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Buddhist Circuit · In the Footsteps of the Buddha

Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sarnath

4.8214 reviews
7 Nights / 8 Days(7N/8D)
India, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh & Nepal
easy pace
Great for senior, solo, family

Destinations: Bodh Gaya → Rajgir → Nalanda → Vaishali → Kushinagar → Lumbini → Sarnath → Varanasi

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Overview

About this Buddhist Circuit trip

Follow the Buddha's life across the Gangetic plain and into the Nepal Terai: enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, the Vulture's Peak at Rajgir where he taught, the ruins of Nalanda University, the last sermon at Vaishali, the Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar, his birthplace at Lumbini, and the first sermon in the deer park at Sarnath. It's a calm, contemplative eight days with meditation sessions and an evening Ganga aarti in Varanasi to close.

Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini — the life path of the Buddha.

Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Stay: 3-star hotels
Transport: Private AC Innova with driver (approx. 1,300 km)
Best time: October to March
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why Choose the Buddhist Circuit?

Six of the eight great Buddhist pilgrimage sites
Meditation under the Bodhi tree at Mahabodhi
Nalanda Mahavihara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Maya Devi Temple and Ashoka Pillar at Lumbini
Dhamek Stupa and the deer park at Sarnath
Experienced guide familiar with Buddhist history

Trip highlights

Mahabodhi Temple
Vulture's Peak
Nalanda ruins
Mahaparinirvana Temple
Lumbini
Dhamek Stupa

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Buddhist Circuit

8 days, planned end to end

D1
- Pickup at Gaya airport or station
- Check in at Bodh Gaya
- Evening at the Mahabodhi Temple and Bodhi tree
- Chanting and butter-lamp offering
D2
- Early meditation session at Mahabodhi
- Great Buddha Statue and international monasteries (Thai, Bhutanese, Japanese)
- Sujata Stupa across the Niranjana river
- Archaeological Museum (closed Fridays)
D3
- Drive to Rajgir (approx. 2 hours)
- Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak) by ropeway and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa
- Nalanda Mahavihara ruins and museum
- Overnight in Rajgir
D4
- Drive to Vaishali — Ashokan Pillar and Relic Stupa
- Continue to Kushinagar (long drive, approx. 8 hours total)
- Evening at the Mahaparinirvana Temple
- Overnight in Kushinagar
D5
- Ramabhar Stupa, site of the Buddha's cremation
- Cross into Nepal at Sonauli (approx. 4 hours)
- Maya Devi Temple, Ashoka Pillar and the sacred pond
- Overnight in Lumbini
D6
- Morning at the World Peace Pagoda and monastic zone
- Cross back into India at Sonauli
- Long drive to Varanasi (approx. 9 hours)
- Overnight in Varanasi
D7
- Dhamek Stupa and the deer park, site of the first sermon
- Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and Sarnath Museum (closed Fridays) with the Lion Capital
- Evening Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat by boat
- Overnight in Varanasi
D8
- Sunrise boat ride on the Ganga
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Varanasi airport

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

2 nights in Bodh Gaya, 1 night in Rajgir, 1 night in Kushinagar, 1 night in Lumbini and 2 nights in Varanasi (3-star hotels)
Daily breakfast and dinner (vegetarian on request)
Private AC car from Gaya to Varanasi, including the Nepal crossing
English/Hindi-speaking guide for Bodh Gaya, Nalanda and Sarnath
Guided meditation session at Bodh Gaya
Ganga aarti boat in Varanasi
Tolls, parking, Nepal vehicle permit and driver allowance

Not included

Flights or trains
Monument and museum entry fees
Rajgir ropeway tickets
Lunches
Camera fees and donations
Personal expenses and tips

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

3-star hotels

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Private AC Innova with driver (approx. 1,300 km)

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Bodh Gaya Arrival · Bodh Gaya · Rajgir & Nalanda · Vaishali to Kushinagar · Kushinagar to Lumbini · Lumbini to Varanasi · Sarnath & Varanasi · Departure

Route

Route map

9 stops from start to finish

GayaStart
2Bodh GayaStop 2
3RajgirStop 3
4NalandaStop 4
5VaishaliStop 5
6KushinagarStop 6
7LumbiniStop 7
8VaranasiStop 8
SarnathFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

October to March

Things to carry

Passport or voter ID for the Nepal border (Aadhaar alone is not accepted)
Modest, light-coloured clothing for temples and meditation
Slip-on footwear
Warm layer for winter mornings (Dec–Jan can be 5°C)
Small cushion or shawl for meditation
Some Nepali or Indian cash — ₹100 notes work in Lumbini

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What ID do Indians need to enter Lumbini, Nepal?

Indian citizens need a valid passport or Election Commission voter ID. Children under 15 can use a school ID or birth certificate with a parent. No visa is required.

Are the drives long?

Two days involve 8–9 hours of driving (Vaishali–Kushinagar and Lumbini–Varanasi). We start early and build in tea and lunch stops. Roads are mostly good highways.

Can international Buddhist groups join?

Yes. Foreign nationals need an Indian visa and a double- or multiple-entry visa for the Nepal leg. Let us know in advance so we can plan the border paperwork.

Is vegetarian food available?

Yes. Bodh Gaya and Lumbini have many monastery-run and vegetarian restaurants, and hotels serve vegetarian dinners on request.

Reviews

What travellers say

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4.8

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Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

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