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Buddhist Special Train India

Mahaparinirvan Express

Catering to the needs of Buddhist tourists from both India and abroad on their way to enlightenment, IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd) a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, has started a special train for Buddhist Pilgrimage. The train connects allimperative places of Buddhist pilgrimages in India and also one in Nepal. This special train is named as "Mahaparinirvan Express". The train homes all basic amenities and services.


Mahaparinnirvana Pilgrimage

India is the holy place where the great religion of Buddhism was originated, Buddhist from all across the globe come to India to visit the holy pilgrimage of Buddhism. The land still showcases the rich reminiscence of Buddhist legacy. Mahaparinirvana is a Buddhist sutra, in which Buddha tells his followers that they can achieve merit and a noble rebirth by going on pilgrimage to some of the most important places related to Buddhism. The places are Lumbini where Buddha was Born, Bodhgaya here Buddha gained enlightenment, Sarnath- here Buddha was first taught, and Kushinagar- the place where Buddha finally attained Nirvana. At these places still one can explore the only kind of art and architecture like Stupas (stone cased molds that memorialized relics of Buddha), Chaityas (they are the prayer halls) and Viharas (cells where monks live)
The train departs from Delhi usually once or twice in a month and here is how your pilgrimage will go-

Delhi - Gaya - Rajgir - Nalanda - Gaya - Varanasi - Sarnath - Varanasi - Gorakhpur - Khusinagar - Lumbini - Gorakhpur - Gonda - Sravasti - Gonda - Agra - FatehpurSikri - Agra – Delhi.

Mahaparinirvan Express has 18 berths of first AC, 92 of two-tier AC and 256 berths of three-tier AC. It will be a 7 days tour, you can choose from 1st class AC, 2nd Class AC, and 3rd Class AC. Prices will be variable according to the classes. Fare will be half for children between 5 and 12 years of age.
The Buddhist Package tour Costs will Includes travel, catering, conducted sightseeing, entrance fee at various places and stay on twin share basis. If you are willing to have single occupancy you need to choose this option at the time of Booking. It will cost you little more.

Important Information
The journey will also include a day trip to Nepal, except Indian nationals other tourists will also need a Nepali visa. It can be easily attained at the border all you need is two passport sized photographs. Make sure that these are double or multiple entry visas, such that return to India will be permissible.

Buddhism, one of the world's great religions, traces back with the life of Siddharth when a curious wandering prince from the small Shakya Kingdom located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal, began his quest for the ultimate truth to solve the mystery of existence. He renounced his royal pleasures and meditated beneath the sacred Bodhi tree at Gaya for years before he attained spiritual enlightenment. Then, as the Buddha, or the enlightened one, he spent the remainder of his life spreading the knowledge of The True Self in the Indian sub-continent. However, it was during the reign of emperors Bimbisara, Ashoka, Milinda and Kanishka that Buddhism flourished at its best and became a global religion, especially in Southeast Asia, due to sincere and untiring efforts of the missionary Bhikshus.

Destinations Covered : Delhi – Gaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Gaya – Varanasi – Sarnath – Varanasi – Gorakhpur – Khusinagar – Lumbini – Gorakhpur – Gonda – Sravasti – Gonda – Agra – Fatehpur Sikri – Agra – Delhi

Duration : 08 Days/ 07 Nights

DAY -I

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 1	Board train from Delhi	Get on board the Maha Parinirvan Special at the Safdarjung Station in Delhi as the train is about to leave for Gaya. The dinner will be served on board the train.

DAY- II

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 2	Gaya	You begin your day with your arrival in Gaya which is a religious city and its proximity to Bodhgaya makes it even more attractive as a destination. You'll be transferred to the hotel in the morning. Freshen up for the day as we get your breakfast ready. Today you are scheduled to visit the Bodhgaya temples and other attractions. We have made arrangements for your lunch whereas your dinner will be served at the hotel in the night. Your overnight stay has been planned at the hotel itself. So, have a nice sleep in the soothing environment of Bodhgaya.

DAY-III

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 3	Rajgir Nalanda	It's your second morning in the religious city of Gaya and we believe that you are getting into the skin of your spiritual journey. Have your breakfast as you need to store some energy for the hectic day that you are going to have. Let's leave for the historic journey of Rajgir and Nalanda after which you'll get back to Gaya so that you can get on with your onward journey to the holy and eternal city Varanasi.

DAY- IV

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 4	Varanasi	Though you are getting into a spiritual mode by now, yet the fact that will strike you the most is the fact that each of these cities is holy in its own way and that no two days of your journey are same. You'll be transferred to the hotel after your arrival in Varanasi. Your breakfast will be served at the hotel after which we'll go for a sightseeing tour of Sarnath. At no time in your journey you'll be inconvenienced by our breaks for lunch and dinner as we have scheduled these in such a manner so that the religious tour is not affected. After the Sarnath leg of our tour is over, visit the Ganges for the evening Aarti. Leave Varanasi for Gorakhpur in the later part of the day.

DAY- V

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 5	Gorakhpur - Kushinagar / Lumbini	Arrive gorakhpur in the morning. Proceed to Kushinagar / Lumbini. Check in at the hotel. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. Overnight at hotel.

DAY- VI

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 6	Gorakhpur - Gonda	Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing. Lunch at hotel. Return to Gorakhpur. Depart Gorakhpur for Gonda in the evening. Dinner on board.

DAY- VII

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 7	Gonda – Agra	Arrive Gonda in the morning. Breakfast. Visit Sravasti. Lunch. Depart Gonda for Agra in the evening. Dinner on board.

DAY- VIII

Day	Sector	Programme
Day 8	Agra – Delhi	Welcome to the historic city of Agra. Breakfast on board. Visit Taj mahal. Depart Agra for Delhi in the afternoon. Lunch on-board. Arrive Delhi (Safdarjung Railway Station) in the evening.

********** END OF TOUR **********

Tour dates of Buddhist Circuit Special Train (Season 2011-12)

Year	Month	Tour Dates
2011	September	17 (Sat)
	October	1 (Sat) & 22 (Sat)
	November	6 (Sun), 15 (Tue) & 26 (Sat)
	December	5 (Mon) & 17 (Sat)
2012	January	7 (Sat) & 21 (Sat)
	February	4 (Sat), 13 (Mon) & 25 (Sat)
	March	10 (Sat) & 24 (Sat)
	April	7 (Sat)
	May	1 (Tue) (Reverse itinerary)

Tariff for Buddhist Train (Season 2011-2012)
Tariff* (Per person per night on twin sharing basis)

Class of Travel Revised	Rates (Per Person) (Per Night on Twin sharing basis)	Revised Tour Cost (7N/8D) (Per Person on Twin Sharing)
AC- First Class	US$ 160	US$ 1120
AC – 2 Tier Inner Class	US$ 130	US$ 910
AC – 2 Tier Side Berth	US$ 110	US$ 770
AC – 3 Tier Class	US$ 105	US$ 735
Additional Surcharge for confirmed 2 seater Coupe in FAC		US$ 150

Terms and Conditions

• Twin Sharing accommodation is only in hotels. On train accommodation is as per coach configuration.
• Children below 5 years (without extra berth) free. For single occupancy in Hotel, US$ 200 extra for entire trip or US$ 50 Per Night.
• Additional US$ 125 per person for confirmed 2 seater coupe/cabin in AC 1st class

Services Included

• Journey by Exclusive Air-conditioned train.
• All inclusive tour package – accommodation in comfortable hotels, all meals, entrance fees, AC road transportation, insurance, experienced tour escort.
• Extensive coverage of Buddhist sites.
• Visit to Taj Mahal – one of the seven wonders of the world.
• Security on train.
• Hygienic kitchen on train.
• On board clean and Hygienic lavatories & showers.
• Visa Facilitation for Lumbini

Services Not Included

• Items of personal nature like Laundry, medicines, alcoholic drinks etc.
• India & Nepal visa fee.
• Road Transfers to and from Delhi – Safdarjung railway station. Hotel stay in Delhi before & after the trip etc.

Cancellation terms:-

No. of days before commencement of Trip*	Total Deductions
45 and above	10% of package cost
44 to 15	25% of package cost
14 to 7	50% of package cost
7 and less	100% of packages cost
*Excluding the day of start of journey.

Weather, Time, Currency:-
India is a tropical country with different and extreme climatic conditions which are witnessed from month to month. It is advisable to carry clothes suitable to a tropical climate and medium & heavy woollens during winter time.

Time difference – India follows + 05:30hrs (GMT)

Sources : indiarailtours.com, mahaparinirvanexpress.com

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