Witness the life of Buddha; meditate in Buddha’s Monastery and admire the Buddhist structures on a trip aboard The Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train.

Based on the teachings of Lord Buddha, the ‘Awakened One’, Buddhism originated 2000 years ago in the ancient kingdom of Magadha, which is the present-day Bihar in India. As it slowly started to spread to other parts of the country and beyond, all the places associated with the life of Buddha attained religious significance form devotees all over the world. Buddhism is a way of life that prizes and holds wisdom and compassion above all things in existence. Lakhs of devotees visit Indian every year for pilgrimage with hope and aim to live a life of Buddha or maybe similar to his’s. As Buddhism originated in India, the entire subcontinent is dotted with important sites that hold special significance for its devotees. Whether it’s Buddha’s Monastery or some Buddhist structures, all the places hold massive importance to them. For more information, visit www.irctcbusshittrain.com

With IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train, travelers can opt for any Buddhist travel and tour package of the place they wish to visit as the train travels to various places related to the life of Lord Buddha in India as well as in Nepal. The Buddha travel and tours special tours include itineraries like Sravasti Buddha Tour, Sarnath Buddhist Pilgrimage, etc. In the Mahaparinirvana sutra, Lord Buddha tells his followers that they can attain merit and a noble rebirth by going on pilgrimages to the places where he was born (Lumbini), gained enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), gave his first sermon (Sarnath), and attained Nirvana (Kushinagar). The Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train provides the first-hand experience on the self-disciplined and legendary life of Buddha. To help the travelers unravel the path of Buddha’s wisdom, the following are the places covered in the 8days/7nights tour offered by the IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train:

1. Bodh Gaya- It is famous because this is the place where Gautama Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree. Bodh Gaya has remained the object of pilgrimage and veneration for both Hindus and Buddhists since then.
2. Rajgir — It is an ancient city in the Nalanda district and was the first capital of the kingdom of Magadha. Tourists visit Bimbisara Jail, Gridhakuta Hills and Venuvan “Buddha’s Monastery” in Rajgir.
3. Nalanda — It was an ancient Mahavihara, a large and revered “Buddha’s monastery” in the ancient kingdom of Magadha. It is famous for its university, ancient Nalanda ruins and archaeological museum.
4. Sarnath — It is a place located 12 kms outside of Varanasi. According to a legend, Lord Buddha set the ‘Wheel of Dharma’ in motion here by giving his first sermon here. Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Pilgrims who visit Varanasi pay their visit to the Tibetan Temple, Chaukhandi Stupa, the very famous- Ashoka Pillar and Thai Temple, Dhamekh Stupa, Mulagandha Kuti Vihar and Sarnath Museum.
5. Lumbini — It is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Nepal. It is the place where according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE. Gautama, who achieved enlightenment sometime around 528 BCE, became Lord Buddha and founded Buddhism. Lumbini was a pivotal place in the life of the Buddha.
6. Kushinagar — It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death. It is an international Buddhist pilgrimage centre.
7. Sravasti — It was one of the six largest cities in India during Gautama Buddha’s lifetime. Lord Buddha spent a greater part of his monastic life- preaching and meditating here. He is said to have spent 24 chaturmasya in the city, which is a 4 month period for meditation and austerities in the Hindu lunar calendar. In Sravasti, pilgrims get to visit Jetavana “Buddha’s Monastery”, Pakki Kutti and Sahet Mahet.

The IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train offers different kinds of accommodation and guests can choose anyone from the below-given options according to their preference:

1. AC-First Class costs USD 1155 for the entire journey or USD 165/day
2. AC 2 tier costs USD 945 for the entire journey or USD 135/day
3. AC First coupe costs USD 1305 for the full tour or USD 165/day.

To book your IRCTC Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train tickets, visit www.irctcbuddhisttrain.com and witness the enlightening life of Buddha.