Connect with the historical Buddha in the land he lived

This pilgrimage is for Order Members and mitras practicing within Triratna.

We will be visiting the main sites from the life story of the Buddha, connecting with his lived example of Enlightenment and the thousands of years of practice which has followed since. There'll also be an opportunity to connect with the sangha in India as we will overlap with the start of the national Indian mitra convention in Bodhgaya.

“Each place had it's own kind of atmosphere. Enlightenment [Bodhgaya] had its own joyous, solemn atmosphere. Kushinagar, where the Buddha attained Parinirvana, had it's own very different atmosphere...”

– Arthapriya, previous pilgrim (Watch him talk about his 2022 pilgrimage here)

Itinerary

The pilgrimage will begin the day after the end of the International Order Convention in Bodhgaya. (Note there are volunteering opportunities for mitras during the Order Convention.)

• 1st February: Rest day. Mitras arrive in Bodhgaya. Order Members rest from convention. Pilgrimage opening ritual in evening at Bodhi Tree.
• 2nd February: Day in Bodhgaya with lots ofmeditation under the Tree to feel arrived in India and rested for travel. Dinner with Indian mitras from national Indian mitra convention.
• 3rd February: Early morning meditation at Bodhi Tree. Then travel to Nalanda and Vulture's Peak during the day. Evening return to Bodhgaya for one more evening ritual and dinner with Indian mitras.
• 4th February: Travel to Vaishali
• 5th February: Explore Vaishali and travel to Kushinanagar
• 6th February: Explore Kushinagar and travel to Lumbini (Nepal)
• 7th Februrary: Explore Lumbini
• 8th February: Explore Lumbini
• 9th February: Travel to Shravasti via Kapilavastu
• 10th February: Explore Shravasti
• 11th February: Travel to Sarnath
• 12th February: Explore Sarnath and fly to Delhi

Cost and Payment Timeline

The total cost will be 85,000 rupees (CER ~£795).

Timeline:

1. Reserve your place as soon as you can – 5,000 rupees (CER ~£47)
2. 1st September 2024: 32,000 rupees (CER ~£300)
3. 1st January 2025: 48,000 rupees (CER ~£450)

Please note the £ amount are at Current Exchange Rate and subject to change. Once made, all payments are non-refundable in all circumstances.

Cost includes:

• 3 meals per day during the pilgrimage, cooked by our team with lots of experience catering for Westerners
• All accommodation during the pilgrimage
• Coach travel between the sites
• Train travel to first site from Delhi and from last site back to Delhi (optional)

You will need to arrange and pay for your own travel to India and back home or wherever you are going next. You are also responsible for applying and paying for your own visa for coming into India and Nepal (Nepal visa needed for Buddha Life Sites tour only).

How to Book Your Place

Fill in this Google Form. Contained within are details of the bank account to send your first payment instalment. Once you've filled in the form and made the initial payment, your place is reserved. You must then make the following payments by the above dates.
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Further Information

Once booked, more information will follow closer to the date, including information for people who've never been to India before. We will also have a Zoom call in December/January to prepare together and answer any questions about what to pack, etc.

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Unsure? Want to ask something else before booking?

To ask any questions, please email boddhitours@gmail.com and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.