Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour Nepal -10 Days

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Nepal Trekking Planner will be waiting for you outside the airport with a placard for identification. Upon meeting, the representative will greet you, welcome you, and escort you to the vehicle.

Afterward, your luggage will be transferred to the car, and you will be driven toward the hotel. It will take about 20 minutes to reach the hotel, depending on the traffic conditions. On the way to your hotel, you will also pass through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Pashupatinath Temple, so keep an eye out for the sight.

After reaching the hotel, the representative will help you with the check-in. Then, you can go to your room and rest further. Later in the evening, you will meet with the company owner and discuss the trek. In the meeting, the company will pass all the required information for the tour and answer all your queries.

Later, when the meeting is over, you will be taken to an authentic Nepalese restaurant for a welcome dinner. The welcome dinner will feature traditional music and dances, as well as authentic Nepalese cuisine.

After an enjoyable time at the dinner, you will be returned to the hotel for an overnight stay. Once you return to the hotel, prepare for the following day and stay overnight in the Kathmandu hotel.

After you wake up today, refresh yourself and have a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, prepare for the day tour of Kathmandu. A private vehicle will pick you up at the hotel, and a tour guide will escort you to the prominent landmarks of Nepal. Today, you will visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Boudhanath and the Kapan monastery.

The drive to Boudhanath will take about 30 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions. As you reach Boudhanath, your tour guide will buy the entry ticket and begin your guided tour.

Boudhanath is a white dome-shaped structure that is of utmost importance to those who follow Buddhism. The stupa represents Mt Sumeru, which is also known as the "King of the Mountains." It has all-seeing eyes, which represent wisdom. You can also see several pilgrims circumnavigating around the stupa and spinning the prayer wheel. It is done to pay homage to the god and goddess. You can also repeat the action and progress to view other attractions in the Boudhanath. The main attractions are as follows:

1. Ajima Temple: The temple of Goddess Mamo Pusaki, who is the stupa's protector.
2. Historical Pond and Ghyoilisang Peace Park: The pond is located in the northwest part of the Boudhanath stupa, also known as Ghyoilisang in the Tamang language.
3. Guru Lhakhang Monastery: This is the oldest Nyingma monastery in the area. It houses the three-story statue of Guru Rinpoche, as well as other statues of Amitabha Buddha and Arya Avalokiteshvara.
4. Jhamchen Lhakhang Monastery: The monastery has a 32-foot-high statue of Maitreya Buddha and is also a Sakya school that preserves Sakya traditions and rituals.
5. Samtenling Monastery: It is supposedly the oldest monastery built in Boudhanath. It is located on the eastern side of the main stupa.
6. Dilyak Yebam Monastery: Also known as Dhapsang Monastery of the Thousand Buddhas, it hosts Buddhist practices, rituals, and other religious activities.

Later, with the quality time in Boudhanath, you can get something to eat at a nearby restaurant. You can try Tibetan, Western, or Nepalese cuisines there for lunch. Then, get on to your vehicle and head towards Kapan monastery for the second half of your tour. The drive to Kapan monastery from Boudhanath will take about 15 minutes, depending on the traffic conditions.

Upon entering the Kopan Monastery, tourists are welcomed by the Tara shrine, which is located on the right. Adjacent to the shrine, you can see the beautiful statues of eight Nalanda masters and 21 emanations of Tara.

Similarly, when you enter the main temple, you can see the beautiful paintings of the four Dharma Kings of Tibet. On the left, you can see the large painting of Wheel of Life. Further inside the temple, you can see the 20-foot statue of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelung Tradition. On either side of the statue, you can also see the alter houses of Shakyamuni Buddha with Maitreya Buddha on the left and Manjushri on the right. If you want to know more about the place, your guide will gladly explain its history and significance.

As you leave the main temple, you can turn right on the lower road to reach the Tantric College, where 60 monks are trained in Buddhist rituals. Similarly, tourists can also visit Chenrezig Gompa, which is located there.

With the quality and detailed visit of the Kopan monastery, your today's day tour will end. So begin the return journey by taking the vehicle and heading towards the hotel. Upon reaching the hotel, rest and have dinner in the evening. After dinner, stay overnight in the hotel in Kathmandu.

Today, as you wake up, refresh and have a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, prepare to leave Kathmandu and head towards another important Buddhist pilgrimage site, Namo Buddha. You will be accompanied by a tour guide who will help you and inform you about the location.

Similarly, you will take a private vehicle from the hotel to Namo Buddha for an hour's scenic drive via Panauti Road. You will love the drive as you traverse busy city roads to a more relaxing hilltop area.

Upon reaching the area, you will begin the tour with a visit to the main stupa, the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery or Namo Buddha Monastery. The monastery is three stories long and enshrines the main statue of Victorious One, or the Buddha of our times, followed by the Buddha of the past and Buddha of the future.

The upper roof of the monastery is decorated with the beautiful symbols of five Buddhist families: the Dharma wheel, vajra, jewel, lotus, and double vajra. The monastery's exterior and interior are heavily decorated with elements of utmost significance in Buddhism.

Likewise, on the east of the main monastery is a five-story building containing a kitchen, steward's office, storage rooms, dining room, and reception room.

Further from the southeast side of the main temple is a medical clinic and then a terrace for lama dancing. The building where the lama dance is conducted is also the home of the Shree Mangal Dvip Branch School, which educates over a hundred young monks.

To the south of the main monastery is a multistoried building that serves as a quarter for the monks. Likewise, to the west, you can see the eight traditional stupas, including a stupa for Thrangu Rinpoche's mother.

The highest point of the area is a white dome-shaped stupa, which is adorned with oil lamps that serve as an homage to the stupa. Moving down, you can arrive at the tiger's den, which portrays the true story behind the establishment of Namobuddha.

To sum up, Namobuddha is of great religious importance. It portrays the rich Buddhist religion that prevails in the nation. While there are many things to explore in the sacred site of Namo Buddha, the quiet and peaceful surroundings enable one to relax and rejuvenate. There are many such places inside the area where tourists can meditate and have quality time. So, unwind, relax, and immerse yourself in the region's culture.

After sightseeing Namobuddha, continue the return journey. On the way, you can have lunch at a desirable restaurant. Then, progress with the ride towards Kathmandu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, settle in the accommodation, prepare for the following day, and relax. Later in the evening, have dinner and rest further. Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Today, refresh and have breakfast on the backdrop of the Annapurna range. Then, begin the guided sightseeing tour of Pokhara. You will visit the World Peace Pagoda, Male Patan Gumba, and Hyangja Tibetan Refugee Camp in a private vehicle.

Beginning the tour, you will head towards World Peace Pagoda, which is situated at 1100 meters on Anadu Hill. The white main pagoda is 115 feet tall and 344 feet in diameter. There are two tries to circumambulate, and the second tier displays the four statues of the Buddha, representing the critical events that happened in Buddha's life. Similarly, the hilltop location also allows one to view the Pokhara Valley below. Then with the visit to the Peace Pagoda, head onto another beautiful area of Male Patan Gumba.

The Male Patan Gumba, also known as Matepani Gumba is another Tibetan Buddhist monastery which allows visitors to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, views, and afternoon prayers. The gumba also has a beautiful garden that helps to maintain peace and aesthetics. It also allows us to view the panoramic Pokhara Valley. Similarly, there are afternoon prayers hosted by the monks of the gumba, so viewers can also participate in that. Likewise, the interior walls of the monastery have amazing hand-painted murals boosting the architecture of the gumba.

After an amazing time in Malepatan, you will drive towards the last location of the sightseeing tour of Pokhara, the Hyangja Tibetan Refugee Camp. The camp is a great destination to learn more about Tibetan life. You can also explore the camp's monasteries and engage in various handicrafts, including carpet weaving, silver ornament making, and other traditional crafts. Similarly, you can also see the Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee settlement and the Tashi Ling Refugee settlement in Hyangja.

With the visit to all these places, your tour will end. You can have lunch in the middle of the tour when necessary. Then, head to the accommodation option and rest further. Afterward, have dinner and stroll around the vibrant lakeside area of Pokhara. Grab a few drinks and celebrate the journey. Afterward, return to the hotel and spend overnight at Pokhara.

Today, you will wake up and have breakfast at Pokhara Hotel. Then, prepare to leave Pokhara and head towards Lumbini. The drive will take about six to eight hours, covering 160 kilometers, depending upon the traffic and road conditions. Moving from Pokhara to Lumbini, you will feel the transit of landscape from the scenic beauty of Pokhara to the plains of Terai. You can also see terraced fields and some waterfalls along the way. As you approach Lumbini, you can slowly see the hilly terrain disappearing as the flat land of Terai welcomes you. You will also take a quick stop along the route for lunch. Then, as you come across the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, settle in an accommodation place. You can have dinner in the evening and after dinner prepare for the tour on the following day. Then, relax and stay overnight in Lumbini.

Today, as you wake up, refresh and have a delicious breakfast. After breakfast, pack your bags and get ready to explore Lumbini, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the prophet of Buddhism and the "Light of Asia." The land of Gautam Buddha-Lumbini has now been cherished with many notable temples and landmarks, thereby preserving the ancient relics and acting as proof that Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal. Similarly, the Ashoka pillars, which the Indian Emperor Ashoka built, hold as another proof of the existence of the birth of Gautam Buddha in Nepal. There are many things’ tourists can see and understand about the life story of Gautam Buddha and his teachings in Lumbini. Some of the popular attractions in Lumbini are as follows:

1. Maya Devi Temple: Historically, Maya Devi Temple is considered the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, so it is an important holy site. The archeological remains of the temple date back to the third century. The temple's surroundings are decorated with a garden, pool, and Ashoka Pillar, all representing the Maya Devi Complex.
2. Ashoka Pillar: The Ashoka Pillar is one of the main highlights of Lumbini. It is believed that Indian Emperor Ashoka built the pillar during the third century, and it is the oldest inscription found in Nepal. Similarly, the Ashoka pillars are proof that Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The pillars are 6 meters long and also represent the time zone of Emperor Ashoka's Life, which would have disappeared in history if not for the pillars.
3. Sacred Pond: There is a holy pond called Puskarini in Lumbini. The pond is sacred, as it is believed that Maya Devi was bathing just before giving birth to Buddha. Presently, it has been renovated and is full of turtles. The dawn and dusk reflections in the pond are out of the ordinary.
4. Bodhi Tree: The Bodhi Tree in Lumbini represents the fig tree where Gautam Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating.

After the quality time in Lumbini, get something to eat for lunch and return to the hotel. You will have the evening to yourself, so you can spend it according to your interests. Later in the evening, have dinner and relax further. Stay overnight in Lumbini.

Today, you will wake up, refresh, and have breakfast in Lumbini. Then, you will pack your bags and get ready to leave Lumbini and drive to Kathmandu. Your guide will escort you to the bus station. The drive from Lumbini to Kathmandu will take about 8 hours, depending on the traffic conditions. You will have lunch at a suitable place along the route. After reaching Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the hotel where you can relax. Later in the evening, have dinner and stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Begin the day with breakfast and prepare for the day tour. You will visit Pharping and Chobar Monastery today. Pharping is a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site with various renowned landmarks. Some of the popular attractions in Pharping are as follows:

1. Phamting Vajrayogini Temple: This temple is dedicated to Vajrayogini and is one of the main Newar Buddhist Vajrayogini temples.
2. Yanglesho Cave: The cave is dedicated to Vishnu and is in the form of Shesha Narayan.
3. Asura Cave: The cave is located slightly south of Pharping.
4. Neydo Tashi Choling Monastery: The monastery, which houses about 2000 monks, was established in 2006 by the seventh Karma Chagme Tulku.
5. Pulyul Samten Osel Ling: It is a retreat center that belongs to the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.
6. Tegchen Leksheyling Retreat Centre: Karma Thinley Rinpoche established this closed retreat center for nuns.

With a quality visit to Pharping, move to Chobar Monastery, which has a scenic drive. If you are hungry, you can have lunch in the middle, where it is convenient. After reaching Chobar Monastery, begin the visit. The Chobar monastery is also known as Anandadi Lokeshwar Mandir, which is a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is dedicated to Anandadi Lokeshwar, one of the four principal Bodhisattvas. Then, after completing the visit to Chobar Monastery, return to the Kathmandu hotel and rest. In the evening, you will have a farewell dinner hosted by Nepal Trekking Planner, where we will enjoy the completion of the tour. We will also discuss how the tour went and ask for some feedback if necessary. After the dinner, return to the hotel and prepare for the following day. Stay overnight in Kathmandu.

Today is your last day in Kathmandu, so according to your flight schedule, a private vehicle will pick you up and drop you off at the airport. The team of Trekking Planner Nepal will bid you farewell at the hotel and escort you to the airport. We wish to see you again in the future for other tours or treks. Until then, we wish you good luck in your future endeavors. May the memories of Nepal last forever. Best Wishes!