Compare Culinary South India by Worldwide Quest vs Buddhist Tour from the Birth to Death by Varanasi Excursion
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 14 days | 12 days |
| Price From | $ 5,295 | $ 1,228 |
| Price Per Day | $ 378 | $ 102 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
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| Countries Visited | ||
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
Meals as indicated in the itinerary |
Breakfast |
| Description |
This trip has been discontinued. Instead see On this tour, we’re discovering the culinary traditions of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, rich cuisines making full use of rice, lentils and an abundance of fresh vegetables and spices. Traditional meals are cooked right out of the household garden using the most local of ingredients. Our culinary adventure follows in the footsteps of Chinese, Persian, Arab, Jewish and European merchants who all came here to trade for spices and left their mark on the regional cuisines. |
Buddhist Circuit excursion Tour 11 nights 12 days includes all Buddhist essential features where our travelers can get full religious experience. Tour will start in Varanasi & ends in Lucknow. Tourist interest such as cultural places, historical places, ivory, Stupas, Monuments, Museums as well as Gardens and lakes that would simply leave an incredible mark in your mind. Maha Parinirvana Day: Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia in death place of lord Buddha (Kushinagar). By some it is celebrated on 8 February, but by most on the 15 February. It celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achieved Parinirvana, or complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body. |
Day 1:
Arrive Chennai
Day 2:
Stunning temples and a first taste of the south
Day 3:
Along the Coromandel coast to Pondicherry
Day 4:
French fusion influences
Day 5:
Traditional Tamil recipes
Day 6:
Architectural marvels at Tanjore
Day 7:
Drive to Chettinad
Day 8:
Sumptuous mansions and splendid Chettiar cuisine
Day 9:
Kaleidoscopic Meenakshi Temple
Day 10:
Tea and spice plantations
Day 11:
Cooking with coconut
Day 12:
Serene Fort Cochin
Day 13:
Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch influences
Day 14:
Depart Cochin
Day 1: New Delhi - Varanasi (By flight)
Arrive at Varanasi and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon proceed on a half day temple tour of Varanasi visiting Bharat Mata (Mother India) Mandir, Durga, Tulsi Manas, Sankat Mochan Temple and the new Vishwanath Temple. Followed by Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat and overnight at hotel.
Start point arrival gate, Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Babatpur, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Day 2: Varanasi
In morning after breakfast half day city tour of Sarnath, 10 km from Varanasi, where the Buddha preached his first sermon in the Deer Park, contains the most impressive remains, as well as a modem temple. The Dharmarajika, Chaukhandi and Dhamek stupas are outstanding. There are also the remains of a monastery, and the beautifully polished Lion Capital of Ashoka. Return to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 3: Varanasi - Bodhgaya
Morning proceed for Bodhgaya which is about 247 kms / 6-7 hrs drive. Bodhgaya is the place where Gautama Buddha attained unsurpassed, supreme Enlightenment. On arrival check into hotel and the rest of the day is free. You can leave for attending evening prayer at Mahabodhi temple. Later, return to the hotel and have a comfortable stay at night.
Day 4: Bodh Gaya - Rajgir
After breakfast, depart for Rajgir, 70 km, 2 hrs by road. Arrive in Rajgir and check into hotel. Rajgir was the capital of the Magadha kingdom and is a pilgrimage for Jains and Hindus as well. The Japanese Buddhists have built the massive Vishwashanti Stupa on the Ratnagiri Hill which can be accessed by a chairlift. The stupa has statues of Buddha at the four stages of his life - birth, enlightenment, teaching and death. From the hill top, the Jain shrines can also be viewed scattered across 26 distant hills. Griddhakuta, located on Ratnagiri Hill is another site where Budhha stopped by to preach. Return to hotel for night stay.
Day 5: Rajgir - Patna
After breakfast, proceed to Patna by road, 80 km. Arrive in Patna and check into hotel. Patna is Bihar’s capital city and can be used as a base to visit the Buddhist sites of Vaishali and Kesariya. After lunch, take a local sightseeing tour of Patna. This would include: Golghar (built as a granary), Gandhi Museum, Patna Museum, Har Mandir Takht, Qila House or Jalan Museum with some really rare relics like Napolean’s bed and Marie Antoinette’s porcelain; and the ruins of Pataliputra. Return to hotel for night stay.
Day 6: Patna- Vaishali - Kushinagar
Morning proceed to Kushinagar (approx. 256 kms and 07 hrs drive) enroute visiting Vaishali - place where Buddha announced the approaching of his Mahaparinirvana. After that continue drive to Kushinagar (place where Lord Buddha had left the world behind him after offering an invaluable contribution to humanity, the great religion known as Buddhism). On arrival Kushinagar, transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Mahaparinirvana Temple (where Buddha took his last breathe) and Rambhar Stupa (cremation site of Lord Buddha). Overnight stay at Kushinagar hotel.
Day 7: Kushinagar - Lumbini
Morning after Breakfast drive to Lumbini - the birth place of Lord Buddha (180 kms and 05 hrs drive). On arrival, transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit the birth place of Buddha - Mayadevi Temple. This place is a blessed one for its serenity and the natural beauty, purely coinciding to the perception of a place where the legend was born. Overnight stay at Lumbini hotel.
Maha Parinirvana Day: Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day is a Mahayana Buddhist holiday celebrated in East Asia in death place of lord Buddha (Kushinagar). By some it is celebrated on 8 February, but by most on the 15 February. It celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achieved Parinirvana, or complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body.
Day 8: Lumbini - Kapilavastu
Morning leave for Kapilavastu - the childhood home of Gautam Buddha. & also visit ruins of the Palaces Overnight stay at Kapilavastu hotel
Day 9: Kapilavastu - Sravasti
In the morning after Breakfast proceed to Sravasti where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. Here he is said to have performed many miracles, and levitated. During the monsoon, he used to stay at the Jetavana monastery on the outskirts of this town. Visit various tourist spots such as Anand Bodhi tree, ruins of the Jetavana monastery, age-old stupas Visit Sahet Mahet and Angulimal caves. Overnight stay in Sravasti.
Day 10: Sravasti - Lucknow - (By flight) Delhi
Morning breakfast at hotel & drive (190 kms / approx. 5.5 hrs drive) to Lucknow airport for onward journey to board flight for New Delhi. Arrive at Delhi Airport and transfer to pre- book hotel. Representative will assist you till hotel check in. Evening at leisure, overnight stay at Hotel in Delhi.
Day 11: Delhi Sightseeing
Morning relish breakfast visit city tour of exciting capital of India is awash with sights. Start to Delhi sightseeing visit Jama Masjid - largest Mosque in India Chandni Chowk oldest, biggest street super market of Old Delhi. Later, walk up to Fatehpuri Masjid and try out a rickshaw ride for Red Fort, Rajghat would be our next stoppage where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated Humayun Tomb - first garden-style tomb of India inspired by Persian architecture. Drive past Rashtrapati Bhawan - residence of the President of India and India Gate - subjected in respect to honor the soldiers who in World War I. Visit Qutub Minar built by Qutabud- din Aibak. Return to hotel. Retire for the night at hotel in Delhi.
Day 12: Departure from Delhi
Breakfast at hotel. Carry out activities, get an transfer assistance for the Airport to board your flight back home.
Tour ends here with sweet memories.
