This village is situated near the river Niranjana (Phalgu) 12 km from Gaya and 112 km from Patna. It is one of the holiest Buddhist centers. This is the place where Gautama meditated and attained enlightenment. The tree that had sheltered him came to be known as the Bodhi tree (Sacred Fig ). Bodhgaya, an important place of pilgrimage for Mahabodhi Temple, Animesh Lochan Chaitya, Bodhi Tree, Chankramana, Ratnagarh, Sun Temple, Pretshila Hill, Vishnupad Temple, Barabar Caves, 80 feet statue of the Buddha, Lotus Tank, Buddha Kund, International Buddhist House, Sujata village (2 km), Dungeshwari Hill (Prag bodhi, 22 km by road). Bodhgaya has a number of monasteries, some of them established by Buddhists of Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, etc. Overnight stay at hotel in Bodhgaya.
After Breakfast drive to "Rajgir" means "house of the king". The capital of the mighty Magadh Empire in the fourth century BC (also constructed as the first recorded capital in Indian history), is closely associated with the life and teachings of Buddha. Rajgir is also a place sacred to the Jains, since Lord Mahavira spent many years here.
Main sight seen are Jarashand ka Akhara, Jivakameavan Gardens, Ajatshatru Fort, Cyclopean Wall, Shanti Stupa, Venu Vana, Karanda Tank, Sonbhandar Caves, Bimbisar jail, Veerayatan, Jain Temple, Chariot Route Marks, Hot Springs, Pippala cave, Swarn Bhandar, Gridhakuta, New Rajgir Walls, Bimbisar Road, Maniyar math, Saptarni Caves and Poppala Stone house.
Nalanda was a great center of learning in ancient times. Nalanda was one of the greatest monastic universities of the ancient world. At Nalanda you will visit the ruins of the Nalanda University, temples and stupas. Sight scene in Nalanda University Ruins Archaeological Complex, Nalanda Archaeological Museum, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Hieun Tsang Memorial Hall, Silao, Surajpur Baragaon. Overnight stay at hotel in Rajgir.
Morning post breakfast drive to Patna. Patna once called Patliputra, the capital of Bihar, is among the world's oldest capital city with unbroken history of many centuries as Imperial metropolis of the Mauryas and Guptas imperial dynasties.
At Patna sight scene includes Golghar, alarmed by the famine of 1770, Captain John Garstin built this huge granary for the British army in 1786. Patna Museum, this excellent museum contains metal and stone sculptures dating to the Mauryan and Gupta periods, terracotta figures and archaeological finds from sites in Bihar such as Nalanda. It also houses the world’s longest fossilized tree -16m long and 200 million years old. There is a fine collection of Chinese paintings and thangkas. The Patna Museum houses a First World War cannon. Kumhrar- site of the ancient city of Patliputra lies 5 km from Patna railway station. Archaeological findings in this area establish Patna's claim to over a thousand years of political glory - 600 BC to 600 AD. Very little of this grandeur remains though, except for the remains of a huge Mauryan hall supported by 80 sandstone pillars dating back to 300 BC.
Proceed to Vaishali. Vaishali was one of the earliest republics in the world (6th century BC). It was here that Buddha preached his last sermon. Vaishali, birthplace of Lord Mahavira is also Sacred to Jains. Sight scene includes Ashokan Pillar, Bawan Pokhar Temple, Buddha Stupa-I, Buddha Stupa-II, Abhiskek Pushkarn (Coronation tank), Kundalpur, Raja Vishal ka Garh, Shanti Stupa, World Peace Pagoda. Overnight stay at hotel in Patna.
Kesaria Stupa is situated in the Champaran (East) district of Bihar. It lies at a distance of approximately 110 km from the capital city of Patna.
The Kesaria Stupa holds the distinction of being the largest in the world, standing at a height of 104 feet. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated the stupa in the year 1998. It is believed to date back to somewhere around 200 AD and 750 AD has a circumference of almost 1400 feet. The amazing stupa serves as a splendid example of Buddhist architecture and archaeological preservation. Overnight stay at hotel in Bettiah.
After Breakfast proceed to Lauriya Nandangarh (Bettiah). Lauriya derived its name from a pillar (Laur) of Mauryan emperor Ashoka standing there and Nandangarh being the name of a mound about 2 kms. To the South-West of the Ashokan pillar. The polished, tapering, tall and singular well proportioned capital has a single lion, placed on a circular abacus relieved with a row of pecking geese above a lotus.
Lauriya Nandangarh boasts of housing the Ashokan pillar, comprising of the six Ashokan Edicts. As per the version of the historians as well as the Archaeologists, as many as forty pillars were built here by Emperor Ashoka. However, today only one pillar exists in complete form, at its initial location in Lauriya Nandangarh. The height of the pillar is more than twelve meters. Return to Patna and overnight stay at Patna.
Vikramashila was found by Pala king Dharmapala in late 8th or early 9th Century A.D. It prospered for about four centuries before it collapsed in the beginning of 13th Century A.D. It is known to us mainly through Tibetan sources, especially the writings of Taranatha, the Tibetan monk historian of 16th-17th Century A.D.
Vikramashila was one of the largest Buddhist universities, with more than hundred teachers and about one thousand students. It produced eminent scholars who were often invited by foreign countries to spread Buddhist learning, culture and religion. The most distinguished and eminent among all was Atisa Dipankara, a founder of the Sarma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Subjects like theology, philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, Indian logic etc. were taught here, but the most important branch of learning was tantrism. Vikramasila (village Antichak, district Bhagalpur, Bihar) is located at about 50 km east of Bhagalpur and about 13 km north-east of Kahalgaon and 291 km from Patna, the capital city of Bihar . Back to Patna and overnight stay at Patna.
Morning post breakfast drive to airport to board the flight for onward destination. Your “THE LAND OF ENLIGHTEMENT” tour ends.
