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Day 1
Arrival In Gaya : After your arrived to Gaya,Drive to Bodh Gaya 13 km and check into hotel. Take a sightseeing tour of this holy seat of the Buddhist religion. Here is where Gautam Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating under a bodhi tree. There is a serene temple here, as well as the offshoot of the tree that offered shade to Buddha. The original tree was destroyed by Emperor Ashokas queen, but a sapling of it was saved in time and planted in Sri Lanka by his daughter. A sapling of that tree was brought back to Bodh Gaya, which still stands to tell this tale.A number of Buddhist nations like Thailand, Japan and Burma have set up monasteries and meditation centres in Bodh Gaya. Some of these include: the IndosanNipponji temple, the Thai monastery, the Tibetan Karma Temple and Namgyal Monastery, and others by the Chinese, Burmese, Bhutanese, Vietnamese,Tamang, Daijokyo and Nepali Buddhist communities.During October and March, monks from Dharamsala descend to Bodh Gaya. The Dalai Lama pays a visit here too during December and January.The Mahabodhi temple is a World Heritage site, built adjacent to the site of enlightenment in the 6th century AD. The temple was attacked and plundered by Muslim invaders in the 11th century and re-built several times. Return to hotel for overnight stay at Bodhgaya. .
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Day 2
Bodh Gaya - Dungeshwari Caves - Gaya: After breakfast, proceed to Dungeshwari cave temples, 13 km. Here Buddha spent years of penance before attaining nirvana or enlightenment. After lunch, return to Gaya to visit the Brahmajuni Hill, believed to be the site of Buddhas fire sermon. There is a cave and a temple on the hill top. Return to hotel for Overnight stay at Bodhgaya .
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Day 3
Gaya - Varanasi : After breakfast transfer from Bodhgaya to Varanasi and check into hotel. Take a short break before heading to Sarnath, 10 km. At Sarnath, Buddha gave his first sermon to a small band of followers after attaining nirvana. Emperor Ashoka had monastaries and stupas built here which were destroyed by Muslim invaders in later years. Some remains were discovered by British archaeologists in 1835. Sarnath is one of the four main sites of the Budddhist religion, Evening Aarti at DashaswamedhGhat . Overnight stay at Varanasi .
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Day 4
Varanasi - Kushinagar : After breakfast, depart for Kushinagar, 250 km by road. r and check into hotel. Buddha breathed his last here, leaving a message for all mankind to find their salvation. Several monuments built by devotees from across the world have built monuments on this holy site along the Buddha Marg. These include: Vietnams Linh Son Buddhists temple, meditation centre and gardens, the Burmese MahasukhamdadachamThargyi Pagoda, the Mahaparinirvan Temple with a tranquil and reclining Buddha and the Matahkuar temple, the Japanese - Sri Lanka temple and the Wat Thai temple. The RamabharStupa, or the MukutbandhanStupa is the site of the cremation of Buddha. overnight stay at Khusinagar
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Day 5
Kushinagar - Kapilavastu - Lumbini : Post breakfast in the morning, embark on a sightseeing tour of Kapilavastu India . Later, you will be transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Lumbini .
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Day 6
Lumbini - Patna: Post breakfast in the morning, set off to explore the Ashoka Pillar, a commemorative monument built by King Ashoka in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. Later, proceed to the Mayadevi Temple, an old Buddhist monastery. Later, proceed to Patna. On reaching Balrampur, proceed to the hotel for overnight stay.
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Day 7
Patna - Nalanda - Rajgir - Bodhgaya: After breakfast, proceed to Nalanda, University Ruins Archaeological Complex is set amidst expansive lawns which offset the spectacular layout and carvings of this ancient university. The monasteries and the viharas are separated by a central valley. Interesting structures to look out for include: steps leading up to perhaps a dais for professors and stupas with images of the Buddha carved in. According to the Chinese traveler XuanZang who also taught at the university during 685 and 762 AD, 10,000 monks and professors resided here at the time. Rajgir -The ruins of the Kolhua complex enclose the 2300 year old Ashoka pillar. A Japanese Peace Pagoda has also been built here. After lunch,overnight stay at Bodhgay .
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Day 8
Bodhgaya: After breakfast, Departure transfer from Hotel to Bodhgaya / Gaya Airport or your preferred destination.
