Teaching in Sarnath (Varanasi), U.P., India from January 12 to 16: His Holiness will give five-day teachings on “Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug) & Kamalashila’s The Middling States of Meditation (gomrim barpa).” The teachings will be held near the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies.

Day 01: 09th Jan 2011: Arrive New Delhi

Arrive in Delhi by flight xxx at xxx hours, assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel, Delhi, where an empire rose and fell before the dawn of history; where citadels of emperors appeared and disappeared; a city of mysterious eternity whose old ruins proclaim a majestic and imperial past. There have been at least eight cities built in and around modern Delhi, and the old saying that whoever founds a new city at Delhi will lose it has come true every time, most recently for the British who built New Delhi in 1911. Overnight Delhi.

Day 02: 10th Jan 2011: Delhi

Full day sight seeing tour of Old Delhi and New Delhi City.

Enjoy a morning tour of Old Delhi. Visit the old city of Shahjananbad where you will the see imposing Red Fort one of the most magnificent palaces in the world. Later visit the Red Fort, along Chandni Chowk experiencing the famous main street in Old Delhi, full of all kinds of shops it overflows with all kinds of traffic, people, sounds and smells.

Later visit Jama Masjid the largest mosque in India and a stunning example of Mughal architecture. And the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi (memorial of Mahatma Gandhi) at Raj Ghat. Situated on the bank of the legendary Yamuna River.

Take an afternoon tour of New Delhi. In 1911, the British asked Lutyens to design a new city, the result was New Delhi, The architectural designs, and sophistication of the buildings and the wide tree lines avenues are reminiscent of many European cities. Visit Connaught Place the hub of the city mainly devoted to shops, banks and restaurants. Then on to Rajpath flanked by Ornamental ponds and lawns, with India Gate at one end and the Presidents house at the other Rajpath most clearly reflects Lutyens European influence.

Drive past the impressive presidents house and the Parliament House and visit Humayuns Tomb, Delhi’s first Moghul tomb its sombre, Persian-style elegance marks this as one of Delhi’s finest historic sites.

Finally visit Qutub Minar. Built In 1199 either as a victory tower or as a minaret to the adjacent mosque, at a height of 72.5 meters. It is still the highest, and one of the finest stone towers in India. Overnight stay in Hotel at New Delhi or take overnight train for Varanasi.

Day 03: 11th Jan 2011, New Delhi – Varanasi

Arriv Varanasi by Overnight train or flight and transfer to the hotel. Evening view "Aarti" ceremony on the bank of Ganga Ghat, Dashashwamedha. Overnight stay at hotel in Varanasi.

Day 04 TO 08: (12TH – 16TH JAN 11), VARANASI

Early morning drive to Daswamedh Ghat and take a boat ride on the sacred river Ganges to see the cremation Ghat(HARISCHANDRA TO MANIKNIKA GHAT). Banaras Hindu University. The Banaras Hindu University was established in 1916 by special efforts of Nationalist Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya. Today it has grown into one of the biggest university of India and in Asia.

Visit Sarnath, where the Buddha preached his first sermon is home to perhaps the most interesting landmark on India’s religious and his tropical landscape, to attend and listen to the Dalai Lama's annual teachings. There will be teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for 5 days. The 5th Century AD. Visit Chaukhandi Stupa, Dhamek Stupa. (The 34 meter-high Dhamek Stupa towers over the gardened heart of Sarnath and marks the spot where the Buddha is said to have preached the famous first sermon.) Mulagandha Kuti Vihar, Sarnath Museum. The main attraction of the Sarnath Archaeological Museum is the superb Ashoka Pillar. It has four back-to-back lions, which has been adopted as the National symbol of India. Below this are representations of a lion, an elephant, horse and the bull. Overnight stay at hotel in Varanasi.

Day 09: 17th Jan 2011: Varanasi – Bodhgaya

Bharat Mata Temple, built in 1936 and located at Kashi Vidyapeeth (University) Campus, is a shrine dedicated to Mother India. It enshrines a marble structure of Mother India, a fine three-dimensional structure of undivided India. The marble structure, rather a map of India, is constructed at the right proportions of oceans, lands, and hills. This is a unique temple and a symbol of patriotism. The Bharat Mata temple at Varanasi is the only temple dedicated to Mother India. Proceed to Bodhgaya. This village is situated near the river Niranjana (Phalgu). It is one of the holiest Buddhis t centers. This is the place where Gautama meditated and attained enlightenment. The tree that had sheltered him came to be known as the Bodhi tree. Overnight stay at hotel in Bodhgaya.

Day 10: 18th Jan 2011, Bodhgaya

It is the site where Prince Siddhartha attained enlightenment under a Pipal tree after years of search for the truth and knowledge. He attained the supreme enlightenment and became 'The Buddha' or 'The Enlightened One'. Bodhgaya – most sac red place for Buddhists as it has a Pipal tree under which Gautama the Buddha attained enlightenment some 2500 years back. Sightseeing includes Mahabodhi Temple, Animesh Lochan Chaitya, Boddhi Tree, Chankrama, Ratnaghar, Sun Temple, Vishnu Pad Temple, Barabra Caves. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 11: 19th Jan 2011, Bodhgaya – Rajgir – Nalanda – Patna

Morning after breakfast drive to Rajgir. Rajgir is a place of great significance for Buddhists and Janis. Lord Buddha spent 12 years at Rajgir and the firs t Buddhist council was held here. Sightseeing at Rajgir covers the Shanti Stupa, Hot Springs, Gridhakuta Hill, Bimbisara Jail and other Jain and Buddha monuments.

From Rajgir you will be driven to Nalanda (20 km). Nalanda was a great center of learning in ancient time. Nalanda was one of the greatest monastic Universities of the ancient world. At Nalanda, you will visit the Nalanda University Ruins, Archaeological Complex, Museum, Nava Nalanda Mahavihar, Hieun Tsang memorial Hall, Silap, Surajpur Baragoan. From Nalanda you will head for Patna (90km). Overnight stay at hotel in Patna.

Day 12: 20th Jan 2011, Patna - Vaishali – Kushinagar

Proceed to Vaishali (65 km), the place where Buddha announced the approaching of his Mahaparinirvana. Also visit Ashoka Pillar, Bawan Pokhar Tample, Buddha Stupa I-II, Abhishek Pushkarn, Raja Vishal ka Ghar, Shanti Stupa and World Peace Pagoda.

Proceed to Kushi nagar. Kushi nagar is the place where Buddha had passed into Pari nirvana and therefore is a prominent Buddhist site. Guests will visit the main monuments such as Ramabha stupa standing on the place where Buddha was cremated, Natha Kumarka Kot enshrining the large figure of Buddha.

The existing historical sites at Kushinagar can be divided into three Categories: 1st - the Mahaparinirvana Temple, which houses the statue of the reclining Buddha, 2nd - the Mata Kunwar Shrine, which houses a 10th Century blue schist image of Buddha and 3rd - the Rambhar Stupa, which is supposed to be the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated.

After experiencing these eternal sites return to the hotel for overnight stay at hotel in Kus hi nagar.

Day 13: 21st Jan 2011, Kushinagar - Lumbini

Proceed to Lumbini. The birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Lumbini lies in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal. The area around Lumbini is Hindu, but many Buddhist temples and shrines from various nations are scattered around the holy site itself. Maya Devi Temple the most important temple at Lumbini, Puskarni-the sacred pool where it is said Maya Devi bathed before giving birth of Prince Siddhartha, Atoka’s Pillar. Overnight stay at hotel in Lumbini.

Day 14: 22nd Jan 2011, Lumbini – Kapilavastu – Sravasti

Proceed for Sravasti, en route-visit Kapilavastu - the childhood home of Gautam Buddha. Prince Gautam, as the Buddha was then known, left his palace in Kapilvastu at the age of 29, and revisited in 12 years later, after attaining enlightenment. After that proceed to Sravasti where the Buddha preached most of his sermons. Here he is said to have performed many miracles and levitated. During the monsoon, he used to stay at the Jetavana monastery on the outskirts of this town. Visit Sahet Mahet and Angulimal caves.

Overnight stay at hotel in Sravasti.

Day 15: 23rd Jan 2011, Sravasti – Lucknow – New Delhi

Sravasti was located on the bank of the river Aciravati (now called the Rapti river). It was the capital city of the kingdom of Kosala, and its king was called Pasenadi, who was a disciple of Buddha.

The two main attractions here are the Pakki Kuti and the Kachchi Kuti. This place also has an Anand Bodhi tree, an off spring of the original Bodhi tree, planted by Buddha's main disciple Anand.

There are also the Thai- Sri Lankan- Myanmar- Chinese- Korean Buddhist Temples, the Shobhnath Temple.

Proceed to Lucknow and board the overnight train for New Delhi, arrive Delhi and transfer to the International airport to board the flight for onward destination.