Walking and steps
The sites are largely flat, but each involves one to two kilometres on brick paths, lawns and uneven ruins. Sankisa's mound has an uneven climb to the temple at the top.
PROPOSED ITINERARY
Extended Uttar Pradesh Buddhist Pilgrimage 7 nights, 8 days.
This extended journey follows the Buddha's places across Uttar Pradesh from east to west. It begins with the stupas and museum at Sarnath on the day you arrive in Varanasi, then spends two nights at Kushinagar, the place of his parinirvana, with time for meditation at the Mahaparinirvana Temple and the Ramabhar Stupa. By way of Balrampur you reach Shravasti for two nights among the Jetavana monastery and the ancient ruins, before a long drive to Sankisa, where by tradition he descended to earth, and its Elephant Pillar. The journey ends in Lucknow.
- 1NVaranasi (for Sarnath)
- 2NKushinagar
- 2NShravasti
- 1NSankisa or Farrukhabad
- 1NLucknow
AT A GLANCE
Who it suits, and how it moves.
Buddhist pilgrims and groups who want the principal places of the Buddha's life in Uttar Pradesh, including Sankisa, and have the time for long road days with rest between them.
- Proposed duration
- 7 nights · 8 days. 7N/8D as shown. An 8N/9D version with an extra night, for example a third night at Shravasti or a night in Agra, can be requested
- Travel style
- A long private journey across Uttar Pradesh from east to west, with two nights each at Kushinagar and Shravasti, time for meditation at each site and a simpler stay near Sankisa.
- Arrive
- Varanasi: Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Babatpur), or Varanasi Junction and Banaras railway stations.
- Depart
- Lucknow: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport or the city's main railway stations. Agra, about four hours from Sankisa, can replace Lucknow if your onward connection suits it.
Sarnath is visited on the afternoon of Day 1, so arrive in Varanasi by about 1 pm; the Sarnath museum is closed on Fridays. Day 6, from Shravasti to Sankisa, is the longest road day, and Day 7 adds about five hours from Sankisa to Lucknow. Kushinagar and Shravasti airports have had little or no regular scheduled service, and accommodation near Sankisa is limited and simple, so we confirm the overnights and your departure before fixing the programme.
DAY BY DAY
The days, with time to breathe.
A proposed programme with its travel and rest built in. We adjust the order to your arrival, the season and your pace.
Day 1Varanasi Arrival & SarnathOvernight in Varanasi
- On arrivalArrivalMeet your driver
Your driver meets you at the airport or station. Premium and Luxury guests are also welcomed by a member of the team.
- MiddayRestCheck in and lunch
A short rest before Sarnath.
- AfternoonVisitSarnath stupas and museum
The deer park of the first teaching: the Dhamek Stupa, the Dharmarajika Stupa and the monastery ruins, the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, and the Archaeological Museum with the Ashokan lion capital, which is closed on Fridays.
Overnight · Varanasi
Day 2Varanasi to KushinagarOvernight in Kushinagar
- After breakfastOn the roadDrive north to Kushinagar
About 240 to 260 km, usually five to six hours with stops.
- AfternoonRestCheck in and rest
Time to settle in after the drive.
- EveningVisitEvening orientation
A short walk around the Mahaparinirvana Temple and the monastery quarter in the evening light, to get your bearings for the next day.
Overnight · Kushinagar
Day 3Kushinagar PilgrimageOvernight in Kushinagar
- Early morningVisitMahaparinirvana Temple
The reclining Buddha, a 5th-century image about six metres long, at the quiet hour before the day's groups arrive.
- MorningVisitRamabhar Stupa
The great brick stupa that by tradition marks the place of the Buddha's cremation.
- MiddayRestLunch and rest
Back to the hotel through the heat of the day.
- AfternoonExperienceMeditation
Time for sitting or chanting at the temple or in the gardens of one of Kushinagar's monasteries, built by Buddhist communities from across Asia.
Overnight · Kushinagar
Day 4Kushinagar to ShravastiOvernight in Shravasti
- After breakfastOn the roadDrive to Shravasti via Balrampur
About 240 to 255 km through the farmland of eastern Uttar Pradesh, usually five to six hours with stops, partly on smaller roads, passing through Balrampur for the last stretch.
- EveningRestRest
A free evening after the drive.
Overnight · Shravasti
Day 5Shravasti ExplorationOvernight in Shravasti
- Early morningVisitJetavana Monastery
The monastery garden given by Anathapindika, where the Buddha spent many rainy seasons: the Gandhakuti, the Anandabodhi tree and the brick foundations of the old monasteries.
- Late morningVisitThe ancient ruins of Maheth
The old city of Shravasti, with the mounds known as Angulimala's stupa and Anathapindika's stupa, and the Shobhnath temple mound revered by Jains.
- AfternoonRestRest
A second night here keeps this day unhurried, with time to return to Jetavana in the evening.
Overnight · Shravasti
Day 6Shravasti to SankisaOvernight in Sankisa or Farrukhabad
- Early, after breakfastOn the roadDrive towards Sankisa
A long drive west into Farrukhabad district, usually seven to eight hours with stops for tea and lunch. This is the longest day of the journey.
- EveningRestA simple overnight
Accommodation near Sankisa is limited and simple; the stay, at Sankisa or in Farrukhabad, is named in your quotation.
Overnight · Sankisa or Farrukhabad
Day 7Sankisa to Agra/LucknowOvernight in Lucknow
- MorningVisitThe Elephant Pillar site at Sankisa
The village site where, by tradition, the Buddha descended after teaching in the Tavatimsa heaven. A Mauryan elephant capital from an Ashokan pillar stands here, beside an old stupa mound now topped by a temple, with monasteries built nearby.
- From late morningOn the roadProceed to Lucknow
About five hours by road to Lucknow for the last night. If you are flying or travelling on from Agra, about four hours away, we route the day there instead.
Overnight · Lucknow
Day 8DepartureDeparture day
- At your departure timeDepartureDeparture transfer
Your driver drops you at Lucknow airport or station for your onward flight or train.
Overnight · Departure day
BEFORE YOU DECIDE
Walking, early starts and the season.
Early starts
The early visits at Kushinagar and Jetavana are by choice, and Day 6 starts soon after breakfast for the long drive to Sankisa.
Boats and boarding
There are no boat outings in the base programme. At each site the car park is a short walk from the entrance, and at Sankisa the vehicle stops close to the mound.
Mobility
Four road days, two of them very long, make this a demanding journey. Ruins have uneven ground and few ramps; tell us about mobility needs early. We do not describe this route as fully accessible.
Season
October to March is the main season, with fog in December and January that can slow roads and delay flights. April to June is very hot; July to September is monsoon. The sites are busiest with pilgrim groups in winter and around Buddha Purnima.
CHOOSE YOUR COMFORT
Standard, Premium or Luxury.
The same journey at three levels of comfort and support. The quotation names the actual hotels, vehicle and inclusions before you pay anything.
Standard
Comfortable and well located, with the essentials arranged well.
- 3-star hotels or pilgrims' lodges
- AC sedan, or AC Tempo Traveller for groups
- Standard entrance tickets included
Everything included in Standard · 2
Premium
Better stays and more help: private boats, escorted darshan, a stronger car.
- 4-star heritage or hotel-chain properties↑ Upgrade from Standard
- AC Innova Crysta or similar SUV with chauffeur↑ Upgrade from Standard
- Expert scholar guide at every site+ New, not in Standard
- Entry tickets booked, priority where sites allow↑ Upgrade from Standard
Everything included in Premium · 6
Luxury
The finest stays, a luxury car and every special session handled for you.
- Top premium hotels, best available in small towns↑ Upgrade from Premium
- Luxury chauffeur-driven vehicle throughout↑ Upgrade from Premium
- Fully customised journey with a luxury escort↑ Upgrade from Premium
- All meals included, day by day+ New, not in Premium
- All entry tickets arranged in advance↑ Upgrade from Premium
Everything included in Luxury · 12
- Airport and railway station transfers
- Private chauffeured transport
- Premium and luxury vehicle upgrade
- Arrival welcome and assistance
- Welcome amenities and celebration gifts
- Dedicated travel concierge
- Your travel host
- Private sightseeing or specialist guide
- Professional photography
- Dining reservations and dietary coordination
- Luggage and porter assistance
- Security assistance
Every level: a named coordinator on phone and WhatsApp, and one complete quotation before any payment.
Compare every detail, row by row
StandardPremiumLuxury
HotelsSelected 3-star hotels or pilgrims' lodges. Kushinagar, Shravasti and especially the Sankisa area have limited choice; hotels are subject to availability and named in your quotation.Selected 4-star heritage or hotel-chain properties in Varanasi, Kushinagar and Lucknow, and the best available property in Shravasti and around Sankisa, which have few hotels of this category. Subject to availability and named in your quotation.Top premium hotels in Varanasi and Lucknow, and the best available premium property in Kushinagar, Shravasti and around Sankisa, which have no 5-star hotels. Subject to availability and named in your quotation.
VehiclePrivate air-conditioned sedan, or an air-conditioned Tempo Traveller for larger groups, with a driver. The driver is not a sightseeing guide. The vehicle is subject to availability and named in your quotation.Air-conditioned Innova Crysta or similar SUV with an experienced chauffeur, subject to availability and named in your quotation.A luxury SUV, such as a Fortuner, Mercedes or suitable alternative, with a chauffeur throughout, selected to suit your party and this route. The vehicle is subject to availability and named in your quotation. An SUV is usually the better choice for the rural roads on this route.
MealsBreakfast on all seven hotel nights. Lunches and dinners are not included.Breakfast daily. Lunches and dinners are not included.All meals, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 8, at hotels or suitable restaurants. On the long road days lunch may be a simple stop or packed by the hotel; dietary needs are passed to each kitchen.
BoatNot included. An evening on the Ganges in Varanasi can be added.Not included. A private evening on the Ganges in Varanasi can be added.Not included. A private evening on the Ganges in Varanasi can be added.
DarshanNot a darshan itinerary. Site visits are planned around opening hours and the heat.Not a darshan itinerary. Your scholar arranges entry and timings in advance so that you wait as little as each site's own arrangements allow; no special access is promised.Not a darshan itinerary. Your escort and concierge plan each visit around opening hours, crowds and any chanting or meditation time you wish to keep; no special access is promised.
AssistanceA named remote coordinator, by phone and WhatsApp, before and during the journey. No accompanying host.A named coordinator throughout, a welcome on arrival, and scholar-guided visits at Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti and Sankisa.A dedicated travel concierge for the whole journey, a personal host for the listed days and support hours agreed in your quotation. This is not unlimited round-the-clock cover. Your escort travels with you from Day 1 to Day 8, and the programme is customised with you before travel.
GuidingNo sightseeing guide is included. Your driver is not a guide; a guide can be added at any site.An expert scholar guide at Sarnath (Day 1), Kushinagar (Day 3), Shravasti (Day 5) and Sankisa (Day 7).Specialist guides at Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti and Sankisa.
AdmissionsStandard entrance tickets at the protected sites in Sarnath, Kushinagar and Shravasti, and at the Sarnath museum, are included. Camera fees are paid locally.Entry tickets for all guided visits, including the Sarnath museum, are included.Entry tickets for all listed site visits, including the Sarnath museum, are included.
PhotographyOptional. A professional photography session can be added.Optional. A professional photography session can be added.A defined professional photography session of about two hours at Kushinagar or Shravasti, with edited image count and delivery time stated in your quotation.
SecurityOn request, quoted separately.On request, quoted separately.Included when requested, applicable and expressly accepted in your final quotation. It never means queue-clearing or special access.
Everything Premium includes, day by day
- Airport and railway station transfersDay 1 arrival and final-day departure
Arrival transfer from Varanasi airport or station, and drop at Lucknow airport or station on the last day
Included - Private chauffeured transportDay 1 to Day 8
Private chauffeured transport for the whole route in the upgraded vehicle group below
Included, part of the journey - Premium and luxury vehicle upgradeDay 1 to Day 8
Vehicle group upgraded to an Innova Crysta or similar SUV, subject to availability and named in your quotation
Included - Arrival welcome and assistanceDay 1 · Arrival
A member of the team welcomes you at Varanasi airport or station and sees you to the hotel. No restricted-area or baggage-hall access is implied
Included - Sarnath with a Specialist GuideDay 1 · Day 1 afternoon
Sarnath with an expert scholar guide, including site and museum entry tickets
Included - Private sightseeing or specialist guideDay 3, Day 5 and Day 7
Expert scholar guide for the Kushinagar sites, for Jetavana and Maheth at Shravasti, and for Sankisa, where a guide is available, with entry arranged in advance
Included
More services you can add to Premium · 21
- Upgrade your boat ride / boat bookingRiver & boats
- Aarti viewing and seating arrangementsTemple, ritual & puja
- Darshan and temple visit assistanceTemple, ritual & puja
- Female accompanying hostHosts, guides & companions
- Language assistance and interpretersHosts, guides & companions
- Nanny or childcare arrangementsFamily, senior & accessible travel
- Baby and family comfort arrangementsFamily, senior & accessible travel
- Senior travel companionFamily, senior & accessible travel
- Wheelchair and mobility assistanceFamily, senior & accessible travel
- Specialist care support on requestFamily, senior & accessible travel
- Priest and ritual coordinationTemple, ritual & puja
- Rudrabhishek arrangementsTemple, ritual & puja
- Ganga puja arrangementsTemple, ritual & puja
- Pind Daan and ancestral rites arrangementsTemple, ritual & puja
- VideographyPhotography & films
- Birthday, anniversary and occasion arrangementsOccasions, dining & gifts
- Hotel stay extension or room upgradeStays, tickets & insurance
- Flight and train booking assistanceStays, tickets & insurance
- Astrologer consultationSpecialist services
- Helicopter transfersSpecialist services
- Your Journey in Film: Cinematic ReelPhotography & films
Want just one thing from a higher tier?
Keep Premium and add any of these on their own. They are quoted with your journey.
- Welcome amenities and celebration giftsIncluded in Luxury
- Dedicated travel conciergeIncluded in Luxury
- Your travel hostIncluded in Luxury
- Professional photographyIncluded in Luxury
- Dining reservations and dietary coordinationIncluded in Luxury
- Luggage and porter assistanceIncluded in Luxury
- Security assistanceIncluded in Luxury
ADD TO THIS JOURNEY
Experiences and services worth adding.
Add them to My Journey. If something is already part of your tier it shows as included, and nothing is charged twice.
On the riverEvening on the Ganges
An evening on the Ganga: a boat along the ghats at dusk, then the Ganga aarti, watched from the water or from an arranged place on the ghat.
Language assistance and interpreters
An interpreter or language assistant for visits, rituals and conversations, in the language you request, confirmed with a named supplier before your journey.
Senior travel companion
A companion for older guests who sets a comfortable pace, helps with steps and crowds, and keeps family informed with consent, within a defined non-medical scope.
Wheelchair and mobility assistance
Wheelchairs, walking aids and assistants requested separately, with each part of your route assessed for steps, ramps and boarding before anything is confirmed.
Hotel stay extension or room upgrade
Add nights in a city or move to a better room category, with meals and room allocation reviewed by our team and confirmed in your quotation.
Flight and train booking assistance
Help finding and booking flights and trains that fit your journey, with fares and terms shown separately and nothing treated as confirmed until tickets are issued.
GOOD TO KNOW
Questions, answered.
Why is the drive to Sankisa so long?
Sankisa lies far to the west of the other sites, in Farrukhabad district, so Day 6 is a long road day of seven to eight hours with a simple overnight nearby. The next morning you visit the Elephant Pillar site and drive on to Lucknow.
Can the journey be longer?
Yes. This journey runs from 7N/8D to 8N/9D. An extra night, for example a third night at Shravasti to break the drive or a night in Agra at the end, can be added.
Can other sites be added?
Additional sites are included only when they fit a realistic route. Tell us which places matter to you and we will advise on time and roads.
Is Lumbini part of this journey?
No. Lumbini is in Nepal and is never part of an Uttar Pradesh journey. It can be discussed as a separate extension enquiry, quoted on its own.
Availability and cancellation. Hotels, vehicles, boats, guides and temple arrangements are confirmed when we prepare your quotation, and they depend on dates, weather, river levels and the rules of each site. Cancellation terms follow the suppliers in your journey and are set out in the quotation. Booking terms
This is a request for a personalised quotation, not a booking. No payment is required to send your preferences.
PLAN WITH TOURMELLOH
Make this journey your own.
Tell us the places on your mind, your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a written proposal shaped around you.