FOOTPRINTS OF BUDDHA TOUR

Places to Visit and Things to Do

Mumbai - Aurangabad - Bhopal - Orchha - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Bodhgaya - Patna - Kushinagar - Lumbini - Kathmandu

Mumbai

Colaba Causeway is THE place to go for entertainment, shopping and activities. Here's a short list of things to do that could easily fill a day:

Gateway of India
City Tour - double-decker buses leave from the Gateway throughout the day
Bollywood - take a trip to Film City located and enjoy the first hand experience of Bollywood shooting
Museums and Art Galleries
The Taj Mahal Hotel
Major cinemas
Shopping
Harbor Cruise - depart every 30 min. from the Gateway of India
Taj Private Yacht Cruise - rent the Taj's private yacht for a cruise around the Mumbai harbour
Boat ride to Elephant Island - leaves from the Gateway
Heritage Buildings Tour

Aurangabad

Daulatabad - 13km from Aurangabad, Daulatabad is known as the city of fortune. Iit houses a stupendous 12th century fortress well placed atop a charming hill. This invincible fortress boasts a 5 km sturdy wall and an intricate series of ramparts. Don't miss the climb to the very top through the bat cave.

Bibi Ka Maqbara  - this architectural marvel is a replica of the Taj Mahal and serves as the only example of Mughul architecture on the Deccan plateau. It was built in 1679 by Aurangzeb’s son, in tribute to his mother, Begum Rabia Durani.

Soneri Mahal - an historic monument converted into a museum which houses a variety of ancient Indian pottery, costumes, remains of local palaces as well as antiques of daily use. A number of sculptures and reliefs from the local excavations are also on display. It is located within Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Campus and is on the way to Aurangabad caves.

Bhopal

Taj-ul-Masajid - the largest mosque in India

Old City Market (Chowk Bazaar) - great shopping

Museum of Man - showcases how the tribals of the state live in their natural form, what they cultivate, what kind of tools they make and utilize in their daily lives, etc. Located on a hill offering sprawling views of the city.

Upper Lake (Bada Talaab) is a beautiful water body created during the time of King Bhoj. Boating and water sports are available.

Lower Lake (Chota Talaab) was created during the Mughal empire. This lake is separated from the Upper Lake by an over-bridge.

Van Vihar Wildlife Preserve - located in the center of Bhopal - see tigers, leopards, bears, water animals, birds, deer, etc.

Bharat Bhavan is a world famous museum.

Bhimbetka - a World Heritage site with some of the oldest cave paintings in the world

Orchha

Jahangir Mahal - don't miss the King & Queen's quarters wall paintings

Raja Ram Mandir - evening temple prayer singing - very nice

Untah Khana/Camel House - where the Bundela Army used to house their camels

Dinman Hardaul's Palace - Hardaul died to prove his innocence to his elder brother Jhujhar who accused him of adultery with his wife. After his martyrdom, he was and always has been worshipped as a god. Bundelkhand villages contain platform like shrines to Hardaul.

Jujhar Singh Palace - this 3-story rectangular palace has three square rooms topped with ribbed domes on the top floor. The inverted lotus shaped domes are typical features of the Bundela style of architecture.

Palaki Mahal - named for its large palanquin roof. A rectangular construction, it has three arched door verandahs which have rectangular rooms on both sides. Tiled stone pillars and the first floor with palanquin roof were added in late 17th century when the pavilion of Hardaul was constructed.

Phool Bagh Palace - has a pillared hall on the ground floor in front of which decorated fountains were built, and squarish large rooms topped with ribbed domes on the first floor. The peacock shaped brackets, pillars, ribbed dome and niches are typical of Bundeli architectural style. Below the main building is an extensive Thakhana (basement) for use in hot weather ventilated by two tall shafts which are perforated to provide ventilation for cooling.

Khajuraho

Western Group of Temples - the richest and largest of all the Khajuraho temple groups

Lakhmana Temple - the horizontal beam over the entrance of this beautiful Vaishnavite temple shows the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva with Lakshmi, Vishnus consort.
Kandariya Mahadeo Temple - decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art
Devi Jagdamba Temple - smaller and much more delicately proportioned temple and is home to some of the finest sculptures of Khajuraho. It has the usual three bands of sculptures, but the third and most uppermost of these houses some of the most erotic sculptures
Chaunsat Yogini - the only granite temple in the Khajuraho group
Chitragupta Temple - dedicated to the Sun God (Surya)
Matanageswara Temple - dedicated to Shiva, a huge 8ft Lingam adorns the temple

Eastern Group of Temples

Parsvanath Temple - largest among the group, with exquisitely detailed carvings. The sculptures on the northern outer wall are the highlights of this temple. The image was installed in 1860
Ghantai Temple - has a frieze which depicts the 16 dreams of Mahavira's mother, and a Jain goddess on a winged Garuda
Adinath Temple - lavishly embellished with sculpted figures, including yakshis
Hanuman Temple
Brahma Temple - dedicated to Vishnu and considered to be one of the oldest temples of Khajuraho made entirely in granite and sandstone
Vamana Temple - is the dwarf form of Lord Vishnu, located in a secluded place and appreciated for the simplicity of its architecture
Javari Temple

Southern Group of Temples

Dulhadev Temple - the last temple of Khajuraho, lies to the south of Ghantai temple. The temple enshrines a Shivalingam. The apsara and ornamented figures are the temple's most striking features
Beejamandal Temple - a ruined temple near the Chattarbhuj Temple
Chattarbhuj Temple (Jatkari Temple) - built in 1100 AD, well-known for its architecture, and is also the only temple to be devoid of any erotic sculpture. Easily identified by the massive 9 feet high intricately carved four-armed Vishnu

Light and Sound Show at the Western Group

Shown nightly and narrated by the Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachha

Varanasi

Bathe in the Ganges - Over 60,000 people come down to the waters edge every day to take a dip in the sacred waters of the Ganges.

Boat Rides - very popular at sunrise and sunset. The most popular sunset ride is to start at Dasaswamedh Ghat and head up to Manikarnika Ghat to see the cremations in progress, and then return to Dasaswamedh and watch the evening aarti from the boat. Sunrise is another magical time for a ride, when the ghats are filled with Hindus bathing and starting their day - one of the most famous sights in India.

During the trip "market boats" will float up to you selling overpriced trinkets which can be bought much cheaper on land. Any offers of flowers for puja will definitely not be free; Rs 2 per flower bowl and Rs 5 per candle bowl are the going rates, though as a tourist you might be asked for as much as Rs 100 each.

Get lost in the alleyways - the sounds, sight and smells are just unbelievable!

Kriti Gallery (opposite All India Radio Station) - a place to interact with contemporary art in the city of Varanasi edit

Mehrotra Silk Factory - Government Approved. Has set, reasonable prices and a good selection of handwoven pure silk sarees, dress materials, bedcovers and other silk materials. A little out of the way, but worth the trip

Bodhgaya

Bodhi Tree - believed to be the tree the under which Buddha Sakyamuni attained enlightenment
Mahabodhi Stupa
Thai Monastery
80-foot Buddha Statue
Indosan Nippon Japanese Temple
Tergar Monastery
Gendhen Phelgyeling Monastery
Karma Dhargye Chokhorling Monastery
Bodhgaya Multimedia Museum - provides the historical and geographical context for the life of Buddha
Barabar Caves - the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, dating from 322 BCE

Patna

Patna Museum - more than 50,000 rare art objects, with many related to India in the ancient, middle ages and the British colonial era. Don't forget to see the Holy Relic Casket with the sacred ashes of Lord Buddha, and the beautiful statue Yakshani

Sanjay Gandhi Botanical and Zoological Garden

Padri Ki Haveli ("Mansion of Padre") - the oldest church in Bihar

Buddha Smriti Park - where ashes of Buddha are kept

Sonepur Mela - the largest cattle and animal fair in Asia held in November

Golf at Patna Golf Club

Patna Planetarium

Revolving Restaurant - atop the tallest tower in the city on the 18th floor of Biscomaun Bhawan

Kushinagar

Indo-Japanese-Sri Lankan Temple
Mahaparinirvana Temple
Matha Kuar Shrine
Meditation Park
Ramabhar Stupa
Thai Temple

Lumbini

Ashokan Pillar - an inscribed pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha's birth. The inscription, which is the oldest in Nepal, grants Lumbini a tax-free status in honor of Buddha’s birth.

Buddhist Temples

b 41 meters high at the northern end of the gardens

Lumbini Museum - displays artifacts from the Mauryan and Kushana periods, religious manuscripts and other items discovered at the site

Lumbini International Research Institute - devoted to the study of Buddhism and other religions. It houses an extensive collection of books on religion, art and architecture

Kathmandu

Durbar Square - a UNESCO World Heritage site crowded with ancient palaces and temples, thehe square has been in active use since the construction of a palace around 1000 AD. A "must see" in the Square is the Burbar Square Museum. In the square, there are several buildings/statues/monuments of note:

Taleju Temple - this three-roofed temple with its pyramid shaped base is an example of the typical Newari architectural style
Ashok Binayak
Shiva Temple
Maju Deval
Narayan Temple
Shiva-Parvati Temple
Kumari Palace
Bhagwati Temple
Saraswati Temple
Krishna Temple
Sweta Bhairab Statue (shown only during the Indra Jatra festival)
Kal Bhairab
Indrapur Temple
Vishnu temple
Mahendreswar Temple

Swayambhu - a large stupa, highly revered as one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the country. It offers great views over the city along with lots of monkeys to keep you company.

Boudha Stupa - one of the most sacred sites for Tibetan Buddhism

Narayanhiti Palace Museum - The former Royal Palace now houses a Museum as well as the Foreign Ministry. Giant fruit bats hanging from the tall trees and 20 foot-tall bamboo around the otherwise modern (and still well secured) former palace are a sight-- especially around sunset when they depart en masse

Thamel Chowk - the tourists mecca of Kathmandu

Freak Street - Historic home of western hippies seeking enlightenment, but now just a few restaurants and hotels

Pashupatinath - An important temple to Shiva in the form of Lord of Animals. See monkeys, cremation, sadhus and a holy cave. Morning is a great time to go.

Garden of Dreams - a beautiful and peaceful walled garden close to the former Royal Palace