Siddartha Gautam led the world on the path to enlightenment and became Lord Buddha two thousand five hundred years ago. There are four most holy places associated with the Lord Buddha and are Buddhist pilgrimages.
Lumbini:
Where Buddha was born as the Prince Siddharth Gautam. The site is in now in a beautiful Garden. Lumbini is about 20 minute drive from Siddarth Nagar, a town in mid western Nepal. Ashok Pillar, Maya Devi Temple, Archeological excavation sites, various Buddhist temples and monasteries from Buddhist countries from all over world are in the Lumbini Garden.
Namobuddha:
Namobuddha is the place where Lord Buddha, in an earlier life, offered his body to a starving tigress so she could feed her cubs. It is said that his hair, bones and so forth were made into a Stupa, the Stupa now known as Namobuddha. It is in east of Kathmandu valley near Panauti.
Important Buddhist stupas in Kathmandu valley are Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath, four stupas built by Ashok Emperor in Patan and one in Chabhil, etc. There are several Tibetan monasteries around Kathmandu valley. Some of the monasteries are recently built. Thengboche Monastery is the highest altitude monastery in Nepal.
Sites just across the border in India
Bodhgaya:
Where Buddha enlightened under a Holy Banyan tree.
Sarnath :
Sarnath where Siddhartha Gautama who came to be known as the Buddha, the 'Awakened One', delivered his first sermon, after attaining enlightenment.
Kusinagar:
is revered as the site of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, his death and cremation, that marked his final liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth.
Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour:
Buddhism in Nepal dates from the birth of Siddharta Gautama himself. This tour is especially made to highlight the major Buddhist heritage sites of Nepal. For those who are curious about Buddhism, this tour is made to provide them the opportunity to get to know the details about Buddhism and it's culture. It takes you to the major Buddhist pilgrimages in the valley and to the birth place of Lord Buddha to Lumbini. In the valley you will visit Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO and Lumbini (birth place of Lord Buddha) out of the valley. During the trip, visitors can see the Buddhist devotees chanting religious hymns in their religious attire totally devoted to Buddhism. Lumbini is known as the birth place of Lord Buddha "The Light of Asia."
Itinerary: Tour Code (BPT 75)
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu .
Day 02: Sightseeing of Kathmandu Valley with Swayambhu Nath Stupa
Day 03: Sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley and drive to Dhulikhel.
Day 04: Dhulikhel – Namobuddha - Dhulikhel visiting ancient monastery
Day :5 Dhulikhel - Sightseeing of Bhaktapur City and then drive to Kathmandu
Day 06: Drive from Kathmandu-Lumbini (Birth Place of Lord Buddha)
Day 07: Sightseeing of Lumbini. with various Monastery and Temple
Day 08: Drive from Lumbini-Kathmandu.
Day 09 : Sightseeing of Boudha Nath Stupa and visit to Kapan Monastery.
Day 10 : Final Departure
Note: The details of the tour and the cost will be provided upon the request of the Guest
Buddhist circuit Tours:
Siddhartha Gautam, the prince was born in the Kingdom in Nepal who later found the enlightenment in India and came to be known as Gautam Buddha. Beautiful Buddhist monasteries and stupas over the relics have become an inseparable part of Nepalese & Indian art, culture and architecture. Nalanda was once a world center for Buddhism and its philosophy until it disappeared suddenly in 13th century except for the small kingdoms in the hilly tracts. Early 20th century saw re-emergence of Buddhism and even today some of the famous pilgrimage sites in India & Nepal related to Buddhism attract large number of devotees and visitors every year. Most of them are situated around the River Ganges. The significant sites to be visited as great Buddhist centre's are Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath, Shravasti, Kushinara Sankashaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi stupa and other cave temples as in Ajanta and Ellora.
Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha and the site is marked by ruins a great stupa and pillar by Emperor Ashoka. Buddha finally got enlightenment in Bodhgaya, when he was 29 years old, under the Bodhi tree, which seems to have eternal life as it keeps sprouting even after destroyed completely. The Mahabodhi temple and a monastic order looking after the three monasteries are things of interest here. Sarnath monasteries from 3rd century B.C. to the 1st century C.E. are in ruins now. The key factors of Buddhism such as the four noble truths and the philosophy of moderation were taught here. There is Shravasti, where there are several legends about Buddha's miracles said to be performed there and there is Sankashaya, where there are no temples and monasteries but is still a revered place because it was here that Buddha was said to be descended from the Tushita Heaven. Nalanda, Rajgir, Sanchi Stupa, Amravati, and cave temples of Ajanta and Ellora are the preferred Buddhist pilgrimage spots in Buddhist circuit.
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2. Buddhist Circuit Religious Tours - 11 Days
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5. Buddhist Circuit Religious Tours - 9 Days
