Buddhist Circuit

Receive upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel, after getting refreshed proceed to Kathmandu city for sightseeing tour. Kathmandu, the largest city and capital of Nepal. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is a fast growing spot catering to a wide range of holiday types and budgets. As a result of considerable urban growth in recent decades, it is now part of one continuous urban area together with Patan to the south. Drive back to Hotel after the tour.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

After having breakfast start your pilgrimage tour and proceed towards Swoyambhunath stupa, and ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. The Tibetan name for the site means ‘Sublime Trees’ for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second to Boudha.

The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha’s eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, the number is painted in the fashion of a nose. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. The site has two access points: a long staircase leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south leading to the south-west entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra.

Later, proceed towards Boudhanath stupa, Located about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the centre and north-eastern outskirts of Kathmandu, the stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. The Buddhist stupa of Boudha Stupa dominates the skyline; it is one of the largest unique structure’s stupas in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 gompas (monasteries) around Boudha. As of 1979, Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the way back, visit Kappan Monastery and drive back to hotel after the tour.

Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It belongs to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Gelugpa dharma centers, and once served as its headquarters. The monastery was established by the FPMT founders, Lamas Thubten Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who bought the property from Nepal’s royal astrologer in 1969. Its name comes from the name of the hill on which it was built. Kopan has become especially famous for teaching Buddhism to visiting Western foreigners. The first of what would become annual month-long (November–December) meditation courses was held in 1971. These courses generally combine traditional Lam Rim teachings with informal discussion, several periods of guided meditation.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Proceed to Pharping, a small town, about an hour from Kathmandu. It is the place where Guru Rinpoche is said to have attained enlightenment, and hence it is one of the most sacred sites associated with the great yogi. Within the area, there are two sacred caves on the mountain side, and number of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Shakyadevi, the daughter of a king of Nepal, at Pharping, powerful spirits caused a three year drought, with famine and disease throughout the land. To counter these forces, Guru Rinpoche requested his teachers in India to send teachings, and it is said that the very moment the messengers reached Pharping with various tantric texts, the obstacles were immediately pacified and the famine and disease subsided.

Also visit to Asura cave, where Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, meditated in this cave in the 8th century. The three main images enshrined inside the cave are those of Guru Rinpoche in the middle, Yangdak Heruka to his right and Vajrakilaya to his left. There is a self–‐arisen “A” syllable on the left side of the cave just below an electric bulb, and there is a hand print embedded into the stone above and to the left of the cave entrance.

Later, take a short trip to Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery, A monastery in the Nyedo Kagyu tradition, and under the directorship of the late Karma Chagme Rinpoche. Afterwards, drive back to Hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Drive to Namobudhha, one of the prominent Buddhist pilgrimage site, situated about 44 kms. towards the east of Kathmandu. It is a small village which houses very old Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery and is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and one of the holiest in the world. It is known as the place where the Buddha, in a previous life as a prince, gave his body to a starving tigress and her cubs.

On the way back, visit to Bhaktapur city, also known as the city of devotees and it still covers the medieval looks. Bhaktapur is known variously as Living Heritage, Nepal’s Cultural Gem, An open museum and a City of Devotees.

Bhaktapur is an ancient city and is renowned for its elegant art, fabulous culture, colorful festivals, traditional dances and indigenous lifestyle of Newari community. It is just 12 kilometers east of Kathmandu, but gives the feeling of prehistoric times given the ambiance of traditional homes, lifestyles and environment. The conch shaped historic city is spreading over just an area of 6.88 square kilometer at 1,401 meter altitude. The city was founded in 12th century by King Anand Dev Malla. Bhaktapur was the capital city of the Greater Malla Kingdom in the Kathmandu Valley till the 15th century AD. The many of Bhaktapur’s greatest monuments were built by the then Malla rulers. Afterwards, drive back to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

After having an early breakfast, drive to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha. Check-in at the hotel after arrival in Lumbini and evening will be at leisure to browse around on own.
Overnight at the hotel in Lumbini.

Proceed towards the sacred garden of Lumbini, a famous Buddhist pilgrimage where one can witness several monasteries being constructed by different countries such as Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, Korea to name a few. Also visit to the Maya Devi temple, the mother of lord Buddha and where the Lord Buddha has taken birth. Lumbinī, is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District in Nepal. It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment sometime around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism Lumbini is one of many magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha.

Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi Temple and several others which are still under repair. Many monuments, monasteries and a museum, the Lumbini International Research Institute, are also within the holy site. Also there is the Puskarini, or Holy Pond, where the Buddha’s mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he had his first bath. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, then achieved ultimate Enlightenment and finally relinquished their earthly forms. Afterwards, drive back to hotel.
Overnight at the hotel in Lumbini.

You can take a stroll around until the departure time and later, drive back to Kathmandu. Check-in at the hotel after arrival in Kathmandu.
Overnight at the hotel in Kathmandu.

Free till departure and later, transfer to the International airport to connect the home bound flight.