Arrival in Delhi airport. Upon arrival meet up with your Odyssey Manager and he will provide information about the tour and the transfer to hotel. Check in to hotel and arrange for wake up call for the early departure next morning.
Day 2: Delhi → Lucknow → Sravasti (134 km, 6.25h train ride and 4 hours bus ride)
Travel to the train station early in the morning to board the morning Shatabedi train to Lucknow. The train leaves the station at 0615 and arrives at 1230 in Lucknow. Breakfast served on board. Upon arrival, have lunch in Lucknow then head towards Sravasti, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kosala which had the honour to shelter Buddha for 24 rainy seasons in the Jetvana Gardens. The city, which was believed to be found by the mythological king Sravast, has age-old stupas, majestic monasteries and several temples. Buddha was said to have performed some miracles there. Visit Saheth (Maheth and Jetvan) in the afternoon. Stay in Sravasti for the night.
Saravasti – Jetanava Vihara Ananda bodhi tree
Day 3: Sravasti → Lumbini (Nepal) (209 km, 5h, allow extra time at the border)
After breakfast, travel to Lumbini & check in to hotel. Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, was found in 1895 after being untraced for 1,500 years. Do some sightseeing around Lumbini in the evening and visit the place where Lord Buddha was born. Stay in Lumbini for the night.
Lumbini - Mahamaya Temple
Day 4: Lumbini → Kushinagar (India) (161 km, 4h, allow extra time at the border)
After breakfast, head down to Kushinagar, where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparmirvana. Amongst the ruins are the Mukutbandhan Stupa and a beautiful statue of the reclining Buddha enroute visiting Vaishali. Arrive Kushinagar and check in to hotel.
Kushinagar – Reclining Buddha Temple
Kushinagar – Reclining Buddha Temple
Day 5: Kushinagar → Vaishali → Patna (253 km, 6 hours drive and one hour visiting)
Travel to Patna after breakfast and visit Vaishali on the way. Gautama Buddha delivered his last sermon in Vaishali and announced his Parinirvana here. Abhishek Pushkarini, the coronation tank is located 1km away. The sacred water in the tank anointed the elected representatives of Vaishali. Next to it is the Japanese temple built by the Nipponzan Myohoji sect from Japan. A small part of the Buddha's relics found in Vaishali have been enshrined in the foundation and in the chhatra of the Stupa. Near the coronation tank is Stupa 1 or the Relic Stupa. After visiting Vaishali, head for Patna and check in to hotel there.
Day 6: Patna → Nalanda → Rajgir → Bodhgaya (198 km, 4h ride and 2-3 hours visiting time)
After breakfast, travel to Bodhgaya and take a tour around Nalanda and Rajgir on the way. Rajgir, or Rajagriha as it was known in the past (literally, the abode for kings) is surrounded by the meandering Banganga River and 5 mountains. During the lifetime of the Buddha, this was the capital of the powerful Magadhan kingdom, ruled by the virtuous King Bimbisara. The mountains and caves surrounding Rajagir served as homes to spiritual teachers, ranging from the materialism of the early Charavaka School to the metaphysics of Upanishadic philosophers. Like many others in search for truth, Prince Siddhartha, came to this city to seek the path of vation after he renounced his royal heritage. Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda) is located on Grdhakata Hill in Rajgir. Nalanda was the most renowned university in ancient India. The name was derived from Na-alam-da, which means Insatiable in Giving, one of the names Lord Buddha was known to have.
Rajgir - Vishwa Shanti Stupa on Gridhakata Hill
Nalanda – Xuan Zang Memorial Hall
Day 7: Bodhgaya
As the place of the Buddha's Enlightenment, Bodhgaya is a spiritual home for Buddhists. Bodhgaya, located near the Niranjana River, is one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage centres after Lord Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. After breakfast, visit the Mahabodhi Temple, Niranjana River and Sujata Village. Stay in Bodhgaya for the night.
Bodhgaya – Mahabodhi Pagoda
Bodhgaya – Mahabodhi Pagoda
Day 8: Bodhgaya → Varanasi (242km, 6h ride)
Travel to Varanasi after breakfast. Varanasi is situated on the bank of Ganges River and is the city of Shiva and the holiest for the Hindus. Varanasi is also known Benaras or Kashi. This city has been centre of learning for over 2000 years. Ganges is known as the river of salvation and many people come here before leave this world and take in their last breath so that they can leave the cycle of life, death and suffering, also known as Moksha.
Visit Sarnath in the afternoon. Sarnath is 10km Northeast of Varanasi and is the place where Lord Buddha preached for the first time after he attained enlightenment. In 3rd century BC, Ashoka the Great built stupas and monasteries and an engraved Ashoka pillar here. Muslim invaders destroyed the city and it was rediscovered by archaeologists in the 18th century. Buddhist organisations from 6 nations have built temples in Sarnath.
Sarnath - Dhamekh Stupa
Day 9: Varanasi → Delhi → Agra
Proceed to airport in the morning to board the scheduled flight to Delhi. Upon arrival, travel 200km (about 4h) to Agra. Agra was the capital of India in the 16th and 17th century and most of the monuments and forts were built during this period. Check in to hotel for the night.
Varanasi – Ganges River
Day 10: Agra → Delhi → Singapore
After breakfast, visit Taj Mahal and Red Fort. Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces in the world. Built entirely using white marble, Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world. Some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed.
Visit Agra Fort after Taj Mahal tour. The great Mughal Emperor Akbar commissioned the construction of the Agra Fort in 1565 AD, although additions were also made during of his grandson Shah Jahan’s rule. The fort has a shape of a crescent, flattened on the east with a long, nearly straight wall facing the river. It has a total perimeter of 2.4 km,being 9m wide and 10m long, and is surrounded by double castellated ramparts of red sandstone alternated at regular intervals by bastions. Deep moats also surround the outer wall. There are a number of exquisitely designed buildings located near Agra Fort such as the Moti Masjid (a white marvel mosque resembling a perfect pearl), Diwan-e-Am, Diwan-e-Khaas, Jehangir's Palace, Khaas Mahal, Shish Mahal and Musamman (also named as Samman Burj, where Shahjahan was held captive in 1666 AD). Proceed to airport in Delhi 200km away (4-5h ride) after lunch and board plane back to Singapore.
Agra – Taj Mahal
Price: approximately S$1400/person, excluding air tickets
