Buddhist Tour Packages in India
Travel in the footsteps of the Buddha. IndiaPackage plans Buddhist tours to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Sravasti and Lumbini, with hotels, meals, an AC vehicle and a guide who explains each site. Choose a short Bihar plan of 4 days or the full Buddhist Circuit Tour of 11 days.
Buddhist Tour Packages Overview
Buddhism began in India, and the places linked with the Buddha are still alive with prayer. A Buddhist tour follows his life: his birth at Lumbini, his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, his first sermon at Sarnath and his mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar. Around them lie Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali and Sravasti, where he taught for many years.
IndiaPackage plans Buddhist tours of different lengths, from a 4 day Bihar plan to the 11 day Buddhist Circuit Tour that crosses into Nepal. Every package includes hotel stay, meals as listed, an AC vehicle and a day-wise plan, and can be changed to fit your time and budget. Read our state guides for Bihar and Uttar Pradesh for more places.
USD 1,450 per person, 10 nights 11 days
Popular Buddhist Tour Packages
Pick a plan to see the places covered. Prices change with season and hotel category.
Buddhist Circuit Tour
10 nights 11 days: Delhi, Lucknow, Sravasti, Lumbini and Kushinagar, with Varanasi, Sarnath and Bodh Gaya as extensions. From USD 1,450 per person.
Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda
4 days 3 nights in Bihar with the Mahabodhi Temple, Vulture Peak and the Nalanda ruins. Price on request.
Varanasi and Sarnath
The Ganga Aarti, Kashi Vishwanath and the Dhamek Stupa at Sarnath. Price on request.
Kushinagar and Sravasti
The reclining Buddha and the Jetavana monastery site. Price on request.
Ajanta and Ellora Caves
Buddhist rock-cut caves near Aurangabad. Price on request.
Sanchi Stupa
The Great Stupa near Bhopal and nearby sites. Price on request.
Sikkim and Darjeeling Monasteries
Rumtek, Pemayangtse and the Ghoom monastery. Price on request.
Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka
Buddhist tours beyond India. Price on request.
Buddhist Circuit Tour: Places You Visit
The Buddhist Circuit is the standard route through the main holy places of Buddhism. Our 11 day plan runs through Delhi, Lucknow, Sravasti, Lumbini and Kushinagar. If you have more time, we add Varanasi and Sarnath, and Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda in Bihar. The table below explains what each place is known for.
| Place | State or country | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Lumbini | Nepal | Birthplace of the Buddha. Maya Devi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar and the Sacred Garden. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| Bodh Gaya | Bihar | Where the Buddha attained enlightenment. Mahabodhi Temple, the Bodhi tree and monasteries from many countries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| Sarnath | Uttar Pradesh | Place of the first sermon. Dhamek Stupa, ruins and the museum with the Ashoka lion capital. |
| Kushinagar | Uttar Pradesh | Place of the mahaparinirvana. The reclining Buddha in the Mahaparinirvana Temple and the Ramabhar Stupa. |
| Sravasti | Uttar Pradesh | Where the Buddha spent many rainy seasons. Ruins of the Jetavana monastery. |
| Rajgir | Bihar | Vulture Peak, Venuvana and the Vishwa Shanti Stupa. |
| Nalanda | Bihar | Ruins of the ancient Nalanda university. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| Vaishali | Bihar | Ashoka pillar and stupa ruins linked with the Buddha’s last sermon. |
Buddhist Circuit Tour Plan (10 Nights / 11 Days)
| Stage | Route | What you see |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Delhi | Arrival and briefing. Overnight in Delhi. |
| Next | Delhi → Lucknow | Travel to Lucknow and rest. Overnight in Lucknow. |
| Next | Lucknow → Sravasti | Jetavana monastery ruins and the old city site. |
| Next | Sravasti → Lumbini | Cross into Nepal. Maya Devi Temple and the Sacred Garden. |
| Next | Lumbini → Kushinagar | Mahaparinirvana Temple, the reclining Buddha and the Ramabhar Stupa. |
| Extension | Kushinagar → Varanasi → Sarnath | Dhamek Stupa, the Sarnath museum and the evening Ganga Aarti at Varanasi. |
| Extension | Varanasi → Bodh Gaya | Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi tree. |
| Extension | Bodh Gaya → Rajgir → Nalanda | Vulture Peak, Vishwa Shanti Stupa and the Nalanda ruins. |
Exact day count, order and number of nights in each city are set in your quote. Nepal entry rules for your nationality are confirmed before you book.
Sample Itinerary: Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda (4 Days / 3 Nights)
Timings change with weather, travel times and temple hours. See more of Bihar on Bihar tour packages.
More Buddhist Places in India
Ajanta and Ellora, Maharashtra
Buddhist rock-cut caves with wall paintings and carved halls near Aurangabad. Both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh
The Great Stupa with carved gateways, built in the time of Emperor Ashoka and later enlarged.
Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj
Home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile community, with the Tsuglagkhang temple complex.
Spiti Valley
Remote monasteries such as Key and Tabo. Best in summer when roads are open.
Sikkim and Darjeeling
Rumtek, Pemayangtse and the Ghoom monastery in the Himalayan foothills.
Odisha Buddhist sites
Ancient Buddhist sites such as Ratnagiri, Udayagiri and Lalitgiri near Bhubaneswar.
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
The large Tawang Monastery in the far north-east of India. Best planned with several days.
Ladakh
Monasteries such as Hemis and Thiksey around Leh. Plan for altitude.
Buddhist Tours Beyond India
Buddhism spread across Asia, and many travellers extend their trip to Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Kathmandu has stupas such as Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, Bhutan is known for its dzongs and monasteries, and Sri Lanka has the Temple of the Tooth at Kandy and the sacred Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura. See our South Asia tour packages for plans, and the East Asia tour packages for Japan and other countries. Visa and entry rules change, so we confirm them before you book.
Buddhist Tour Price Details
| Plan | Duration | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Buddhist Circuit Tour (Delhi, Lucknow, Sravasti, Lumbini, Kushinagar) | 10 Nights / 11 Days | USD 1,450 per person |
| Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda | 4 Days / 3 Nights | On request |
| Varanasi and Sarnath | 3 Days / 2 Nights | On request |
| Kushinagar, Lumbini and Sravasti | 5 Days / 4 Nights | On request |
| Ajanta and Ellora | 3 Days / 2 Nights | On request |
Starting rates on double sharing. Entry fees, flights and train tickets, and the Nepal visa for foreign nationals are extra unless written in the quote. Peak season (November to February) costs more.
How to Book a Buddhist Tour
- Send your enquiry. Share the places you want, travel dates, number of travellers and your budget through the form or on WhatsApp.
- Get a day-wise plan. We reply with a plan, hotel options and a price. Nights and hotel category can be changed.
- Confirm with an advance. Pay using our payment options. We then book hotels, vehicles and a guide.
- Share documents. Send photo ID for every traveller. For Nepal we tell you what is needed for your nationality.
- Travel with support. A guide at the sites and a helpline for the whole trip.
See also how to book and our terms and conditions.
Buddhist Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
Usually Included
- Hotel stay as listed in your plan
- Meals as written in the plan
- AC vehicle for transfers and sightseeing
- Day-wise plan and a guide at the main sites
- Driver charges, fuel, tolls and parking
- Applicable taxes
Usually Excluded
- Train and flight tickets, unless listed
- Monument entry fees and camera fees
- Visa fee for Nepal or other countries, where needed
- Meditation course charges paid to a centre
- Personal expenses, tips, laundry and extra meals
- Anything not written in your quote
Best Time for Buddhist Tours
| Region | When to go |
|---|---|
| Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar) | October to March, with cool and dry weather. Summers are very hot and the monsoon is humid. |
| Lumbini (Nepal) | October to March. The plains get hot from April. |
| Ajanta and Ellora | October to February. The caves look green after the monsoon. |
| Spiti and Ladakh | Roughly June to September, when the roads are open. |
| Sikkim and Darjeeling | March to May and October to December. |
Buddha Purnima falls in April or May and is celebrated at all the main sites, with large crowds. Book early if you plan to travel then.
Tips for Visiting Buddhist Sites
- Dress modestly. Cover shoulders and knees and carry socks, since you will remove shoes often.
- Walk clockwise. Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels, as local pilgrims do.
- Respect the images. Do not touch statues, point your feet at them or sit with your back to them.
- Check photo rules. Some prayer halls and museums do not allow photos, or charge a fee.
- Carry water and sun protection. Many sites are open ground and the sun is strong.
- Plan for early starts. Morning prayers are the quietest and the most atmospheric time.
Buddhist Tour Photos
FAQs for Buddhist Tour Packages
What is a Buddhist tour?
A Buddhist tour visits the places linked with the life of the Buddha and the early growth of Buddhism. The core places are Lumbini (birth), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon) and Kushinagar (mahaparinirvana). Most tours also include Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali and Sravasti.
Which places are on the Buddhist Circuit?
The classic circuit covers Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda and Vaishali in Bihar, Sarnath and Varanasi, Kushinagar and Sravasti in Uttar Pradesh, and Lumbini in Nepal. Our 11 day Buddhist Circuit Tour runs Delhi, Lucknow, Sravasti, Lumbini and Kushinagar, and can be extended with Varanasi, Sarnath and Bodh Gaya.
What are the four main Buddhist pilgrimage places?
They are Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment, Sarnath, where he gave his first teaching, and Kushinagar, where he attained mahaparinirvana. Together with Sravasti, Sankasya, Rajgir and Vaishali they are known as the eight great places.
How much does a Buddhist tour package cost?
The 10 nights 11 days Buddhist Circuit Tour starts from USD 1,450 per person. Shorter plans for Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda are quoted on request, based on the number of nights, hotel category and group size.
What is the best time for a Buddhist tour in India?
October to March is the best time, when the weather in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh is cool and dry. April to June is very hot, and July to September is the monsoon season. Winter is also when many monks and Buddhist pilgrims visit Bodh Gaya.
Do I need a visa for Lumbini in Nepal?
Indian citizens do not need a visa for Nepal but should carry a valid photo ID such as a passport or voter ID card. Foreign nationals may need a visa. Entry rules change, so confirm them before you travel.
How many days are needed for the Buddhist circuit?
Four days cover Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda. A week adds Varanasi, Sarnath and Kushinagar. The full circuit with Sravasti and Lumbini takes 10 to 11 days.
Is the Buddhist tour suitable for senior citizens?
Yes. Most sites are on level ground and reached by vehicle. Rajgir has a ropeway to the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, and the pace can be slow with rest breaks. Tell us about any mobility needs when you enquire.
Can I attend a meditation course on the tour?
Meditation and Vipassana courses are run by centres in and around Bodh Gaya and other places. They need advance registration with the centre and follow their own rules, so they are not part of the normal tour, but we can plan your days around the course dates.
What should I wear and how should I behave at Buddhist sites?
Dress modestly with covered shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering shrines, walk clockwise around stupas, avoid touching statues and keep your voice low. Ask before taking photos inside prayer halls.
Why Book Buddhist Tours with IndiaPackage
- 15+ years of experience in India tours and pilgrimage packages.
- Plans of every length. From a 4 day Bihar trip to an 11 day circuit with Nepal.
- Clear day-wise plans. You know the route and inclusions before you pay.
- Help for senior citizens. Slow pace, short walks and rest breaks.
- 24x7 support. Reach us on +91-99111 77951 any time during your trip.
Popular Buddhist Packages and Related Searches
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