Leh Ladakh Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour, India

• Your journey will start with landing at Indira Gandhi  International  Airport in Delhi.
• Our representative will meet you at the airport and escort you to check in at the hotel.
• After check-in, rest, refresh at head out for an evening excursion of India’s capital city Delhi.
• The evening will be spent touring the capital’s British and Mughal era buildings, including India Gate, Parliament House, Red Fort, and surrounding areas.

• Following a sumptuous breakfast, we will head to the airport to board a flight to Lucknow, where we will then drive for three hours to Sravasti.
• On the way, we’ll stop for lunch at a nearby eatery.
• After check-in, explore this ancient capital of Kosala Kingdom.
• The city is of utmost importance as Lord Buddha gave his many important sermons in this city.
• Significant city landmarks: Jetavana Buddha Gardens, Sahet Mahet, and Angulimal Cave.
• After an evening of sightseeing, return back to the hotel for an overnight stay.

• The day will start with a sight visit to the remaining destinations in Sravasti.
• After that Caravan will move toward our next destination:
• A village filled with stupas built by King Ashoka and other Gupta kings was home to Siddharth Gautama for the first 29 years of his life.
• By the late evening, we will drive toward Lumbini for an overnight stay followed by a day of exploration of this city located in Nepal on this Buddhist India Nepal Tour.

• Lumbini is the city of Lord Buddha’s birth, thus marker Stone of Buddha’s birth, the spot where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha and the holy pond where Maya Devi bathed before giving birth are all located in the city.
• In the morning our guide will take you for a sightseeing tour of which the important destinations include: Mayadevi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, Royal Thai Monastery and Lumbini Museum.
• By the early evening, we will leave Lumbini and drive toward Kushinagar.
• Check-in to a hotel in Kushinagar for the night stay.

• Khushinagar is the final resting place of Lord Buddha.
• Early morning breakfast will be followed by a visit to the
• Rambhar Stupa, the Cremation stupa of Buddha.
• Parinirvana Stupa where the reclining Nirvana statue of Buddha is housed
• At noon we will leave for Patna via Vaishali.
• Vaishali is one of the most visited places of Buddha’s life so much so that he delivered his last sermon in Vaishali before taking Mahaparinirvana in Kushinagar.
• Witness the Ashoka Pillar honouring Buddha’s last sermon and continue driving toward Patna.
• Check-in at a hotel for an overnight stay.

• Drive to Bodhgaya after breakfast and on the way visit Nalanda and Rajgir.
• Our first stop will be the ruins of Nalanda, the first residential university in the world.
• Rajgir: The first documented recording of Buddha’s discourse was made in Rajgir city. Rajgir is home to a number of monuments commemorating Buddha’s visit, meditation, and stay. Pippala Cave, Griddhakuta, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Karanda Tank, etc.

• The city of Bodhgaya is the most visited pilgrimage for Buddhists as this is the city where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment.
• The sites covered on this day excursion of Bodhgaya include:
• Maha Bodhi Temple complex that houses the spot of enlightenment, Bodhi Tree
• Great Buddha Statue, Thai Monastery, Royal Bhutan Monastery.
• In the evening we will proceed to Varanasi.
• Upon reaching, check-in the hotel, have dinner and retire to bed.

• To witness the Ganga Arti on a boat, begin early in the morning.
• Breakfast at the hotel is next.
• Refresh yourself before departing for Sarnath, a Buddhist destination 10 KM from Varanasi.
• Lord Buddha preached his first sermon upon enlightenment here.
• We will go to the Dhamekh Stupa, which served as the Buddha’s seat, the Dharmarajika Stupa, which was constructed over the Buddha’s relics, and the Mulagandhakuti Temple.
• For a flight to Delhi that takes an hour and a half, go to the Varanasi airport.
• Stay overnight at a hotel in Delhi.

• On this day we will embark the journey toward the second part of this trip to the high-altitude Ladakh region.
• After breakfast take a flight to Leh from Delhi.
• The rest of the day after hotel check-in is free to adjust travellers with the atmospheric conditions of the area.
• The next few days of your trip will give you a closer introduction to Buddhist culture as a large percentage of the population of this area follows Tibetan Buddhism.

• Three significant monasteries in the region are visited as part of the day’s schedule:
• Thiksey Monastery: This 12-story monastery complex is home to a statue of Maitreya Buddha that is 49 feet tall.
• Hemis: The monastery houses a sizable library of Tibetan books as well as an art collection. The largest Thangka (a painting) is on display at the monastery’s Hemis festival once every twelve years.
• Shey Monastery: It is part of a complex that also includes Shey Palace, the former residence of the Ladakhi Royal Family, thus also providing a peak into the history of this cold region.

• While enjoying the picturesque views of the Himalayas we will drive toward Alchi.
• On the way visit:
• Spituk Monastery: This monastery from the eleventh century is home to a sizable collection of historical masks, thangkas, and a giant Kali statue.
• Phyang Monastery: The blue mountain that serves as the monastery’s backdrop, inspired its name. It has a museum with 900-year-old texts, idols, weapons, thangkas, and historical wall paintings on display.
• By the evening reach Alchi and check in at the hotel for the night’s stay.

• Alchi is one monastery of Ladakh situated on plains on the bank of river Indus rather than on a hilltop. For 500 years religious activity has been observed here but it is significant carving and age-old paintings.
• A morning visit to Alchi monastery will be followed by a one and half-hour drive to Lamayuru.
• Lamayuru Monastery – One of the oldest monasteries in the region, the monastery is located amid a lunar landscape. Its influence can be seen by the fact that  50 monasteries in the area along with 300 monks are registered under the administration. It identifies with the Drikung Kagyu sect of Buddhism.
• After the monastery visit, enjoy the enchanting moonscapes of Lamayuru and the enchanting scenery of the village.
• Stay overnight at Lamayuru.

• We will start this day early as reaching Rizong involves a short trek at the end and early morning treks also give the opportunity to witness the splendid colours of the sky at sunrise.
• Rizong Monastery: This remotely located monastery houses a nunnery and is known for following strict monastic rules.
• The group will drive toward Likir Monastery by noon.
• The claim to fame of this monastery is a 75 statue of Buddha.
• While enjoying authentic Ladakhi food and having conversations with sweet native people we will reach Leh by the night.
• Check-in at the hotel for an overnight stay.

• After breakfast, take a stroll around the city for buying souvenirs, shopping or for exploration.
• In the afternoon take a flight back to Delhi.
• Check in at a hotel in Delhi for your last night in India.
• If you wish you can explore some markets in the city or some other sites (our representative will share the options)

After breakfast, we will drop you at the airport for your flight to your destination.