Buddhist Pilgrims Contemplative Tour

Nepal is steeped in religious diversity and many think this Himalayan landlocked nation to be ‘The abode of gods and goddesses’’, and at every nook and corner, at every bend on the streets throughout the land, a visitor will encounter a temple and the ubiquitous clanging of bells – from sunup, till sundown… and in this country of the tallest mountains in the world, where much of the Himalayas are considered venerated, and of great spiritual significance – was born the Gautama Buddha. The ‘Buddhist Pilgrims Contemplative Tour’ takes you down the road on a spiritual journey through a chain of historical temples and monasteries in the three ancient cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan and finally to the sanctuary of the Buddha in Lumbini. Heading down to Lumbini will give us two options, we can fly or drive down, giving us the opportunity of visiting Mankamana temple [a temple dedicated to the goddess of ‘wishes]’ which falls on the way to Lumbini should we decide to go by road. This pilgrimage tour offers us deep insights into the religious harmony so blessedly found in the laps of the Himalayas. Some of the holy monuments we visit are World Heritage sites.

One significant highlight of this tour is the visit to Namoboudha which is situated on a hillock at an elevation of 1750m. This is a highly interesting pilgrimage site, based about 38 kilometers east of Kathmandu. The shrines built on this scenic hill symbolize a very ancient holy site which is linked to a legend where a prince made the supreme sacrifice of offering himself as food for a starving tigress and her cubs. Visitors will come across a prehistoric stone slab that depicts the sad story of Namoboudha. This shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims year in year out. The name “Namoboudha” translates as “Hail to the Buddha’’, and pilgrims visit this site to find solace and generosity in an ever growing selfish world…Incentive Holidays will escort you on this ultimate pilgrimage of peace for a whole lifetime.

Day 1 : Arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuwan International Airport

Day 2 : Drive to Namobuddha

Day 3 : After breakfast, drive to Lumbini

Day 4 : Sacred garden tour at Lumbini 

Day 5 : Sightseeing of Buddhist archaeological sites and Mayadevi temple

Day 6 : Visit Boudhanath stupa and  Kapan monastery

Day 7 : Visit Swayambhunath temple and free at your own leisure

Day 8 : Final departure

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu at the Tribhuwan International Airport

Arrival Kathmandu at the Tribhuwan  International Airport where you will find our representative awaiting your arrival with our office vehicle to pick you up and drop you to your designated hotel. Your first overnight in the valley of temples.

Day 2: Drive to Namobuddha

After breakfast, it’s a 30-45 minutes cruise down to Namobuddha. This is a scenic drive through lush green countryside which gives us some interesting insights into Nepal’s rural landscapes. Overnight at your resort

Day 3: After breakfast, drive to Lumbini

After breakfast, we set out on a scenic drive to Lumbini. Local flights are also available as an option. Overnight at your hotel in Lumbini

Day 4: Sacred garden tour at Lumbini

After breakfast, we set out on a tour of the Sacred Gardens. Overnight at your hotel in Lumbini

Day 5: Sightseeing of Buddhist archaeological sites and Mayadevi temple and drive back to KTM

A continued tour of archaeological Buddhist sites & the Mayadevi temple which displays some interesting sights of the Buddha’s mother. Late in the afternoon we drive back to Kathmandu or hop a flight as an option. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu
 
Day 6: Visit Bouddhanath stupa and Kapan monastery

We enjoy a hearty breakfast before we set out on our tour of Bouddhanath and the serene Kapan monastery. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu

Day 7: Visit Swayambhunath temple and free at your own leisure

It’s a new day and we get set for our tour of Swayambhunath temple [popularly known as ‘monkey temple’’] because of the many monkeys who have made home at this ancient shrine, one of the oldest in Nepal. Hindus believe monkeys to be gods. Later the evening time is free at your own leisure or for shopping. Overnight at your hotel

Day 8: Final departure

Final departure for your connecting flight home sweet home. Should you require any extensive activities, please do let us know, we have a vast array of different programs that should even interest the discerning traveler, our ‘no frills’ prices are pocket friendly.

Accommodation

Your accommodation in Kathmandu will be made in 3-4-5* star hotels of your choice. All hotel rates are based on BB unless otherwise stated. Accommodations in the valley are comfortable and as close as it gets to home. If we are to spend a night at Dhulikhel for our visit to Namoboudha, there are some fantastic luxury resorts that can be found at this picturesque hill resort with real homely comforts. At Lumbini, the Hotels are immaculately clean and you will enjoy your nights in Lumbini. There are also more modest accommodations that may suit your budget; these lodges are situated a bit further up from the main center of Lumbini though. Some of these Lodges have rooms that are pretty basic at best, but comfy enough to spend several nights. The options are many for your hotel stay…the choice exclusively yours.

Dining

The choices are a delicatessen’s delight in the valley for visitors with vibrant taste buds. You will find cuisines from almost every corner of the planet in this ancient city. At Dhulikhel too, the food choices are great. In Lumbini, there is only one restaurant though, the Lumbini Garden Restaurant, which is about a ten minutes hike from the center. There are other hotels too that have restaurants with ‘a la carte’ menu choices and some with basic menus that provide a decent meal. The locals feel guests need to make a few sacrifices when visiting the birth place of the Buddha. However, despite the circumstances, you won’t need to go hungry…the Buddha wouldn’t want that anyways.