Varanasi To Kathmandu - A Week's Buddhist Tour

By Author: Rabindra Adhikari
Total Articles: 20
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It just takes a week to visit the four Buddhist power places and the living Buddhist heritage of Kathmandu. Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India is only about 500 km from Kathmandu, Nepal in the lap of the Himalayas. Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal in 623 BC. He travelled to several Indian cities near the border during his lifetime seeking for wisdom and then preaching.

A week’s road trip from Varanasi to Kathmandu is the most amazing spiritual journey visiting the most important Buddhist heritage sites and the untouched valley of Kathmandu which preserved Buddhism as it was from the medieval time.

Highlights of Varanasi to Kathmandu Tour

-> Visit Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India which dates back to 1000 BC.

-> Witness Hindu rituals and cremation in the 88 Ghats along the River Ganges.

-> Visit the four Buddhist power places – Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.

-> Tour of Nalanda university ruins and vulture peak.

-> Cross from Gangetic floodplains of India to the Himalayan foothills of Nepal overland.

-> Buddhist tour of Kathmandu visiting ...
... the medieval monasteries and Stupa which sees the age-old Vajrayana Buddhism still in practice as it was in the medieval time.

-> Enjoy the unparalleled view of lush valleys and layers of mountains with snow peaks in the background.

-> Drive through the charming typical Indian villages of Terai to the terraced farms of the Himalayan foothills. A short journey through the dramatic landscape and cultural diversity.

Best time to travel

The Buddhist tour from Varanasi to Kathmandu could be from October to April. However, November to March is the best time to do the tour. The winter months have mostly sunny and warm days with crisp sky. Temperature ranges from 10 – 20 C during the winter months in Varanasi and other Terai regions. Temperature may drop down to 3 C while in the mountains of Nepal. The month of January may see a cold wave for about two weeks when it is mostly misty and temperature drops. There may also be light rain which delays flight and trains. However it doesn’t affect the overland tour.

A week’s itinerary

The Buddhist Circuit Tour is a pilgrimage route that connects several important Buddhist sites in India and Nepal, associated with the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. These sites are significant because they are linked to the key events in Buddha's life, such as his birth, enlightenment, and death. Pilgrims and tourists often undertake this journey to explore and experience the rich Buddhist heritage. Here is how a week’s itinerary works.

1 Day: Arrive Varanasi, pick up and visit Sarnath
Our representative will pick you up from Varanasi airport and together you will drive to a hotel. Later visit the Sarnath archaeological site where Buddha gave his first sermon and Buddhist sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondana. Marked by Emperor Ashoka’s pillar as a deer park, the ruins of Sarnath as important monastic traditions are still seen. Most importantly the Dhamekha Stupa stands 31.3 m high at the place where Buddha gave his first sermon as per the stone inscription found inside the stupa.

2 Day : Visit Ghats of Varanasi in the morning and drive to Bodh Gaya
With a complex of temples, pavilions and Ghats with colorful Hindu rituals; Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India. A boat ride in Ganges River will give a good perspective into the marvelous medieval architecture and colorful rituals on the river bank. The most bizarre is the cremation grounds of Manikarnika Ghat which sees burning of the dead around the clock.
Later, drive 255 km / 6 hours to Bodh Gaya. Visit important monasteries and the 260 BC Mahabodhi temple at the site of Buddha’s enlightenment.

3 Day : Drive to Patna. Visit Nalanda and Vulture peak
We can visit a few more monasteries or the Bodhi tree in the Mahabodhi temple again in the morning and then head for Patna. The journey is about 129 km / 4 hours. Visit vulture peak ( Gridhakuta ) in Rajgir and Nalanda university ruins on the way. Gridhakuta or vulture peak was one of Buddha’s favorite retreats where he preached many of the sutra – Heart sutra, Lotus sutra, Surangama Samadhi sutra and many of the Prajnaparamita sutra.
Similarly, ruins of the 5th century Nalanda university exhibit the golden age of wisdom. Destroyed by Turko-Afghan military general Bakhtiyar Khalji in the 12th century, the university used to have 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers.

4 Day : Drive to Kushinagar 6 hours / 213 km
From Patna, cross Ganges River over the 5,750 m, third longest river bridge in India and travel to Kushinagar. This is where Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana. Visit the Parinarvana Stupa with 6.1 m reclining Buddha dating back to 637 AD. The Ramabhar Stupa or the Mukutbandhan Chaitya is where Buddha was cremated.

5 Day : Drive to Lumbini
From Kushinagar, we will drive to Sunauli border of Nepal and then cross to Lumbini the birth place of Buddha. The distance is 158 km which will take about 5 hours with immigration formalities. It is simple to disembark in the Indian immigration and Nepal visa can be acquired on arrival.
Later visit the 6X2 km Lumbini development zone with the sacred garden which preserves the Mayadevi temple, the exact birthplace of Buddha, Puskarini pond (where Buddha and his mother took first bath) and the ruins of early monastery.

6 Day : Drive or fly to Lumbini
From Lumbini, the road enters the mountainous landscape and winds along the river valleys. The 320 km distance takes about 10 hours. The flight is only about 35 minutes.

7 Day : Buddhist tour of Kathmandu
Buddhist tour of Kathmandu is the important aspect of the tour as you have only seen the monuments so far. The hidden valley of Kathmandu was where medieval Buddhism is still being practiced as it used to be, making it a living Buddhist heritage. Visit the most important ones of the 300 medieval Newari monasteries and stupas dating back to the 6th century. Stay in Boudhanath known as the little Tibet of Kathmandu.

8 Day : Drive to the airport for final departure

This week’s Buddhist circuit tour of India and Nepal is an ideal way of seeing the highlights of both countries and also visit the most important sites in Buddha’s life. Thus this tour is a great way to understand Buddha and Buddhism. Since it just visits the Himalayan foothills, the tour is perfect for the winter months of December till March. The tour could also be customized to give more time and visit more places on the way.

I am an adventurer from the Himalayas of Nepal. I like trekking and discovering new places. I have a degree in culture and love to read non fiction books. I also write travel journals and blogs.