Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya is the holiest place in Buddhism, where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree more than 2,500 years ago. The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rises beside a descendant of that tree, and pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, Japan and around the world gather here to meditate, chant and offer flowers. Monasteries built by many Buddhist nations surround the temple, giving the town a calm, international character.

Our Buddhist circuit follows the Buddha's life across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the Nepal Terai. From Bodh Gaya you travel to Rajgir, where the Buddha taught at Vulture's Peak, and to the ruins of Nalanda, one of the world's oldest universities. Vaishali is associated with his last sermon, and Kushinagar is where he attained Mahaparinirvana. Crossing into Nepal, Lumbini marks his birthplace, with the Maya Devi Temple and the Ashokan pillar. The journey ends at Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon in the deer park, and in nearby Varanasi with an evening Ganga aarti.

This is a calm, contemplative journey rather than a sightseeing rush, with time for meditation and reflection at each site. Distances between the places are long and roads vary, so comfortable vehicles and a steady pace matter. The cooler months from October to March are the best time to travel, and the winter months also bring major Buddhist gatherings to Bodh Gaya. Indian passport holders can enter Nepal for Lumbini with a valid passport or voter ID. Pilgrims of every faith are welcome, and many simply come for the stillness.