10-Day Neykor to the Four Principal Great Places of Buddha

Q: Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa for the three sites in India?

No. According to the Embassy of India in Thimphu, Bhutanese nationals entering India by land or air do not require a visa. You only need to carry a valid Bhutanese passport or a Citizenship Identity Card (CID).

Q: Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa for Lumbini (Nepal)?

Yes. Because Lumbini is located in Nepal, you will need a visa. Fortunately, Bhutanese citizens are eligible for a Gratis (Free) Visa to Nepal. You can obtain this on arrival at the Kathmandu airport, at major land borders like Sonauli, or apply for an e-visa online beforehand. Ensure your passport has at least 6 months of validity.

Q: What if I am traveling on a temporary Bhutanese Travel Document?

According to a Bhutan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisory, if you are traveling on a recently issued Travel Document in lieu of an Ordinary Passport, you cannot get a visa on arrival in Nepal. You must process your Nepalese visa in advance through the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi.

Q: What is the best way to fly into the pilgrimage circuit from Bhutan?

Option A (Fly to India first): Take a Drukair or Bhutan Airlines flight from Paro to Kolkata or New Delhi. From there, you can take a domestic flight directly into Gaya Airport (GAY) or Varanasi Airport (VNS) to start your circuit. Option B (Fly to Nepal first): Take a direct flight from Paro to Kathmandu. From Kathmandu, you can catch a short domestic flight to Bhairahawa (Gautam Buddha International Airport), which sits right next to Lumbini. Option C (Bus from Phuentsholing): Take a direct bus from Phuentsholing to Bodh Gaya.

Q: Can I drive or take a pilgrimage bus directly from Bhutan?

Yes, many Bhutanese pilgrim groups charter buses or drive private vehicles from border towns like Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar, or Gelephu. The drive from Phuentsholing down through West Bengal and Bihar straight to Bodh Gaya takes roughly 10 to 12 hours.

Q: Are there Bhutanese temples or guest houses where I can stay?

Yes. Staying at Bhutanese monasteries is highly popular for local pilgrims seeking familiar food, prayer spaces, and language: Bodh Gaya: The Bhutan Temple (Druk Ngagyur Nyingma Monastery). Lumbini: The Bhutanese Monastery in Lumbini

Q: Can I offer robes or butter lamps at the sites?

Yes. Bhutanese pilgrims frequently sponsor Choeshay (monastic prayers), light butter lamps (marme), and offer formal robes (chogor) to the main Buddha statues inside the Mahabodhi Temple (Bodh Gaya) and the Mahaparinirvana Temple (Kushinagar). You can coordinate these offerings directly with the temple management offices or through your local guide.

Q: Is there a currency exchange requirement?

While Bhutanese Ngultrum (Nu) is widely accepted in Indian border towns, it is not legally accepted in the deep interior of Bihar or Uttar Pradesh, where these sites are located. You must convert your currency to Indian Rupees (INR) or use international cards before leaving the border or major airports.

This optimized 10-Day Bus Itinerary focuses exclusively on the Four Principal Great Places (Chaddhamasthanas) of Lord Buddha’s life. This route departs from Phuentsholing, travels through the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, and crosses into Nepal before looping back.

By limiting the journey to the four major sites—Birth, Enlightenment, First Sermon, and Final Passing—the driving distances are much more manageable compared to the full eight-site tour.

Transportation
Bus
Accomodation
Twin sharing
Departure from
Phuentsholing
Best season
November, December, January & February
Meals
Breakfast & Dinner
Language
Dzongkha, English, Hindi, Nepali
Fitness level
Easy to Moderate
Group Size
15-25

Overview

By limiting the journey to the four major sites—Birth, Enlightenment, First Sermon, and Final Passing—the driving distances are much more manageable compared to the full eight-site tour.

Highlights

Walk into the UNESCO World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple Complex.
Walk the peaceful grounds of the Deer Park and circumambulate the massive Dhamekh Stupa
Walk into the deeply moving Parinirvana Temple.
Explore the sacred Mayadevi Temple Complex, built over the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautama.

Day 1 :

Phuentsholing to Purnea (West Bengal to Bihar Transit) by Bus

Morning: Cross the Bhutan Gate into Jaigaon. Complete your Indian immigration formalities and board your chartered bus by 7:00 AM.
Journey: Drive south through the Siliguri corridor via NH27, then proceed southwest into Bihar.
Night: Stop for the night in Purnea to break up the long journey and ensure you do not drive on unlit regional highways after dark.

Day 2 :

Purnea to Bodh Gaya

Morning: Depart Purnea early via NH31, driving across the vast plains of Bihar.
Afternoon: Cross the Ganges River over the Bakhtiyarpur bridge and curve south toward Nawada.
Evening: Arrive in the holy town of Bodh Gaya. Check into your hotel and rest.

Day 3 :

Bodh Gaya — The Site of Enlightenment (Great Site 1)

Morning: Walk into the UNESCO World Heritage Mahabodhi Temple Complex. Spend a quiet morning meditating, prostrating, and chanting directly under the sacred Bodhi Tree where Prince Siddhartha overcame Mara and achieved supreme Enlightenment.
Afternoon: Visit the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne), Muchalinda Lake (where the serpent king sheltered Buddha), and explore the beautiful Bhutanese temple and local markets.
Night: Attend the evening candlelighting ceremony. Stay overnight in Bodh Gaya.

Day 4 :

Bodh Gaya to Varanasi / Sarnath (Great Site 2)

Morning: Board the bus for a 5.5-hour drive westward along the Grand Trunk Road to Varanasi.
Afternoon: Drive straight to Sarnath, located just outside the main city. Walk the peaceful grounds of the Deer Park and circumambulate the massive Dhamekh Stupa, which marks the exact spot where Buddha delivered his very first sermon to his first five disciples.
Night: Stay overnight in Varanasi.

Day 5 :

Varanasi to Kushinagar

Morning: Leave Varanasi early and head north via the national highway for a 6-to-7-hour drive toward the Nepal border region.
Evening: Arrive in the serene town of Kushinagar. Check into your hotel and spend a quiet evening resting from the drive.

Day 6 :

Kushinagar — The Site of Mahaparinirvana (Great Site 3)

Morning: Walk into the deeply moving Parinirvana Temple. Pray before the majestic, 6-meter-long ancient monolithic sandstone statue of the reclining Buddha entering final peace.
Afternoon: Walk to the nearby Ramabhar Stupa, which marks the exact historical location of Buddha's cremation.
Night: Stay overnight in Kushinagar.

Day 7 :

Kushinagar to Lumbini, Nepal (Great Site 4)

Morning: Take a 4-hour drive north to the Sonauli border crossing. Clear Indian exit and Nepalese entry immigration (Ensure you carry your original Passport or Voter ID Card).
Afternoon: Arrive in Lumbini, Nepal. Explore the sacred Mayadevi Temple Complex, built over the exact birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gautama. See the ancient Ashoka Pillar and the sacred pond.
Night: Stay overnight in Lumbini.

Day 08 :

Lumbini to Gorakhpur (Return to India)

Morning: Spend a few final hours enjoying the peaceful international monastic zones of Lumbini.
Afternoon: Board the bus and cross back through the Sonauli border into India. Drive 3 hours south to the major transit city of Gorakhpur.
Night: Stay overnight in Gorakhpur to position yourself for the long drive home.

Day 09 :

Gorakhpur to Siliguri (The Long Drive Home)

All Day: This is the longest driving day of the itinerary. Board the bus by 5:30 AM and travel east across Bihar via the NH27 East-West Corridor highway. The bus will make scheduled stops at clean highway restaurants for meals.
Night: Arrive late in Siliguri, West Bengal and check into your hotel.

Day 10 :

Siliguri to Phuentsholing

Morning: Enjoy a late, relaxed breakfast in Siliguri. Board the bus for your final 4-hour northbound drive through the scenic tea gardens of Dooars.
Afternoon: Arrive at the Jaigaon border and cross back through the Bhutan Gate into Phuentsholing, successfully completing your holy Neykor.

FAQs

General

Expand all

Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa for the three sites in India?

Do Bhutanese citizens need a visa for Lumbini (Nepal)?

What if I am traveling on a temporary Bhutanese Travel Document?

What is the best way to fly into the pilgrimage circuit from Bhutan?

Can I drive or take a pilgrimage bus directly from Bhutan?

Are there Bhutanese temples or guest houses where I can stay?

Can I offer robes or butter lamps at the sites?

Is there a currency exchange requirement?

10-Day Neykor to the Four Principal Great Places of Buddha

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Overview

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Itinerary

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