Buddhist Tour with Patna

Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Locations: Kolkata, Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Patna, Delhi

Day 01: Arrival in Kolkata
Arrive at Kolkata airport. Reception and assistance. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation at the Kolkata hotel.

Day 02: Kolkata / Bodhgaya (Overnight Train 12307)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visits in Kolkata: Dakshineswar Kali Temple Belur Math – Ramakrishna Mission The Mother’s House (Mother Teresa’s Tomb) St. Paul’s Cathedral Victoria Memorial Shaheed Minar Writers Building Lunch at a local restaurant. Tour of B.B.D. Bagh, Raj Bhavan, Calcutta High Court, Vidhan Sabha, General Post Office (GPO), Akashvani Bhavan [All India Radio], Millennium Park, Eden Gardens, Prinsep Ghat, Race Course, Park Street. Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to the train station to board the train to Bodhgaya. Overnight stay in the train.

Day 03: Arrival in Bodhgaya
Breakfast at the hotel. Visits in Bodhgaya: Mahabodhi Temple Sujata Village Niranjana River Dinner and overnight stay at the Bodhgaya hotel.

Day 04: Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Bodhgaya
Breakfast at the hotel. Excursion to Rajgir (65 km): Gridhkutta Hill Bimbisar Prison Ajatashatru Fort Lunch in Rajgir.
Transfer to Nalanda (12 km), site of the ancient University: Ruins of Nalanda University Return to Bodhgaya. Dinner and overnight stay at the Bodhgaya hotel.

Day 05: Bodhgaya – Varanasi (250 km / 5 hours by car)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Varanasi. Excursion to Sarnath (12 km from Varanasi): Dhamekha Stupa Deer Park Museum (closed on Fridays) Dinner and overnight stay at the Varanasi hotel.

Day 06: Varanasi – Kushinagar (240 km / 5 hours by car)
Boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise. Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Kushinagar (approximately 240 km / 5 hours by car). Lunch at a motel en route. Arrival and check-in at the Kushinagar hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay at the Kushinagar hotel.

Day 07: Kushinagar – Vaishali (250 km / 5 hours by car)
Breakfast at the hotel. Visits in Kushinagar: Mahaparinirvana Temple (where Buddha gave his last breath) Rambhar Stupa (Buddha’s cremation site) Japanese Temple Transfer to Vaishali (250 km / 5 hours by car): Ashoka Pillar Ruins of the Ananda Stupa Dinner and overnight stay at the Vaishali hotel.

Day 08: Vaishali / Patna / Delhi
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Patna (50 km / 1 hour by car). 

Visits in Patna: Har Mandir Sahib (Patna Sahib), the birthplace of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh. Golghar, a dome-shaped structure with panoramic views of the Ganges River and the city.
Patna Museum, with a rich collection of Maurya and Buddhist sculptures, terracottas, and other artifacts. Lunch in Patna. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Delhi (Flight 9W728-1250/1430). Arrival in Delhi. Tour of Delhi: Raj Ghat India Gate Drive past the Parliament and the President’s House Dinner at a local restaurant. Transfer to IGI airport for the return flight.