Buddhist Cultural Tour in Nepal-8 days

Upon your arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by a representative from Amar’s Treks who will transfer you at the hotel.  Depending on time of arrival, plans will be made for a briefing meeting once you have settled in.  Overnight at Kathmandu.   Included meals: B

Today we pay our visit to Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world and an important Buddhist pilgrimage. The unique octagonal Mandala design with hundreds of prayer wheels and the 108 images of the Buddha set into the niches around the huge structure.  The area of Boudhnath is also famous for over 50 Tibetan Gompas or monasteries, the also being known as the 'Little Tibet'.  The Kapan Monastery at Kapan Hill, a few kilometers higher north from Boudhanath is also known as Nepal Bouddhist Mahayan Centre.  Kapan Monastery follows Gelug tradition of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. There is also a nunnery nearby the main monastery, known as the Khachoe Ghakyil Ling Nunnery, home to about 400 nuns. Overnight at Kathmandu. 
Included meals: B

We drive to Swoyambhu Stupa in the morning, which is one of the oldest Buddhist monuments in the world with more than 2000 years of history and also a major Buddhist pilgrimage. According to legend, the civilization of Kathmandu Valley itself begins with Swoyambhu, which literally means "the self-existent." It is said that Bodhisattva Manjushri came across a beautiful lake while traveling and saw a lotus, with thousand golden petals, diamonds pistils, ruby anthers, and lapis lazuli stalk. The legend also says that the lotus seed was planted on a full moon night by Bipaswi Buddha himself.  In the course of time, Santikarcarya, the king who turned into a Bhikchu or a monk, raised the first stupa on the holy site. After visiting Swayambhunath, we make a 6-hour drive to Pokhara in the afternoon to pay our visit to some Buddhist sites there. Overnight at Pokhara. 
Included meals: B

Today we visit some Buddhist landmarks in Pokhara and also enjoy the nature's majesty. The massive Buddhist stupa of World Peace Pagoda was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan Myohji organisation on a narrow ridge high above Phewa Tal. Besides being a cultural monument, the site is also famous for the panoramic view it offers of the Pokhara Valley. We cross the Phewa Lake on a boat and then hike to the Stupa. Then we will visit the Malepatan Gomba or monastery at Malepatan. Then we make another hike to Hyangja, the site for Tibetan refugee camp who fled Tibet after the Cultural Revolution in China. Overnight at Pokhara. 
Included meals: B

We drive to Lumbini today - about 290 kilometers south-west from Pokhara which takes for about 6-7 hours. We bid goodbye to the Himalayas in Pokhara, and head toward a more flat lands of Nepal's Terai. Generally, the weather gets hot and humid in the plains except in the winter. Perhaps, Lumbini is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage site - the place where Buddha was born. Overnight at Lumbini. 
Included meals: B

Lumbini is one of world's major religious, architectural, and historical places. We devote today's time in visiting as many places and sites in Lumbini as possible. The place is really a big area with monuments, temples, and ancients sites making it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. First we visit the Mayadevi temple which is built on the exact place where Buddha was born. We spend some time wandering around the gardens. We also visit the museum and peace pagoda. Some of the important landmarks and monuments in Lumbini include: Ashoka's Pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka (249 BC) on the spot of Buddha's birth which also has the oldest inscription in Nepal. There are many Buddhist Temples founded by the devotees from different countries:  Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese and Burmese, Korean, etc. Overnight at Lumbini. 
Included meals: B

We are nearing the end of our Buddhist Cultural Tour. We head back toward Kathmandu today - about 300 kilometers journey into the winding mountain road. The journey would take for about 6-7 hours. Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transfer to the hotel.
Included meals: B

Our Buddhist Cultural Tour in Nepal concludes today.  Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight a representative from Amar’s Treks will transfer you to the airport and also assist for the check-in procedures.
Included meals: B