Embark on an expansive 13 Nights / 14 Days spiritual journey connecting the rock-cut Buddhist cave art of the Deccan with the holy pilgrimage heartlands of the Gangetic Plains and the Himalayan valley of Kathmandu.
Starting in Mumbai with the island caves of Elephanta, the tour proceeds to the rock-cut frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora Caves, before flying to Varanasi for river rituals and Sarnath. Pay homage at Bodhgaya's Mahabodhi Temple, tour the ruins of Nalanda and Rajgir, explore Patna and Kushinagar, visit the birthplace of Lord Buddha in Lumbini, and conclude with the stupas and temples of Kathmandu, including Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath.
Arrive Mumbai (previously known as Bombay).
Our representative will meet you at the airport on arrival.
Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.
Morning boat ride across Mumbai Harbour to visit the 8th-century rock-cut Elephanta Caves.
Afternoon city tour visiting Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Colaba Causeway, and Dhobi Ghat.
Drive up Malabar Hill to visit Hanging Gardens and Kamala Nehru Park overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Visit Mani Bhavan and Crawford Market; overnight stay at hotel.
Transfer to airport for flight to Aurangabad.
Arrive Aurangabad and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon city tour visiting Bibi Ka Maqbara, Aurangabad Caves, and Daulatabad Fort.
Overnight stay at hotel in Aurangabad.
Drive to Ajanta Caves (100 km / 2.5 hrs), a complex of 30 rock-cut Buddhist caves dating from 2nd century BC to 7th century AD with architecture, sculptures, and murals (closed Mondays).
Visit Ellora Caves (30 km from Aurangabad), encompassing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism across 34 monasteries and temples, featuring the monolithic Kailasa Temple (closed Tuesdays).
Drive back to hotel; evening free at leisure.
Overnight stay at hotel in Aurangabad.
Transfer to airport to board flight to Mumbai, connecting onward to Varanasi.
Arrive Varanasi and transfer to hotel.
Overnight stay at hotel in Varanasi.
Morning boat cruise on River Ganges to observe pilgrim rituals along the bathing ghats.
City tour visiting Vishwanath Temple (Birla Temple), Bharat Mata Temple with its marble relief map of the Indian subcontinent, and Tulsi Manas Temple.
Evening witness the Ganga Aarti ceremony on the riverbanks.
Overnight stay at hotel in Varanasi.
After breakfast, visit Sarnath where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon.
Drive to Bodhgaya (242 km / 7 hrs).
Arrive Bodhgaya, the most sacred place for Buddhists where Gautama attained enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree.
Check into hotel; overnight stay.
Visit Mahabodhi Temple depicting the phases of Buddha's journey to enlightenment.
Tour the Bodhgaya Archaeological Museum housing Buddhist sculptures from 1st century BC to 11th century AD.
Visit Jagannath Temple featuring a four-armed Shiva statue in black stone.
Overnight stay at the hotel in Bodhgaya.
Drive to Patna via Rajgir, visiting Gridhakuta Hill and Bimbisara Jail.
Proceed to Nalanda (14 km from Rajgir) to explore ruins of the ancient international center for Buddhist studies.
Arrive Patna; post-lunch city tour visiting Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib (Patna Sahib), Golghar, and Patna Museum.
Overnight stay at hotel in Patna.
Morning drive to Kushinagar; on arrival check in at hotel.
Visit Rambhar Stupa, marking Lord Buddha's cremation ground.
Visit Mahaparinirvana Temple housing the recumbent Buddha statue.
Overnight stay at hotel in Kushinagar.
Morning drive to Lumbini across the border in Nepal.
Arrive Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha 2,500 years ago, and check in at hotel.
Rest of the day at leisure; overnight stay at hotel.
Half-day sightseeing tour of sacred Lumbini.
Transfer to airport to board domestic flight to Kathmandu.
Arrive Kathmandu, surrounded by green hills with snow-capped mountain backdrops.
Transfer to hotel; overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Visit Pashupatinath Temple on the Bagmati River, built in 1696.
Tour Patan ("Town with a Thousand Golden Roofs") and the Tibetan Handicraft Center at Jawalakhel.
Visit Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Boudhanath Stupa, one of the world's largest stupas.
Explore Kathmandu Durbar Square (Temple of the Living Goddess Kumari) and Kasthamandap.
Overnight stay at hotel in Kathmandu.
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu to connect flight for onward destination.
Tour concludes with memories of inner peace and spiritual heritage.
