Day 1. Kathmandu. Boudhanath Stupa. Airport pickup. Transfer and rest.
– Transfer to the hotel near the ancient and the world’s largest Buddhist stupa Boudhanath (object of spiritual, cultural importance, UNESCO heritage).
– Friendly dinner, getting to know each other.
– The bark around the stupa.
– A short lecture on the philosophy of sankha, the five primal elements, the three gunas, the three doshas.
– Talk about the specifics of traveling as a group.
– Tibetan Ku-Nye massage and Tibetan singing bowls massage (optional).
– Visit to a Tibetan doctor (optional).
Boudhanath Stupa
– is a place of great energy. Some scenes from the movie “Little Buddha” were filmed here.
It is the oldest and largest stupa. Buddhists from all over the world come here to visit, including the most famous, movie actor Richard Gere. Here from early morning till late evening people walk around the Stupa – this ritual of going around the holy place is called kora. While circumambulating the Stupa, believers recite mantras and make prostrations. It purifies karma and also our heart and mind.
Once at the Stupa, everyone, regardless of their faith, feels a sense of belonging to the flow of Love and Power that has been going on here for centuries.
One of the main relics of the Boudhanath stupa is the ashes of the body of Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of the world religion. The second relic – it is not so obvious, only the “initiated” – the Tibetan Lamas (Gurus) know about it. It is a statue of the guardian of the stupa itself and the space around it. She grants all wishes. You may or may not believe that. In our experience, it works. After fulfilling a few wishes, you begin to understand the meaning of the expression, “Fear your wishes – they come true!”. Make wishes at a certain place that we will show you. There are dozens of Buddhist monasteries in the Bouda area. We will visit some of them, attend a puja – a service.
Overnight in a 3-4* hotel in Kathmandu by the Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 2. Morning meditation and yoga. A sightseeing tour of Kathmandu’s holy sites:
– Swayambhunath Buddhist Stupa.
– Pashupatinath Hindu Temple.
Swayambhunath Buddhist Stupa and Monastery, one of the most famous power centers in Nepal, is located on Monkey Hill. It is the legendary cradle of the Kathmandu Valley, listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, it is 2000 years old. This place is considered to be the source of Kathmandu Valley, from where the life of the city began and which to this day feeds the city and its people with its energy. Near the Stupa is a Hindu temple of Harati , the protector of children. Childless couples come here from all over the world to ask for children.Their requests are fulfilled. One of our acquaintances had a long-awaited child after visiting this Temple.
Pashupatinath – Shiva Sanctuary- Nepal’s most important Hindu temple complex, established in the 13th century. Chronicles say that the temple existed before the 4th century BC. Besides the temple itself, the complex includes nursing homes, a hospice for the terminally ill and various homes and caves of hermits, sadhus. It is a place that is shockingly frank – here they burn the bodies of the dead and send the ashes down the river. Everyone who happens to be here can see the cremation ceremony, as it is a common process for the locals. We will see the evening ceremony of lights and Aarati music.
“I saw cremation for the first time in Kathmandu in Nepal… Relatives of the deceased putting wood on the fire; palaces in the setting sun; monks chasing away monkeys, hermits, children and dogs circling the fire; young people, old people, curious tourists, happy and sad faces. This eerie circus. At that moment I felt something “from Buddha”, I realized something about the cycle of existence: birth – death, birth – death… In the West everything possible is created to protect you from seeing death and dirt… “Sanitary” attitudes are strong – shit and death cannot be seen, it’s as if they don’t exist in our countries. And this cremation scene touched me deeply. It’s a combination of celebration and suffering… I was like Prince Siddhartha going through the six stages of knowledge.” (Keanu Reeves)
Overnight at 3-4* hotel in Kathmandu near Boudhanath stupa.
Day 3. Changu Narayan Temple (UNESCO) and Bhaktapur (UNESCO)
Yoga and meditation practice. Breakfast. Excursion to Changu Narayan Temple (UNESCO). Drive to the ancient city of Bhaktapur, which is called an open-air museum (UNESCO). Lunch in town and sightseeing tour.
The scenes of Prince Siddhardha growing up in Bhaktapur were filmed as he lived in the palace with his father and servants.
Overnight at 3-4* hotel in Kathmandu near Boudhanath stupa.
Day 4. Farping is the “New Tibet.”
Morning puja at a Buddhist monastery. Breakfast. Transfer to Farping (1 hour).
Pharping is a Buddhist township 22 kilometers from Kathmandu. It is a place with living representatives of living Buddhist teachings. There are dozens of Buddhist monasteries, stupas and holy sites in and around Farping. Rinpoche and Lamas and their disciples live and practice here, there are special caves for multi-year retreats, daily pujas (services), and teachings at monasteries.
We will walk around the holy sites of Farping:
– Asura Cave, where Guru Padmasambhava spent a long time practicing tantric practices and meditating. The Great Master has reached a very high level of spiritual development here. Therefore, many subsequent practitioners have come here to meditate, knowing that the Asura Cave has tremendous power of blessing. Here he left his handprint on the stone that can be seen in front of the cave entrance.
– Rigon Tashi Choling Monastery.
– Green Tara Temple made of stone.
– Vajrayogini Cave.
Easy trekking around the neighborhood to caves and through the mountains.
It is possible to meet a Lama, a Buddhist teacher. Q&A. Blessing.
Overnight at 3-4* hotel in Kathmandu near Boudhanath stupa.
Day 5. Kathmandu to Chitwan.
Morning meditation and yoga. After breakfast, we will drive to Chitwan Reserve (transfer about 5 hours). Chitwan represents one of the few places in the world where wild animals can be observed in their natural habitat. The park is a UNESCO site.
We’ll get into the heart of the jungle and melt into the wilderness. In the evening, dinner and a welcome dance show from the locals.
Overnight in a 4* hotel in Chitwan
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Day 6. Chitwan Jungle Reserve.
Today we will ride elephants on safari and also on the river in canoes hollowed out of tree trunks. We will observe rare, exotic birds and animals, see crocodiles, rhinos, and if we are lucky bears, tigers, leopards and wild boars.
Overnight at a 4* hotel in Chitwan.
Day 7. Chitwan to Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha.
Morning meditation and yoga. After breakfast, we will drive from Chitwan to Lumbini (transfer about 5 hours). Lumbini is the place where Shakyamuni Buddha was born. It is the holiest place for Buddhists all over the world. Pilgrims from all over the world come here. According to legend, here, on her way to her father’s house, Maya Devi unexpectedly and completely painlessly gave birth to a son, the Buddha. It is good to sit in silence in this place, here meditation comes by itself. You can get answers to your innermost questions.
Overnight in a 4* hotel in Lumbini.
Day 8. Lumbini and the surrounding area.
After breakfast visit to Maya Devi Temple, built on the spot where the queen gave birth to her son. Full day walk through the beautiful Lumbini Garden and Buddhist monasteries. Meditation at the birthplace of the Buddha.
Here in Lumbini Park, the Nepalese government has provided an area for any country to build Buddhist temples. Now there are 42 temples being built here, of which about 20 are now in operation. The most beautiful Buddhist temples of different traditions, countries, styles – all in one place! The beauty is unbelievable! The Lumbini Temple Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Overnight in a 4* hotel in Lumbini.
Day 9. Transfer from Lumbini to Pokhara, a resort town in the Himalayas.
Morning yoga and meditation. Transfer from Lumbini to the resort town of Pokhara (about 6 hours), which overlooks the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. This town was discovered by hippies in the 1960s. It is very cozy with great views of the mountains.
Dinner at Phewa Lake, local dance program. An evening stroll through cute little Lakeside, which they call little Europe. Fun shopping.
Overnight at 4* hotel in Pokhara.
Day 10. Pokhara. Dawn in the mountains. Paragliding. Trekking to Sarangkot. Meditations.
Trekking in Sarangkot – the best views of the Himalayas with eight thousand peaks. On this day we will climb to one of the most beautiful viewpoints from where you can see all the Himalayas with eight thousand peaks: Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu. The greatest peaks of the world will open before us at a distance of only 48 kilometers! Mount Sarangkot, is located at an altitude of 1,592 meters above sea level. Trekking is not difficult and takes 2-3 hours one way. Sarangkot is a great warm up trek with stunning views along the way. Along the way, we will also see how the local people live.
Paragliding with a view of the Himalayas (optional) (flight from 30 min to 1 hour). Paragliding enthusiasts consider Sarangkot as the best place to fly in Nepal. There are plenty of air currents that allow you to hover for up to 60 minutes. There’s enough time to admire Lake Phewa, view the river that forms it, the rice paddies and the White Stupa on the opposite slope. Gliders land right on the shore of the lake. If you decide to fly, you won’t have to descend to Pokhara with your feet.
Evening meditation.
Overnight at 4* hotel in Pokhara.
11-Day. Pokhara and surrounding areas. Easy trekking in the mountains. Meditations.
Morning meditation and yoga. After breakfast sightseeing program sightseeing tour of Pokhara. Easy trekking to Shiva statue, Peace stupa, rafting by boat to the Temple on the lake.
Evening meditation.
Overnight at 4* hotel in Pokhara.
Day 12. Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
Morning yoga and meditations. Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu (about 6 hours).
Overnight in a 3-4* hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 13. Kathmandu. Durbar Square with the living goddess Kumari. Vacation, shopping in the oriental bazaar. The flight home.
On the last day, apart from relaxing and shopping, we will drop by Durbar Square to meet the living Goddess Kumari!
Excursion to the royal square of Kathmandu – Durbar. It is a complex of historic buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples, palaces, courtyards and streets in the center of the old town. Here lives Kumari, the real goddess who descended from heaven into the body of a girl. If you arrive on time and do the ritual, the goddess looks out of the window and you can admire her.
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