UPSC PRELIMS_POWER PLAY-ART & CULTURE (Maha- Parinirvan Express-Buddhist Circuit Train Tour)

MAHA-PARINIRVAN EXPRESS- BUDDHIST CIRCUIT TRAIN TOUR  

   ABOUT TRAIN

The Mahaparinirvan Express is a special tourist train that takes passengers on a spiritual tour through Bihar/Uttar Pradesh in India, where Buddhism originated more than 2,500 years ago.

The train gets its name from the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, which contains the Buddha's final explanation of his teachings. Its sacred journey includes visits to the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites of Lumbini (where the Buddha was born), Bodhgaya (where he became enlightened), Varanasi (where he first preached), and Kushinagar (where he passed away and achieved nirvana).

This train tour is owned & operated by IRCTC Ltd. By modifying carriages of an Air conditioned Rajdhani Express sleeper train, offering three different classes of travel (first class, two tier, and three tier). There are limited toilets with showers on the train, but & daily are taken to hotels to freshen up & for brief rest, or at times overnight stay.

There is an onboard hygienic kitchen car facility & passengers are served sumptuous hot meals. Packaged drinking water & tea/coffee Service is available free of charge As this train is targeted for pilgrimage tourist, the onboard facilities are limited & far from opulent ;& cannot be compared to other luxury train tours e.g. Palace On Wheels etc.

But personal & good care is taken of the esteemed Passengers & they are provided luggage assistance at each destination. Security guards are present on the train, An English speaking guide is part of group sightseeing tours & excursions & their costs are already included in the train tour package

Lord Buddha said: NEITHER AM I THE FIRST BUDDHA NOR THE LAST ONE ,anyone who attains ENGLIGHTMENT is a BUDDHA

 

 

7 NIGHTS DETAILED BUDDHIST TRAIN PROGRAM

Day 01: Saturday Afternoon: NEW DELHI Depart

Day 02: BODHGAYA-Town of Enlightenment

Day 03: RAJGIR & NALANDA - Ancient University

Day 4:   VARANASI & SARNATH - The First Sermon

Day 05: NAUTANWA & LUMBINI - Birthplace

Day 06: LUMBINI & KUSHINAHAR

Day 07: BALRAMPUR & SRAVASTI - A Legend Begins

Day 08: Morning: TAJ MAHAL

Day 08: Evening: DELHI Return

 

 

ABOUT DESTINATIONS

Important Destinations Covered

BODHGAYA: It is Considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it's dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond.

RAJGIR: Is an ancient city Surrounded by hills, it's known for its holy sites. Remains of the Cyclopean Wall, which encircled the city centuries ago, still stand in the center. Close by, Venu Vana park was once home to a monastery built for Buddha. The shield-shaped Japanese Temple contains a huge Buddha statue. Nearby there are hot springs believed to have medicinal properties.

NALANDA: was, a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha and was a centre of learning from the Fifth century BC to 9th Century AD & considered cradle of philosophy of Mahayana, which attracted students from as far as China & Indonesia . All students at Nalanda studied Mahayana as well as the texts of the eighteen Hinayana sects of Buddhism. IN later centuries ,Tantric Buddhism was also taught here. The university campus was ransacked by Muslim Invaders in 12th AD & now in ruins-,which the Govt. Authorities are in the process of slowly restoring.

SARNATH: Located near ancient Hindu Pilgrim town of Varanasi with Holy Ganges River, Sarnath is the places where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Also referred to as Isipatana, this city is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage to which his devout followers should visit, if they wanted to visit a place for that reason.[1] It was also the site of the Buddha's Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, which was his first teaching after attaining enlightenment, in which he taught the four noble truths and the teachings associated with it.

KUSHINAGAR: It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha attained Parinirvana after his death[1] It is an international Buddhist pilgrimage centre. The followers of Buddhism, especially from Asian countries, wish to visit this place at least once in their lifetime.

LUMBINI: Located in Nepal, near Indian border, Lumbini is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Mid-6th Century BC & who is said to have achieved Enlightenment at age of 35 years -became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.

Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Maya Devi Temple and several others which are still under repair. Many monuments, monasteries and a museum, the Lumbini International Research Institute, are also within the holy site. Also there is the Puskarini, or Holy Pond, where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddha’s were, according to tradition, born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms.

SHRAVASTI: Considered amongst the six largest cities in India in 5th Century BC ,it closely associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have visited it 24 times during his lifetime. The Age-old stupas, majestic viharas and several temples "establish Buddha's association with Shravasti.