Maha Parinirvan - "Buddhist Special Train" in India
Dec 1st, 2007, 05:51 PM
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Maha Parinirvan - "Buddhist Special Train" in India
I read about this in a magazine (Look East) while I was in Bangkok.
It's a special train that visits Buddhist sites in India (as well as a couple of other special places such as Varanasi and Agra). 8 days/7 nights, the package includes rail fare, hotel accommodation (4 star horels such as Nikko and Clarkes), food, sightseeing, entrabce and guides all for US$1050 per person in First Class ac cars. It starts and ends in New Dehli.
It's a quck trip, but it makes a number of Buddhist sites more accessible.
You can see the full itinerary at http://www.indiarailtours.com/buddhi...ial-train.html
This is on our list of trips to consider for 2008. Anyone have any knowledge of this or any comments?
It's a special train that visits Buddhist sites in India (as well as a couple of other special places such as Varanasi and Agra). 8 days/7 nights, the package includes rail fare, hotel accommodation (4 star horels such as Nikko and Clarkes), food, sightseeing, entrabce and guides all for US$1050 per person in First Class ac cars. It starts and ends in New Dehli.
It's a quck trip, but it makes a number of Buddhist sites more accessible.
You can see the full itinerary at http://www.indiarailtours.com/buddhi...ial-train.html
This is on our list of trips to consider for 2008. Anyone have any knowledge of this or any comments?
Dec 2nd, 2007, 10:54 AM
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Kathie, looks like an interesting tour but it would be at a very rushed pace with several nights sleeping on the train. Seems like some of the parts of the tour are by road (bus?). Your time in Varansasi is less than one day. The same goes for Agra/Fatephur Sikri which is worth a 2 night stay, not half of one day. For most people, a first visit to India consists of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and a fourth location - Varanasi, Jodhpur, Udaipur or a national park such as Ranthambore. Your train itinerary (at a slower pace) seems like a good one for a second trip.
My own feeling is that India is best seen with a car and driver, especially if you want to take photos. Driving is pretty much the same as what you experienced in Sri Lanka - frequent use of the horn to communicate, lots of passing, all sorts of vehicles, animals and people on the roads. Our driver was able to stop for us whenever we wanted to take a photograph. Some of the roads were "highways" (i.e. busy) and some were more rural. Interesting sites on both types.
We took a train (1st class a/c) from Sawai Madhopur after a safari at Ranthambore, about a 6-7 hour trip. We saw very little from the train mostly because the windows were very dirty and because the train was usually moving right along. In first class, we were quite isolated from the other passengers on the train. If you plan to sleep this is probably a good thing but if you trying to experience the Indian culture, it is not.
My own feeling is that India is best seen with a car and driver, especially if you want to take photos. Driving is pretty much the same as what you experienced in Sri Lanka - frequent use of the horn to communicate, lots of passing, all sorts of vehicles, animals and people on the roads. Our driver was able to stop for us whenever we wanted to take a photograph. Some of the roads were "highways" (i.e. busy) and some were more rural. Interesting sites on both types.
We took a train (1st class a/c) from Sawai Madhopur after a safari at Ranthambore, about a 6-7 hour trip. We saw very little from the train mostly because the windows were very dirty and because the train was usually moving right along. In first class, we were quite isolated from the other passengers on the train. If you plan to sleep this is probably a good thing but if you trying to experience the Indian culture, it is not.
Dec 2nd, 2007, 12:45 PM
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Yes, I'm well aware that India is predominantly Hindu. But with the history of Buddhism so entwined in Indian hisroty and with our interest in Buddhism, the trip above (or the idea of it) seemed such a fit.
I spent a couple of weeks in Nepal years ago, the only remaining Hindu Kingdom. Did you know that the king was considered the reincarnation of Shiva? Which made the trauma of the crown prince murdering the royal family all the more traumatic and incomprehensible.
Anyway, whether we concentrate on Buddhist sites or not, India remains on our list of possibilities.
I appreciate your comments, Craig.
I spent a couple of weeks in Nepal years ago, the only remaining Hindu Kingdom. Did you know that the king was considered the reincarnation of Shiva? Which made the trauma of the crown prince murdering the royal family all the more traumatic and incomprehensible.
Anyway, whether we concentrate on Buddhist sites or not, India remains on our list of possibilities.
I appreciate your comments, Craig.
Dec 3rd, 2007, 04:36 AM
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I agree with Bob. And while you may see a bunch of temples you won't experience anything of the culture or people.
I know you are very interested in Buddhism-- so am I. But last year I spent a year studying the culture and religions of India by reading the texts that define their culture (mostly religious ones). Which means that I read the Hindu texts -- Rig Vegas, Laws of Manu as well as Mahabharata and Ramayana as well as many Buddhist texts. The Buddhist texts became much more understandable because of my Hindu reading and some texts (Ramayana) bridge both religions as well as many cultures. So if I were you I would not discount the Hindu religion when in India.
I know you are very interested in Buddhism-- so am I. But last year I spent a year studying the culture and religions of India by reading the texts that define their culture (mostly religious ones). Which means that I read the Hindu texts -- Rig Vegas, Laws of Manu as well as Mahabharata and Ramayana as well as many Buddhist texts. The Buddhist texts became much more understandable because of my Hindu reading and some texts (Ramayana) bridge both religions as well as many cultures. So if I were you I would not discount the Hindu religion when in India.
Dec 3rd, 2007, 05:54 AM
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Yes, yes, I know this train trip is not for me. It's a mere 7 days in which I'd normally see one or two places. And Gloria, don't worry that I would discount Hinduism. I'm well aware of the intertwining of Buddism and Hinduism, as I mentioned in my reply to Craig. I spent time in Nepal years ago and did a lot of preparation reading on the two religions and how they have infleunced each other. And of course, Angkor (which I've been reading about since I was a child) has that combination of Hinduism and Buddhism, as some temples are Hindu, some a Buddhist, some started as one and were changed to the other.
