Despite a cyclonic storm and torrential rain that disrupted the surface communication at Rupa on October 28, delinking both Tawang and West Kameng districts from rest of the country, the festival would be held as per schedule as the state government is working on a war footing to restore communication.

"The state government is making all an out effort to restore the road communication at the earliest", informed an official release.

Dorjee Khandu, chief minister, is believed to be in constant touch with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) authorities, who maintain the strategic road, to monitor the progress.

Bandana Deori, tourism secretary of the state said that all preparations are over for the upcoming mega tourism event.

Officials of tourism ministries, private tour operators and experts from India and Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) countries discussed ways to explore Buddhist pilgrimages in their countries during the four-day workshop held at Bagan, Mandalay and Yangon from August 25 to 28.    

Myanmar's deputy minister for hotels and tourism, Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu, deputy Asean secretary-general Nicholas Tandi Dammen and Bani Brata Roy, undersecretary at the Indian ministry of tourism attended the workshop

Main Cities covered are

• Kathmandu
• Lumbini
• Sravasti
• Kushinagar
• Vaishali
• Patna
• Nalanda
• Rajgir
• Sarnath
• Agra
• Delhi

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu
On arrival transfer to hotel. Later sightseeing tour of Old Durbar Square and Swayambunath (Monkey Temple). Overnight at the hotel.

Day 02: In Kathmandu
Full day sighseeing tour of Patan City and Bauddhanath. Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Kathmandu - Lumbini
Morning leave by flight/bus for Lumbini. Sightseeing and prayer at the Lumbini Temple. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04: Lumbini - Sravasti
Morning leave by bus to Sravasti after crossing the Nepal border enroute visiting Kapilvastu. Later sightseeing of Sravasti, visiting Angulmaal & Jet Van. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05: Sravasti - Kushinagar
Morning leave by surface for Kushinagar. On arrival in Kushinagar check-in at the hotel. Later sightseeing tour visiting Mahaparinirvana temple commemorating the place of the great decease with the reclining statue of Lord Buddha, Rambhar Stupa where Lord Buddha was cremated. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06: Kushinagar - Vaishali /Patna
Morning leave by surface for Vaishali. Then continuous driving to Patna. On arrival in Patna check-in the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07: Patna - Nalandi /Rajgir
Morning leave by surface for Nalanda, visiting world famous Nalanda University. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. The Gridhakuta Hill in Rajgir was the seat from where Buddha delivered many of his sermons. Overnight at the hotel in Rajgir.

Day 08: Rajgir - Bodhgaya
Morning leave by surface for Bodhgaya. Full day city sightseeing tour. And visit the Maha Bodhi Temple in the morning and evening. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09: In Bodhgaya
Bodhgaya, reckoned as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center is the place where Lord Sakyamukhi (Gautam Buddha) entered into meditation after being moved by the sufferings of mankind. Visit other temples and sites. Overnight at the hotel

Day 10: Bodhgaya - Varanasi
Morning leave by surface for Varanasi. On arrival visit to Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. Overnight at the hotel in Varanasi.

Day 11: Varanasi - Agra
Early morning boat excursion on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing ghats and cremation site. Later leave by flight for Agra. On arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel

Day 12: Agra-Delhi
Morning visit to Taj Mahal and Red Fort. Early lunch, later by bus to leave to Delhi. On arrival check-in at hotel. Overnight stay at hotel.

Day 13: In Delhi
Morning half-day sightseeing of Delhi city. Afternoon checkout from the hotel and later half of the day visit National museum, and do shopping. Evening gala dinner. Departure to the airport for onward journey.

The 8 nights and 9 days Buddha Pilgrimage Tour

The main cities covered are:

• Delhi
• Varanasi
• Bodhgaya
• Patna
• Nalanda
• Rajgir
• Kushinagar
• Lumbini
• Sravasti
• Lucknow
• Agra
• Delhi

Day 01: Arrive Delhi
Meeting and assistance on arrival. On arrival, transfer to hotel. Later city sightseeing tour of Old and New Delhi visiting Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Jama masjid, India Gate, Lakshminarayan Temple, and cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi.

Day 02: Delhi-Varanasi
In time transfer to airport to board flight for Varanasi. On arrival transfer to hotel. Afternoon excursion to Sarnath, the buried Buddhist city where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon.

Day 03: Varanasi - Bodhgaya (240 km)
Early morning boat excursion on the holy river Ganges to see the bathing ghats and cremation site. Later leave by bus for Bodhgaya. On arrival check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 04: In Bodhgaya
Full day city sightseeing tour. Bodhgaya, reckoned as the most important Buddhist pilgrimage center, is the place where Lord Sakyamuni (Gautam Buddha) entered into meditation after being moved by the sufferings of mankind. Visit to the maha Bodhi Temple. Finally a visit to Bodhgaya. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 05: Bodhgaya - Rajgir /Nalanda / Patna
Morning leave by surface for Patna enroute visiting Rajgir and Nalanda. Rajgir is a site of great sanctity and significance for Buddhists. The Griddhakuta Hill in Rajgir was the seat from where Buddha delivered many of his sermons. nalanda is one of the oldest universities in the world. On arrival in Patna check-in at the hotel. Rest day at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 06: Patna - Kushinagar (253 km)
Morning leave by surface for Kushinagar enroute visiting Vaishali. Lord Buddha delivered his last sermon here. On arrival in Kushinagar check-in at the hotel. Later city sightseeing tour visiting Mahaparinirvana temple commemorating the place of the great decease with the reclining statue of Lord Buddha, andRambhar Stupa where Lord Buddha was cremated. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 07: Kushinagar - Lumbini (173 km)
Morning leave by Bus for Lumbini. On arrival check-in at the hotel. Afternoon visit the site where Buddha was born 2500 years ago. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 08: Lumbini - Sravasti
Morning leave by surface for Sravasti enroute visiting Kapilvastu. On arrival check-in at the hotel. Later visit Sravasti where Lord Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 09: Sravasti - Lucknow - Delhi
Morning leave by bus for Lucknow. On arrival transfer to railway station to board train or fly from Lucknow to Delhi, and in Delhi transfer to International Airport for onward journey.

Note: We can add more nights in this itenary for visiting Agra, and the next day fly from Varanasi to Agra, if needed.