination.