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The 7N7D India tour guides travelers to sacred destinations, offering a taste of unique local cuisine and an opportunity to enjoy an immersive and novel experience in the land of Buddha.
Lộc Uyển Garden
The journey begins with the 7N7D India tour at Lộc Uyển Garden, where Buddha first delivered his teachings to the five monks, including Kondanna, who became the first to reach enlightenment and attain the stream-enterer state. This is also where the Buddhist monastic community was established. Sarnath, located 13 km from Varanasi, is one of the four sacred pilgrimage sites mentioned by Buddha.
Thedā Forest or Jetavana Monastery
Jetavana Monastery is one of the key monasteries where Buddha Shakyamuni spent 24 years of his life, teaching and performing numerous significant doctrines. The monastery was established by a devoted disciple named Anathapindika, also known as the Elder Cấp Cô Độc, who invested much of his wealth to build this place for Buddha and his followers. The monastery includes several shrines, corridors, and study areas, making it a captivating site for visitors on the 7N7D India tour.
Lumbini Garden is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, believed to have been born around the 6th century BCE. This historical site features several important structures, including the Ashoka Temple, the Memorial to the Buddha, the Maya Devi Pond, and many other significant landmarks. It attracts numerous tourists and Buddhist followers who come to honor and learn about the Buddha's life.
The next destination on the 7-day India Tour is the Maya Devi Temple. This temple, surrounded by four white walls, was built to protect the excavated ruins. Inside, visitors can admire a relief depicting the queen’s birth of the prince, or a stone slab imprinted with small footprints, engraved by Emperor Ashoka to mark the Buddha's birthplace.
The Relic Stupa
This is the sacred site where the Buddha’s cremation ceremony took place, followed by the distribution of his relics. These relics were divided into eight equal parts and sent to eight devout nations. The stupa stands over 8 meters tall, with a diameter of 34 meters. The exact age of the stupa remains uncertain, but it is regarded as one of the most sacred sites for monks and Buddhists worldwide. For millennia, the sacred fire that cremated the Buddha has been revered by hundreds of millions of believers.
This is the site where, over 2554 years ago, the Buddha passed into Parinirvana. It was built at the Kushinagar sacred site to enshrine the Buddha’s relics and commemorate the place where he transcended his physical body and entered the eternal nirvana.
The Kesariya Stupa
The Kesariya Stupa, located in the state of Bihar, India, is one of the most significant and historically valuable Buddhist monuments. Built around the 3rd century BCE during the reign of the great Emperor Ashoka, this stupa was once the tallest in India, with an original estimated height of around 38 meters. The Kesariya Stupa showcases Buddhist teachings and philosophy through its remarkable art and architecture. It stands as a symbol of the peace, compassion, and wisdom that Buddhism promotes.
Ashoka’s Pillar
This is a monolithic sandstone pillar standing 6.7 meters tall, crowned with a lion sculpture facing north. It marks the location where the Buddha delivered his final sermon, containing teachings about his journey into Nirvana.
Nalanda University
Nalanda was a large Buddhist university that thrived from the 5th to the 12th century. At its peak, it boasted 10,000 students and 2,000 professors. It offered a wide range of disciplines and is considered one of the first international universities in history.
The university is closely tied to numerous significant events and produced many renowned Buddhist scholars. Its ultimate fate has drawn much attention. Many excavated relics, including Buddhist architecture such as temples, stupas, and pillars, have been discovered here. Six stupas and eleven monastic complexes have been uncovered.
The Prison Site of King Bimbisara
The prison where King Bimbisara was held spans approximately 3,600 square meters, with each side measuring around 60 meters. The surrounding walls are about 2 meters thick and are located not far from the main road. Inside this area, there is a small platform of about 12 square meters (3 meters wide and 4 meters long), which is believed to be where King Ajatashatru imprisoned his father, King Bimbisara.
Vulture Peak
This is a small mountain shaped like a vulture, located south of Rajagriha. It is the place where the Buddha once delivered the Heart Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. It was also a favorite spot for the Buddha to meditate daily. Vulture Peak has a V-shaped formation, with two mountains facing each other. One of the peaks is believed to be where the Buddha frequently taught, while the other served as his meditation and practice spot.
The Bodhi Grove
The Bodhi Grove is the name of a forest near the town of Uruvela (now Uluṭṭhāna) along the Ni Liṅga stream, in what is now the state of Bihar. This site marks an important phase in Bodhisattva Siddhartha’s journey toward enlightenment. In this forest, the Bodhisattva underwent several stages of ascetic practices, embracing extreme forms of austerity.
Sujata Village
According to Buddhist tradition, Sujata Village is the place where the Buddha realized that the extreme ascetic practices which depleted his health were not the correct path to enlightenment. It was here that a woman named Sujata offered the Buddha food, which helped him regain his strength and resolve to pursue the middle path in his spiritual journey.
The Nairanjana River is located approximately 200 meters from the Great Stupa, and today it is known as 'Lilajan'. According to Buddhist tradition, it was at this site that the Buddha bathed, cleansing himself. He was then offered a bowl of milk rice by Sujata. Additionally, a local farmer gave him a bundle of kusa grass to serve as a cushion for his meditation, before he proceeded to the Bodhi tree to begin his meditation.
The Mahabodhi Stupa
The final stop on the 7-day India Tour is the Mahabodhi Stupa. This is one of the finest examples of ancient Buddhist architecture, distinguished by its unique design and structure. The stupa is circular, symbolizing the concept of infinity. It houses many Buddha statues and relics that represent the history and philosophy of Buddhism. The stupa also features symbols and monuments commemorating significant events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. In 1989, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to Mytour.vn
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Reference: Mytour.vn Travel Guide
Mytour.vnApril 5, 2024
