| Duration | 10 |
| Max. altitude | 1337 m |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Transportation | private vehicle /Train/Air fair. |
| Accommodation | 3* Hotels |
| Trip starts/ends | Kathmandu / India |
The Buddhist Circuit Tour offered by Asiana Treks and Tours is a spiritual journey through the most significant Buddhist heritage sites spanning Nepal and India. This tour covers sacred places where Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, gave his first sermon, and finally attained Mahaparinirvana (liberation). Starting from Kathmandu, Nepal, and extending to several Indian spiritual hubs, the tour offers a profound insight into the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha.
This spiritual circuit includes Lumbini in Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha, and major Indian sites like Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, and Patna. Along the way, travelers explore ancient temples, stupas, monasteries, and UNESCO heritage sites, offering a rare opportunity to immerse in Buddhist culture, history, and spirituality. Asiana Treks and Tours ensures that visitors not only witness these sites but also understand their deep religious and cultural significance.
2. Introduction to the Buddhist Circuit Tour
The Buddhist Circuit Tour is designed to take travelers on an immersive spiritual journey, visiting the key sites that represent pivotal moments in Buddha’s life. The route covers:
Kathmandu – rich in Buddhist culture and home to many ancient monasteries.
Lumbini – Buddha’s birthplace in Nepal.
Kushinagar – the site of Buddha’s passing into Mahaparinirvana.
Patna – the historical center near ancient Buddhist universities.
Bodhgaya – where Buddha attained enlightenment.
Varanasi – an important pilgrimage city.
By following this circuit, visitors witness the physical footprints of Buddhist history and gain deeper understanding through guided tours and spiritual experiences. Asiana Treks and Tours specializes in curating meaningful journeys blending culture, history, and spirituality.
3. Highlights of Nepal and India Buddhist Heritage Sites
Lumbini: Maya Devi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, sacred gardens.
Bodhgaya: Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhi Tree, meditation centers.
Sarnath: Dhamek Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Buddhist museums.
Kushinagar: Mahaparinirvana Temple, Ramabhar Stupa.
Kathmandu: Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), ancient monasteries.
These sites are UNESCO World Heritage sites, preserving ancient architecture, art, and traditions. The tour offers cultural immersion with opportunities to attend local Buddhist ceremonies, meet monks, and explore Buddhist teachings in situ.
4. Spiritual and Cultural Significance of the Route
This circuit is more than just a sightseeing journey—it is a pilgrimage tracing Buddha’s footsteps, allowing visitors to experience the evolution of Buddhist philosophy. From birth to enlightenment to final liberation, the route connects the physical and spiritual heritage of Buddhism.
Travelers experience:
The deep tranquility of Lumbini’s sacred groves.
The profound enlightenment energy at Bodhgaya.
The first sermon’s historic ambiance in Sarnath.
The solemnity of Kushinagar’s Mahaparinirvana.
Each location is a living testament to Buddhism’s enduring legacy. The cultural exchanges and rituals enrich the experience, offering insight into how Buddhism shaped local customs and continues to inspire millions.
5. Tour Duration and Key Destinations
The Buddhist Circuit Tour spans 10 days, balancing travel, exploration, and spiritual reflection.
Key destinations include:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu – acclimatization and introduction.
Day 2: Spiritual tour of Kathmandu’s Buddhist sites.
Day 3: Kathmandu to Lumbini – journey to Buddha’s birthplace.
Day 4: Lumbini to Kushinagar – the place of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana.
Day 5: Kushinagar to Patna – historical and cultural center.
Day 6: Patna to Bodhgaya – site of enlightenment.
Day 7: Bodhgaya to Varanasi – spiritual city on the Ganges.
Day 8: Varanasi exploration – cultural and spiritual immersion.
Day 9: Varanasi to New Delhi – connecting hub for departure.
Day 10: Departure day.
Asiana Treks and Tours ensures comfortable accommodations, knowledgeable guides, and smooth transport throughout the journey.
Your trip day starts today when you arrive to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Upon your arrival, you will be received by our representative at the airport. He will be carrying a signboard with our company’s name on it. Then you will be transferred to the tour hotel and checked in. A trip briefing will follow later today and the time will be notified to you by the representative who picks you up from the airport. We will come to meet and brief you about the trip at the fixed time. Until then just relax or explore a bit of surrounding.
We take you for a day tour of cultural heritage monuments in Kathmandu valley after breakfast. The tour will give you a mixed insight of history, culture, art, architecture and spirituality of Kathmandu valley. The sites include; Swoyambhunath aka Monkey Temple: The oldest of all sites in Kathmandu valley, Swoyambhunath is an important Buddhist spiritual site having the history over two thousand years old. This site has gained a popular name as monkey temple as this small forested hill is a good habitat for hundreds of monkeys. The visit there will heighten your spiritual and cultural experience. Patan City including Patan Durbar Square: A tour to medieval city of Patan gives you a great insight about ethnic Newari culture, Budhhist spirituality, religious harmony, art and architecture while you stroll around the charismatic alleys taking you to magnificent local community squares known as Bahal and eventually leading you to an incredible medieval palace square. The monuments and skill of the local artisans displayed on those monuments in the square will stun you with their unbelievable harm. Boudhanath Stupa: The largest of its kind in the world, this magnificent stupa is a very important center of faith for the people following Tibetan Buddhism. This place is nice Circular Square with the stunning stupa in the middle of it which spreads a lot of spiritual vibrations around the atmosphere.
Take your breakfast and fly to Bhairahawa and drive to Lumbini. Explore the birth place of Buddha for the whole day. Visit Mayadevi temple, sacred garden, world peace flame, world peace stupa, monasteries of different countries, international Buddhist museum and many other interesting places
Take your breakfast and drive to Nepal India border, go through the custom process and drive to Kushinagar, the place where Buddha achieved Mahaparinirvana. Check into hotel and relax after a long day drive.
Visit Mahaparinirvana Temple and Rambhar Stupa at Kushinagar after breakfast. Drive to Patna later in the afternoon. Check into a hotel and relax.
You will explore Bodhagaya today. Bodhgaya is the place where Siddhartha Gautama attained the enlightenment to become the Buddha. Drive to Bodhgaya from Patna and go for a sightseeing tour of sacred places there. Visit Mahabodhi temple, the actual spot where Buddha meditated to realize the enlightenment. Visit some other sacred Buddhist temples on the site. Stay overnight at Bodhgaya.
Drive to Varanasi, a holy city, after breakfast. A long day drive today will take you to the spiritual city of Varanasi for the exploration. Stay overnight at a hotel.
Go for a boat ride on the sacred Ganges in the morning and watch people paying their homage on their pilgrimage. Later, drive to Sarnath, the sacred place where Buddha gave his first sermons. Visit holy temples and stupas there. Drive back to Varanasi for overnight stay.
Fly to Delhi after breakfast. You will be received at the airport by our representative and transferred to hotel. You can go for the exploration of some of the sites in Old and New Delhi.
We will transfer you to airport for your final departure flight back home or to next destination.