The Great Circuit.
The chronological journey of the Buddha. Lumbini to Kushinagar, told in the order it happened.
The full arc. Two to four weeks across the Buddha's life — Lumbini (birth), Kapilavastu and Devadaha (childhood), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon), Rajgir and Nalanda (the teaching years), Vaishali and Sravasti (later teaching), Kushinagar (parinirvana). You travel as the Buddha traveled, in the order he traveled. The TPS Circuit Stories mini-series plays at each site as the in-flight curriculum. The dharma teacher who accompanies the cohort gives the same teaching the Buddha gave there — at the same place, with the same words.
Day 15 of 21 — Arrival at Sarnath. 06:00 train from Bodh Gaya. 10:30 disembark. 12:00 lunch at the Mahabodhi Society guesthouse. 15:00 walk to Deer Park. The cohort sits in a circle. The teacher recites the First Sermon — the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta — in Pali, then in English. The cohort sits in silence. 17:30 visit the Dhamek Stupa. 19:00 evening chanting at the Thai temple. 21:00 rest at the Sarnath Vihara.
- 01Lumbini (Day 1–3)
- 02Kapilavastu, Tilaurakot, Kudan, Devadaha (Day 4–5)
- 03Ramagrama (Day 6)
- 04Bodh Gaya (Day 7–10)
- 05Rajgir, Nalanda (Day 11–13)
- 06Vaishali (Day 14)
- 07Sarnath (Day 15–17)
- 08Sravasti (Day 18–19)
- 09Kushinagar (Day 20–21)
Multi-entry Nepal + India visa (TPS handles documentation)
- 21–30 nights of curated accommodation across the full circuit (heritage hotel, monastery guesthouse, or pilgrim lodge per site)
- All ground transport (IRCTC Bharat Gaurav train segments + private coach)
- All meals — vegetarian, locally sourced
- Dedicated cohort teacher for the full journey
- Daily chanting and meditation at each site
- Site-specific master discourses by resident monastics
- Circuit Stories audio + video curriculum
- Sangha integration evenings — three monastery-channel introductions
- Pilgrim mala, sash, certificate, signed journal
- End-of-circuit Lumbini retreat (3 days, Greater Lumbini Estate)
Inclusions are comprehensive at this tier. Speak with the concierge for bespoke requirements.
Royal Thai Monastery · Sri Lankan Mahabodhi · Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling · Mahabodhi Society of India · Nalanda Foundation · Tibetan Buddhist Society of Sarnath
Established practitioners committing to the chronological pilgrimage of a lifetime. Lay teachers preparing to lead. Authors, scholars, and retreatants who need the full arc.
A representative arc of the journey.
The full arc. Two to four weeks across the Buddha's life — Lumbini (birth), Kapilavastu and Devadaha (childhood), Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon), Rajgir and Nalanda (the teaching years), Vaishali and Sravasti (later teaching), Kushinagar (parinirvana). You travel as the Buddha traveled, in the order he traveled. The TPS Circuit Stories mini-series plays at each site as the in-flight curriculum. The dharma teacher who accompanies the cohort gives the same teaching the Buddha gave there — at the same place, with the same words.
Day 15 of 21 — Arrival at Sarnath. 06:00 train from Bodh Gaya. 10:30 disembark. 12:00 lunch at the Mahabodhi Society guesthouse. 15:00 walk to Deer Park. The cohort sits in a circle. The teacher recites the First Sermon — the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta — in Pali, then in English. The cohort sits in silence. 17:30 visit the Dhamek Stupa. 19:00 evening chanting at the Thai temple. 21:00 rest at the Sarnath Vihara.