Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit, Nepal – India - 16 days
Methods of Buddhism in 'Four Sheel'
01. All compounded phenomena are impermanent.
02. All emotions are pain.
03. All things have no inherent existence.
04. Enlightenment is beyond concepts.
as explained by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse
Gautam Buddha’s Path & Holy Sites
Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, Nepal - India trip is a very good insight into Buddhism and to understand life and philosophy. No need to be religious, you are free weather you would like to join prayers, ritual, meditation or not. The trip route follows the path of Buddha covering all major holy and historical sites; Lumbini in Nepal where he was born, lived as a prince, Bodhgaya where he did meditation and got enlightened, Sarnath where he turned the wheel of Dharma first time and Kushinagar where he embarked into Nirvana.
Budhha also known as Sakyamuni Buddha, formerly prince Sidhartha Gautam himself said to have referred to as main four holy pilgrimage sites. These holy sites are connected to Lord Buddha’s very important events of his life cycle. Visiting these holy sites give you a first hand experience and observation about the doctrine of inner peace, compassion, meditation, enlightenment, dharma, sangha, nirvana and so forth …… Also you can get a close look at different schools of Buddhism; Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana etc. plus some understanding of Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism and Lamaism practices.
Trip Highlights |
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| Trip Type: | Tour |
| Grade: | Easy |
| Season: | All season |
| Elevation: | N.A |
| Group Size: | 2pax to 16pax |
| Trip Departure Date: | date of your choice |
| Confirmed Group Member/s | Min. 2pax |
| Price: | Reasonable, Contact us |
| Best Months: | 12 months |
Day 02: Visit the village of Pharping with many shrines, monasteries and temples perched on a hillside. It is a powerful place of the female Buddha Vajra Yogini, and many yogis meditate here. We will see "the self-emanating" Tara and Padmasambhava's cave. On the way back, visit Manjushri's Gorge, as well as ancient statues of Chenrezig and Tara in the center of Kathmandu.
Day 03: LUMBINI. Fly (30 minutes) to Bhairahawa airport and drive to Lumbini (20 minutes).
Visit the birth place of Lord Buddha, Ahokan Pillar with readable inscription of King Ashoka of 250 BC, sacred pond, ruins of the ancient monasteries, Stupas and temple of Mayadevi (prince Siddartha's mother). After lunch drive 17 miles to Kapilvastu the home of prince Siddartha, King Suddodhana and queen Mayadevi, where prince Siddartha had spent his child and youth before renouncing the secular life.
Day 04: LUMBINI TO SRAVASTI. Leave Lumbini and drive to Sanauli, the Nepal/India border in about an hour then to Balrampur (129 miles).
Day 05: SRAVASTI. After breakfast visit Jeta Vana for puja and meditation where Lord Buddha spent 25 rainy seasons in retreat. It is still extremely peaceful, clean and totally conducive for deep meditation. Visit Angulimaal's Cave. This is where a dreaded bandit used to live. After meeting Lord Buddha he calmed down and embraced Buddhism.
Day 06: SRAVASTI TO KUSHNIGAR. Drive 150 miles to Kushnigar. Kushinagar is the place of Buddha's death. His last word's were said to be, "Decay is inherent in all component things. Be diligent in your practice." Visit the Mahaparnirvana Temple in the evening.
Day 07: KUSHNIGAR. Visit Rambhar Stupa where Buddha was cremated and his relics were divided into ten parts to be distributed to the different kingdoms of that time.
Day 08: KUSHINAGAR to PATNA (168 miles). En route visit Vaishali, the place where Buddha gave his last teaching. There is an Ashoka pillar and a couple of stupas, one of which contains some of Buddha's ashes.
Day 09: PATNA TO RAJGIR. Drive 72 miles to Nalanda. From the fifth to the 12th century Nalanda was an important Buddhist university with 10,000 monks and students in residence. Buddha spent 12 years in Rajgir and held the first Buddhist council here after obtaining enlightenment.
Day 10: RAJGIR. Here Buddha spent twelve years and held the first Buddhist council after obtaining enlightenment. After an early breakfast a leisurely walk up to Vulture peak for meditation and teachings, where Buddha taught the Heart Sutra.
Day 11: RAJGUR to Bodhgaya, 48 miles away. This is the site of Buddha's enlightenment. Tour of Root Institute, a meditation center set in tranquil gardens, Maitri Leprosy Centre, Maitreya Project and School.
Day 12: BODHGAYA. Meditation and prayers at Mahabodhi Stupa.
Day 13: BODHGAYA to Varanasi (167 miles).
Day 14: SARNATH. This is where Lord Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma for the first time, teaching on the four noble truths and the eightfold path to the five ascetics. These five ascetics were the first disciples of the Lord. Sarnath, eight miles from Varanasi possesses Dhammekha Stupa (the place where Buddha first turned the wheel of Dharma), Deer Park, Mulgandha Kuti Vihar and the ruins of ancient monasteries.
Day 15: SARNATH AND VARANASI. After breakfast, visit Sarnath once again to visit the excellent archaeological museum with Buddhist images dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.
Day 16: VARANASI to onward destinations by flight or train.
- Transportation - All airport/hotel and overland transfers, sight-seeing tours by privatecoach.
- Visa Fee, Flights,
- Your medical and rescue insurance,
- Tips,
- Other expenses of your personal nature and
- Any other not stated as inclusive