Best of Nepal : Shakyamuni Buddha Story
WHEN
Spring Mac - May
Autumn - Sept - Nov
PRICE
From $1187 pp excl flights
(based on 2 ppl sharing)
HOW LONG
6 nights is an idea lenght
The prayer wheels, Spun clockwise by hand, water, or wind, each turn is said to release thousands of recitations, bringing blessings of compassion and peace.
Day 1 (D)
Kathmandu Arrival
Meet and greet at Tribhuvan International Airport. Transfer to hotel for check in. In the evening, we will visit Pashupatinath temple located at the Bagmati River, honours the Hindu Lord, Shiva. Walk around the huge complex from the eartern to the western side. Meeting of holy man, cremation pyre and the beautiful two-storied roof which made from copper and is covered with gold is believed to make wishes come true.
Day 2 (B/D)
Kathmandu City Tour
After breakfast we will visit the Kopan Monastery, established by Lamas Thubten Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche. We will then proceed to visit UNESCO World Heritage Site Boudhanath Stupa. We proceed to visit UNESCO Swayambhu stupa and in Nepal Bhasa is ‘self-sprung’ or ‘self-manifested’. Have a glimpse of the living goddess. Kumari, the living goddess, represents Taleju Bhawani and is said to be the living incarnation of the goddess herself. We then will visit UNESCO Changu Narayan Temple which is perch on top of a hill and was built in 4AD. We end our day by visiting UNESCO Bhaktapur Square of the Malla Dynasty. Inside this square guests will visit the Nyatapola Temple, the tallest pagoda in Nepal, the 55-Window Palace, a masterpiece of Newar architecture and Fasidega Temple. Walk around Taumadhi and Pottery Squares for vibrant local Nepali art and culture.
Day 3 (B/D)
Kathmandu - Namobuddha
41 KM, 1 hrs 30 Min
In the morning, we will visit Pharping. Pharping, an ancient Newari town 19 km south of Kathmandu is believed to be established before the 5th century where Guru Rinpoche, Padmasambhava mediated with combination of Yangdak Heruka and Vajrakilaya, he attained the ultimate fruition of Mahamudra, the Great Seal here at Asura Cave. Take the 500 steps toward Vajrayogini Temple, where Marpa Lotsawa (1012–1097) received 3 dakini teachings here. We also will visit the Lower cave of Yangleshö which is Kyapjé Chatral Rinpoché’s monastery, where the location of “spring of enlightenment.” and also the Padmasambhava Statue. We proceed to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Patan Square. Upon arrival we will visit the Patan Museum, The Golden Temple; Guarded by two stone elephants and inside will be the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha which was built in the 12th century. We walk over to Mahabuddha Temple, "temple of a thousand and eight Buddhas". We will drive to Namobuddha Monastery.
Day 4 (B/D)
Namobudda - Lumbini
Domestic Flight
After early breakfast we will visit the Buddha Monastery. Named after the self-sacrifice by an early incarnation of Shakyamuni Buddha, performed to save the lives of a tigress and her cubs. The Namo Buddha Stupa houses his bone relics and is considered one of the three most important pilgrimage sites and main stupas in the Kathmandu Valley. We will then take a domestic flight to Lumbini. Upon arrival check-into the hotel.
Top Things To Do In Namobudda Monastery
1. 10 am, join the monks for a 1 hour morning prayer
2. Visit the 3 most popular shrine, Crowned Buddha Shrine, the 16 Arhats Shrine and Gold Buddha Shrine
3. Take a small trel to the nunnery.
Day 5 (B/D)
Lumbini Day Tour
This very early in the morning we will visit UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maha Devi Temple. Guests enjoy the Pushkarni Pond which Buddha bath by his mother, the bodhi tree, the monastery, Ashoka Pillar and the lush garden. We then will continue to Tilaurakot, the palace (8 BC) of where Buddha spend his 29 years of life and the first step of the beginning of Buddhism. We visit Kapilavastu Museum to see many of items excavated here.
We proceed to Kudan. This is where, Buddha met his father for the first time after enlightenment. Our adventure continue to Gotihawa, Nirwana stupa of Krakuchhanda Buddha – one of the seven mortal Buddhas (mānuṣī) whose names appear last in the list of thirty-two Buddhas in Mahāyāna. We then proceed to Niglihawa – Nirvana stupa of Kanakmani Buddha - he is the fifth of the seven heroic buddhas, who preceded Buddha Shakyamuni. We take a short drive to Sagarhawar where Buddha had spend his compassionate heart to stop the inevitable incident of “Palace of the Massacre of the Shakyas” .Our last stop will be the highlight of Lumbini; Ramagrama Stupa. The only intact stupa of the 8 original stupas with Buddha relic still inside.
Day 6 (B/D)
Lumbini - Kathmandu
Domestic Flight
Early in the morning all guests will attend a special puja at the monastery - Moksha Puja, a prayers for liberation from this vicious cycle of life and death. After which we will visit the monastic zone and then back to the hotel for breakfast. Our flight will be at about 12:00 and estimate lunch time in Kathmandu is about 2 pm. Guests can have some free time for shopping and in the evening, enjoy 1 hour session of singing bowl workshop.
Day 7 (B)
Kathmandu transfer
After breakfast, Free & Easy until transfer to airport for your flight home.
