The Buddhist Circuit in India: A Guide to Major Sites

India is home to some of the most historical Buddhist temples in the world. Together, they form the Buddhist Circuit, an incredible pilgrimage that follows the footsteps of Gautama Buddha. While the first major stop on the circuit is in Nepal, the birthplace of Buddha, the remaining destinations on the circuit are in India. As a whole, the Buddhist Circuit is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is attractive to pilgrims from South Asia and South East Asia who want to gain insight into the life of Buddha, and it also appeals to tourists who admire archaeology and history. This guide to major sites on the Buddhist Circuit offers details about main temples and stops, as well as how to get tickets on the Buddha Express.

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) (Luxury Train)

A fun and stress-free way to explore the many stops on the Buddhist Circuit is by train. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation offers eight-day luxury train rides on the Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train, also known as the Buddha Express. The all-inclusive rail tour includes stops at all four major sites – Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushingar – of the Buddhist Circuit, as well as visits to several minor sites dotted in between. Because the circuit requires international travel and local ground transportation, the Buddhist Express is a popular choice for tourists who prefer pre-arranged accommodations and transportation.

Tickets

Tickets for the Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train are available in three packages – AC-First Class, AC-2 Tier and AC-First Coupe.

• AC-First Class is an air-conditioned cabin that accommodates two people. Tickets are $1,368 for the full tour ($171 per day).
• AC-2 Tier is a shared cabin for up to four individuals. The air-conditioned accommodations are priced at $1,144 for the full tour ($143 per day).
• AC-First Coupe is a private, air-conditioned cabin that costs $1,518 for the full tour ($189.75 per day).
  The ticket price includes most transportation, accommodation, meals and entry fees, where applicable. More details about what is included and not included in the tour can be found below the itinerary. Ticket prices do not include accommodations in Delhi before and after the tour. Guests needing to stay overnight in Delhi should book a hotel in advance.

Itinerary

The passenger experience on the Buddha Express encompasses more than just sightseeing at some of India’s most cherished landmarks. Rolling through India by train allows you to appreciate the country’s breathtaking scenery and culture. For eight days, passengers journey in comfortable accommodations while being cared for by attentive staff members, who also provide local insights and insider information about the temples and each stop on the circuit. Here is a glimpse of what passengers can expect on the all-inclusive Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train tour.

• Day 1 (Delhi to Gaya) – Depart in the afternoon from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi for an overnight ride to Gaya. Dinner is served on board the train at 8 p.m.
• Day 2 (Gaya to Bodhgaya) – The day begins with early-morning tea on board the train, followed by a 20-minute coach ride to Bodhgaya. Guests will check into their Gaya hotel and have a chance to relax and enjoy some lunch before setting off to Mahabodhi Temple and Niranjana River. Highlighted on this leg of the tour are Thai and Japanese temples, as well as a statue of Buddha. Dinner on Day 2 is at the hotel, and guests will spend the night before starting the next day’s adventures.
• Day 3 (Bodhgaya to Varanasi) – After breakfast at the hotel, guests will proceed to Rajgir by coach to enjoy tours of Bimbimsara Jail, Gridhakut Hill and Venuvan. Lunch will be served back at the hotel before checking out and heading to Nalanda, home of the world-famous ruins of Nalanda University and Nalanda Museum. Once back on the train in the evening, passengers can enjoy dinner as they begin the journey to Varanasi.
• Day 4 (Varanasi to Nautanwa) – Early-morning tea and breakfast will be served aboard the train during this leg of the Buddhist Circuit tour. A 10- or 20-minute ride to Sarnath from Varanasi kicks off the morning portion of this tour, which includes visits to Dhamek Stupa, Sarnath Museum, Ashokan Pillar and Mulagandha Kuti Vihar. Lunch will be served at a local hotel, where guests will be welcome to freshen up before visiting the ghats, or historical stone steps, along the Ganges River and enjoying an evening Hindu aarti ritual. Dinner will be served on the train as passengers prepare for the international journey to Nepal.
• Day 5 (Nautanwa to Lumbini) – Passengers will wake up from the overnight train ride to breakfast just before arriving at Nautanwa Railway Station. Tourists will need to show passports and visas, when applicable, during this part of the tour. After crossing the border into Lumbini, guests will enjoy lunch at a local hotel after check-in. Sightseeing in the afternoon includes visits to Maya Devi Temple and Ashokan Pillar. Dinner will be provided at the hotel, where tour guests will spend the night.
• Day 6 (Lumbini to Gorakhpur) – After breakfast and check-out, passengers will proceed back to India by coach to historic Kushinagar. After lunch at a local hotel, the tour group will visit Mahaparinirvana Temple, Ramabhar Stupa, Mata Kutir Temple and other incredible Buddhist landmarks. Group members then will travel by coach to Gorakhpur, where they will board the train for Balrampur at Gorakhpur Railway Station. Dinner will be served on board.
• Day 7 (Balrampur to Agra) – Morning tea will be served on board before the 20-minute journey by coach to Sravasti, where guests will check into a local hotel and eat breakfast. Sightseeing stops for the day include Jetvana Vihara, Pakki Kuti and Sehat Mahet. Tour guests will enjoy some free time after lunch at the hotel, before returning to Balrampur Railway Station, where they will proceed to Agra.
• Day 8 (Agra to Delhi) – In Agra and Delhi, tourists visit the world-famous Taj Mahal shortly after finishing early morning tea and arriving at Agra City Railway Station. The train departs from Agra Cantt Railway Station and finishes the tour following lunch on board, evening tea and arrival at Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station.

Included in the Buddha Express train tour

• Sightseeing tours, as outlined in the itinerary
• Accommodations
• Meals
• English- and Hindi-speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees to monuments
• Travel insurance

Not included in the tour

• India and Nepal visa fees
• Personal items, like special toiletries, medicine and alcoholic beverages
• Transfers to and from Delhi-Safdarjung Railway Station
• Air ticket
• Fees for photographs at monuments and other tourist destinations
• Hotel stay in Delhi before and after tour

Major Sites on the Buddhist Circuit

The entire Buddhist Circuit encompasses four major sites and four minor sites, which include several off-the-grid experiences available through the luxury Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train tour. Tourists can easily visit major sites on their own, however. Tourists who do not practice Buddhism are welcome to visit each site but should be mindful of local culture and customs. Guests should wear modest clothing (no tank tops or short shorts), remove shoes before entering temples and avoid using profanity. Tourists planning their own itinerary to walk in “Buddha’s footprints” will want to include plenty of time to explore these three major sites.

Bodh Gaya – Place of Buddha’s Enlightenment

In the mountainous corner of northeast Bihar, the village of Bodh Gaya harbors one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage points in the world. Mahabodhi Temple Complex represents the place where Buddha achieved enlightenment and continues today to preserve a descendant of the sacred Bodhi tree, under which Buddha meditated. A few other landmarks can be found outside the temple grounds and in the surrounding area. Visitors won’t want to miss these Buddhist attractions in Bodh Gaya.

• Mahabodhi Temple – standing tall and adorned with intricate carvings, this temple houses one of Buddhism’s most sacred symbols – the Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. Guests can soak up the peaceful atmosphere of this historic sanctuary and meditate during nighttime illumination ceremonies.
• Thai Temple – built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of India-Thailand diplomatic relations, this temple contains a 25-meter-tall statue of Buddha and is a stellar example of traditional Thai architecture.
• Niranjana River – Buddha is said to have crossed this stream, also known as Phalgu River, during his journey to Bodhgaya.
• Japanese Temple – also called the Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple, this peaceful complex built in traditional Japanese style features a manicured garden, meditation hall and statue of Buddha. Visitors can view inscriptions of Buddha’s teachings in the walls of the complex.
• Great Buddha Statue – towering over the Gaya landscape at a height of 80 feet, the red granite statue symbolizes peace to all who visit the region.

Sarnath – Place of Buddha’s First Sermon

Not far from Bodh Gaya, in Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is where Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon after reaching enlightenment. It is also where Buddha’s first five disciples received enlightenment. In Buddha’s teachings, he recommended Sarnath as one of the four places devout followers should visit during a pilgrimage. Other sites in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, that help complete the Buddhist Circuit tour include the following:

• Sarnath Museum – exhibits of Buddhist cultural wealth and artifacts recovered from the site of Buddha’s first sermon are housed in this remarkable museum. Outside the museum, visitors can view Archaeological Buddhist Remains of Sarnath.
• Mahabodhi Society Temple (Mulagandha Kuty Vihara) – built in 1931, this astonishing temple enshrines sacred relics of Sakyamuni Buddha and serves as a modern-day place of worship.
• Chaukhandi Stupa –declared a monument of national importance, Chaukhandi Stupa is thought to have been originally built to mark the site where Buddha first met his disciples while traveling through the area. The stupa is believed to date to the 7th or 8th century.
• Wat Thai Sarnath Temple – one of the most modern landmarks on the Buddhist Circuit, this ornate temple was built in 1993 by Thai dignitaries and contains an 80-foot tall statue of Buddha.

Kushinagar – Place of Buddha’s Death

Five hours north of Sarnath by car is where Buddha is said to have taken his last breath. Only Buddha and his disciples did not drive to Kushinagar. They walked. According to Buddhist teachings, seven days after Buddha reached Parinirvana, or death, in Kushinagar, his remains were cremated in the same location. As a Buddhist pilgrimage site, Kushinagar features several sacred landmarks.

• Parinirvana Temple – this iconic temple contains a six-meter long statue of the reclining Buddha, representing the position he was in when he died, made of a single block of sandstone.
• Parinirvana Stupa – excavated in 1876, this landmark contained a copper plate marked with the text of the Nidana Sutra and a statement of the person who installed the reclining Buddha statue.
• Ramabhar Stupa – the cremation site of Buddha is located just east of Parinirvana Temple.
• Matha Kuar Shrine – the statue of Buddha housed in this shrine was built in the 10th or 11th century, according to the inscription on the statue’s base. The statue is carved from a single piece of stone and represents Buddha sitting under the sacred Bodhi tree.