Day 1. September 15, 2024, Sunday.
Arrival in Kathmandu. Airport pickup. Transfer to the hotel. Exchanging money, getting to know each other, taking vacations. Walk to Boudhanath Stupa, bark around the Stupa. Visit to a Tibetan medicine clinic.
Boudhanath Stupa – a place with amazing 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.
If you wish, you can visit a Tibetan medicine clinic and get a health consultation from a Tibetan doctor. You can also get a Ku-Nye Tibetan massage there.
Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu 4*. near Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 2. September 16, 2024, Monday.
Excursion to the Ancient Stupa of Swayambhunath. Pashupatinath Hindu Temple. Shivapuri Baba’s Samadhi. Meeting and consultation with a Jyotish astrologer.
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 the Hindu temple of Harati – child protector. Childless couples come here from all over the world to ask for the birth of their children. Their requests are being honored.
Pashupatinath is a shiva shrine. – Nepal’s most important Hindu temple complex, laid out 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.
Samadhi of the enlightened Shivapuri Baba.
He lived 137 years of earthly life and traveled on foot most of the time. Shivapuri baba, one of the first spiritual teachers of the East, who visited different corners of the planet. He traveled to more than 50 countries and met leaders of many nations, eminent scholars and ordinary people.
Shivapuri Baba had an audience with British Queen Victoria 18 times and lived at the palace for a total of about three years. While in the United States, he met with President Theodore Roosevelt. In Russia he stayed with Leo Tolstoy and had a great influence on him.
He spent the last 37 years in Nepal, until he left his body. The King of Nepal himself allotted him land on Mount Shivapuri. We will visit the Samadhi (burial place) of Shivapuri Baba. It is said that Shivapuri Baba’s body is in the posture of meditation and does not decompose. It is a place with a very special energy where special states of consciousness occur. We tested it out on ourselves, many of our travelers had “insights” here, very unusual events. This is indirect evidence of his spiritual attainment.
“God came like a flash and all questions were answered and all problems disappeared forever.” (Shivapuri Baba).
Evening meeting and consultation with a Jyotish astrologer. Astrologer will tell about the peculiarity of Vedic astrology. Those who wish will be able to request their natal chart and get answers to questions about their destiny.
Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu 4*. near Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 3. September 17, 2024, Tuesday.
Excursion to the royal Durbar Square, royal palace. Meeting the goddess Kumari. Shopping. Meeting with a Buddhist lama: lecture, Q&A.
A tour of Kathmandu’s royal square –
Durbar
. It is a complex of historic buildings, Buddhist and Hindu temples, palaces, courtyards and streets in the center of the old city. 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.
We have shopping planned for today – you can get the items you need for the hike. We will take you to a neighborhood in Kathmandu where there are many stores with souvenirs and things to outfit. There’s a large selection to suit all tastes.
Evening meeting with a Buddhist teacher – lama. He’ll talk about the basics of Buddhism.
Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu 4*. near Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 4. September 18, 2024, Wednesday.
Excursion to Changu Narayan Temple (UNESCO) и ancient city of Bhaktapur (UNESCO) on the outskirts of Kathmandu (40 minutes from the capital). Introduction to Tibetan singing bowls.
Not far from Kathmandu lies a marvelous “land of saints” called Bhaktapur. This settlement is one of the ancient Nawar cities, which has a large number of architectural monuments. It’s an open-air museum city.
After lunch we will drive to another ancient city of Patan, the place where Tibetan singing bowls are made. Here we will listen to a lecture on singing bowls, learn how to play them and choose the right one. Those who wish may stay for meditation to the sound of singing bowls and gongs.
Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu 4*. near Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 5. September 19, 2024, Thursday.
Excursion to Pharping – New Tibet.
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 visit a Buddhist monastery and possibly participate in a puja.
We will walk around the holy sites of Farping:
– Asura Cave, where Guru Padmasambhava. spent a long time practicing tantric practices and meditation. 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.
Overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu 4*. near Boudhanath Stupa.
Day 6. September 20, 2024, Friday.
Transfer to the border with Tibet (from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (Syabrubesi) – Nepal).
In the morning we leave towards the border with Tibet. The road through the Himalayas passes through scenic areas, along the way you can see deep gorges and snow-capped mountains. We will drive through LuangTang National Park.
Overnight in a hotel in Syabrubesi.
Day 7. September 21, 2024, Saturday.
Border crossing from Nepal to Tibet. Transfer to Gerong (Gyirong). Altitude 2800 m. Acclimatization day.
Overnight at a hotel in Gyirong.
Day 8. September 22, 2024, Sunday.
Visit to Milarepa’s monastery of enlightenment. Moving to Saga.
Optional visit to Milarepa Enlightenment Monastery in front of Gerong village (45 minutes drive from Gerong).
Transfer from Gerong to Saga.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Saga.
Day 9. September 23, 2024, Monday..
Transfer from Saga to Darcen.
On the way, we will see a stunning view of the Saga Valley between the Gangdise and Himayala ranges. We will see beautiful meadows and local villages, drive over Mayomla Pass (5112 m), see Naimonagni Mountain, drive past the sacred Lake Manasarovar.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Darcena.
Day 10. September 24, 2024, Tuesday.
Lakes Manasarovar and Rakshastal. Visit to Chiu Monastery.
Today we will arrive at the place of power – the sacred Lake Manasarovar (4557 meters) – a lake with “living water”! Here you can meditate on the shore of a lake overlooking Mount Kailash, and tune in for a 3-day mountain circumambulation (kora). Lake Manasarovar is mentioned in the Indian epic Ramayana. Hindus believe that Manasarovar is the soul of the god Brahma. Shiva and his wife Parvati are believed to have washed themselves here. Another legend says that Lake Manasarovar was the first earthly creation that Brahma created in his mind. Buddhists believe that Manasarovar is the legendary lake where the gods carried the Buddha after birth to wash him.
Also today we will visit Chiu (“bird”) Monastery, which sits on either side of a cliff overlooking Lake Manasarovar.
The monastery is built over the cave of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche, the teacher who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 8th century). The Precious Master spent three years in meditation in the cave and, according to one version, realized a rainbow body in it. It also houses a lifetime sculpture of Chomdente Buddha.
Transfer to Rakshastal Lake, the “demonic lake” which is located just three meters away from the sacred water of Manasarovar. But it’s a completely different body of water.
According to legend, a demon meditated for ten days near this very body of water. The ten-headed Ravana cut off one head every day and threw it to Shiva. When the demon had one, last head left, the god Shiva softened his anger and gave the petitioner the power he craved. There is another tale. According to legend, the demon meditated by the dead lake for ten days waiting for the coveted Parvati. But Shiva’s wife never lavished the unfortunate demon with her attention. She didn’t show up.
Tibetans don’t like to stop by this lake – a bit afraid of the place. Nevertheless it is beautiful, and we can stop by if we wish.
Return to Darcen. Bark preparation.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Darcena.
Day 11. September 25, 2024, Wednesday.
The first day of the bark around Mt. Kailas.
(drive to Sarshung village 7 km, trek 13 km. climb to an altitude of about 5000 m).
Route: Tarboche, Chukugompa Monastery. House of lucky stone, West face of Kailasa, Dhirapuk Monastery, North face of Kailasa.
The spiritual meaning of the journey:
On the first day of the kora, at the white chorten, the symbolic new life of our soul begins. It is as if we are being born again, acquiring a new symbolic body.
Trekking from Darchen along the scenic valley to Dhirapuk Monastery. We will travel along the western slope of Kailas and visit the Chuku Gompa Monastery, which houses a white marble Buddha, the tusks of a sacred elephant, an ancient ritual shell and a copper vat in which water boiled without fire. The 13 cor around this monastery are counted as one outer crust.
After that, you can climb up an ancient path to the samadhi site of 84 mahasiddhas (now a heavenly graveyard there).
Overnight at the guesthouse.
Day 12. September 26, 2024, Thursday.
Radial exit to the North Face of Mount Kailas.
(We walk about 4 hours one way and the same amount back, climbing to the height of 5400 m).
Touching Kailas – the most powerful energy point of the planet with reference vibrations.
Overnight at the guesthouse.
Day 13. September 27, 2023, Wednesday.
Day 2 of the bark around Kailas.
(The way is 18 km, the crossing takes 7-9 hours, climbing to the height of 5669 m).
Kailas, bark. Dhirapuk Monastery, past the Valley of Death, Shivatsal Cemetery, Green Tara Pass, Gaurikund Lake, Axe of Karma, Zutulpuk Monastery.
The spiritual meaning of the journey:
On the second day of the bark our soul lives through symbolic maturity, old age, death, bordeaux and new birth. This day is very hard physically. The trek of the second day starts from Dhirapuk Monastery at an altitude of 4850 m. nadu.m.
After Shivatsal cemetery up to the top of Green Tara pass symbolically our soul lives through the state of bordeaux, there is a scanning of karma, a feeling of waiting for the results after a fateful exam, the gods are testing the human soul to decide what will be its future destiny. The top of the pass is a place of celebration, a long-awaited symbolic new birth takes place here.
From the top of the pass, there are views of Karma’s Axe Mountain. The axe of karma finally cuts off the old karma and one feels the beginning of a new life.
Overnight at the guesthouse.
Day 14. September 28, 2024, Saturday.
Day 3 of the bark around Kailas. Optional field trip to the South Face of Mt. Kailas.
(The path is 7 km, the crossing is easy and beautiful, takes 3-4 hours).
Early in the morning we will visit Zutulpuk Monastery (we will overnight next to this monastery). Here is Milarepa’s most important meditation cave, magically created with a huge stone slab placed by Milarepa himself during a contest in magic with another famous master of the Bonpo tradition, Naro Bon Yung. Milarepa, a disciple of Marpa, is the most colorful figure of Tibetan Buddhism. Mystic poet, great hermit and mahasiddha. The monastery houses a statue of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of Compassion. Pilgrims leave their belongings here, asking for blessings and prosperity. The monastery is about 1000 years old.
Return to Darcen, lunch.
Optional jeep ride to Sarlung Monastery to see and meditate on the South Face of Kailas, from where the journey to the Inner Kora (Nandi Kora) begins. This is a unique opportunity to visit the inner space of Kailas! And another day to be in the energies of this place of power.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Darcena.
Day 15. September 29, 2024, Sunday.
Transfer from Darcen to Saga.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Saga.
Day 16. September 30, 2024, Monday.
Transfer from Saga to Gyirong (Gyirong). Departure from Tibet to Nepal.
From Saga, we move to Gerong.
Crossing the Tibet-Nepal border.
Overnight in a hotel at the border.
Day 17. October 1, 2024, Tuesday.
Road to Kathmandu.
From the border to Kathmandu you can get toKathmandu in2 ways:
the first option – to Kathmandu by helicopter (from 1500 $ for 5 people);
The second option is to take a bus to Kathmandu for about 7 hours.
Attention! Riding a bus on Nepalese roads is not as comfortable as driving on Tibetan highways in a Chinese minibus. In this regard, look out for the opportunity to fly to Kathmandu by helicopter almost from the border itself. The price range is from $1,500 (USD) for five passengers. The issue is resolved with the organizers well in advance.
Overnight in a 3-4* hotel in Kathmandu.
Day 18. October 2, 2024, Wednesday.
Kathmandu. Boudhanath Stupa. Vacation. Shopping. The flight home.
Transfer to Kathmandu airport. The flight home.
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