Following the Footsteps of the Buddha

13 Days/ 12 nights Pilgrimage to India & Nepal

Date : 20 December 2014 to 1 January 2015

D01

20.12.14
Sat
GAYA BODHGAYA (D)
Arrive in Gaya. Meeting & assistance on arrival then transfer to BODHGAYA (+ - 15 Km / 30 minutes) &
check in at Hotel. Afternoon, pay respect to the Buddha at the Bodhi Tree, Diamond Throne and the Maha
Bodhi Temple. Also visit the 7 sites where the Buddha meditated during the 7 weeks after gaining
Enlightenment. In the evening, pay respect to Karmapa at the Karma Temple (subject to confirmation).
Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D02

21.12.14
Sun
BODHGAYA (BLD)
Early morning meditation at Mahabodhi Temple (optional). Breakfast at Hotel. Morning visit Dungeswari
where the Buddha spent 6 years practising self mortification. Will also visit the well known Mahakala Cave.
Lunch at Hotel. Afternoon attend the Monlam prayer. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D03

22.12.14
BODHGAYA RAJGIR NALANDA - VAISHALI (BLD)100 Km/3 Hours + 50 Km/1 Hours + 225
Km/5 Hours
Early morning meditation at Mahabodhi Temple (optional). Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to RAJGIR, visit Vulture
Peak (via cable cars) and NALANDA. Drive to VAISALI for the night. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Box
Lunch en-route. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D04 23.12.14
VAISALI KESARIA - KUSHINAGAR (BLD) + - 305 Km / 7-8 Hours
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit of VAISHALI then drive to KUSHINAGAR via visit of KESARIA. Box Lunch en-route
or Lunch at Hotel. Afternoon visit of Kushinagar. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D05 24.12.14
KUSHINAGAR VARANASI (BLD) + - 300 Km / 7-8 Hours
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to VARANASI. Box Lunch en-route. Upon arrival check in at Hotel.
D06

25.12.14
VARANASI (BLD) + - 300 Km / 7-8 Hours
Early morning Sunrise Cruise on River Ganges + witness morning spiritual ritual ceremony at GHAT.
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit of SARNATH. Evening Sunset Cruise on River Ganges + witness evening spiritual
ritual ceremony at GHAT. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D07

26.12.14
VARANASI - SANKASIA (BLD) + - 475 Km / 9-10 Hours
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to SANKASIA. Box Lunch en-route. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Dinner &
Overnight at Hotel.
D08

27.12.14
SANKASIA - SRAVASTI (BLD) + - 380 Km / 9-10 Hours
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit SANKASIA. Drive to SRAVASTI. Box Lunch en-route. Upon arrival check in at
Hotel. Dinner & Overnight
D09

28.12.14
SRAVASTI LUMBINI (BL) + - 225 Km / 5 Hours
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit of SAHET MAHET(Sravasti). Later drive to LUMBINI with Box Lunch. Upon arrival
check in at Hotel. Drop at Hotel in Lumbini.
D10 29.12.14
LUMBINI (BLD)
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Lumbini Garden, birth place of the Buddha, Drubgyud Choeling Monastery and other
temples in Lumbini. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D11 30.12.14
LUMBINI KATHMANDU (BLD)
Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Kathmandu. Upon arrival check in at Hotel. Dinner & Overnight at Hotel.
D12 31.12.14
KATHMANDU (BLD)
Breakfast at Hotel. Visit Swayambhu Stupa. Lunch at Kagyu Institute of Buddhist Studies at Kirtipur. Visit
Boudhanath Stupa after lunch. Dinner in Hotel.
D13 01.01.15
KATHMANDU HOME SWEET HOME (B)
Breakfast at Hotel. Shopping & Transfer to Airport. Home Sweet home.

This pilgrimage will be led by Ven Shangpa Rinpoche together with 21 monks (of which 17 monks are currently in the 3 years 3
months retreat. Traditionally, after completion of their retreat, the monks have to complete a pilgrimage as part of their first
activity. We are blessed to have the auspicious condition for these retreat monks to join us in this pilgrimage; and they wil l be
leading the group at each holy place to make aspirations and prayers for world peace and well being of everyone.

Cost of Land Tour in India & Nepal : SGD 1,750 (TWIN Sharing ). Exclude cost of air tickets, Insurance, Visa (India & Nepal),
tips and gratuities.


The retreat centre also requires sponsorship to help to cover the cost of the pilgrimage for the 17 retreat monks. Any amount of
donation will be deeply appreciated.



The Significance of Buddhist Pilgrimage

"Bhikkhus, after my passing away, all sons and daughters who are of good family and are faithful should as long as they live, go
to the four holy places and remember: Here at Lumbini, the enlightened one was born; here at Bodh Gaya he attained
enlightenment, here at Sarnath he turned the wheel of Dharma; and there at Kushinagar, he entered Parinirvana. Bhikkhus,
after my passing away there will be activities such as circumambulation of these places and reverence to them. Thus it should
be told to them for they, who have faith in my deeds and awareness of their own, will travel to higher states. After my passing
away, the new Bhikkhus who come and ask of the doctrine should be told of these four places and advised that a pilgrimage to
them will help purify their previously accumulated Karmas or actions. - Lord Shakyamuni Buddha
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhistworld/about-pilgrim.htm


Significance of each of the Holy Place :

Four main pilgrimage sites:

1. Lumbinithe birthplace of the Gautama Buddha.

2. Bodhgayathe site of Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree and where he spent 7 weeks after His
enlightenment. This is where the annual Kagyu Monlam will be held.

3. Sarnaththe place where the Buddha first gave His teachings to the first 5 disciples, where first turning of the Wheel
of Dharma took place.

4. Kushinagarthe place where Buddha entered Mahaparinirvana

Other Great where certain miraculous event is reported to have occurred :

5. Dungeswari Cave where the Boddhisatta practised severe austerities for 6 years. Initially as the prince Gautama
Siddhartha left his princely life in search of truth and peace by leading a life of fasting and asceticism, he meditated in
caves. It was Mahakala (Dungeswari) cave where he realized that fasting and humiliating the flesh wi ll not bring him
enlightenment or divine knowledge.

6. Rajgir Rajgir, Bihar - Formerly known as Rajagaha, it was the capital of Magadha, ruled by King Bimbisara, one of
the most prominent monarchs and supporters during the lifetime of the Buddha. It is the where Buddha subdued
Nalagiri, the angry elephant, through friendliness. In Rajgir, we will visit the Vulture peak where the Buddha gave
sermons on the Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Suramgama samadhi sutra, as well as many other Prajnaparamita Sutras.
This is where the 2nd turning of the Wheel of Dharma took place.

7. Nalandasite of the great monastic university (the 1st Buddhist University).

8. Vaisali Gautama Buddha preached his last sermon before his death in c. 483 BCE, then in 383 BCE the Second
Buddhist council was convened here by King Kalasoka, making it an important place in both Jain and Buddhist
religions. It is also the place where Buddha received an offering of honey from a monkey.

9. Kesaria (Kesariya) it is the site of a stupa built by the King Ashoka. It is one of, if not the largest stupa in India. The
Buddha once stayed in Kesariya (then called "Kesaputta"). On that occasion, he preached the Kesaputtiya Suttas (a
group of sutras preached to the Kalamas of Kesaputta A.i.188), which include the Kalama Sutta.[1] The inhabitants
of Kesariya were the Kosalans and the Kalamas.

10. Sravasti (Savatthi) Place of the Twin Miracle, showing his supernatural abilities in performance of miracles. Sravasti
is also the place where Buddha spent the largest amount of time, being a major city in ancient India. His first visit to
Savatthi was at the invitation of Anathapindika, whom he met in Rajagaha. The main monasteries in Sravasti were the
Jetavana and the Pubbarama. Savatthi also contained the monastery of Rajakarama, built by Pasenadi, opposite
Jetavana. Not far from the city was a dark forest called the Andhavana, where some monks and nuns went to live.
This is the place where he turned the Third Wheel of Dharma.

11. Sankasia (Sankashya)where Lord Buddha descended from Tushita Heaven to earth (after a stay of 3 months
teaching his mother the Abhidhamma).

12. Boudhanath - The ancient Stupa is one of the largest in the world. As of 1979, Boudhanath is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudhanath

13. Swayambhunath - One of the most oldest Shrine in Nepal. The monument is believed to be self created and its
history date backs to the 5th Century. It is also known as the Monkey temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts
of the templ. There are several legends which describe Swayambhunath was born out of a lotus flower that bloomed in
the middle of the Kathmandu which was a big lake at that time. Then the Bodhisattva Manjushree came from China
and he drained the water from the Kathmandu Valley and worshipped this grandeur monument. The largest image of
Gautam Buddha in Nepal was recently built on the western boundary of Swayambhunath.