- Arrive Delhi.
- Upon arrival, Welcome by Mr. Deepak Gupta and transfer to your hotel.
- Welcome Non-alcoholic welcome drink at hotel.
- In its 3000 years of existence; seven cities have risen where the present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary. Where government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist beside a modern metropolis. Delhi is a city waiting to be explored.
- Overnight at Hotel. (Meals not Included)
• After breakfast, enjoy the sightseeing of Delhi.
• Drive past Red Fort (Closed on Mondays) the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge 33m high boundary wall. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens.
• Near Red Fort is Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656 at a cost of one million Rupees has perfect proportions. Jama Masjid is India’s largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. The interior of the prayer hall is divided into aisles by arches. The walls and floors are of marble inlay panels.
• Also, enjoy the Rickshaw Ride in the bazaars of Old Delhi.
• Also visit the Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words “Hey Ram”. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
• You will drive Past Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official residence of the President of India.
• Photo stop at India Gate Built of Bharatpur stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations.
• Visit the Humayun’s Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal.
• Visit the Qutub Minar, built by Qutub-ud-din Aibek in 1199 and it is one of the tallest minaret in India (73 meters height). It is made from red sandstone & marbles.
• Dinner & Overnight at the hotel.
- Breakfast at hotel and transfer to Airport to catch flight for Gaya.
- Departure: Delhi at: 1200 Hrs
- Arrival: Gaya at: 1340 Hrs
- Upon arrival, Welcome by Our representative and transfer to your hotel.
- Bodh Gaya, located in the state of Bihar, is the most prominent and sacred Buddhist Pilgrimage site, where the god Sakyamuni (Gautama Buddha) attained enlightenment here under the tree which is now known as Bodhi tree. The famous Mahabodhi Temple stands just next to the Bodhi Tree and it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- We start the visit with the Mahabodhi Temple and Bodhi Tree. The architecture of the temple is superb, figures of Buddha sitting in different postures on the walls and his footprints on the stones. The first temple of the complex was built by Emperor Ashoka in 3rd century and the present temples were built in 5th – 6th century. The temple is 55m in height with pyramid design, demarcated into seven storeys.
- Later visit the Sujata Temple is located on the banks of the Niranjana River, reachable in 30 minutes walk through the fields. There lies a small shrine (Sujata Temple) dedicated to Sujata, the tribal woman who offered kheer (rice cooked in milk) to the starving Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha).
- Discover many other Buddhist temples in Bodhgaya also.
- Dinner and Overnight at the hotel.
• Breakfast at Hotel.
- Leave for excursion to Rajgir & Nalanda:
- Rajgir was the capital of Kingdom of Magadha and it is located in a valley surrounded by seven hills: Vaibhara, Ratna, Saila, Sona, Udaya, Chhatha, and Vipula.
- Reach Rajgir and we visit Saptaparni Caves, situated on a hill where 1st Buddhist Council were held after Gautama Buddha attained Nirvana.
- Later, visit Vulture’s Peak also known as “Girddhraj Parvat” is a hill of religious, archeological and ecological importance. This is the place where Gautama Buddha spent so much time on retreat, meditating and teachings so many discourses. Afterwards we visit Venuvana Monastery also known as Venuvana Vihara it was built by King Bimbisara of Magadha Empire for Gautama Buddha to reside. This was the 1st offering by King Bimbisara to Gautama Buddha. In the vicinity of Venuvana is a large pond with a Buddha image at the centre.
- Continue drive to Nalanda.
- Nalanda was famous centre of learning and it was founded in 5th century. The ruins of the world’s most ancient university that Nalanda University lays here and Hieun Tsang the Chinese Buddhist Monk and traveller also visited here. He left detailed description of the excellence of education system and praised the purity of monastic life practiced here.
- Visit the ruins of one of the oldest universities in the world and the International Center for Buddhist Studies.
- After the visit, return back to Bodhgaya.
- Dinner & Overnight at hotel.
- Post breakfast, drive towards Varanasi.
- Varanasi, also commonly known as Benaras, is the oldest living city in the world. It is situated on the banks of holy river Ganges. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the river Ganges and the river’s religious importance. People often refer to Varanasi as “the city of temples,” “the holy city of India,” “the religious capital of India,” “the city of lights,” “the city of learning” and the “culture capital of India”. American writer Mark Twain wrote, “Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”
- Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
- Few time free to relax at hotel or for Independent activities.
- Walk in the old town and the ghats, where at sunset you will attend the “Puja Ceramony”. The Brahmin priests, oil lamps in hand, praying in front of the Ganges, and bless the pilgrims.
- Dinner & Overnight at hotel.
- Early Morning wake up and departure for boat ride on river Ganges at sunrise and stroll through the alleys that lead you to Shiva temple. For you to appreciate this remarkable city, we’ll transfer you to the banks of the River Ganges before the sun rises. Board a boat with your guide and proceed to the middle of the river, where at sunrise the sight unfolds before you. While walking down visit Vishwanath Temple (foreigner’s entry is restricted inside the temple) – Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is the most sacred shrine in Varanasi. The original temple was destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb which was later restored by Rani Ahilyabai of India in 18th century and Durga Temple – also referred as Monkey Temple for the large number of monkeys in the temple complex.
- Visit of Banaras Hindu University which is unique by its spiritual center of meditation and famous by its faculties of sciences.
- Then you will visit the temple of Bharat Mata (Mother India), inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Return to hotel for breakfast.
- Afternoon, excursion to visit SARNATH, a Mecca of Buddhism. This is indeed the Buddha came to put in motion “The Law Wheel,” his first sermon. On the site, still remain vestiges of the buildings erected by Ashoka himself, with the main temple of the sixth century, the column and the Ashoka Stupa Dhamek.
- Continuation by visiting the museum, which contains one of the pillars that Emperor Ashok erected in the 3rd century BC.
- Dinner & Overnight at hotel.
- Breakfast at hotel and check out from hotel than transfer to Airport to catch flight for Delhi.
- Departure : 1050 Hrs Arrive : 1225 Hrs .
- Arrive Delhi Upon arrival, Welcome by Our representative and transfer to your hotel.
- Day free to relax at hotel or for independent activities (Without transport and Guide)
- Dinner & Overnight at the Hotel.
DAY 8: DELHI
- Breakfast at hotel.
- After that its a time to say « Good Bye » and transfer to international airport.
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