Day
1: |
Arrive Kathmandu. Pick up
from the airport, drive to your hotel. Itinerary
briefing free day |
Day 2: |
Full day sightseeing.
Visit two powerful places of Buddhism in the
Kathmandu valley including the famous stupas
of Buddhanath and Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple)
Buddhism practiced in the valley is very strongly
influenced by Tantrism and the Hinayana or
the yellow hat sects dominance is evident. |
Day 3: |
A mid morning flight
will get you to Bhairahawa and a half hours
drive will see you in the vicinity of the
magical garden at Lumbini. Here Mayadevi gave
birth to Siddhartha and set in motion on e
of the most awe inspiring events in the last
two and half millennium: the starting a blossoming
of one of the world's greatest religions.
A religion that would preach peace, Tolerance
and Harmony as cornerstones of one's life
long before there words became fashionable.
Sightseeing in the gardens in the afternoon
will include visits to various Monasteries
that have been built here by people of nations
that largely follow Buddhism |
Day 4: |
A morning visit to the
Mayadevi temple which is built on the site
where the Buddha was born is a refreshing
way to begin your day. Continue visiting the
various other monasteries and see the subtle
differences in the way that various communities
Practice this great religion. |
Day 5: |
Spend this day exploring
the other important Buddhist sites in and
around the Lumbini area. These include Tilaurakot,
Niglihawa and Piplihawa. |
Day 6: |
Drive the Nepal-India
border and upon completion of immigration
formalities continue driving to Bodhgaya.
It was here nearly 2500 years ago that Siddhartha,
meditating under a Bodhi tree attained supreme
enlightenment and become the Buddha or the
"all knowing one" in Bodhgaya, visit
the various sites which are considered important
in the life of Buddha. |
Day 7: |
Drive to Sarnath. Upon
attaining Supreme Enlightenment Buddha delivered
his very first sermon here in this ancient
town and thus began the journey that would
shake established faiths of the time and begin
something that would sweep the world with
its message of love, peace, understanding
and non-violence |
Day 8: |
Drive to Kushinagar.
Having ceaselessly traveled the plains of
present day north India, delivering his message
to all who cared to listen, Buddha was returning
to the place of his birth-Lumbini when in
this remote town ha-attained Maha Parinirvana
or was freed from the ceaseless cycle of re-births. |
Day 9: |
Drive back to Indo-Nepal
border and cross back to Lumbini. In the evening
attend a meditation session at one of the
monasteries. |
Day 10: |
Fly back to Kathmandu
in the mid morning, Sightseeing of Kathmandu
city in the afternoon. |
Day 11: |
Free day in Kathmandu, hotel |
Day 12: |
Final departure, transfer to airport |
Special Packages
Nepal
occupies a unique position in Buddhism's history
of being the birth of its founder. Lord Buddha was
born in al Lumbini grove about 15 miles from his
father's state of Kapilvastu. In the early centuries
Buddhism of Nepal most likely developed along the
lines of North India.