Nepal India Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour with Taj Mahal

Day 1: Your country – Kathmandu Airport – Kathmandu

Highlights: Visit Thamel area + Kathe Simbu Stupa

02.00pm: Arrive at Kathmandu Airport.
03.30pm: Pick up from airport and transfer to hotel.
04.30pm: Check in. Rest & relax. Free & easy after check in. Tour ends.
05.45pm: Visit Kathe Simbu Stupa by walk. NOTE: Our tour guide will take you there by walk.
06.45pm: Back from sightseeing and back to Thamel.
NOTE: You can make some shopping and explore Thamel on your own.
NOTE: Dinner at own expenses.

Day 2: Kathmandu (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Highlights: Visit 2 x UNESCO World Heritage Sites + Kopan Monastery + Dinner with Nepalese Cultural Dance Performances.

07.00am Breakfast at hotel.
08.00am Pick up from your hotel in Kathmandu, daily tours start, and visit:

• Boudhanath Stupa – The largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. NOTE:UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
• Kopan Monastery/Monasteries near Boudhanath Stupa – It is the most famous Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu valley.
• Swayambbhunath Stupa, the Monkey Temple – one of the oldest Buddhist Stupa in Valley. NOTE: After earthquake visits.
• Kathmandu Durbar Square. NOTE: UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. NOTE: After earthquake visits.

02.00pm: Lunch at China Town Restaurant.
03.00pm: After lunch, back to hotel, rest & relax. Free & easy until pick up for dinner.
06.30pm: Pick up, dinner at Gokarna House Restaurant with Nepalese cultural dance performances.
08.30pm: After dinner, back to hotel. Rest & relax.

Day 3: Kathmandu – Pokhara (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Highlights: Travelling to Pokhara by with mountains and rivers as backdrops. Amazing views on the road.

06.00am: Breakfast at hotel.
07.00am: Pick up from your hotel. Transfer to Pokhara by land. NOTE: It will take at least 6 hours to reach Pokhara.
09.30am: Tea break at Highway Restaurant at own expenses.
10.45am: Lunch break at Riverside Resort Kurintar.
11.45am: Continue the drive to Pokhara.
02.00pm: Arrive in Pokhara. Check in at Hotel Trekkers Inn. Welcome Drinks. Rest and relax.
04.30pm: Pick up from Hotel for Pokhara sightseeing tours:

• Davis Fall – A waterfall located at Pokhara in Kaski District. An interesting aspect is the water from the fall flow about 500 feet through the natural tunnel at the depth of 100 feet from ground level.
• Mahadev Cave – Across the road from Davis Falls, this venerated cave contains a huge stalagmite worshipped as a Shiva’s Lingam.
• Tibetan Refugee Camp & Tibetan Monastery
• World Peace Pagoda Sunset Tour – Standing on top of the Ananda hill, Shanti Stupa adds more beauty to Pokhara Valley. It is a perfect holiday place providing a clear view of the Himalayan range of mountains, Phewa Lake and Pokhara City. The hilltop provides a splendid view of sunrise and sunset. Tripadvisor has ranked Shanti Stupa as top second attraction in Pokhara.

06.30pm: Back to hotel.
07.30pm: Pick up from the hotel. Dinner at Lan Hua Restaurant.
08.30pm: After dinner, back to hotel. Rest & Relax.

OPTIONAL – Travel to Pokhara by domestic flight. Additional charge: USD100.00. You can choose flight instead of van from Kathmandu. It is faster and more comfortable than van. You will be dropped at the Kathmandu Domestic Airport. Our staff will drop you at the departure gate in Kathmandu Domestic Airport. You will have 30 minutes’ flight to Pokhara. During your flight, you will see the amazing view of Mountains like; Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Annapurna and fishtail etc.

Our tour guide will be in Pokhara airport to pick up you. After check in hotel, you will have lunch at your own. You will have free & easy time.

So, you can do some tour as mentioned below:

10.00am: We will start our tour to Barahi Temple and Phewa Lake. You can do boating in Phewa Lake.
10.55am: Back to hotel. Rest and relax and wait for other friends if they are coming by land.

Day 4: Pokhara (Breakfast)

Highlights: Sarangkot Sunrise Tour + Free & easy Day! Paragliding Tour is OPTIONAL!

05.00am: Pick up from Hotel for sunrise tour to Sarangkot.
05.30am: Arrive at Sarangkot and for sunrise tour with views of splendid snow-peaked mountains.
NOTE: Sarangkot (1592m) is the highest view point for a sunrise in Pokhara. You will reach Sarangkot easily by 30 minutes’ drive from Pokhara and you need 5 minutes hike up to the main view point. You will see the mountain likes; Annapurna I, II, III, Hiunchuli, Fishtail, Manaslu etc.
06.30am: Drive back to Pokhara.
07.00am: Back at hotel. Breakfast at the Hotel. Free & easy day!

NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Descriptions: You will start your 45 minutes Paragliding tour after a short briefing by the pilot. Pokhara in Nepal is the world’s best paragliding spot in the world with amazing view of Annapurna range of mountains and beautiful landscape around Pokhara valley, virgin Mt; Fishtail (Machhapuchhre), LamjungHimal, AnnapaurnaHimal, Dhaulagiri(The highest mountain in this region, Himchuli, Phewa Lake, Rice field, rivers and settlements.

11.30am: Back to hotel from Paragliding. Tour ends.

Day 5: Pokhara – Lumbini (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Highlights: N/A

06.15am: Morning calls. Wake up.
06.45am: Breakfast at the hotel.
07.15am: Drive to Lumbini (09 hours).
12.30pm: Lunch at Nanglo West Restaurant (Tansen, Palpa).
01.30pm: Continue the drive to Lumbini.
04.00pm: Arrive at your hotel in Lumbini. Check in. Rest and relax.
06.00pm: Dinner at hotel. After dinner, free and easy time.

Day 6: Lumbini (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Highlights: Birth Place of Buddha, visiting monasteries and temples

07.00am: Breakfast at the Hotel.
08.00am: Start the Lumbini sightseeing tour by rickshaw or car. Visit following Monasteries/ Temples:
** Mayadevi Temple – Birthplace of Lord Buddha.
** Sacred Garden
** French Temple
** German Temple
** Chinese Temple
** Nepal Temple
** Singapore Temple
** Thai monastery
** Korean Temple and etc…..
11.45am Back to hotel. Lunch en route. Rest and relax.
03.30pm Pick up from the hotel and continue the sightseeing tour.
Visit following Monasteries/ Temples:
** Japanese Temple
** Malaysian Temple (under Construction)
** Library
** Sri Lankan Temple
** Vietnam monastery and etc…..
06.00pm Back to hotel.
07.00pm Dinner at the hotel. Rest and relax after dinner.

Day 7: Lumbini – Kushinagar (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) NEPAL to INDIA

Highlights: Visit Buddha’s Mahaparinirva place and different temples

05.45am: Breakfast at the hotel.
06.30am: Departure to India – Nepal border: Sunauli.
07.15am: Arrive in Nepal – India border. Enter to India after clearance of immigration.
07.45am: Drive to Kushinagar.
11.45am: Arrive in Kushinagar. Check in one of the monasteries in Kushinagar. NOTE: Monasteries may cancel the booking because of “Pooja”. In this case we will arrange the clean available budget accommodation nearby the area.
12.45am: Lunch at Yama Cafe. Rest and relax after lunch.
02.00pm: Start the sightseeing tours, visit:
** Cambodian Temple
** Thai Temple
** Parinirvana Stupa
** Japanese Temple/Sri Lanka Temple
** Buddha Museum
** Meditation Park
** Mahaparinirvana Temple.
06.00pm Back to hotel, rest and relax.
07.00pm Dinner at the Yama Cafe. After dinner, rest and relax.

Day 8: Kushinagar – Agra (Breakfast) 14HRS drive.

Highlights: n/a

06.00am: Wake up. Breakfast at hotel.
07.00am: Transfer to Agra. NOTE: It is 14 hours journey.
10.00pm: Arrived in Agra. Check in hotel. Rest and relax.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 9: Agra (Breakfast)

Highlights: Visit one of the 7 wonders of the World “Taj Mahal” and Agra Fort

06.30am: Breakfast at the hotel
07.00am: Visit Taj Mahal. Time needed: 3 hrs.
10.00am: Back to hotel.
11.00am: Lunch at the Hotel
01.00pm: Visit Agra fort.
03.00pm: Back to hotel. Free and easy!!
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 10: Agra - Lucknow (Breakfast)10hrs drive

Highlights: Visit Capital of Uttar Pradesh

06.30am: Breakfast at the hotel.
07.00am: Transfer to Lucknow.
05.00pm: Arrived in Lucknow. Check in Hotel.
NOTE: you can visit local market by walk.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 11: Lucknow - Varanasi (Breakfast) 11Hrs drive

Highlights: Visit the holiest Hindu city in India.

06.00am: Wake up. Breakfast at hotel.
07.00am: Transfer to Varanasi. NOTE: It is 9 hours journey.
12.00pm: Lunch en route. NOTE: At own expenses.
01.00pm: Continue the journey to Varanasi.
06.00pm: Arrive in Varanasi. Check in Hotel Vibhav Harsh. Welcome Drinks. Rest and relax.
06.30pm: Visit Ganga’s river bank for the evening Aarti. NOTE: Aarti is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities.
NOTE: You can visit local market on your own after dinner.
NOTE: If we have good weather and arrive on time on Varanasi, we will visit Sarnath on the same day. 15km away from Varanasi.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 12: Varanasi (Breakfast)

Highlights: Visit the holiest Hindu city in India

07.00am: Breakfast at the Hotel.
08.00am: Daily sightseeing tour. It is 3 hours program. We visit theplaces of interest and Museum. We also visit a local school for charity.
12.00pm: Back to Hotel. Free and easy.
05.00pm: Boat Tour in Ganga River and see the evening Aarti.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 13: Varanasi – Bodh Gaya via Sarnath (Breakfast)

Highlights: Sarnath (The Deer Park in Sarnath is where Buddha first taught the Dharma) and Bodh Gaya: the Place where Buddha had obtained the enlightenment.

06.00am: Breakfast at the hotel.
07.00am: Visit Sarnath: It is 15 km far from Varanasi. NOTE: Sarnath (The Deer Park in Sarnath is where Buddha first taught the Dharma) and visit:
** Dhamekh Stupa
** Chaukhandi Stupa
** Mulagandha Kuti Vihara monastery
** Asoka Pillar
** Sri Digamber Jain temple
** Thai Temple, Japanese Temple, Chinese Temple, Bruma Mandi, Indonesia Temple etc.
** Deer park
** Bodhi Tree and etc …..
09.30am: Transfer to Bodh Gaya.
12.30am: Lunch en route near Sasaram at own expenses.
01:15pm: Continue our journey to Bodh Gaya.
03.15pm: Arrive in Sasaram. It is the third famous city in this area according to the locals.
04.15pm: Arrive in Aurangabadh. Tea break.
04.45pm: Continue the drive to Bodh Gaya.
07.00pm: Arrive in Bodh Gaya. Check in hotel. Welcome drink. Rest and relax
08.00pm: Dinner at the hotel. Rest and relax after dinner.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 14: Bodh Gaya (Breakfast)

Highlights: Bodh Gaya: the Place where Buddha had obtained the enlightenment and, visiting different stupas, temples and monasteries.

06.00am: Be ready at the hotel’s lobby to visit:
** Mahabodhi Temple
** Bodhi Tree
** Sacred Pond
** Meditation Garden
** Sri Lanka Temple
** Tibetan Monastery
08.30am: Visit: Sujata Kuti. NOTE: It was built in the memory of Sujata (the tribal women who offered kheer to the starving Gautama Buddha, this Kuti is a stupa that stands as a tribute to the woman’s generosity.
09.00am: Back to hotel.
09.45am: Breakfast at the hotel. Rest and relax after breakfast. Free and easy time. NOTE: Lunch at own expenses.
02.00pm: Pick up from hotel, visit:
** Great Buddha Statue
** Indosan Nippon Monastery
** Burmese Vihar
** Bhutan Monastery
** Chinese Monastery
06.30pm: Visit Mahabodhi Temple for the evening view. NOTE: You will have great evening view and you can make meditation inside the Mahabodhi Temple.
08.30pm: Back to hotel. Tour ends.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 15: Bodhgaya – Kolkata (Breakfast)

Highlights: Visiting India’s oldest city. Beautiful sights and scenery during the journey.

Mode of Transportation: We will use train on availability 11 hours or bus journey will take around 11 hours too.
07.00am: Breakfast in the hotel.
08.00am: Check out hotel. Pick up from hotel and proceed to Kolkata directly. The journey on road will take around 11 hours. NOTE: Lunch en route at own expenses.
07.00pm: Arrive in Kolkata. Check in hotel. Rest & relax. Free & easy after check in to hotel.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.

Day 16: Kolkata – departure to your own country (Breakfast)

Highlights: Mother Theresa House + Victoria Memorial

07.00am: Breakfast at the hotel. Free & easy.
01.00pm Check out hotel. Pick up from hotel, visit:
** Victoria Memorial
** Mother Theresa House
** Park Street market for shopping
** New Market for shopping
Free & easy until transfer to airport at 9.30pm.
09.30pm Depart to airport.
10.40pm Check in airport.
00.40pm Depart to your own country.
NOTE: Lunch & Dinner will be at own expenses.