Buddhist Circuit: Varanasi, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar
Follow the Buddha’s path from the first sermon at Sarnath to Kushinagar.
- Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
- Route: Varanasi – Bodh Gaya – Rajgir – Kushinagar
- Best time: October to March
- Difficulty: Easy
- Price: Personalised Journeys, priced to your choice of hotels
Overview
A pilgrimage and heritage trip through the places linked to the Buddha’s life. You’ll visit Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon, sit under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya, see the ruins of Nalanda and finish at Kushinagar, where he passed away.
- Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath
- Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya
- Nalanda ruins and Vishwa Shanti Stupa at Rajgir
- Mahaparinirvana Temple at Kushinagar
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Varanasi
Pickup at the airport or station and hotel check-in. In the evening, watch the Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Day 2: Sarnath and the Varanasi ghats
Take an early boat ride on the Ganga. Then visit Sarnath: the Dhamek Stupa, the ruins of the monasteries and the Mulagandha Kuti Vihar temple.
Day 3: Varanasi to Bodh Gaya
Drive about 5 hours to Bodh Gaya. In the evening, visit the Mahabodhi Temple.
Day 4: Bodh Gaya
See the Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree in the morning, then the Great Buddha Statue and the monasteries built by Thai, Tibetan and Japanese communities.
Day 5: Rajgir, Nalanda and Patna
Drive about 2.5 hours to Rajgir. Visit Vulture Peak and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, then the ruins of Nalanda. Continue about 3 hours to Patna for the night.
Day 6: Patna to Kushinagar
Drive about 6 hours to Kushinagar, with a rest stop on the way. Evening at leisure.
Day 7: Kushinagar and departure
Visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple and the Ramabhar Stupa. Then drive about 1.5 hours to Gorakhpur for your onward journey.
What’s included
Included
- 6 nights in hotels, twin sharing
- All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Flights and train tickets within India
- Monument and temple entry fees
- Rajgir ropeway tickets
- Private air-conditioned car with driver
- Airport or station pickup and drop
- Boat ride on the Ganga at Varanasi
- Tolls, parking and driver allowance
Not included
- Tips and personal expenses
Hotels
- Varanasi: 2 nights, Hotel
- Bodh Gaya: 2 nights, Hotel
- Patna: 1 night, Hotel
- Kushinagar: 1 night, Hotel
We suggest hotels to suit your requirements, in the hotel style you choose (Premium, Luxury or Heritage & palaces). Stays are twin sharing.
Dates and price
Private trips can start on any date. Winter, from October to March, is the most comfortable season. Summers are very hot, and dates around Buddha Purnima are crowded.
This is a Personalised Journey, so its price depends on the hotels you choose, your dates and your group size. Ask us for a quote.
Questions
Is this suitable for older travellers?
Yes. Most sites involve easy walks, but there are long drives on some days. We can add rest stops or an extra night. Tell us who is travelling.
Can we add Lumbini in Nepal?
Yes. Lumbini is about 4 hours from Kushinagar, and we can quote it with an extra night. Indian citizens should carry valid photo ID for the border.
Are the sites open to visitors of any faith?
Yes. Please dress modestly and remove your shoes at temples and stupas.
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Holidays abroad
- Nepal: Kathmandu and Pokhara: Temples and stupas in Kathmandu, then lakes and Himalayan views in Pokhara. (6 days, from ₹32,000 per person)
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- Singapore: City, Sentosa and Gardens: Skyline views, Gardens by the Bay and a day on Sentosa Island. (4 days, from ₹47,000 per person)
- Vietnam: Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Hoi An: Old Quarter streets, an overnight cruise and lantern-lit Hoi An. (7 days, from ₹54,000 per person)
- Japan: Tokyo, Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima: Tokyo, Mt Fuji and Hakone, Kyoto and Nara, Osaka and a day in Hiroshima, with pure vegetarian meals throughout. (10 days, from ₹3,40,000 per person)
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Destinations
Travel guides
- Visit India: a guide for your first trip
- Festival calendar
- Where to go in January
- Where to go in February
- Where to go in March
- Where to go in April
- Where to go in May
- Where to go in June
- Where to go in July
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- Where to go in October
- Where to go in November
- Where to go in December
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