A brief introduction to the lifestyle of Buddhist monks while you experience the great Buddhist circuit Tour

The Buddhist monks are commonly referred to as Bhikkus, they follow a long tradition of lifestyle. Throughout their life they maintain joyfulness and peaceful lifestyle qualities of the Bhikku’s way of life.  During your Buddhist circuit tour as you visit various Buddhist sites you will find various monks living there and get a sense of their lifestyle, which has a code of conduct called Vinaya that is intended to be providing them with mindfulness and wisdom living style. Through this way of life they achieve the state of Nirvana where one is free from all the suffering of the human world.

The Vinaya provides a set of rules and some training to these monks, Vinaya also mentions some guidelines to how to co-operate with the lay people without whom it would be impossible to live the life as a Buddhist monk. The lay people goes a long way in providing support of all kinds like clothes, food etc. These Vinaya rules help monks in a way that they enforce some particular rules with which they avoid offending lay people of giving rise to any misunderstanding.

Lord Buddha

The best way to understand monk’s lives is to go on a Buddhist circuit tour, which will take to all the famous tourist sites in India a well defined manner. You will be visiting some of the historical sites like Lumbini – the birth place of Buddha, Bodh Gaya – the place where Buddha attained the state of Nirvana through mediation under a Bodhi tree, Rajgir – the place where Buddha gave his first sermon and Khushinagar – The place where Buddha passed away and attained the state of Mahaparinirvana in his death. 

The teachings of Buddha spread like wildfire after Buddha gave his first sermon at a deer park in Rajgir, after that for 45 years he traveled to various places delivering the teachings of Buddhism, what started with just a small group of people soon became into a community and later it gave rise to one of the youngest religion in the world. People were affected by it from around the world, they came in large number to do pilgrimage of the above four mentioned sites, some famous personalities in history also built stupas and monasteries, one that stand out in particular is the famous emperor Ashoka, who built the famous Ashoka Pillar at Lumbini, Ashoka monastery at Rajgir which makes up for a very famous tourist sites. Now the teachings of Buddha are still spreading among common people but it has become somewhat limited, the Vinaya states that the teachings of Buddha should only be given by a monk when he was invited by the people who wish to understand Buddhism. 

With Buddhist circuit tour, you will have a experience that just cannot be described in words, each site that you visit has its own significance. During the month of November to January, various Buddhist festivals and it is the best time to go on such a pilgrimage tour. Dalai Lama also visits Bodh Gaya during this time of year.

Great way to explore Buddhism in India through Customized Buddhist Tours

Buddhism is one of the most popular religion in the world, the religion has no gods, devotes of this religion do not require to make any sacrifices or follow any ritual or traditions etc unlike other religions in the world, Buddhism does not impose any restriction on you.  The one true purpose of this religion is to attain the state of total salvation where one is free from the life cycle of birth and death. Buddhism taught us how to achieve the state of Nirvana with dedicated meditation.

The founder of Buddhism religion is Gautama Buddha, a prince who left all the worldly pleasure and dedicated his life to bring ultimate peace into lives of all human beings. He was born in Lumbini, which is now a part of Nepal, previously it was part of India, now along with many other places which have been significant to Buddha have become famous pilgrimage sites. You will find a well built Maya Devi Temple dedicated to the mother of Buddha, when the great emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini during his pilgrimage tour he erected the giant Ashoka pillars in honor of Buddhism religion.  

When Buddha decided to find a common solution to all the human suffering, he moved to Bodh Gaya where he sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated until he has achieve the stet of Nirvana, after becoming the enlightened one he decided that he will spread his knowledge through his teachings. He gave his first sermon at a deer park in Rajgir with only his few followers. People were quick to understand the greatness of this religion, they came to these various pilgrimage sites not only from India but also from other countries like Japan, China, Thailand and Bhutan.  Devotees built many stupas and monasteries at these sites. The four most famous sites of Buddhism are all located in India except one, these sites are Bodh Gaya- where Buddha first meditated, Rajgir – Where he first gave sermon, Khushinagar – where he passed away and Lumbini – his birth place.

Since its origin Buddhism in India has seen days where it was one of the popular religions in the country to the days when invaders from the west nearby made it extinct in its origin country. Due to the devotees from other counties the religion survived when it almost became extinct in India, now you will find many larger Buddha statues along with many other well known Buddhist sites in different countries. The religion which originated in India has taken a different from in other countries, the changes can be seen in different Buddha figure than the one present in India, the different countries religion also differs in teachings of Buddha.

If you are planning to go on a Buddhism in India tour, the time period between October and January is the best time to visit these sites, as many Buddhism festivals are celebrated during this time period.

You can also avail the benefit of these festivals and get special discounts on your tour packages,

Visit Varanasi and Other Famous Pilgrimage Sites With Varying Buddhist Circuit Packages

Choose from many Customized Buddhist circuit packages that you can enjoy with your friends or with tour family, special tour packages that are defined for a single person travel are also available.  Jatak travel is one of most reputed travel agency in India that not only provides various pilgrimage tour packages but also Golden triangle tour packages and other holiday packages. 

After choosing your suitable Buddhist circuit packages, you will be in our caring hands. Our agency representative will meet and greet you at Delhi’s airport on your arrival day. You will be transferred to a suitable hotel for night’s stay. Early in the morning have breakfast at the hotel and meet your tour guide, who will give you brief introduction to your tour itinerary. Depart for airport to catch your flight to Lucknow city.  After arrival, have lunch at a suitable hotel and proceed to Sravasti, check in to a hotel after arrival and enjoy the evening, dinner and overnight stay will be at Sravasti. 

Here you will find the ruins of many great structures like Maheth, which covers an area of around 400 acres. Saheth – famously known the site of jetvana monastery, it covers an area of around 32 acres.  It is an important pilgrimage place as it consist of many Stupas, monasteries for you to visit. Head back to hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Sravasti. On next day head to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, he was originally born a prince, you will also find the ruins of the palace of he lived as prince before deciding to follow the path of Nirvana. Here you will find the huge pillars erected by the well known Mughal Emperor Ashoka. Other sites to visit while in Lumbini are the MayaDevi Temple, and many other monasteries and Stupas built by followers of Buddhism religion from other countries. 

After Lumbini, proceed to Khushinagar, where in a deer park Buddha gave his first sermon after attaining the state of Nirvana, at that time only five to six followers were present to attend his sermon. Here a large statue of Buddha is also located and is city’s main tourist attraction among other sites.  

Choose your preferred vehicle and hotel of your choice with many Buddhist circuit packages available. After Khushinagar, depart for Patna, the capitol of Bihar state. Here rest at a hotel after arrival and then proceed for sightseeing of Bodh Gaya, the well known place where Buddha sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated until he has attained the state of Nirvana. Famous tourist sites to visit while in Bodh Gaya are the Bodhi tree, The Mahabodhi Temple with many monasteries and Stupas built by Buddhism followers. Visit Nalanda university ruins, the famous university where Buddhism was taught to many students, it is also one of largest universities of the world. 

As your tour ends, you will be transferred back to Delhi, where you will be dropped off at airport or your preferred hotel and you may carry onwards with your happy journey.

Day Wise Itinerary for Buddhist Tour in India and Overall Package Overview

After you book your Buddhist tour in India, you will be greeted by your booked agency representative at Delhi’s airport on your arrival day, head straight for hotel for some rest and night’s stay. As per your tour itinerary, you will be either taken for sightseeing of some of most famous tourist sites of Delhi that includes Qutub Minar and more or you will proceed for your first Buddhist site Lumbini located in Nepal. It is the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. After arrival in Lumbini head for your booked hotel for some rest later visit city many tourist attractions that includes:  Maya Devi Temple, The Ashoka pillar and The Buddhist monasteries among various other monasteries you will find in Lumbini.

After Lumbini proceed to Gorakhpur, have some rest after arrival followed by sightseeing tour of Khushinagar. It is an important pilgrimage site on your Buddhist tour in India, here Buddha attained the state of Mahaparnirvana. For all your travel purpose between different sites you will be provided a well maintained vehicle of your choice with an experienced driver who will accompany you through your journey. The main tourist attraction of Khushinagar includes Parinirvana Temple, Mukutbandhan Stupa, the stunning statue of Buddha etc. Later head back to hotel for overnight stay, early in the morning drive to Varanasi- the holiest city of India. Here after arriving and having a delicious lunch proceed for sightseeing tour of Sarnath. In a deer park in Sarnath, Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after he has attained enlightenment.  Take part in the evening Aarti and Pooja before heading back to hotel. On the next day enjoy the sightseeing of some of the holiest sites in India in Varanasi with many Ghats and old temple, take a boat ride in the holy rive Ganga.

After Varanasi, depart for Bodh Gaya, in Bihar, by road. Here after arrival check-in a hotel, later visit the famous well known Bodhi tree, under which Buddha sat and meditated until he has achieve d the state of Nirvana or total salvation.  Other major attractions of the place include Mahabodhi Tree, Vishnupad Mandir and several monasteries and stupas. Your overnight stay will be at Bodh Gaya hotel.  Depart for Patna – the capitol of Bihar, while en-route visit the famous nalanda university, Rajgir and Gridhkut Mountain.  After reaching Patna, your Buddhist tour in India would have come to end and you are ready to head back to Delhi by air. After reaching Delhi, you will carry onwards with your journey and say goodbye to agency representative, by that time you would have made so many happy and wonderful memories of your tour in India.

If you like you can also travel between different site by train or by air, travelling by road is preferred by most tourists because that way you get to make the most of your stay in India.  All the roads are well maintained and you won’t have any issue travelling them.