Bodhgaya & Varanasi Pilgrimage

Patna – Nalanda – Rajgir – Bodhgaya (approx. 175 km/4 hours). On arrival at Patna airport, we meet you and assist with your road transfer to Bodhgaya. En route, we stop at Nalanda, once a major Mahavihara and centre of learning, to explore the Nalanda University Archaeological Complex, Xuanzang Memorial Hall and Nalanda Museum. We continue to Rajgir, a spiritual sanctuary surrounded by forests, caves and natural springs, to visit key Buddhist and Jain sites including Vulture’s Peak and the Sattapanni Cave. After the visits we drive on to Bodhgaya and check you into your hotel.The evening is at leisure for you to relax or reflect. Overnight in Bodhgaya.

After breakfast at your hotel, we set out to explore Bodhgaya’s spiritual landmarks. We begin at the Mahabodhi Temple – a UNESCO World Heritage Site associated with the Buddha’s enlightenment – where we view the golden Buddha statue, spend time beneath the Bodhi Tree and visit Vajrasana, the sacred meditation seat. We then visit international monastic centres including the Tibetan Monastery, the Burmese Temple, the Chinese Temple and Monastery, and the Bhutanese Buddhist Monastery. In the evening we witness the temple aarti – the daily ritual held at the temple. Overnight in Bodhgaya.

Bodhgaya – Varanasi (250 kilometres – approximately 5 hours). After breakfast, we drive from Bodhgaya to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest living cities. On arrival, we check in to the hotel and you have time to relax. In the evening, we head to the river to witness the Ganga Aarti on the banks of the Ganges – a daily sunset ceremony. Overnight in Varanasi.

Rise early for an evocative boat ride on the Ganges, watching morning rituals unfold along the river as Varanasi comes to life. We continue along the ghats – among the city’s 88 riverfront steps, including those used for cremation – to better understand their role in daily worship. We then visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the nearby Annapurna Temple, before exploring the narrow galis that capture the city’s vibrant rhythm. Later, we drive to Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon, to see the Dhamekh Stupa and the remains of Emperor Ashoka’s pillar. We return to the hotel in Varanasi for the night.

After breakfast, we arrange your transfer to Varanasi airport in good time for your flight – standard hotel check-out is at 11 am. As you depart, carry with you the spiritual and cultural highlights of Bodhgaya and Varanasi.