A Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal is a must for those interested in the Buddhist religion and philosophy. Nepal has been a sacred place for Buddhism for centuries. During this Unforgettable, Unique Tour, Time in Nepal will accompany you to many famous Buddhist sites throughout the country, allowing you to get a close look and understanding of Buddhism.
Duration of the tour – 10 nights/11 days
Highlights
Patan, the oldest existing Buddhist city, Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the ruins of Tilaurakot palace, where Siddhartha lived his early 29 years as a prince and Naropa & Tilopa Caves of Pashupatinath.
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour Itinerary
Day 01 – Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
Day 02 – Visit Boudha Stupa, Swayembunath Stupa, and Patan, the oldest existing Buddhist city.
Day 03 – Visit Namobuddha Monastery and overnight in Namobuddha Resort.
Day 04 – Visit the Bajrayogini Temple in Sankhu, also well known as Bodhisattva’s Temple.
Day 05 – Drive to Pokhara, known as the second capital of Nepal and city of lakes.
Day 06 – Hike day to the Peace Pagoda
Day 07 – Drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha
Day 08 – Buddhist Circuit Tour: The Maya Devi Temple, the Monastic Zone with monasteries constructed by Buddhist communities from different countries & Tilaurakot, the ancient capital of Sakya kingdom, Kapilvastu.
Day 09 – Drive back to Kathmandu.
Day 10 – Visit of Naropa & Tilopa Caves of Pashupatinath and time for meditation. Later visit of Pharping and the sacred site of Asura Cave.
Day 11 – Drop off at the airport for departure.
Brief information about the places we will visit during this tour:
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world and is the religious and cultural center of the broad community of Tibetan Refugees in Nepal. It is a holy place rich in Buddhist symbolism.
Swayambhunath Stupa overlooks most parts of the Kathmandu valley, offering the visitors a panoramic view of the city, particularly enchanting at sunset. According to the legend, the hill on top of which the stupa rises, originated when the valley was created out of a primordial lake It is said that the great Emperor Ashoka visited this site more than 2,000 years ago.
Patan - Once one of the independent kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, Patan is also the oldest existing Buddhist city in the Valley. Despite its close proximity to the capital Kathmandu, its ‘preserved’ ancestral culture distinguishes Patan as a unique place to experience. Patan is also known as Lalitpur, the “City of Beauty”, and its unique Durbar Square is surrounded on all four sides by awe-inspiring temples and shrines.
Namobuddha Monastery This tranquil monastery, located 40 kilometers from Kathmandu, is one of Nepal’s holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites. It is known by Tibetans as Takmo Lu Jin, which means “Tigress Body Generosity” since according to legend Namo Buddha stupa is the site where Buddha encountered a tigress close to starvation and was unable to feed her cubs. Buddha allowed the tigress to consume him and thereby feed her cubs.
Bajrayogini Temple Located in the hills of Sakhu, in the Kathmandu Valley, Bajrayogini is a famous tantric temple and is supposed to have the greatest power of blessings.
Pokhara - Nepal’s number 1 adventure and leisure destination, Pokhara is one of the most famous paradises for hikers who love trekking. It rises right at the foot of the mountains and is the second-largest city in Nepal. The town is located in the Gandaki area, which is lush and green, rich in hills, valleys, and lakes (even large ones) that develop along the valley bottom. Precisely these lakes have given Pokhara the friendly name of the City of 7 Lakes, a property thanks to which the area is full of itineraries, hiking trails, and ideas for cultural visits.
Peace Pagoda - Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa designed to provide a reference point for people of all races and creeds and to help unite them in their quest for world peace. Most were built under the leadership of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk from Japan and founder of the Nipponzian Buddhist Order-Myōhōji. The Buddhist Monk was strongly inspired by his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 and decided to dedicate his life to promoting non-violence. In 1947, he began building the Peace Pagodas as sanctuaries for world peace. Bokhara’s peace pagoda offers a wonderful view of the Annapurna range and the Phewa Lake.
Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha in 540 BC, and one of the most important and sacred pilgrimage sites in the world. In 1978 Lumbini Development Zone was created and nowadays it is possible to visit over 25 Buddhist monasteries built by different countries, study Buddhism, and meditate. Mayadevi Temple is the most sacred place in the Lumbini Gardens where archaeologists have identified the exact spot where Lord Buddha was born
Tilaurakot Complex - When the Buddha was born, his father King Suddhondhan had his capital, Tilaurakot, 27 kilometers west of Lumbini. Although the stupas, monasteries, and palaces that Chinese travelers wrote about over two millennia ago no longer exist, the location has been preserved as a heritage site. Excavations have revealed a walled fortress approximately 300 meters long and 200 meters wide containing exposed foundations of several building complexes. Prince Siddhartha grew up and spent his early life inside Tilaurakot till the age of 29, oblivious to the outside world and its miseries. He was married and had a son. Upon confronting miseries such as disease, aging, and death, outside his palace, he escaped Tilaurakot palace one night from its eastern gate and rode towards the jungle in search of enlightenment.
Naropa & Tilopa Caves – Inside the Pashupatinath’s premises are located the two very sacred meditation caves of mahasiddhas Naropa and Tilopa. Naropa’s cave was where Naropa had visions of Vajrayogini, a tantric goddess. From this cave, the teachings were passed down to local disciples, and from there they have spread all over the world. Tilopa, his Guru, meditated in the cave just next to it.
Asura Cave This Cave is located in Pharping, a one-hour drive distance from Kathmandu. Pharping nowadays has become famous for meditation tours and retreats. In this Cave, Guru Padma Sambhava got enlightenment.
