Namaste and welcome to India Our Guide will meet you in arrival & drive to Hotel {Important: No pre-night holding of Rooms at Hotel } Delhi stands as the capital of modern India. Here you can see the mixture of the old and the new India. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, which has left behind a lot of monuments that commemorate the greatness and glory of past eras. Jama Masjid: one of the largest mosques in Asia can accommodate about 25,000 people. Towering over Old Delhi, the "Friday Mosque" was the final architectural work of Shah Jahan, built between 1644 and 1658. Explore the intricate bustling streets in a cycle rickshaw, also known as pedicab. A form of local transportation. Through the narrow streets of Chandni Chowk (literally, 'Silver Street'), once the most opulent perfume market in India, along with a visit to the largest wholesale spice market in Asia. Drive beyond the Red Fort outside (no inside visit) Later visit The British architect: drive past through the imperial part of the city designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the British in the 1920s. Continue along the main avenue, the impressive Rajpath to the memorial arch of the First World War, the Gateway of India and pass Rashtrapati Bhawan, the residence of the President and the buildings of Parliament. Visit the serene Sikh Temple in Bangla Sahib, which is one of the most popular places of worship in Delhi.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon

Transfer to Delhi Railway Station to board the train to Lucknow (AC Chair Car) [Train will depart from Delhi at 0610 Hrs & will arrive in Lucknow at 1230 Hrs] Proceed for city tour of Lucknow. Our first stop will be at Mughals Bara Imambara as well as the residence built in 1800 for British residents. This residence became famous during the Lucknow uprising in 1857. Later drive to Sravasti, upon arrival check-in at Hotel Late Afternoon visit Balrampur (vicinity of Sravasti), where the Buddha spent more than half of his monastic life in the Jetavanas monastery. We will visit archaeological sites Saheth and Maheth. Saheth is a property of the Jetavana Monastery and has become an important place of pilgrimage because of the numerous shrines, stupas and monasteries. Maheth is the living example of the prosperity of the ancient city of Sravasti. Excavations have revealed the massive city gates and ramparts. The Sobhanath Temple is located here along with two stupas - Pakki Kuti and Kachchi Kuti both of which were later converted into Brahmin temples. Overnight at Hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Hotel Pathik

Today we will visit the Birthplace Lumbini (Province of Nepal) We will drive to Sonauli, which lies on the Indo-Nepal border is a well-known transit point between India and Nepal. Our Guide will assist you to immigrate to Nepal and continue to Lumbini. Lumbini is a small village in Nepal that is considered the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama. On the 249 BC As you can see from the Ashoka Pillar built in the 4th century BC, you will see inscriptions confirming the birth of the Buddha in this site. Later visit Mayadevi Temple (Buddha's mother) and Puskarini, as well as the sacred pond where the Buddha's mother took the ritual short bath before his birth and where he also took his first bath. A visit to the pilgrimage site with 38 Mahayanist monasteries in the east and 13 Hinayanist monasteries in the west could also be part of your daily program. After lunch drive to Kushinagar, upon arrival check-in at Hotel. Later visit the cremation site near the Hiranyavati River, The Buddha was cremated after his death and thereby attained nirvana. Excavations have revealed a number of stupas and other buildings dating back to the period between the third century BC and the fifth century BC. Later visit Ramabhar, where you can stand at the exact location of the Buddha's cremation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: The Imperial Kushinagar

Today we drive to Patna Enroute visit Kesariya (Stupa) & Vaishali. Vaishali was an important city Under the Licchavis dynasty with multi-storey houses, sacred groves in the 5th century BC. During his lifetime, Buddha often stayed in Vaishali, where the courtesan Ambapali gave him a vihara (Buddhist monastery building). Kolhua, 2 km further north, is an over 18 m high stone column made of polished red sandstone is enthroned. After visit drive to Patna & check-in at Hotel and rest of the day is free for independent activities Afternoon visit Golghar (roundhouse) & Patna Museum & Sanjay Gandhi Park (outside) Overnight at the hotel

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Hotel The Panache

Today we drive to Bodhgaya Enroute visit Nalanda, Rajgir, Bodhgaya Our first stop will be Nalanda: The city of Nalanda, which was home to one of the largest universities in the world in the 5th century. Nalanda was teaching center with over 10,000 students and professors until it was completely destroyed by the Afghans at the end of the 12th century. The remains of the buildings extend over an area of 14 hectares. Sights are stupas, temples and eleven monasteries, which are aligned on the north-south axis and were built from red bricks. Sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities can be admired in the nearby Surya Mandir Temple, which is dedicated to the sun god. Enjoy Ropeway Trolley ride for 30 Mins on sharing basis Later we will move to Rajgir: Rajgir is an important site for Buddhist. Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, lived here for 14 years. Buddha spent many rainy seasons in this place and gave important discourses. According to tradition, Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of universal compassion, revealed the famous Heart Sutra on Vulture Mountain, which for many Japanese Buddhists is the essence of Buddhism. After visit drive to Bodhgaya & check-in at Hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Hotel Anand International

Today we will spend full day in shadow of Buddha. Bodhgaya is also considered to be one of the holy places with the life of the Buddha and the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center in India. Mahabodhi tree, under which Buddha in 534 BC attained enlightenment The considerable tree is said to be a descendant of the original Bodhi tree. A red sandstone rock is the Vajrasan, the throne on which Buddha sat for meditation. The Mahabodhi Temple, which represents the meditating Buddha, was extensively renovated in the 19th century. Many nations with a high Buddhist population are represented with a temple or monastery in Bodhgaya that is well worth seeing. Buddhists from all over the world make a pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, including many who want to meditate and familiarize themselves with Buddhist teachings.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Hotel Anand International

We will drive to Varanasi Enroute visit Sarnath Sarnath - Buddha came to this village to preach his message "Maha-Dharma-Chakra Pravartan". (In Buddhist terminology, 'turned the wheel of the law') after he attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Later, the great Buddhist emperor Ashoka built the Dharmarajika stupa here and near it built a pillar crowned by the magnificent capital of four adored lions, which today forms the national emblem of India. Ashoka erected several memorial towers or stupas.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Meraden grand hotel

At dawn, re visit the Ghats when the river is bathed in a magical light and the pilgrims come to perform "Pooja al nascente sun". The best view of the Ghats can be obtained from a boat halfway. The burning pyres, the people who shave their hair, the singing of the sacred shlokas, the alms to the brahmins, the pandas (brahmin priests) sitting under enormous umbrellas that offer prayers to their clients, the devotees who pray and drink water from the sacred river are common in these Ghats. A short boat trip from Manikarnika Ghat can be an interesting introduction to the river. Return hotel for Breakfast at Hotel & after Breakfast, we will proceed to a tour of the Varanasi The life of the city revolves around its seven kilometers of sweeping about 100 Ghats that bathe on the west bank of the Ganges. Most of them are used for bathing. Some are used to cremate bodies. The most sacred Ghats are Assi Ghat, Dasashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika and Panchganga. The pilgrims who bathe in each one of them, consecutively, believe that their prayers will be fulfilled. It is believed that cremation in Manikarnika Ghat guarantees a safe place in heaven, since it is believed that the cremators of this Ghat have the patronage of Shiva. Evening witness Aarti Night on the banks of the Ganges River: A group of young priests interpret Aarti in a well-organized way by having a lighting lamp in hand and begin a rhythmic chanting of mantras. As soon as the Aarti begins, the priests begin the Ganges aarti ceremony.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: Meraden grand hotel

Morning free for self-exploration (vehicle will be at disposal) In time transfer to Varanasi Cantt Railway stations to board the Train to Delhi. (IMPORTANT: it does not run on Monday and Thursday) Upon arrival in Delhi, transfer to Hotel for check-in at Hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

• Standard Hotels: ibis New Delhi Aerocity