Dambadiva Pilgrimage: 10 Days

Depart Bandaranaike International Airport for Delhi, then connect to Varanasi. After checking in, begin the pilgrimage by worshipping at the Sarnath sacred area and listening to the Dhammachakka Sutta at the New Mulagandhakuti Vihara in the evening.

Spend the morning at Sarnath, also known as Migadaya, where the Buddha delivered his first sermon and the sangha was born with the enlightenment of the first five disciples. Visit the Dhamek Stupa, the Anagarika Dharmapala Museum and the Sarnath Museum before travelling to Buddhagaya for the night.

Arrive at the Maha Bodhi Temple early in the morning in procession. A kiri ahara pooja is held before observing sil, followed by the offering of ata pirikara, a dhamma sermon and a Bodhi pooja beside the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the very spot where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Take part in the Sathsathi vandana, worshipping the seven places where the Buddha spent the seven weeks after enlightenment. In the afternoon visit the Dungeshwari caves, where the ascetic Siddhartha practised austerities, and Senanigama, where Sujata offered the milk rice.

Travel to Rajgir, where the Buddha delivered many discourses. Ascend by ropeway towards the Japan Peace Pagoda, and worship at Griddhakuta, the Holy Eagle Peak. Visit the Bimbisara Jail, the Saptaparni Cave of the First Buddhist Council, and the ruins of Nalanda, the great monastic university. Continue to Vaishali for the night.

Vaishali is where the Bhikkhuni Sasana was established and where the Buddha announced his coming Parinirvana. Worship at the Relic Stupa, believed to enshrine a portion of the Buddha’s relics, and the Kutagarasala. Then travel to Kusinara and worship at the Mahaparinirvana Stupa, marking the place where the Buddha attained Parinirvana, and the Ramabhar cremation stupa.

Cross the India–Nepal border and travel to Lumbini, the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha. Worship at the Maya Devi Temple, the marker stone and the Ashokan pillar, and spend a peaceful evening in the sacred garden.

Re-cross the border and visit Kapilavastu, where King Suddhodana and Queen Maya lived and where the prince spent his first 29 years. Continue to Sravasti (Savath Nuwara) and worship at the Jetavana Monastery, offered by Anathapindika, along with the Anandabodhi tree and the Angulimala Stupa.

Travel to Sankissa, where the Buddha descended from the Tavatimsa heaven after preaching the Abhidhamma to his mother. After worshipping the sacred site, continue to Agra for the night.

Visit the magnificent Taj Mahal in the morning, then travel to Delhi to worship the sacred Kapilavastu relics at the National Museum. See India Gate, Parliament and the President’s House on a short city drive before boarding the evening flight home to Colombo.