Trips

Buddist adventure

This tour is ideal for culture lovers and those interested in Buddhism. You will learn about the birthplace of the Buddha, experience Buddhist ceremonies, and get to know the beautiful Kathmandu valley and its people.

You will be shown all the most special places in Kathmandu, visit Bhaktapur, and find time for a short trek. You will experience a beautiful comprehensive adventure.

The expedition is available for everyone, no preparation is required, it will be good for families with children as well. It can be a supplement to a mountain adventure or a dedicated trip.

negotiable

790 USD

Lumbini

Katmandu

Offer description

Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Budda Shakyamumi, was born in 560 B.C., in Lumbini, a locality situated in the south of the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.  According to the Buddhist sutras, queen Maya Devi gave birth to him there unexpectedly during a journey. Soon Lumbini became a pilgrimage centre (since at least 3rd century B.C.), and in 1997 it was inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, at the same time is considered among the four main holy places of Buddhism. In 2013 archaeologists discovered traces of the timber structure from the 6th century B.C., which is a vestige of the oldest Buddhist temple standing in the birthplace of Buddha. From Lumbini Buddhism disseminated all over Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley where today is common and it may seem – at least equally popular as Hinduism. Although only 10% of Nepal’s population practice Buddhism, but this unusual religion or rather a philosophical system, in this culturally diverse country perfectly coexists here with predominant Hinduism. The inhabitants of Nepal regardless their faith live in harmony and moreover, often celebrate together common religious ceremonies. 

An expedition we propose allows for getting to know a cradle of Buddhism, as well as become better acquainted with unusual spirituality, principles and traditions.

We will start our travel from sightseeing Kathmandu, a capital of Nepal. We will go to many unique places, inter alia, Buddhist Boudhanath sanctuary – with the most famous stupa in the world and Swayambunath Monkey Temple from which is offered a unique view of the Kathmandu Valley. It will be also a chance to visit the largest Hindu Pashupatinath Temple and a royal plaza – the Durbar Square. These historical object are inscribed the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. We will visit a tourist district – Thamel where life goes on with different rhythm. It is always loud and crowded here. You will have an opportunity to enjoy a Nepalese cuisine in one of the many restaurants or cafes and try your hand at negotiations, bargaining with sellers. Here you can purchase different local products, as beautiful cashmere scarves, and other souvenirs for you loved ones in Poland. 

Then we will go to  Lumbini, a place where Buddha was born, where aim pilgrims from different parts of the world to acknowledge a source of the Buddhist religion, and meditate in the beautiful garden. After returning to Kathmandu an usual nature spectacle awaits for us – a sunset which you will watch from the hills of Nagarkot. We will also visit Bhaktapur, a former capital of Nepal.

A program of this expedition was created with people who would like to get to know about a cradle of Buddhism and learn more about this philosophical system. At the same time, not deciding for a longer hiking in the mountains they would be able to admire Nepalese nature and unique historical monuments.

Interior of a Buddhist temple, Nepal
Boudhanath stupa, Katmandu, Nepal

Program

After arrival and settling visa formalities you will be welcomed by a Guide of the Meroway Adventure, who will take you to the hotel. After accommodation you can rest after a travel or alternatively – even on the same day visit Swayambunath Temple, a so called the Monkey Temple – situated only a 20-minute walk distance from Thamel – a tourist district. A temple was founded before the 5th century AD and it is a place of worship among the Nepalese. A legend says that Buddha himself visited it and taught there. It is situated on the hill, overlooking a beautiful view over a city. You can spend an evening in one of the local restaurants. An overnight stay in the hotel.

This day after a breakfast first you will visit Pashupatinath Temple. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Nepal, situated about 5 km from the city centre, on the banks of Bagmati River, in the eastern part of the country. It is a sacred place of the devotees of Hinduism, to which they pilgrimage largely. Each year, especially during the festival of Maha Shivaratri, a lot of India residents come here. This large temple of Shiva consists of many complexes of the separate buildings and monuments. In many places you can meet the Sadhu holy persons with traditionally painted faces. Undoubtedly, Pashupatinath is one of the most important objects of the Nepalese heritage. 

Then we will go the Boudhanath sanctuary, with the largest stupa in the southern Asia which is the main centre of the Tibetan Buddhism in this country. A stupa of 36 meters height is located in the centre of the ancient trade road of the Tibetans. Since the 1950s of 20th century it has become also a place around which a lot of the Tibetan refugees settle down. Up till now many of them lives just in the neighbourhood of Boudhanath. A part of people consider that a stupa was found in the 5th century AD, but still there is a lack of the unequivocal evidences confirming this date. 

Then we will wander to the central plaza of the city – the Durbar Square. This previous royal seat was built in the 12th century. You will see there a lot of unique buildings, including the Kumari Bahal temple (A House of the Living Goddess), where you will find the grace of meeting Kumari herself – a living incarnation of the goddess. You will also see Kasthamandap (a house built from wood from a single tree) and an old museum. This place is situated in the city centre, in the vicinity of Thamel.

An overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Early in the morning we go by a tourist bus to Lumbini. A travel will last about 8 hours, and during it one provides breaks for meals. After reaching a destination, an accommodation in the hotel and a short rest we will invite you for a walk in the neighbourhood; you will visit the remains after the first temple, and we will walk along paths of the Buddha Garden. An overnight stay in Lumbini.

After breakfast we will go to sightsee the holy places of Buddhism, which distinguish with a unique architecture: Tilaurakot, Gotihawa, Kudan, Siddharthanagar, Niglihara, Sagarhawam Aurorakot.

After breakfast we will go by a tourist bus back to Kathmandu. A travel will last about 8 hours, and during it will stop twice for a meal. After coming back to Kathmandu one will be able to rest and go to the Thamel by yourselves to buy souvenirs because on the following day they may be not enough time for that ;). An overnight stay in Kathmandu.

We wake up early in the morning in order to be before a sunrise in the mountain town of Nagarkot, located 32 km from Kathmandu. There we will watch a beautiful, a 360° panoramic view of the Kathamandu Valley and admire astonishing, Himalayan tops, among them, the highest – Mount Everest. Then we will travel to Bhaktapur – a former capital, the third largest town in Nepal, mostly inhabited by the Newars. In Bhaktapur we will visit, first and foremost, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the unusual plaza with a unique wooden and stone architecture and numerous temples. We will have a walk in the vicinity, getting to know charms of this town which has preserved a unique medieval character up till now. During a walk we will certainly not once try a royal yoghurt which is famous all around Nepal! Then we will travel back to Kathmandu. In the evening we will meet together at a gala dinner in the restaurant which serves a traditional Nepalese cuisine and provides a cultural programme. An overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Today is the last day of Your travel. If you would like to extend your stay, go for other excursion or mountain hike – just let us know. However, if this day you come back home, a Guide will drive you to the airport 3 hours before a departure. Thank you, that you have decided for an expedition with the Meroway Adventure. We wish you a happy return to the homeland. 

Price

The price does not include any hidden costs. The offer has been prepared so as to provide comprehensive benefits, we created it on the basis of our experience and the preferences of existing customers. Please read the details of the offer below.

Price includes

Price does not include

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In addition to the proposals presented on the website, we have a great openness to create individual programs tailored to the needs of a particular person or group of people. Our guests are happy to take advantage of this opportunity as well.

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