2008 Antahkarana India Excursion and Pilgrimage Itinerary
Projected daily schedule (outside of arrival and departure dates) is subject to changes and revisions as the tour unfolds. Roads, weather, and innumerable conditions and situations can affect travel schedules in India and Nepal. Flexibility is the keyword for having fun.
Accommodations are chosen for location, cleanliness, and ambience. They are sometimes basic, sometimes elegant, sometimes in between. We will always have hot running water, clean sheets and tasty food. Please let me know if you would like to have air conditioning when possible.
Roads are sometimes rough and bouncy and you may want to purchase a kidney belt or wear some form of light support for belly and back while riding in the car.
Walking is easy to moderate. Sometimes we will take bicycle rickshaws between monasteries and points of interest at pilgrimage sites. Sitting in one place is always an option. There is an easy hill to climb at Rajir to Vulture Peak where Buddha taught the Heart Sutra. There is an opportunity for walking in the hills around Boudha retreat and to destinations such as Kopan Monastery, a beautiful monastery with incredible views of Kathmandu valley. Or you may opt for massage and herbal treatments at the nearby Chinese medicine center. There are also several beauty shops near our final destination if you would like to freshen your look before returning home.
October 1 Arrive Delhi Check into Paul’s Court Hotel
October 2 Morning rest. Afternoon Delhi tour: National Museum Buddha relics, Evening performance of Dances of India.
October 3 Begin “Golden Triangle” (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur). Car to Agra, visit Taj Mahal, and lunch in Mehtab Bagh, take Taj nature walk. Check into hotel. Evening meal in rooftop garden with great views of Taj Mahal.
October 4 Early morning drive to Jaipur (5.5 hrs) with stop at Fatehpur Sikri (entire city planned and built by Akbar. Visit Jaipur main bazaars in old city, Hawa Mahal, City Palace. Optional Ayurvedic massage or astrology sessions.
October 5 Visit to Amer, elephant ride to majestic Moghul palace, shopping at bazaar, special evening meal at Chokhi Dhani traditional Rajasthani food, dancing, music, entertainment in a magical garden setting or Ayurvedic massage or astrology sessions if you choose.
October 6 Leave Jaipur for Delhi. Stay at Tibetan conclave in Delhi
October 7 Delhi/Patna Day of rest before taking a night train. This next leg of our trip is by train, the Vikramshila Express and hired car. After the overnight train ride we will be free from public transportation hassles and have plenty of personal time to enjoy the sites and scenes, experience the local people and take time for reflection as we visit the pilgrimage sites where Buddha was born, meditated, taught, and then passed into final nirvana. An English speaking monk will accompany us to monasteries; arrange visits with resident monks and monastery stays when possible.
October 8 Patna/Vaishali (where women were first accepted into the Sangha by Buddha) time at Nalanda (ancient site of gathering of pundits later became a monastic university), Rajir (easy climb to Vulture Peak one of Buddha’s favorite teaching sites where he first taught the Heart Sutra)
October 9. Bodhgaya (the Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment, Mahabodi Temple with oldest representation of Buddha)
October 10 Bodhgaya quiet time
October 11 Bodhgaya/Saranath (Deer Park, site of Buddha’s first teaching of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path)
October. 12 Varanasi (Benares, the holiest city of ancient India) we will experience sunrise on the Ganges in a small open boat)
October 12 Varanasi/Kushinagar (place of final Nirvana)
October 13-14 Kushinigar/Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha site of many beautiful Buddhist temples and monasteries with breathtaking frescos and thangas, and beautiful gardens)
October 15 Lumbini
October 16 Lumbini/Kathmandu (amazing drive through the most beautiful interior of Nepal)
October 17- 18 Rest at Boudha Retreat, free time for walks, massages etc. Activities and sites of choice include Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath, hike to Kopan Monastery, meet local Tibetans and join in some traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and customs, check out the tailors and/or visit the Antahkarana Youth Hostel,
October 19 Pashupatinath, Patan (ancient Hindu temple and city state) or Pharping, Padma Sambava meditation cave.
October 20-21 Airport departures arranged according to flight plans.