Day 1: |
Arrive Kathmandu. Pick up from the airport, drive to your hotel. Itinerary briefing free day |
Day 2: |
Full day sightseeing. Visit two powerful places of Buddhism in the Kathmandu valley including the famous stupas of Buddhanath and Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple) Buddhism practiced in the valley is very strongly influenced by Tantrism and the Hinayana or the yellow hat sects dominance is evident. |
Day 3: |
A mid morning flight will get you to Bhairahawa and a half hours drive will see you in the vicinity of the magical garden at Lumbini. Here Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha and set in motion on e of the most awe inspiring events in the last two and half millennium: the starting a blossoming of one of the world's greatest religions. A religion that would preach peace, Tolerance and Harmony as cornerstones of one's life long before there words became fashionable. Sightseeing in the gardens in the afternoon will include visits to various Monasteries that have been built here by people of nations that largely follow Buddhism |
Day 4: |
A morning visit to the Mayadevi temple which is built on the site where the Buddha was born is a refreshing way to begin your day. Continue visiting the various other monasteries and see the subtle differences in the way that various communities
Practice this great religion. |
Day 5: |
Spend this day exploring the other important Buddhist sites in and around the Lumbini area. These include Tilaurakot, Niglihawa and Piplihawa. |
Day 6: |
Drive the Nepal-India border and upon completion of immigration formalities continue driving to Bodhgaya. It was here nearly 2500 years ago that Siddhartha, meditating under a Bodhi tree attained supreme enlightenment and become the Buddha or the "all knowing one" in Bodhgaya, visit the various sites which are considered important in the life of Buddha. |
Day 7: |
Drive to Sarnath. Upon attaining Supreme Enlightenment Buddha delivered his very first sermon here in this ancient town and thus began the journey that would shake established faiths of the time and begin something that would sweep the world with its message of love, peace, understanding and non-violence |
Day 8: |
Drive to Kushinagar. Having ceaselessly traveled the plains of present day north India, delivering his message to all who cared to listen, Buddha was returning to the place of his birth-Lumbini when in this remote town ha-attained Maha Parinirvana or was freed from the ceaseless cycle of re-births. |
Day 9: |
Drive back to Indo-Nepal border and cross back to Lumbini. In the evening attend a meditation session at one of the monasteries. |
Day 10: |
Fly back to Kathmandu in the mid morning, Sightseeing of Kathmandu city in the afternoon. |
Day 11: |
Free day in Kathmandu, hotel |
Day 12: |
Final departure, transfer to airport |
