Book Tour to Footsteps of Buddha

¤ Bodhgaya ¤
Bodhgaya is one of the sacred places for the Buddhists as well as for the Hindus. The Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, under the Bodhi tree which still stands in the temple premises. Bodhgaya has naturally developed into the most sacred spot for Buddhists from all over the world, especially the affluent south East Asia. Gaya is an important Centre of 'Hindu Pilgrimage' where people go to offer oblations for the salvation of their dead forefathers. Places to See: Gaya, Barabar Cave, The Karan Chaupa Cave, The Sudama Cave, The Lomas Rishi Cave, the Visva Zopri Cave, Monastries.

¤ Nalanda ¤
Nalanda, one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient times, is located in the eastern Indian state of Bihar. A small village now, Nalanda is situated around 72 km off Patna, the capital of Bihar and is part of the Buddhist Circuit that also includes Bodh Gaya and Rajgir. The village has a good network of roads that connects it to the other cities of the state. The ruins of Nalanda University are spread over an area of 14 hectares of land. The university was constructed in the Kushana style of architecture, but the impact of the Pala dynasty is widely visible throughout.

Book Tour to Footsteps of Buddha

¤ Rajgir ¤
Rajgir is located at a distance of 15 km from Nalanda in Bihar. It was the capital of the Magadh Mahajanpada when Patliputra was not established. In the ancient times, Rajgir was called Rajgriha, which means the 'Home of Royalty'. This place is significant because Buddha spent many years in Rajgir and also delivered some important discourses here. Buddha converted Emperor Bimbisar to Buddhism at the Griddhakoota Hill in Rajgir. The teachings of Buddha were written down at Rajgir and it was also the venue for the First Buddhist Council.

¤ Varanasi ¤
Varanasi is solace. Varanasi is peace. Varanasi is serene. Varanasi is everything a troubled heart seeks for and much more. Nobody knows when this city was established, leave alone who established it. Hindus maintain that the city is outside the earth and is situated on the 'Trident' of Lord Shiva. Varanasi has been named after the two tributaries of Ganges that flows through the city named Varuna and Assi rivers. It was later changed to Benaras and re-christened Varanasi. Any discussion on Varanasi is incomplete without mentioning its Ghats. There are more than 80 different ghats in Varanasi. The city is also famous for its silk embroidery work and has a specialty in Sarees. The city is also renowned for its musical instruments such as Sitar, Tabla and Shehnai.

Book Tour to Footsteps of Buddha