Day 1: Delhi to Sankissa – The Celestial Descent
- Distance: 290 km | Travel Time: ~5–6 hours
- Why Sankissa: The hallowed ground where Buddha is believed to have descended from Tushita Heaven after preaching to his mother.
- Places to Visit:
- Ashokan Elephant Pillar
- Ruins of ancient monasteries
- Buddhist Temple
- Overnight Stay: Sankissa
Day 2: Sankissa to Shravasti – The Land of Miracles
- Distance: 330 km | Travel Time: ~7–8 hours
- Why Shravasti: Buddha’s favorite monsoon retreat for 24 seasons and the site of the "Twin Miracle."
- Places to Visit:
- Jetavana Monastery (Anathapindika’s Garden)
- Gandhakuti (Buddha’s personal hut)
- Angulimala Stupa
- Overnight Stay: Shravasti
Day 3: Shravasti to Lumbini via Kapilvastu (India)
- Distance: 230 km | Travel Time: ~6 hours
- Why Kapilvastu (India): Archaeological site where bone relics of the Buddha were unearthed in soapstone caskets.
- Places to Visit:
- Stupas of Piprahwa
- Ganwaria ruins
- Overnight Stay: Lumbini (Nepal)
Day 4: Lumbini & Kapilvastu (Nepal) – The Royal Childhood
- Local travel within Lumbini/Kapilvastu
- Why Lumbini: The birthplace of Lord Buddha; Kapilvastu (Nepal) is the palace where he lived as Prince Siddhartha.
- Places to Visit:
- Maya Devi Temple (Exact birth spot)
- Ashokan Pillar
- Tilaurakot Palace Ruins (Nepal)
- Overnight Stay: Lumbini
Day 5: Lumbini to Kushinagar via Ramagrama
- Distance: 160 km | Travel Time: ~5 hours
- Why Ramagrama: The only undisturbed stupa containing original relics of the Buddha.
- Places to Visit:
- Ramagrama Stupa
- Indo-Japan Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple
- Overnight Stay: Kushinagar
Day 6: Kushinagar – The Final Silence
- Local travel within Kushinagar
- Why Kushinagar: The site of Buddha's Mahaparinirvana (passing into eternity).
- Places to Visit:
- Parinirvana Temple (6.1m Reclining Buddha Statue)
- Mukutbandhana Stupa (Cremation site)
- Matha Kuar Shrine
- Overnight Stay: Kushinagar
Day 7: Kushinagar to Vaishali via Kesariya
- Distance: 210 km | Travel Time: ~6 hours
- Why Kesariya & Vaishali: Kesariya houses one of the world's tallest stupas; Vaishali is where Buddha preached his last sermon.
- Places to Visit:
- Kesariya Stupa
- Ananda Stupa (Vaishali)
- Abhishek Pushkarini (Coronation Tank)
- Overnight Stay: Vaishali
Day 8: Vaishali to Rajgir via Nalanda
- Distance: 150 km | Travel Time: ~5 hours
- Why Nalanda: The world’s first residential university and a pinnacle of ancient Buddhist learning.
- Places to Visit:
- Nalanda University Ruins
- Nalanda Archaeological Museum
- Xuanzang Memorial Hall
- Overnight Stay: Rajgir
Day 9: Rajgir – The Vulture’s Peak
- Local travel within Rajgir
- Why Rajgir: Capital of Magadha and site of many sermons including the Heart Sutra.
- Places to Visit:
- Griddhakuta (Vulture’s Peak)
- Vishwa Shanti Stupa (via Ropeway)
- Venuvana (Bamboo Grove)
- Bimbisara Jail
- Overnight Stay: Rajgir
Day 10: Rajgir to Bodhgaya – The Heart of Enlightenment
- Distance: 75 km | Travel Time: ~2–3 hours
- Why Bodhgaya: The most sacred site in Buddhism where Siddhartha attained Enlightenment.
- Places to Visit:
- Great Buddha Statue (80 ft)
- Various International Monasteries (Thai, Japanese, Bhutanese)
- Overnight Stay: Bodhgaya
Day 11: Bodhgaya & Gurpa Hill Trek
- Distance: 66 km (Round trip) | Activity: Trekking 1,680 steps
- Why Gurpa Hill: Sacred site where Maha Kassapa awaits the future Buddha, Maitreya.
- Places to Visit:
- Gurpa Hill (Kukkutapadagiri)
- Mahabodhi Temple
- The Sacred Bodhi Tree
- Overnight Stay: Bodhgaya
Day 12: Bodhgaya to Sarnath – Turning the Wheel
- Distance: 250 km | Travel Time: ~6 hours
- Why Sarnath: Where Buddha delivered his first sermon, "Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion."
- Places to Visit:
- Arrival and evening rest.
- Overnight Stay: Sarnath/Varanasi
Day 13: Sarnath – The Deer Park
- Local travel within Sarnath
- Why Sarnath: The site where the Sangha was first established.
- Places to Visit:
- Dhamekh Stupa
- Chaukhandi Stupa
- Sarnath Museum (Lion Capital of Ashoka)
- Overnight Stay: Sarnath
Day 14: Sarnath to Agra – Transition to Grandeur
- Distance: 600 km | Travel Time: Full day drive or flight/train
- Why Agra: Transitioning from the spiritual trail to the architectural marvels of the Mughal Era.
- Overnight Stay: Agra
Day 15: Agra to Delhi – A Farewell to Beauty
- Distance: 230 km | Travel Time: ~4 hours
- Why Agra & Delhi: Culminating the journey with the world’s most famous monument of love.
- Places to Visit:
- Taj Mahal (at sunrise)
- Agra Fort
- Overnight Stay: Delhi
Day 16: Departure from Delhi
- Activity: Final breakfast and transfer to Indira Gandhi International Airport.
