Monk for a Month Nepal is a best pilgrimage tour offer by Himalayan circuit. Nepal is known for its tranquil and serene landscapes filled with culture. Being the birthplace of lord Buddha, this showcases why the country is a melting pot of Hinduism and Buddhism. Traveling to the religious sites in the country and visiting peaceful places will leave you with a new perspective on life. Also, with this tour you will have the opportunity to visit Buddhist monasteries where you will learn about Buddhist teachings.
This tour also shows the medieval civilizations with astonishing views of the Himalayas. Being able to immerse yourself in the rich culture and nature will showcase Nepal’s diversity.Travelling here will allow you to understand the social, ethnic, and religious makeup of the country. Other important facets to this tour include visiting ancient temples, religious ceremonies, valley tours, jungle safaris, and Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Kathmandu Durbar Square will offer you a deeper understanding of the historical development of Nepal’s art and architecture. The grand Stupas of Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, along with many monasteries will surely enlighten you spiritually. Also,it will give you a glimpse of inner peace and harmon. Fusing Hindu, Buddhist, and Tibetan culture showcases the diverse practices of dozens of castes. Nepal is simply one of the most culturally diverse places on earth. On this tour, you will also visit Pokhara, which is the beautiful lake city and tourism capital of Nepal. Also included is Chitwan National Park which holds numerous Jungle Adventure activities.
Highlights of the day:
Welcome to Kathmandu! After your arrival at the airport, our representative will welcome and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city. On your first day, you can explore the vibrant streets and the winding allies while discovering numerous restaurants, cafes and stores in the shopping area Thamel. The evening is yours to settle down after your long journey.
Highlights of the day:
Welcome to Kathmandu! After your arrival at the airport, our representative will welcome and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city. On your first day, you can explore the vibrant streets and the winding allies while discovering numerous restaurants, cafes and stores in the shopping area Thamel. The evening is yours to settle down after your long journey.
Highlights of the day:
Welcome to Kathmandu! After your arrival at the airport, our representative will welcome and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city. On your first day, you can explore the vibrant streets and the winding allies while discovering numerous restaurants, cafes and stores in the shopping area Thamel. The evening is yours to settle down after your long journey.
Highlights of the day:
Welcome to Kathmandu! After your arrival at the airport, our representative will welcome and transfer you to your hotel in the heart of the city. On your first day, you can explore the vibrant streets and the winding allies while discovering numerous restaurants, cafes and stores in the shopping area Thamel. The evening is yours to settle down after your long journey.
Highlights of the day:
Swayambhunath or the Monkey Temple sits atop a hill, overlooking most parts of the valley. It is not only home to troops of monkeys but also the perfect example for the religious harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism in Nepal, since large numbers of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swayambhunath throughout the day. 365 stone steps lead up to Nepal’s oldest stupa, from where you will have magnificent panoramic views over the city. The site itself has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries. The glory of the Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point.
Highlights of the day:
Kathmandu Durbar Square used to be a royal palace – now it’s home to the living Goddess ‘Kumari’. Out of three durbar squares, Kathmandu Durbar square is one of the UNESCO-listed cultural sites, containing ancient temples, palaces, and a courtyard. The pagoda-style palace with nine stories is the main attraction and offers a great panoramic view of the city. The palaces and the pagodas are rich in arts and superior examples of wooden craft that flourished in the 14th century.
Highlights of the day:
Activities:
Arrival in the Monastery: 9.45am
Introduction to Buddhism by Khempo (Buddhist Teacher): 10am – 12pm
Lunch Break: 12pm – 1.30pm
Guided Tour to Boudhanath and Kora (walking around the Stupa): 2pm onwards
Drive back to the Hotel: 5pm
Dinner and free time: 6pm onwards
Buddhism Teaching for 4 days: 1.5 hrs
Today is the first day of your 4 day Buddhism course. You will arrive at the monastery at 9.45 am and will have the introductory class from 10 to 12. After lunch you will be guided to the Buddhist stupa Boudhanath which is the world’s largest stupa, looming 36 meters high. It lies about 6 km east of the center of Kathmandu. The design of the stupa is really fascinating, with hundreds of prayer wheels and 108 small images of Buddha all around. As you enter from the hustling main street, you will feel the peace and spiritual energy of this place. Afterwards you will be transferred to your hotel where you can enjoy the rest of the evening for yourself.
The introductory course to Buddhism will give you a broad overview about Buddhist philosophy and meditation techniques. If you have no knowledge of Buddhism and are new to meditation as well, this course will provide you with the basic understanding. The teachers are Khempos, monks qualified for teaching Buddhism as they have taken 21 years of Buddhist teachings themselves. These compassionate teachers have the ability to leave their students feel peaceful and calm.
Highlights of the day:
Activities:
Arrival in the Monastery: 9.45 am
Introduction to Buddhism by Khempo (Buddhist Teacher): 10 am – 12 pm
Lunch Break: 12 pm – 1.30 pm
Tour around Pashupatinath temple: 2 pm onwards
Drive back to the hotel at the desired time
Although the teachings are rather short, they have been found very effective in getting an understanding of this philosophy of the mind. After lunch, you will be taken to the Hindu temple Pashupatinath which is one of the most famous Hindu temples in the world and is also listed as a world heritage site. It is a pagoda-style Hindu temple with gilt roofing and richly carved silver doors, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is situated on the bank of the holy Bagmati River. Cremation processes of Hindu bodies happen regularly here which is a very emotional sight but also offers an interesting perspective of the cycle of life.
Highlights of the day:
Activities:
Arrive in the Monastery: 9.45am
Introduction to Buddhism by Khempo (Buddhist Teacher): 10am – 12pm
Lunch Break: 12pm – 1.30pm
Free time:2pm onwards
Drive back to hotel
Highlights of the day:
Activities:
Arrive in the Monastery: 9.45am
Introduction to Buddhism by Khempo (Buddhist Teacher): 10am – 12pm
Lunch Break: 12pm – 1.30pm
Social Organization visit: 2pm onwards
Drive back to hotel
Highlights of the day:
From today you will stay 3 nights at the monastery.
Learning meditation, or studying Buddhism, is learning about yourself, especially your mind. It is so important to know the workings of your own mind, no matter if you are religious or not, no matter your social class or ethnicity – knowing your mind is knowing yourself, because ultimately, you only perceive the world subjectively and your mind tries to make sense of it. It is the key of your joy and suffering, since it is only the interpretation of your mind that judges the different circumstances of your life. Once you learn how to control your mind and that you can in fact create your reality, you will become truly liberated and above all – peaceful.
Highlights of the day:
After lunch and checking out of the Monastery you will visit the Botanical Garden of Kathmandu. It is located at the base of Mount Phulchowki (2715m) at Godawari (1515m), in the South-East corner of the Kathmandu valley. The Garden encompasses 82 hectares and is surrounded by lush-green forests. The temperature ranges between 20°C and 30°C during summer and -5°C to 20°C during winter.
Over 500 species of plants can be found in these gardens. The peak of the blooming season here are in spring and autumn. The coming of spring is indicated by the blooming of the Rhododendron arboretum, the national flower of Nepal, and the dramatic appearance of a number of colorful flowers in the garden beds and the surrounding forests.
Highlights of the day:
Today will be your first trip outside the Kathmandu Valley. The winding road along the Trishuli River will guide you to Chitwan which holds one of the finest national parks in Asia. It lies in the lowlands of south-central Nepal, the Terai, covering an area of 932 sq. km and is listed a World Heritage site since 1984. It is renowned for its variety and amount of wildlife and is home to some endangered species such as the Royal Bengal Tiger, the One-horned Rhinoceros, and the Leopard. Also Gaurs as well as Sloth Bears, Monkeys and varieties of Deer, Crocodiles, Butterflies and over 530 species of colorful birds can be found here.
Highlights of the day:
Chitwan offers many activities. Today you will experience some of these activities such as a village walk, sunset view, Tharu stick dance (cultural program), canoe ride. You can also visit an elephant breading center, witness elephants bathing, and ride on an elephant’s back for Safari . Bird watching is also something you can enjoy in Chitwan.
Highlights of the day:
Today you will continue doing various activities from the remaining program in Chitwan then drive to the birthplace of Lord Buddha “Lumbini”, which is one of Nepal’s greatest pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. More than 400,000 Buddhists and non-Buddhists visit Lumbini every year. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and holds immense archaeological and religious importance.
It was here in the gardens of Lumbini that Prince Siddhartha Gautam, who later became the Buddha, was born in 623 BC. A commemorative pillar erected by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka of India during his pilgrimage to the holy site in 249 BC marks the nativity site.
Highlights of the day:
Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath. Lumbini was where the Buddha lived until the age of 29. It also holds a great number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, and others under construction. Also located here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond where the Buddha’s mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath. Also located here are the remains of the Kapilvastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate enlightenment and finally relinquished earthly form.
Highlights of the day:
Pokhara, the Lake City, is the third largest city of Nepal. It takes around 6 hours by bus to get there. Pokhara offers a variety of different trekking and other activities and is famous for its stunning view over the Himalayan range and gorgeous lakes. It is also famous for activities like boating, trekking, rafting and thrilling adventurous sports like Paragliding or Zip Lining.
Highlights of the day:
Pokhara is not only a city of adventure activities but also lots of leisure. You will be guided to the major places of interest in Pokhara such as the Phewa lake, Devi’s fall, Mahendra Cave, Bat cave, a Tibetan refugee camp as well as a museum. Optionally, being an adventure city you could cross your limits by paragliding above the city, traveling 160km/hour in Zip flyer or if you are daring enough, sky diving was recently added to the list. Mountain biking is another asset of this tranquil city.
Highlights of the day:
Early in the morning your guide will lead you to Sarangkot, a village situated on the top of a hill just north of the Phewa Lake where you can experience the reflection of the rising sun on the mountains. On a clear day, the panoramic ranges of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and Ganesh Himal can be seen. You will have a stunning 360 degrees view: in the other direction, the vast Phewa Lake opens up before you.
After the sunrise viewing you will be guided back to Pokhara. Now you will have time for you to explore the city. Enjoy good food in the numerous restaurants and cafes right next to the lake. Also there are plenty of spa places, where you can relax totally.
Early in the morning your guide will lead you to Sarangkot, a village situated on the top of a hill just north of the Phewa Lake where you can experience the reflection of the rising sun on the mountains. On a clear day, the panoramic ranges of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre and Ganesh Himal can be seen. You will have a stunning 360 degrees view: in the other direction, the vast Phewa Lake opens up before you.
After the sunrise viewing you will be guided back to Pokhara. Now you will have time for you to explore the city. Enjoy good food in the numerous restaurants and cafes right next to the lake. Also there are plenty of spa places, where you can relax totally.
Highlights of the day:
After two joyful days in Pokhara, it’s going to be hard to leave this beautiful city. Your rich breakfast will help as you will head back to Kathmandu today. Upon arriving, take the rest of the day to relax, explore the vibrant streets of Thamel or simply enjoy some good foods and drinks in one of the numerous restaurants and bars there.
Highlights of the day:
Today you will visit Pharping, an ancient city situated in Southern region of Kathmandu. It was popular with the name “Shikharapuri Mahanagari” (Metropolitan City) which was recognized as an independent state with 48000 people in ancient time. Shikharapur was once an independent Newari State. It also holds great religious importance as the great Guru Padmasambhava got enlightened at Asura Cave, Gorakhanath and Sheshnarayan Cave at Pharping.
Major attractions in Pharping are the Goddess Dakshinkali Temple, Asura Cave, Gorakhanath, Sheshnayan Temple, Hyanglashi, Gopaleshwor, Bajrayogini, and numerous monasteries (or Gumbas).
On the way back, its shopping time: buy some spices, souvenirs, tea or the famous Pashmina shawl for your loved ones in the local markets. In the evening a fantastic Nepalese dinner with a cultural program awaits you to end this memorable journey.
Highlights of the day:
Today is the day to say goodbye to Nepal. We will transfer you to the Airport for your flight back home. We hope you will reminisce in sweet memories of Nepal, it’s temples, mountains, nature, people and their smile.
| 2 travellers | 4 travellers | 8 travellers | |
|
Standard
|
$ 2100 | $ 1988 | $ 1290 |
|
Deluxe
|
$ 2222 | $1908 | $1764 |
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