"Dharma
Yatra (Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour) is very important for Buddhists. When you visit these
sacred sites, you are reminded of the Master, Lord Buddha. It develops a
strong sense of compassion. Ideally, one should be a better person when one
returns, otherwise it is not useful, a waste of money and time." - The
Dalai Lama (In an exclusive interview given for the book 'Walking with the
Buddha')
This 11-day pilgrimage includes attending the 5-day annual teachings of His
Holiness the Dalai Lama in Sarnath.
Arrive Patna on
07th January 2011, the city that had been the
capital of the great Buddhist emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC.
On
08th January 2011 morning, travel 70 miles to the lovely
hillside city of Rajgir, the capital of the Magadha Empire at the time of
the Buddha and the site of the first Buddhist council. Visit the Bamboo
Grove which was the site of the Buddha’s first monastery and watch the
sun set from Vulture Peak (Gridhakuta Mountain) that the Buddha was
especially fond of. You also have an opportunity to visit Jivaka's mango
grove (Jivaka was the Buddha's physician) and Satadhara (seven hot springs)
where it is said the Buddha came to relieve his bodily pains. En
route visit Nalanda, one of the world’s greatest universities founded
in the 5th century, the Great stupa built on the relics of Shariputra
(Buddha’s foremost disciple), extensive monastic ruins and the
archaeological museum that houses many of the finds of Rajgir and Nalanda.
During its peak in the 7th century, Nalanda was home to 10,000 monks and
scholars.
On
09th & 10th January 2011, your pilgrimage takes you south to
Bodhgaya, the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment. It is here where
Siddhartha Gautama sat under a Bodhi tree and meditated,
determined not to get up until he gained enlightenment. Still standing is
the Bodhi tree said to be a descendent from the original tree. Spend the day
in sitting and walking meditation, in and around the Mahabodhi Temple,
listening to stories and teachings. You may visit some of the best of the
outlying temples erected by Buddhist practitioners from around the world,
especially from Japan, Thailand, Tibet and Bhutan. You shall also visit
the village of Uruvela, across the Neeranjara River, where the young girl
Sujata gave the monk Gautama rice pudding to end his period of austerities
before he became the Buddha.
On
11th January 2011, morning you will drive on to Varanasi also known
as the 'City of Light', and the sacred Ganges River. Varanasi, or Benaras,
(also known as Kashi) is one of the oldest
living cities in the world. Varanasi`s Prominence in Hindu mythology is
virtually unrevealed. Mark Twain, the English author and
literature, who was enthralled by the
legend and sanctity of Benaras, once wrote : "Benaras is
older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend and looks
twice as old as all of them put together" . According to the ‘Vamana
Purana’, the Varuna and the Assi rivers originated from
the body of the primordial Person at the beginning of time
itself. The tract of land lying between them is believed to be ‘Varanasi’,
the holiest of all pilgrimages.
From
12th till 16th January 2011, morning proceed to Sarnath to
attend and listen to the Dalai Lama's annual teachings. His Holiness the
Dalai Lama will offer five-days of teachings at Sarnath. The other
places of interest in Varanasi are Ashoka Pillar, Durga Temple, Sankad
Mochan Temple, Tulsi Manas Temple, New Vishwamath Temple, BBC Art Gallery,
Bharat Kala Museum, Bharat Mata Temple, Beneras Hindu University etc.
In the evenings you can visit River Ganges to offer 'aarti' (worship)
offering of elements to the goddess Ganga.
On 1
7th January 2011, after the annual teachings, you can take
flight to your onward destination.
Includes : 10 Nights hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner,
Aircon transport, Local Guide, Monument Entry fee, boat ride and all taxes
Excludes : Any tips, Portage, Airport Taxes, Insurance etc.
