Nepal Pilgrimage Tours
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Ravens Nepal Buddhist Pilgrim Tour
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Duration
8 Day(s) |
| Destination(s):
Kathmandu - Pharping Monastery and Buddhist School
- Namobuddha - Lumbini - Kathmandu. |
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DURATION |
GRADE |
SPECIALITY
CATEGORIES |
SEASON |
8 Days
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Buddist Pilgrim |
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8 Days Buddhist Pilgrim tour including visits to:
- Lumbini, a Buddhist pilgrimage site and birthplace of Gautama
Buddha
- Buddhist stupa of Swayambunath
- Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath
- Pharping Monastery and Guru Rinpoche Meditation Cave
- Namobuddha, holy place for Buddhists in Nepal
1. Arrival in Kathmandu
2. Kathmandu - sightseeing
3. Pharping Monastery
4. Kathmandu - Namobuddha
5. Kathmandu - Lumbini (by bus)
6. Lumbini
7. Lumbini - Kathmandu
8. Departure from Kathmandu
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu
Meet our representative at Kathmandu airport and transfer to
our hotel.
Day 2 Kathmandu - sightseeing
Kathmandu sightseeing tour with visits to Buddhist stupas
of Swayambunath and Boudhanath as well as Pashupatinath
temple, a very sacred Hindu pilgrimage site. All places
we will visit today are World Heritage sites.
Boudhanath
Boudhanath Stupa (or Bodnath Stupa) is the largest
stupa in Nepal. It is also the center of Tibetan culture in
Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism and sacred
importance. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha on the
eastern outskirts of Kathmandu.
The Stupa looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most
fascinating specimens of stupa design with hundreds of prayer
wheels and 108 small images of Buddha all around.
Just like the Swayambhunath, the stupa here is too has four
sides with the watchful eyes of Lord Buddha.
The main entrance to the upper platform of Bodnath Stupa
is on the north side. Here Amoghasiddhi, progenitor of the future
Buddha, presides. Below Amoghasiddhi is the Buddha Maitreya,
the future Buddha.
Surrounding Bodnath Stupa are streets and narrow alleys lined
with colorful homes, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and street
vendors.
Swayambunath
Perched atop a forested hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu
Valley, Swayambunath Stupa is Kathmandu's most important
Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha's eyes that stare
out from the top of this hemispherical shrine have become the
quintessential symbol of Nepal.
The pilgrim's route to the Swayambunath Stupa is a steep
stone staircase of more than 300 steps, often claimed as 365.
Leading up to the Swayambunath gate are walls into which are
set dozens of copper prayer wheels, inside of which are thousands
of Tibetan Buddhist prayers.
Buddhists gain a better standing in their next life by saying
as many prayers or mantras as possible, and it is believed that
when each prayer wheel is spun, all the prayers inside are recited
and sent heavenward. Swayambunath is also known as the Monkey
Temple, and as you start up the hill, you will likely begin
to see the monkeys that lend the stupa this alternate name.
Day 3 Pharping Monastery and Buddhist School
Transfer from Kathmandu to a Pharping Monastery (and Manjushri
Di-Chen Buddhist Learning Centre) where we can arrange special
puja on request.
For centuries Pharping has been a center for spiritual practice
and, besides the two caves where Padmasambhava and his consort
Shakyadevi meditated, the area boasts many monasteries, temples,
and residences of revered Tibetan masters. Near the caves we
can see the handprint of Guru Rinpoche.
Day 4 Namobuddha
Namobuddha, is situated on a hill top where many famous Buddhist
people meditated. The Namobuddha stupa is one of the holiest
sites for Buddhists in Nepal.
It is here where, in a previous life as a prince, the Buddha
out of compassion, gave his body to a starving tigress and her
cubs. At Namobuddha, Thrangu Rinpoche has a temple, school for
young monks and other projects.
Near the stupa there are some monasteries where we can make
offerings, pray and light butterlamps.
Day 5 Kathmandu - Lumbini
After breakfast transfer by bus from Kathmandu to Lumbini, birthplace
of Lord Buddha.
Day 6 Lumbini
Sightseeing in Lumbini.
Lumbini (Sanskrit for "the lovely") is a Buddhist
pilgrimage site located at the Nepalese town of Kapilavastu,
district Rupandehi, near the Indian border.
Lumbini is one of four Buddhist pilgrimage sites based on major
events in the life of Gautama Buddha. Interestingly, all of
the events occurred under trees. The other three sites are in
India: Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first discourse),
and Kushinagar (death).
Lumbini is the traditional birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism, who was born in the 7th or 6th century
BC. According to Buddhist tradition, Maya Devi (or Mayadevi)
gave birth to the Buddha on her way to her parent's home in
Devadaha in the month of May in the year 642 BC. Feeling the
onset of labor pains, she grabbed hold of the branches of a
shade tree and gave birth to Siddharta Gautama, the future Buddha.
The Buddha is said to have announced, "This is my final
rebirth" as he entered the world. Buddhist tradition also
has it that he walked immediately after his birth and took seven
steps, under each of which a lotus flower bloomed.
Day 7 Lumbini - Kathmandu
After breakfast transfer from Lumbini to Kathmandu
by bus.
Day 8 Departure from Kathmandu
Our Nepalese staff will take you to the airport for your
flight home.
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and Treks” is a member of the following organizations:
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Time in Nepal:
