Buddhist Circuits of Nepal

Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrive Kathmandu. Sightseeing Tour of Swyambhunath. O/N Hotel.

Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, met by our representative and transfer to Hotel. After refreshment, start the sightseeing tour of Swyambhunath, commonly known as "Monkey Temple". Swayambunath is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaitya. It is said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the four sides of the bases are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It is three kilo meters west of Kathmandu city and is situated on a hillock about 77 m. above the level of the Kathmandu Valley.

DAY 2

Full day Sightseeing Tour of Kathmandu visiting Namo Buddha, Patan Durbar Square. O/N Hotel.

After breakfast drive to Namo Budhha via Dhulikhel. Namo Buddha - a holy sites for Buddhist, this revered Stupa and Monastery is set in the same place where the Shakyamuni Buddha is believed to have fed his own flesh to a starving tigress. The scene is elegantly depicted in a stone carving found in a small shrine on the hill top.

After spending sometime in Namo Buddha, drive to Patan Durbar Square for lunch. Patan City is an enchanting mélange of palace buildings, artistic courtyard and former Royal palace complex is the center of Patan's religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. During the tour we will be visiting the Buddhist Bihars of which Golden Temple known as 'Hiranyavarna Mahabihar' is the most important one because it houses important Buddhist deities within the monastery. The vihara is known by several names such as Sri Bhaskaradeva Samskarita Hiranyavarna MahaVihara, Kwa Baha, Kwaba and Hiranyavarna MahaVihara. Kwa Baha is a Tibetan style monastery.

DAY 3

Morning Flight to Lumbini, Sightseeing Tour. O/N Hotel.

After breakfast transfer to airport for the flight to Bhairahawa. Upon arrival drive to Ramgram. There is a Stupa called Ramgram Stupa which is built in the age of Buddha. The remains of stupa and monastery as mounds are beside the bank of Jahari river in Kerwani village. The huge stupa mound is 30 ft high and 70 ft. in diameter. Koliyas of Ramagram are listed among the eight tribes that received the corporeal relics of the Buddha at Kushinagar.

Drive to Lumbini, check in to Hotel. Lumbini - the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini, situated in western Tarai of Nepal holds a special place in the Buddhist world. It is also mentioned in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta that the Buddha advised his followers to visit Lumbini. Emperor Ashoka of erstwhile Magadha Kingdom of India made a pilgrimage here in the 3rd century BC and erected a world famous pillar with inscription stating- "Here the Shakyamuni Buddha was born". Several sites of religious significance like the holy tree and the pond related to the Buddha's life, and the stupas and shrines representing different countries that dot the area around make it an interesting place to immerse yourself into Buddha's life. The temple of Maya Devi, Lord Buddha's mother, has been recently renovated under the vigilance of UNESCO. Several foreign monasteries and stupas have been constructed in Lumbini.

DAY 4

Full day sightseeing Tour of Lumbini. O/N Hotel.

We will be visiting more Buddhist sites near Lumbini, which includes (Time Permitting):

Tilaurakot / Kapilvastu: The ancient capital of Sakya, Kapilvastu, has now been identified with Tilaurakot, a site in ruins located 25 km west of Lumbini. Excavations have revealed the foundations of a citadel with defense wall, gateways, monasteries and stupas.

Sagarhawa: Sagarhawa lies 3.5 kin. north of Tilaurakot and west of Banganga river. It is a rectangular depression. Excavations done in 1896 traced seventeen stupas and large monuments made from well-burnt bricks. Findings of casket and other rare antiquities indicate them to be votive stupas of the war dead. However, these stupas remain no more as they were excavated to their foundation without restoration.

Gotihawa: Gotihawa lies 5-km southwest of Taulihawa town and is considered the natal town of Krakuchanda Buddha. The place has ruins of ancient habitation, stupas and monasteries. The place was visited by Ashoka as evidenced by a pillar with inscriptions. The pillar is broken with the upper part missing.

Kudan: Kudan is located 2-km southwest of Taulihawa on way to Gotihawa. There are huge structural ruins indicating wreckage of monasteries and stupas with a tank nearby. This is where Lord Buddha gave Buddhist Religion to his son & brother.

Niglihawa: Niglihawa, 7-km northwest of Tilaurakot, was another site visited by Ashoka and marked with a pillar. The pillar is broken into two pieces. The standing base pillar has Ashokan inscription in Brahmi script and the upper pillar has Devanagari* inscription marking Ripu MaiWs visit in 1312 AD. There are ruins of monasteries, stupas and habitation. It is identified as ancient town of Sobhawati, birthplace of Kanakmuni Buddha

DAY 5

Morning sightseeing at Lumbini Garden, afternoon flight to Kathmandu. O/N Hotel.

Morning sightseeing tour of monasteries built by different countries and sects at Lumbini Garden: India, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Korea, Thailand etc. Afternoon flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival transfer to Hotel. Free at leisure for souvenir shopping and other independent activities.

DAY 6

Morning sightseeing tour to Bouddhanath. Transfer to airport for departure.

Bouddhanath is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage and old heritage sites in Nepal. It is said that this stupa contains the relics of Buddha Kashyapa. Almost 176 miniature stupas and paintings of Tibetan Buddhist pantheons cover the walls that surround the stupa at Bouddhanath. Newari style chaityas adorn the four gates of the stupa.

The Bouddhanath Stupa is believed to be the embodiment of Dharmakaya (Buddha mind) and hence an object of devotion for all Buddhists. The stupa built in traditional Nepalese architectural style consists of a raised plinth, a spherical dome, a cubical steeple and a spire of 13 discs. The plinth that consists of three terraces is believed to represent thirty-seven factors of enlightenment. The dome represents Tathagatagarbha (the Buddha nature) from which virtuous special qualities develop. Bouddhanath Stupa is an important pilgrimage site for Tibetans. The stupa is mentioned in the Tibetan classical texts such as Biography of Yeshe Tshogyal (A.D. 8-9) and Padma Ka'thang (A.D.14). The Tibetan government had jurisdiction over the stupa from seventeenth century to the nineteenth century. Bouddhanath has numerous Tibetan monasteries. The area around Bouddhanath is even called the Vatican of Tibetans by some.

After touring Boudhanath catch the departure flight back home.