Lumbini: The Birth
Visit the sacred Maya Devi Temple and volunteer with local education projects
Days 5Buddhist Pilgrimage
In the Buddha's Footsteps
Walk the sacred path of the Buddha through India and Nepal, visiting the holy sites of his birth, enlightenment, first teaching, and parinirvana. This intimate 9-day pilgrimage (12 people maximum) balances contemplative practice, monastery visits, meetings with teachers, and meaningful service with local Buddhist communities and NGOs.
A Journey of Practice, Study & Service
This pilgrimage follows the Buddha's life journey from Bodhgaya (enlightenment) to Rajgir and Nalanda (teaching sites) to Lumbini (birth) to Kushinagar (parinirvana) to Sravasti (miracles) to Varanasi (first teaching). Each day includes meditation practice, sutra study and Dharma teachings, meetings with accomplished teachers and Rinpoches, and hands-on service with established Buddhist NGOs and community projects.
Our commitment: Every journey supports local education, health clinics, environmental projects, and monastery initiatives through direct volunteering and transparent donations—while deepening your understanding of the Buddha's teachings through direct transmission from qualified teachers.
Bodhgaya: The Enlightenment
Meditate at the Mahabodhi Temple and support Root Institute's community programs
Days 1-2, 8
Kushinagar: The Parinirvana
Reflect at the Parinirvana Temple and volunteer with FPMT education projects
Day 4
Varanasi: The First Teaching
Visit Sarnath and participate in Ganga clean-up and community service
Day 7
Rajgir: Teaching Site
Explore Vulture's Peak and Venu-van, the first Buddhist monastery
Day 2
Nalanda: Seat of Learning
Visit the historic ruins of the ancient Buddhist university
Day 2
Sravasti: Miracles & Teachings
Experience the Jetavana Monastery and learn about Buddha's miracles
Day 6
Daily Practice
Morning meditation, Dharma talks, and evening reflection sessions
Every Day
Meaningful Service
Hands-on volunteering with schools, clinics, and environmental projects
Seva"Walking where the Buddha walked transforms understanding into embodied wisdom. Service deepens practice into compassion."— Village Traveler
Dharma Study & Teachings
This journey is not just a pilgrimage—it's an immersive study retreat. At each sacred site, we explore the sutras and teachings most closely associated with that location, receiving instruction from qualified teachers and engaging in deep contemplation of the Buddha's words.
Bodhgaya: Enlightenment
Sutras Studied: Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Platform Sutra
Teachings: Emptiness (śūnyatā), the nature of mind, meditation instruction, and the path to awakening
Rajgir & Nalanda: Teachings & Learning
Sutras Studied: Lotus Sutra, Prajnaparamita Suttas
Teachings: Wisdom, compassion, emptiness, the structure of Buddhist philosophy, and the role of monastic institutions in preserving the Dharma
Varanasi/Sarnath: First Teaching
Sutras Studied: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Turning of the Wheel of Dharma)
Teachings: Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, the Middle Way, and the foundation of Buddhist practice
Daily Study Sessions
- Morning Sutra Recitation: Chanting and contemplation of key passages
- Dharma Talks: Teachings from local Rinpoches, monks, and experienced practitioners
- Group Discussion: Exploring the meaning and application of teachings
- Personal Reflection: Journaling and contemplative practice with the sutras
- Q&A Sessions: Direct dialogue with teachers about practice and understanding
At Kushinagar, we also study the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, exploring teachings on impermanence, death, and liberation. In Sravasti, we focus on teachings related to miracles and the power of skillful means.
What Makes This Journey Special
Small Group Intimacy
Maximum 12 participants ensures personal attention, meaningful connections, and minimal impact on sacred sites with a gentle, balanced pace.
Deep Dharma Study
Daily sutra study, teachings from qualified Rinpoches and teachers, and contemplative exploration of the Buddha's words at their source.
Authentic Connections
Pre-arranged meetings with monasteries, Rinpoches, and senior teachers at each location, plus meaningful service with local communities.
Meet Your Guide
Saliesh
Saliesh is your experienced local guide and the dedicated operator of Budha Ashram Guest house in Bodhgaya. With deep roots in the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of India and Nepal, Saliesh brings authentic knowledge, warm hospitality, and genuine connections to monasteries and communities throughout the region.
Having guided countless pilgrims through Buddha's footsteps, Saliesh combines practical expertise with spiritual understanding, ensuring your journey is both smooth and meaningful. His guest house serves as a peaceful home base in Bodhgaya, offering comfortable accommodation and a welcoming atmosphere for spiritual seekers.
Saliesh's personal relationships with local monks, teachers, and community leaders provide you with authentic access to teachings, ceremonies, and service opportunities that typical tourists never experience.
Our Service Partners
Lumbini Social Service Foundation
Support education, women's empowerment, and community development at Buddha's birthplace in Nepal.
Learn More →Root Institute & FPMT
Volunteer with Maitreya School, free health clinics in Bodhgaya, and English teaching programs in Kushinagar.
Learn More →Panchsheel School
Support this unique jungle school in Bodhgaya run by a dedicated monk, providing nature-based education to local children in a serene forest setting.
"All service activities are pre-arranged with established NGOs. Your participation is meaningful, sustainable, and transparent—with receipts and feedback provided for all donations."
9-Day Detailed Itinerary
Duration: 8 Nights / 9 Days | Route: Delhi → Bodhgaya → Rajgir → Nalanda → Patna → Vaishali → Kushinagar → Lumbini (Nepal) → Sravasti → Varanasi → Bodhgaya → Delhi
Day 1: Arrival in Bodhgaya
Location: Bodhgaya, Bihar (Site of Buddha's Enlightenment)
Arrival: Pick-up from Gaya Airport, transfer to hotel
Afternoon Activities:
- Visit Sujata Stupa and Sujata Temple (where Sujata offered milk rice to Buddha)
- Visit Niranjana River (where Buddha bathed before enlightenment)
- Evening visit to Mahabodhi Temple and sacred Bodhi Tree
Accommodation: Dinner and overnight stay in Bodhgaya
Day 2: Bodhgaya → Rajgir → Nalanda → Patna
Morning: Drive to Rajgir (80km, 2 hours)
Rajgir Visits:
- Gridhakuta (Vulture's Peak) - where Buddha delivered many important sermons
- Venu-van (Bamboo Grove) - first Buddhist monastery
- Bimbisar Prison - historical site of King Bimbisar
Lunch: Hot lunch at Rajgir
Afternoon: Drive to Nalanda (15km, 30 minutes)
Nalanda Visits:
- Ruins of the world's first residential university (5th-12th century CE)
- Black Buddha statue and archaeological remains
Evening: Drive to Patna (85km, 2.5 hours). Dinner and overnight stay in Patna
Day 3: Patna → Vaishali → Kushinagar
Morning: Drive to Vaishali (35km, 1 hour)
Vaishali Visits:
- Relic Stupa - contains Buddha's ashes
- Kutagarasala Vihara and Ashoka Pillar
- Site where Buddha announced his approaching parinirvana
Lunch: Hot lunch at Vaishali
Afternoon: Drive to Kushinagar (215km, 5 hours). Check-in at hotel, dinner and overnight stay
Day 4: Kushinagar → Lumbini (Nepal)
Morning Visits in Kushinagar:
- Mahaparinirvana Temple - where Buddha took his last breath
- Ramabhar Stupa - cremation site of Lord Buddha
Lunch: Hot lunch at hotel
Afternoon: Drive to Lumbini, Nepal (180km, 4 hours)
Important: Obtain double entry visa for India & single entry visa for Nepal
Evening: Check-in at hotel in Lumbini, dinner and overnight stay
Day 5: Lumbini → Sravasti
Morning Visits in Lumbini:
- Holy birthplace of Lord Buddha - Mayadevi Temple
- Ashokan Pillar marking the sacred site
- Sacred pond where Queen Maya Devi bathed
Lunch: Early lunch at hotel
Afternoon: Drive to Sravasti (155km, 5 hours)
Enroute: Visit Kapilvastu (30 minutes) - Buddha's childhood home
Evening: Check-in at hotel in Sravasti, dinner and overnight stay
Day 6: Sravasti → Varanasi
Morning Visits in Sravasti:
- Saheth (Jetavana) - where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons
- Maheth - ancient city ruins
- Angulimala Caves - site of the reformed bandit's transformation
Lunch: Early lunch at hotel or packed lunch
Afternoon: Long drive to Varanasi (300km, 8 hours)
Evening: Check-in at hotel, free time for shopping, dinner and overnight stay
Day 7: Varanasi & Sarnath
Early Morning: Boat ride on the Ganges River
- Visit various Ganga ghats and witness morning rituals
- Visit Manikarnika Ghat (cremation site)
- Chanting and offering flowers to the Ganges
Breakfast: Return to hotel for breakfast
Morning: Drive to Sarnath (20 minutes)
Sarnath Visits:
- Dhamekha Stupa - where Buddha gave his first sermon
- Deer Park - site of the first teaching
- Mulagandha Kuti Vihar (Sri Lankan Temple)
- Sarnath Archaeological Museum
Afternoon: Return to hotel for lunch and rest
Evening: Transfer to Varanasi Airport for flight to Delhi (connecting to Gaya)
Day 8: Return to Bodhgaya - Dungeshwari
Morning: After breakfast, visit Dungeshwari Hill (20km, 45 minutes)
Dungeshwari Visits:
- Dungeshwari Hill - where Buddha practiced severe austerities for 6 years
- Mahakala Cave - meditation cave before enlightenment
Lunch: Return to hotel for lunch and 2-hour rest
Afternoon Visits:
- International monasteries (Thai Temple, Tibetan Temple, Bhutan Temple)
- 80-foot high Lord Buddha Statue
- Optional: Return visit to Mahabodhi Temple
Evening: Free time for shopping or final temple visit. Dinner and overnight stay in Bodhgaya
Day 9: Departure from Bodhgaya
Morning: After breakfast, final reflection and closing ceremony
Transfer: Departure transfer to Gaya Airport for onward journey
End of Journey: Carry the blessings and teachings of the Buddha's footsteps with you
Investment in Your Journey
Updated to reflect 9-day journey
Core 9-Day Journey
$1,700
per person (group of 12)
What's Included:
-
Updated to reflect 8 nights / 9 days
- 8 nights accommodation (mid-range, twin share) — 8 nights × $60 = $480
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) — $25/day × 9 = $225
- Private AC coach transportation for entire journey — $160
- Local guides and entrance fees at all sites — $180
- Group donations to NGO partners — $120 per person allocated
- Monastery offerings and puja arrangements
- Pre-arranged meetings with teachers and Rinpoches
- Trip coordination, local transfers, tips, and contingency — $70
Not Included:
- International flights to/from India or Nepal
- Travel insurance (highly recommended)
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Single room supplement (add $25-60/night)
Why Journey With Village Traveler?
Pre-Arranged Service
All NGO partnerships and volunteer activities are coordinated in advance—your service is meaningful, not performative.
Transparent Giving
Receipts and feedback provided for all donations. You'll know exactly how your contribution supports local communities.
Authentic Access
Direct connections with monasteries, teachers, and Rinpoches—not tourist performances but genuine spiritual exchange with balanced pacing.
Ready to Walk in the Buddha's Footsteps?
Updated to reflect 9-day journeyJoin us for this transformative 9-day pilgrimage combining meditation, service, and authentic connection with Buddhist communities across India and Nepal.
Inquire About This Journey