If you think you want to scan
Nepal within couple of weeks, then All Nepal Tour will be the perfect choice
which cover almost every corner of the country. You will explore UNESCO World
Heritage Sites of Kathmandu, Lumbini and Chitwan National Park with years old
rich cultures, architectural, historic artistic temples and monasteries in the
blend of Hindus and Buddhist. DA will
take you to Lumbini, the birth place of the lord Buddha, which is said
to be the foundation that represents world peace. Lumbini stands to represent a
significant site of pilgrimage that must be carried out once in a lifetime for
all Buddhists throughout the world. This
tour also takes you to the Jungle activities like Elephant back safari from
Chitwan National Park. Pokhara, which is paradise city and second
largest tourist hub in Nepal after Kathmandu is popular as city of Lakes with
panoramic picturesque mountain view. This
tour also takes you to the Jungle activities like Elephant back safari from
Chitwan National Park. Pokhara is another beautiful city and second
largest tourist hub in Nepal after Kathmandu. The green hills which surround the valley is another highlights which
offers sightseeing views and hiking options around the hills like Nagarkot,
Dhulikhel, Namo Buddha and Sanga. We can
further uncover Nepal with hill station like Daman, Palpa and Bandipur.
Arrive at Kathmandu Airport with the beautiful views of the valley, Himalaya and the terraced fields below. Meet & be greeted by Donkeys Adventures’ (DA) airport representative in the arrival section who will be holding the name card of the group leader. He / She will guide you through the initial cultural shock of Kathmandu narrow streets, cultures, people around and transfer to hotel. Then DA will organize to meet in a traditional Nepalese restaurant for a welcome dinner where we will have introduction to DA staffs who will be directly involve during your stay in Nepal. For the late night arrivals, we will either meet in the hotel lobby or during lunch the next day. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: D
After breakfast, drive to the golden spire of the 5th-century Swayambhunath Stupa which is adorned with a colorful fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu. The stupa consists of a dome at the base which represent the entire world, above which is a cubical structure painted with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions and between them, the number one in Nepali is painted in the fashion of a nose which meant to be unity. Swayambhunath is also known commonly as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. The Swayambhunath Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal.
Then, drive to Patan Durbar Square one of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley which has a rich cultural heritage known for its fine crafts, evident in the elaborate architecture, stone carvings, and metal statues found all over the city. A center of both Buddhist and Hindu culture, Patan is home to more than 1,200 monuments. One of the most stunning is the Krishna Mandir, a stone temple with magnificent friezes built in the 16th century. Patan Durbar Square is also a good place to see beautiful examples of palaces, temples and shrines, and the stunning stone carvings in the Sundari Courtyards. Nearby is the Patan Museum which displays the traditional sacred arts of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. Its home is an old residential court of Patan Durbar, one of the royal palaces of former Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley. Its gilded door and window face one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The Museum’s exhibits cover along span of Nepal’s cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. Their meaning and context within the living traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are explained. The entire city of Patan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
After lunch, drive to Pashupatinath which is one of the most significant Hindu Temple of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu. Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu its existence dates back to 400 B.C. One of the major Festivals of the temple is Maha Shivaratri on which day over 800,000 devotees visit here. Open air cremation is done in the holy Bagmati River at Pashupatinath area. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Drive back to hotel. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Early morning after breakfast we will drive west for almost 26 km and leave Prithivi highway and take Tribhuvan highway, the first Highway of Nepal which connects to India. After climbing the hill in the narrow road for about 50 km we will reach the hill top of Daman (2333m). It is famous for the greatest views of the Himalayas, extending on a good day from Dhaulagiri in the west, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, Gaurishankar, Choyu and Everest in the east. It is also popular among the locals of Kathmandu for winter weekend hangouts or the nearest snow fall destination. We will check in in the hotel, have our lunch and then hike for an hour to Risheshwor Mahadevastan, it is said that when Lord Shiva was mourning and lamenting, carrying dead body of his beloved wife Satidevi, he rested here. Being so thirsty he just hit the big rock with his trident and water came out which still can be seen flowing in between the rocks. From there we will visit Daman Botanical Garden which is one of the biggest and oldest garden in Nepal. Soon we will climb to the Daman View Tower which have a long range telescopes to see the Himalayan ranges and the sunset views. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Early morning after breakfast, check-out from the hotel and drive towards Sauraha, Chitwan – 180 Km from Kathmandu. We will stop on the way at Charaudi after 85 km where a crowd of friendly local people will be eagerly waiting to watch the proceedings. The Crew Prepares the rafts, after which all head towards the brief river safety talk and lessons on how to use paddles. Trishuli River (Grade III) includes the scenery of small gorges and numerous rapids as the name of Snail’s nose, Teendevi, Malekhu rapid, Monkey rapid, Upset, Surprise, Monsoon, Cotton Pony, Ladies Delight, S-Bend, Highway, Monsoon and Pinball Rapid. After the glimpse of the cable car leading to the famous Hindu Temple of Manakamana in Kuringhat, we will end our raft to have lunch and continue our drive to Chitwan. Upon arrival our representative will meet and transfer you to resort. On reaching resort, our guest relations officer will brief the guest to give some information about jungle activities and then Check-in at hotel. We will get ready for Nature Walk through jungle to observation tower. 70% of the vegetation is sal tree where more than 700 species wildlife is accommodated, 19 species of snakes, 113 species of fishes and crocodile, 543 species of birds, 68 species of mammals including Bengal Tiger, clouded leopard, sloth bears, golden jackals, leopard cats, one horn rhinoceros, wild elephant, sambar deer, hog deer, four horned antelopes and langurs can be encountered at any time. We will return passing through the Tharu Village also famous as Tharu Cultural Tour, along the River Side Sunset View and finally enjoy Tharu Stick Dance Show followed by dinner. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B / L / D
Early morning after breakfast, get ready for single tree dugout Canoe Ride in the Rapti river along the perimeter of CNP. The silence with peace in mind along the mild river flowing, birds chirping and animals sound and their appearance will be a perfect morning. Further we will hike through the jungle and the ranger’s area see different verities of Elephant breed and observe the Elephant Breeding & Training Center. On the way back to our hotel we will pass by the Elephant Bathing river, help them wash their huge body just before we ride them. After lunch we will again get ready to enter CNP again but this time on Elephant Back Safari or 4 hours Jeep Safari. The park is the most suitable area for trained elephant ride in whole Nepal and it is the safest way to enter deep in the jungle while we can see wild animals and birds from close up. We will go deep in the jungle almost for an hour or hour and half which make you feel like you are a part of the park, very excited and novel to move in the quiet forest listening to the jungle sound and return with amazing experience. We will have some free time in the evening. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B / L / D
We will enjoy our breakfast again with beautiful birds crippling in the surrounding then we will get ready for Full Day Jeep Safari. We will pass by small rivers and lakes like Bishazari Tal translated as Twenty Thousand Lake which is an extensive oxbow lake system in the buffer zone community forest of Chitwan National Park. In the mean time we will visit Gharial Breeding Center and take a break for half an hour. We will also have our lunch in the jungle and return back in the hotel before sunset. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B / L / D
We will enjoy our breakfast with beautiful birds crippling in the surrounding then check out from the hotel, we will still have some time if we have missed the jungle activities previous day or if we want to add some more Jungle activities as we will be driving further west for almost 3 hours and reach Lumbini – birth place of Lord Buddha. En route we will pass by Shashwat Dham, a destination for all to attain spiritual strength, get exposed to the eternal knowledge passed over generations through saints and sages of Vedic times and experience the true nature of our inner being which is love and joy. We will further continue west and reach Ramagrama, the relic stupa of Lord Buddha which is the only undisturbed original stupa containing relics of Lord Buddha among the 4 parts. It was built in 6th century and enlarged by being enveloped with bricks subsequently. The site includes adjacent monasteries. We will continue our drive from there and finally reach Lumbini (150m) hotel and check-in. Overnight in the hotel.
After breakfast explores Lumbini for a whole day, it is popular among
Buddhist pilgrimage in Nepal. Lumbini (The birthplace of Gautam Buddha) is not
only famous for Buddhist pilgrimage travelers alone but also popular for having
views of the beautiful architecture namely of Maya Devi temple, Ashok stupa,
Sacred Garden, Peace flame, Museum, Thailand Temple, Myanmar Temple, Chinese
Temple, Wall Carvings, Buddha Stupa and Chinese Buddhism culture and
other breathtaking places. Buddha is known as the light of Asia. Lumbini is
listed in the World Heritage Monument List by UNESCO. Lumbini is divided into a ratio of 1:3
which means it is 3 km long for every 1 km wide. In total its
2 km by 6 km. The holy site of Lumbini is bordered by a large
monastic zone in which only monasteries can be built, no shops, hotels or
restaurants. It is separated into an eastern and western monastic zone, the
eastern having the Theravadin monasteries, the western having Mahayana and Vajrayana monasteries. The holy site of Lumbini
has ruins of ancient monasteries, a sacred Bodhi
tree, an ancient bathing pond, the Ashok
pillar and the Maya Devi temple,
where the precise place of birth of Buddha is located. From early morning to
early evening, pilgrims from various countries perform chanting and meditation
at the site. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast in the hotel, we will drive to Palpa (1343) Tansen, pass by Tundikhel which is an open area ground with Late King Birendra Statue and 150 kg large Karuwa, a water jug made with honey wax, Palpali bronze, cow’s dung, black stone, black mud and doal mud. Check in in the hotel and after lunch we will hike in the alleys of Bazar to Tansen Durbar with 64 rooms and the famous Baggi Dhoka, the biggest gate in the whole country. We will further continue to the Amar Narayan Temple, a classical wooden pagoda style temple built in 1807 AD. This temple is the most beautiful temple outside Kathmandu valley and is surrounded by a meter-high wall, also known as Great Wall of Palpa. Then we will hike to north of Tansen for an hour to reach Srinagar Danda (1600m) and climb the Dharara, from where we can view a snowcapped mountains and the Tansen Bazar on a clear pleasant day. The beautiful valley which lies just below the Shrinagar hill and above Kali Gandaki River is also famous for its land loom products, hand weaved Dhaka especially Nepali Topi (cap) and metal crafts in Taksar where old bronze and brass works like Karuwa, hukka (water pipe) and auntee (Newari Jug to store raksi; a homemade alcohol). It is also known for its 3-decade long organic coffee farming which was originally a magar community and latter Newar from Kathmandu got migrated in 18th centuries and made it a business hub between Tibet and India. Overnight in the lodge.
Meals: B
After breakfast drive to Pokhara. We will enjoy beautiful hilly highway following the lovely rice terrace fields. On the way there will be plenty of time to stop at the places of interest like Bhalu Bahad, a huge rocky hill with the shape of large Bear and other local villages and to take a look around. It is always possible to request a stop as a sight which may seem interesting to you. Check-in in hotel. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast, we will take a wooden boat and visit island temple Barahi Temple which is island itself in the middle of Fewa Lake. This temple is the most important religious monuments in Pokhara. The Barahi Devi is considered as the protector Goddess representing the female force. The peaceful surrounding or typical structure of the temple does attract everyone towards the temple. The temple is worth visiting for both spiritualist and materialist. One can observe the Nepali culture, art and architecture and spiritualist can satisfy their inner feeling and belief praying to Devi.
From there we will cross the lake and hike for an hour and half to World Peace Pagoda which is also locally know as Shanti Stupa. It was built by Nipponzan-Myōhōji monk Morioka Sonin with local supporters under the guidance of Nichidatsu Fujii, a Buddhist monk and the founder of Nipponzan-Myōhōji. Shanti is a Sanskrit word meaning peace, also widely used in Nepali and Hindi language, and Shanti Stupa means Peace Pagoda. Shanti Stupa is the shrine build as symbol of peace. The spot situated at the height of 1100 meters on the Ananda Hill was chosen by Nichidatsu Fujii and he laid the foundation stone as well with the relics of Buddha on the hilltop on 12 September 1973. Nepal has two of the eighty peace pagodas in the world: Shanti Stupa in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and Shanti Stupa in Pokhara. Shanti Stupa in Pokhara has also become a tourist attraction. It provides a panoramic view of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and the Fewa Lake.
After Lunch, we will drive to David’s Fall also known as Patale Chango in Nepali. Patale Chango (Hell's fall), more commonly called "Devi's or David's Falls" for the tourist with some melodramatic story behind it. The water from this falls comes from the Fewa Lake flowing to the Seti. The water plunges into a hole and disappears! In monsoon this sight is most spectacular. The scenic and natural beauty near the falls is extremely impressive.
Nearby, across the street of Davi’s fall is a cave called Gupteshwor Cave. This venerated cave contains a huge stalagmite worshipped as a Shiva lingam. It allows you to clamber through a tunnel behind the shrine, emerging in a damp cavern adjacent to the thundering waters of Devi’s fall. It has some big hall-size rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all fours. This cave holds special value for Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered. Drive back to hotel and overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Wake up early in the morning around 4:00 am and get ready to drive 5 km away and hike for half an hour to Sarangkot Hill (1592m). Within a moment we will have great view of Pokhara Valley. Sarangkot is the small hilltop which is famous for its breath taking view of sunrise and Annapurna range with Fishtail (Virgin Mountain). From here, we can see a panoramic sweep of Himalayan peaks, from Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west to the perfect pyramid that is Machhapuchare (6997m) and the rounded peak of Annapurna II (7937m) in the east. Most people come here at dawn, when the sun picks out the peaks in brilliant colors. Sarangkot is the highest view point for a sunrise and it is just 1592m high. Drive back to hotel.
After breakfast, we will drive to International Mountain Museum which was established to record document and chronicle, past and present development of mountaineering activities in the world in general and to preserve the saga of the momentous feats in the history of mountaineering in the Himalayan peaks in particular. The foundation stone of IMM was laid on 1 Dec, 1995. The soft opening of IMM took place on 29 May, 2002 where it was officially opened on 5 Feb, 2004.
Then we will drive to Bindbasini Temple one of the most popular and most visited of these is the intriguing Bindabasini Temple known locally as Bindhyabasini Mandir. Standing proudly at top of hill, this striking temple looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara. The white pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhapuchhare mountain ranges. It is located near the busy Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a center of commerce in the Himalayas. Bindabasini temple or Bindhyabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple she is seen as Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty aspect of the goddess.
From there we will further drive north to Mahendra Cave, it resides in Batulechaur. Mahendra cave has been named as per the Late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. This cave is a natural tunnel which is provided with artificial lighting systems. Bulbs are used by the cave in charge so that the visitors can visit it without any difficulty. But do take a torch light with you just in case the electricity goes off. Mahendra cave is rich for its rock types and different stones that glitters when a beam of light is strikes in it. This natural formation is to see not to strike with sharp digging objects. After lunch we will drive to Gorkha Memorial Museum, the Museum concentrates on their history to current British Army and the Indian Army. The displays include hundreds of Photograph of the many Campaigns they took part in and their Regimental Life. The 3-Floor Galleries are brought alive by Sound and Coloured light. Displays also include uniforms they wore, items they used and medals they won. Details of the Gurkha Victoria cross winners; the highest bravery medal with their citations can also be viewed. Then we will drive to Seti Gorge, it carved by Seti - Gandaki is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. KI Singh Bridge at the Bagar, Mahendra Pool & Prithivi Highway Bridge near Bus Park provides a perfect view of the river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water like milk. Drive back to hotel and overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast we will drive towards east in Prithivi highway for 67 km to Bandipur gate in Dumre and then take a hilly narrow 10 km road to Bandipur (1030m). We will check in in the hotel and after lunch we will hike around Bandipur Bazar and Tundikhel. We will visit the northeast end of the bazaar, the main shopping strip, two-tiered temple is dedicated to Durga. Its ancient walls are covered in carvings. Facing the temple across the square is the Padma library, a striking 18th-century building with carved windows and beams. Nearby, a set of stone steps runs off east to the small Mahalaxmi Temple, another centuries-old Newari-style temple. Tundikhel is an excellent vantage point situated to the north of Bandipur's main bazaar. From here, one can view the magnificent Himalayan Range including the spectacular peaks of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Langtang, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal, among others. The legendary Gorkha Palace and the famous Manakamana Peak can also be seen clearly. Other sites include the Marsyangdi Valley, Bimalnagar and Dumre. At the start of the Tundikhel are five enormous fig trees. In Nepali mythology, the different types of fig are symbols for different Hindu gods, and Vishnu, Brahma and Hanuman are all represented here. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After Breakfast, we will hike 1.5 hours towards Siddha Gufa, a popular half-day trip, at 437m deep and 50m high, Siddha Gufa is said to be the largest cave in Nepal and was discovered in 1987 only. Its cathedral-like chasm is full of twisted stalactites and stalagmites and hundreds of bats chirp and whistle overhead. This cave also goes by the name of Gateway to Heaven. It is believed that anyone entering the cave will cause all the sins of their ancestors to be washed away and bring them salvation. A religious fair is held here in April when participants perform the Chutka dance. Guides are compulsory and await you at the cave’s entrance. Flashlights are also available for hire.
After
exploring Siddha Cave, we will hike for another half an hour and take a car or
bus waiting for us to drive to Nagarkot via Kathmandu. Nagarkot is one of the most
scenic spots in Bhaktapur district and is renowned for its spectacular sunrise
view of the Himalaya when the weather is clear. Many visitors prefer to visit
Nagarkot in the spring when surrounding valleys break out in a rich display of
different colored flowers. The flowers are beautiful against the serene
backdrop of the snow-covered
mountains. Ever popular among the tourists are the short treks and picnics
which Nagarkot offers. Treks from Nagarkot are unique and delightful. For
anyone who wants to have an adventure without exerting much effort, a hike to
Nagarkot's surrounding areas would be a good option. One can traverse short
distances on trekking trails and come close to nature's wonders such as the
outer of verdant forests, flower-covered meadows and unusual rock formations. Check
in in the hotel get fresh and free time in the evening to walk around the village.
Back to hotel and overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Early in the morning walk for about 20 minutes from the hotel and enjoy the breathtaking sunrise. Nagarkot has become famous as one of the best spot to view Mount Everest as well as other snow-topped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. It also offers an excellent view of the Indrawati river valley to the east. With an elevation of 2,195 meters, Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Valley and is described by visitors as a place whose beauty endures year round. Walk down towards the hotel. We will then check out from the hotel and then drive towards Changunarayan Temple (1600m), this is the oldest temple of Vishnu built in early 5th century AD situated at the end of long ridge which runs well into the valley. This place is to the northeast 6 km from Bhaktapur valley through the countryside. It commands most magnificent views of Katmandu valley and Himalayas ranges on the back ground. This is also a most important historical, religious place where one can see largest number of finest stone sculptures dating back to 5th-9th century AD. This is also known as living monumental garden.
From there will drive down to explore the Bhaktapur Valley. The valley is said to be founded by King
Ananda Deva in 889 AD. It is an inhabited museum of medieval charm as it
retains past glories and structures of the Malla rulers. Throughout the city
there are glorious examples of temples and pagodas dedicated to gods and
goddesses plus palaces, monuments, woodcarvings, sculptures and pottery. The
central area and main attraction is Bhaktapur Durbar
Square featuring The Lion Gate (1696 A.D.) guarded by two enormous stone lions.
Then, visit to The Golden Gate, also said to be the most beautiful and richly
crafted specimen of its kind in the entire world; some have said it's the
loveliest work of art in the whole Kingdom. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows built
in 1427 of brick displays a balcony containing fifty-five windows, each a
masterpiece of woodcarving. An amazing five-storied pagoda, Nyatapola
Temple built in 1702, 108 ft., dominates the Square. It is the tallest
temple in Kathmandu Valley and stands on a series of five terraces. Likewise,
visit another two temples in Durbar Square:
the three-storied Bhairab Nath Temple and the Temple
of Dattatraya. Dattatraya temple is believed, originally was carved out of the
trunk of a tree and subsequently renovated in 1458. Many temples, bahals
(monastery courtyards), and residences, the city is still a living proof of the
highest craft standards in this part of the world. As the visitor wanders
through narrow brick paved streets, many alleys will show hidden shrines and
statues. Clay craftsmanship as well as cloth weaving is still practiced here
very much as in the past. Fourteen kilometers east of Kathmandu, this peaceful,
conservative town stands in sharp contrast to the bustle of its two adjacent
cities.
After lunch, we will take a country drive trip to the east 20 km on the side of the Arniko highway connecting to Tibet border and reach Dhulikhel. Check in the Hotel. Evening hiking can be done to explore number of villages of Dhulikhel. Dhulikhel is famous as a well-preserved Newar town, mountain viewpoint, and hiking and biking hub, but its popularity is waning as road-building and modernization take their toll. Overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
Early morning, we will enjoy our breakfast from the edge of the ridge, a stunning panorama of peaks unfolds, from Langtang Lirung (7227m) in the west, through Dorje Lakpa (6966m) to the huge bulk of Gauri Shankar (7134m) and nearby Melungtse (7181m), and as far as Numbur (5945m) in the east.
Than we will drive towards the pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha for 12 km. Located on slightly elevated land, it is a pleasant and out-of-the way place. The landscape below resembles an eight-petaled lotus, and the sky above has the form of a wheel with nine spokes. After Great Being offered his body in generosity to the tigress, people found it difficult to travel through the region for fear of all wild animals, so they developed the practice of reciting “Namo Buddhaya” (“I take refuge in the Buddha”) to dispel their anxiety. People come from all corners of the world to visit the site and make the traditional offerings of butter lamps, a fresh coat of white paint for the stupa, and a pleated cloth that encircles the base of its spire and ripples in the wind.
After lunch, we will drive towards Sanga, on the border of the Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchwok districts in Nepal. On the way we will visit Kailashnath Mahadev Statue which is the world's tallest Shiva statue. The statue is 144 feet (44 m) in height, and was made using copper, zinc, concrete, and steel. According to the List of statues by height, Kailashnath Mahadev is the world's fortieth-tallest statue, forth places after the Statue of Liberty. Designed to resemble images of the Hindu god, Lord Shiva, and seen as a marvel of Nepalese engineering, the statue's construction began in 2003 and was completed in 2010. The statue's foundation is about 100 feet deep, which was necessary to anchor the structure into the ridge. Due to the threat of potential landslides, structures were also built for ground stabilization. It depicts Lord Shiva with a Trident (Trishul) in his hand while a king Cobra is resting on his shoulder. From there we drive to Kathmandu and overnight in the hotel.
Meals: B
After breakfast, we will drive to Boudhanath Stupa, which is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, located about 11 km from the center and northeastern outskirts of Boudhanath is a stupa. Boudhanath was probably built in the 14th century after the Mughal invasions; various interesting legends are told regarding the reasons for its construction. After the arrival of thousands of Tibetans following the 1959 Chinese invasion, the temple has become one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism. It was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1979. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.
From above, Bodnath Stupa looks like a giant mandala, or diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. There are other symbolic numbers here as well: the nine levels of Boudhanath Stupa represent the mythical Mt. Meru, center of the cosmos; and the 13 rings from the base to the pinnacle symbolize the path to enlightenment, or "Bodhi" — hence the stupa's name. At the bottom, the stupa is surrounded by an irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches. The mantra of Avalokiteshvara - Om Mani Padme Hum - is carved on the prayer wheels beside the images of Avalokiteshvara around the base of the stupa. The base of the stupa consists of three large platforms, decreasing in size. As at Swayambhunath, Bodnath is topped with a square tower bearing the omnipresent Buddha eyes on all four sides. Instead of a nose is a question-mark-type symbol that is actually the Nepali character for the number 1, symbolizing unity and the one way to reach enlightenment—through the Buddha's teachings. Above this is the third eye, symbolizing the wisdom of the Buddha. The square tower is topped by a pyramid with 13 steps, representing the ladder to enlightenment.
From there we will drive to reach the most enigmatic statue of Lord Vishnu located at the foothill of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, popularly known as Budhanilkantha (old blue throat) Temple. The uniqueness of the temple is the 5-meter long single stone statue of Vishnu dramatically carved during 7th century Lichhavi era displayed in an open air and which is the largest in Nepal. The black basalt stone statue of Vishnu is lying back in a relaxed position with back support on the surface of the serpents (nagas) above the cosmic water tank which is also popularly known as the sleeping Vishnu. The statue appears to lie peacefully in his golden crown beneath an orange canopy and draped with orange marigold garlands. According to local stories, a farmer plough struck a large rock and blood came out from a cut in the rock and they dig out the magnificent image of the sleeping Vishnu and brought to current location which was buried in the ground for years. Another stories says the 17th century king Pratap Malla had a prophetic vision that if any king of Nepal visited Budhanilkantha than they would die so, all Nepali monarch after him never visited the temple in a fear of death. A huge mela (fair) is held on the day of Haribodhini Ekadashi which falls on October November of the year which is celebrated to awake Lord Vishnu form his long sleep.
After lunch, we will drive back to Kathmandu Durbar Square, while browse around Kathmandu Durbar Square you will visit Hanuman Dhoka, the old and historic palace of Kathmandu named after monkey God, Hanuman, a historic seat of royalty. The Kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations also held inside the court yard here. There is a statue of King Pratap Mall sitting on the stone pillar in the front and temple of Jagannath from mediaeval period. Within the walking distance you will find the tall temple of Taleju from 1549 AD, the large stone statue of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction. The Big Bell and Big Drum and Hindu Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati peeping from window. Visit the temple of Kumari, the residence of Living Goddess within the vicinity. Kumari means the virgin girl. The girl is selected from Newar Buddhist family. The building has profusely carved wooden balconies and window screen.
Meals: B
Today will be the last day of our Nepal visit and we will spend today packing and maybe catching up on some last-minute souvenir shopping for your family, relatives and friends back home. Check out from the hotel. Meet DA airport representative for farewell and then drop to Airport for onward journey, with the last minute mountain views from the sky.
Meals: B
Package Types | 1 PAX | 2-3 PAX | 4-6 PAX | 7-12 PAX | 13-20 PAX | 21-35 PAX |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diamond | $ 8,695.93 | $ 5,113.85 | $ 4,224.01 | $ 3,794.91 | $ 3,501.08 | $ 3,319.70 |
Gold | $ 6,316.36 | $ 3,717.35 | $ 2,864.26 | $ 2,471.91 | $ 2,214.83 | $ 2,070.20 |
Silver | $ 5,264.18 | $ 3,099.85 | $ 2,263.01 | $ 1,886.91 | $ 1,646.08 | $ 1,517.70 |
Note:
Above prices are valid to book your holiday package until one year from the date of booking only.
Full board complementary for one Group Leader for 16 and above group.
The prices are net and all the applicable taxes are included in the above price (local taxes in Nepal).
All the above prices are subjected to change with prior notice.
Package Types:
Diamond 5 star hotels in cities like - Kathmandu / Pokhara / Chitwan / Lumbini
Gold 3 star hotels in cities like - Kathmandu / Pokhara / Chitwan / Lumbini
Silver Budget tourist standard hotels in cities like - Kathmandu / Pokhara / Chitwan / Lumbini
Pashupatinath / Swayambhunath / Boudhanath / Bhaktapur Durbar Square / Patan Durbar Square / Nagarkot / Changunarayan / Dhulikhel / Namo Buddha / Kailashnath Mahadev Statue / Sarangkot / Fewa Lake / International Mountain Museum / David's Fall / World Peace Pagoda / Chitwan National Park / Lumbini / Kathmandu Durbar Square / Daman / Palpa / Bandipur /