My gap year would not be complete without an adventure through India. But how do you decide what to do and where to go on such a massive subcontinent, with every crevice seeped in history, mythology, culture and natural beauty.
Luckily the decision was made for me while I was clearing up my inbox late one night. An offer by IRCTC for an all inclusive 8 day-7 nights package to visit the most historic Buddhist sites in India and Nepal. It seemed to be just what I had been looking for.
Still, the thought of traveling on my own as a single woman through central India seemed quite daunting. The stars aligned and soon I had the perfect travel buddy. Within a couple of days our tickets were sorted and we were all set.
The IRCTC Buddhist Circuit is a semi-luxury train journey that covers some of the major Buddhist heritage sites in India and Nepal. The itinerary has been thoughtfully prepared, covering major destinations such as, Bodhgaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Varanasi, Lumbini in Nepal, Kushinagar, Shravasti, concluding in Agra. The buffet of sites that allows you varied experiences, so you can bookmark the ones that speak to you and come back in your own time.
The primary journey is made by train, with coach transfer to a hotel for overnight stay. Over the course of a week the train came to feel like our home, from where we launched our daily adventures. It is equipped with AC cabins, bio-toilets 2 dining cars, and reading area. Linen and towels are replaced daily. The toilets and bath area are fitted with toiletries and are regularly cleaned and replenished by the trusty staff.
I have to make a special mention of the Restaurant Train Car and dining facility, which offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. In spite of being a self professed carnivore, I did turn vegetarian for the week. Vegans will have to make a special request prior to the trip as ghee/ clarified butter is used extensively in Indian cooking even for vegetarian dishes. Be warned also of the serving staff who will keep feeding you with the hospitality of an Indian grandmother, and if you are anything like me and cannot say no, your are likely to gain couple of kilos after your trip.
At the end of the day, it is really the people you are with who make your journey memorable. So much gratitude for;
Our lovely co-passengers who in a weeks time became close friends with common areas of interest and potential companions for future adventures.
Our tour guides, full of knowledge, insight and nuggets of wisdom that rang true with the theme of our quest
Our train and hotel staff who worked tirelessly to keep us safe, fed and watered.
Our IRCTC tour facilitators, Swati Juneja and Kamal for being excellent hosts, taking care of our needs at every step of our journey with a smile. A special shout out to Swati, who went the extra mile to be our unofficial photographer. Thanks to her we all have great memories of the wonderful and enlightening journey.
And also the unexpected souls that touch yours along the way, like Suraj, the intelligent and honest young boy selling lamps for immersion along the Varanasi Ghats, the travelling sisters, the Buddhist Irishman and many more.
So, regardless of whether you are travelling for pleasure or on a spiritual quest; with a group, as a couple or solo, this is a fantastic way to explore central India, all with the guarantee of security and genuine care by the IRCTC staff. You can find more details here on the IRCTC Site.
Feel free to DM me for more information.
P.S.: Some of highlights for me and probably deserve an entire post dedicated to each of them are;
- Maya Devi temple and the Eternal Flame for world Peace, Lumbini, Nepal; The site commonly believed to be the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. You can easily get immersed in the sacred garden and sacred tank on the grounds now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Sujata Kuti, Bakrour, Bihar; This stupa commemorates the cow-herder Sujata who fed a starting Buddha rice pudding, ending his seven years of asceticism and spurring him to follow the Middle Path.
- Mahabodhi Temple Complex; Bodh Gaya, Bihar; This ancient but restored Buddhist site marking the location where Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the complex comprises of the grand temple, the Vajrasana, the Bodhi Tree and six other sacred sites of the buddhas enlightenment; all this coming alive with the chanting of pilgrims and monks from all over the world. A truly living heritage!
- Gridhakuta Hill or Holy Eagles Peak or Vulture Peak, Rajgir, Bihar; A site frequented by Buddha and where he is mentioned to have given the sermons on the Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra and more.
- Parinirvana Stupa or Mahaparinirvana Temple, Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh; This stupa commemorates the place of death of Gautam Buddha
- The ruins of Nalanda University, Bihar; The first residential university in the world dating back to 5th century CE. The sheer scale of the complex is remarkable
- The Maha Ganga Arati, Dasashwamedh Ghat, Varanasi; An incredible ritual where we watched 6 priests chanting and making offerings to the Ganga of flowers, oil, water, fire and incense. It is a mesmerising ceremony that is attended by people from all walks of life. The river itself looked clean and rejuvenated thanks to years of dedication by the Namami Gange Programme and The National Mission for Clean Ganga.
