Buddhist Tour Nepal

ITINERARY

Location: Kathmandu - Lumbini - Tilaurakot

Price: On Request

Itinerary Overview

Day 1: Arrival

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing

Day 3: Drive to Namo Buddha via Dhulikhel

Day 4: Drive to Lumbini

Day 5: Lumbini sightseeing

Day 6: Tilaurakot visit and drive to Kathmandu

Day 7: Departure

​Description:

In Nepal, the Tibetan Burmese ethnic groups like Tamangs, Bhutia, Sherpas are quite common. More than 11% of the residents of Nepal practice Buddhism. For many long times, Buddhism was not followed in Nepal widely. In the early period of the 20th century, the government curbed the progression of Theravada Buddhism on banishing few monks. From Kathmandu, many monks were expelled from the country in 1926 and then in 1944 again. More than five hundred years before, Theravada school of Buddhism was banished from the mainland of Nepal. In 1926, these monks wanted to revive the school of philosophy. When the monarch of Nepal from the Rana regime understood the empowering of Newar monks, he decided to expel the teachings along with the Tibetan Buddhism thinker, Tsering Norbu.

The Buddhist pilgrimage tour is a cultural tour designed to give the tourists an exposure to the interesting teachings of Buddhism. Kathmandu is believed to be one of the ancient cities of the world with the highest number of heritage sites to visit as per UNESCO list. This cultural trip will definitely bring out a different aspect of Nepal tourism for the pilgrims coming from the corners of the world. Apart from the pilgrimage tour, the cultural tour provides the pilgrims to come across the enriched historical facts of Nepal. The complete tour package on art, architecture, culture, food, lifestyle will amaze the tourists with its beautiful insights.

Tour Itinerary

Meal: Breakfast

Altitude: 1400m

Distance: around the city

Mode of Transport: private car

You will be picked up by our driver at the airport gate of Tribhuvan International Airport. Then you will be dropped at the hotel. You will get a warm welcome with a welcome drink at the hotel. Our representatives will give a brief overview of the itinerary. You can introduce with fellow tourists. At night you will complete your dinner with Nepalese delicacies. You will be drooling over the exotic dishes of Nepal.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing

Meal: Breakfast

Distance: Around the city

Mode of Transport: Bus coach/private car

After breakfast, you will be roaming around the city of Kathmandu. According to UNESCO, this city has the highest number of world heritage sites. Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas are the major Buddhist pilgrimage sites to visit in Kathmandu.

Swayambhunath stupa is one of the profound Buddhist pilgrimage sites for tourists to visit. In the Tibetan language, it is called Sublime trees, as varieties of trees are found around the stupa. Inside the temple complex, you will find out temple and shrines of various kinds dated back to Licchavi period. On top of the stupa, the enticing eyes of Buddha will take you close to the teachings. You will feel the omnipresent Buddhist teachings around you. The pilgrims find the compassion and kindness in those mild eyes of Buddha. The iconography used within the complex of the stupa has its influence from Newar Buddhism. The myth said as per Swayambhu Purana, earlier there was a huge lake with a lotus in it. The stupa is also known as Monkey temple, because till date holy monkeys are living in the northwestern parts of the temple.

Next, you will be driving to Boudhanath Stupa, the largest stupa in the world. This place is famous among the pilgrims for its meditation purpose. Many Tibetan Buddhist monks travel to the holy place in search of liberation. It has become an annual event for making a circumnavigation around the dome for ritual practices. This magnificent architectural piece stood on the three levels mandala styled platforms surrounding by many colorful houses.

Next, you will be visiting the famous Kopan monastery located at the top of Boudhanath stupa. Lama Thubten Yeshe founded this famous piece of architecture. After the death of Lama in 1984, this monastery became the famous site for disseminating Buddhist teachings to the followers. One can also engage with the teachings of another religious thinker Iam Rim. Many foreign travelers visit this monastery in the pursuit of spirituality.

Patan Durbar Square will be your next destination. You will see magnificent works of arts, architecture, handicrafts within the premise. This heritage site manifests the beauty of Newar architecture. You will find red bricks across the square floor. Inside the temple premise, you will find different idols, temples. This beautiful temple was built by Malla kings with 55 temple and 136 courtyards.

Day 3: Drive to Namo Buddha via Dhulikhel

Meal: Breakfast

Distance: Kathmandu to Namobuddha - 42kms (2 hours)

Mode of transport: bus coach/private car

Today you will be driving to Namobuddha. You will be driving through the beautiful Newar town, Dhulikhel. En route, you will get proper exposure of natural beauty. After reaching there you will be trekking towards Namobuddha. On your trekking path, you will find beautiful panoramic views of the mountains. At a distance, you will get a glimpse of Namobuddha. It is one of the ancient destinations of the Buddhist pilgrimage sites. Around the monastery, you will get the beautiful settlement of ethnic tribes of Tamang. On your trekking path, you will see how people of different religious faiths are living in harmony.

The Tibetans call this monastery as Takamo Lu Jin that means, Tigress Body Generosity. This shrine narrates the story of the prince who surrendered his life to the tigress to make her cubs feed with his meat. The tourists also take a walk for a few minutes uphill to view the murals of the prince along with the cubs and the tigress. You will also find Thrangu Tashi Yangtse monastery that was built in 1976.

After lunch, you will be trekking down to Panauti, a small town near Dhulikhel. It is one of the earliest towns located in Nepal. You will find many temples around the town that were dated back to the 15th century. You will be completely enchanted with the beautiful landscapes, snow-clad mountain views. You can hike around Dhulikhel to capture beautiful panoramic views of Himalayan ranges. After visiting different locations, you will be coming back to Kathmandu.

Day 4: Drive to Lumbini

Meal: Breakfast

Distance: Kathmandu to Lumbini: 260km(7hours)

Mode of transport: bus coach/private car

After taking breakfast you will be driving to Lumbini. As per the historical scriptures, it is the famous birthplace of Lord Buddha. This place is located in the lower Terai regions of Nepal. The flat land of Lumbini will be easier for you to roam around. It comes under the list of World’s Heritage sites made by UNESCO. Lumbini is quite famous among the Buddhist pilgrims. According to the Jataka stories, in 563 BCE Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to the beautiful prince Gautama Buddha. You will find different kinds of temples within the Lumbini gardens. Mostly the Buddhist organizations provide funds for these monasteries. You will find the sacred pond of Puskarini, where Mayadevi took a sacred bath before giving birth to Lord Buddha. You will also find the temple dedicated to Queen Mahamayadevi. You will also get the view of Sanctum-Sanctorum, the famous birthplace of Lord Buddha. This place came into existence after rounds of excavation.

Day 5: Lumbini sightseeing

Meal: Breakfast

Distance: Around the town

Mode of transport: bus coach/private car

Today you will be visiting other encircling places around Lumbini. Ashoka and Buddhism shared a very closely knitted bond. The great king Ashoka took Buddhism after the Kalinga war to preach the teachings of Buddha all across the world. Ashoka Pillar is the place where you will encounter the paths of Dharma. If you love architecture, then you will be completely amused by the inscriptions of the Ashokan pillars. It is one of the earliest pillars located there.

You will be visiting Kapilavastu, the famous ancient capital city of Shakya. Lord Buddha was believed to take birth to King Suddhodhana and Mayadebi in this city. So the pilgrims go to this ancient city to view the ruins of the past.

The pilgrims go to another holy site called Niglihawa, where Kanakamuni Buddha was believed to be born. King Ashoka erected an inscribed stone pillar in 249 BC. The historians love this site due to its enriched artifacts. In Lumbini, Sarus Crane is the official bird. So while traveling to there you will find out bird Conservation Park as well. You will stay overnight at Lumbini.

Day 6: Tilaurakot visit and drive to Kathmandu

Meal: Breakfast

Distance: Lumbini t Tilaurikot: 55km(1hour30 minutes)

Mode of transport: bus coach/private car

Around 29km towards the western part of Lumbini, Tilaurakot is located. If you are a vicious follower of history and mythology, then you will be completely fascinated with the beauty of this place. Lord Buddha spent 29 years of his life in the peaceful meadow of Tilaurakot. The cool breeze of the Banganga River will balance your mind and soul. You will find erected pachyderms within the temple complex dedicated to Maya Devi. There is a small museum located near Tilaurakot showing the artifacts found during the archaeological excavation of this historical site. After seeing this historical site, you will be driving back to Kathmandu.

Day 7: Departure

Meal: Breakfast

Mode of Transport: private car

Today after breakfast you will be picked up by our driver to drop you at the airport. In this cultural and pilgrimage tour, you will be carrying different memories for a lifetime. Mostly, the pilgrimage tours are designed for the pilgrims in the pursuit of spirituality. This crispy tour on Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal you will be aware of the Buddhist practices and the architectural monuments of that spectacular time.

Price Includes:

• Airport pick up and drop as per the Itinerary.

• 4 nights hotel accommodation in Kathmandu at on the basis of B/B

• 2 nights hotel accommodation in Lumbini at on the basis of B/B.

• 2 nights hotel accommodation in Pokhara at on the basis of B/B.

• Kathmandu - Lumbini-Pokhara - Kathmandu transportation by drive.

• City tour guide salary

• All the UNESCO world heritage sites entry fees.

• Government Taxes

• Service charge

Price Excludes:

• International airfare

• Nepal visa which obtained at the airport on arrival {bring 4 copies passport size picture too}

• Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu, Lumbini and Pokhara Hotel

• Extra night's in Kathmandu, Lumbini and Pokhara hotel.

• Alcoholic beverages, bottle mineral and hot/boiled water, soft drinks and snack foods