Buddhist circuit in India: Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Sarnath, Kushinagar
Plan the Buddhist circuit: Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Vaishali, Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini, how to travel between them, best months and costs.
By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 2 min read
The sites
The life of the Buddha maps onto a small area of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and southern Nepal.
- Lumbini, in Nepal: birthplace
- Bodh Gaya: enlightenment under the Bodhi tree
- Sarnath, near Varanasi: the first sermon
- Kushinagar: the mahaparinirvana
- Rajgir and Nalanda: the Vulture’s Peak, the Venuvana grove and the ancient university
- Vaishali: the last sermon and the Ashokan pillar
Pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Japan and Tibet visit every winter, and the atmosphere at Bodh Gaya in December and January is unforgettable.
Getting there
- Gaya airport has flights from Delhi and Kolkata, and from Bangkok, Colombo and Yangon in the winter season
- Patna airport connects to most metros
- Varanasi airport serves Sarnath
- Gorakhpur and Kushinagar airports serve Kushinagar and the Lumbini border
- Trains reach Gaya, Patna and Varanasi from Delhi and Kolkata
How to plan the route
A full circuit takes eight to ten days by road. A typical order:
- Patna, then Vaishali
- Nalanda and Rajgir
- Bodh Gaya, two nights
- Varanasi and Sarnath, two nights
- Kushinagar
- Lumbini across the Sunauli border, with an Indian passport or voter ID
Shorter trips of three to four nights cover Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Nalanda.
Bodh Gaya
Spend at least two days here. Sit under the Bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple at dawn, walk the meditation paths, and visit the monasteries built by Buddhist countries: Thai, Japanese, Bhutanese and Tibetan among them. The 80-foot Great Buddha statue and the archaeological museum round off the visit. The Kalachakra and Nyingma prayer festivals draw large gatherings in winter.
When to go
- October to March: the season, mild days and cool nights
- December to January: the busiest, with prayer festivals
- April to June: very hot, 40°C and more
- July to September: monsoon
Buddha Purnima in April or May is a major celebration at all the sites.
What the circuit costs
Our Bodh Gaya and Rajgir trip starts from the price on the package page per person on twin sharing, with a private car and hotels. The full Buddhist circuit with Vaishali and Nalanda is also available, and we extend any plan to Sarnath, Kushinagar and Lumbini on request.
Practical tips
- Remove shoes at temple compounds
- Dress modestly and keep voices low near meditation areas
- Carry cash for offerings and small shops
- Roads have improved, but allow time for traffic near towns
Tell us your dates and group size. We send a plan within 24 hours on working days.
