Pilgrimage to Nepal & India – 17 Days Get ready to embark on an inspirational Kushinagar - where the Buddha passed one of the most ancient and holy sites in journey to the most important Buddhist away into Mahaparinirvana, visit the Kathmandu. sites in India and Nepal. Explore the Parinirvana Temple, Parinirvana Stupa What’s Included legendary Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal and the Ramabhar Stupa (cremation and Lumbini where the Buddha was stupa) of the Buddha. 16 nights – 3-4 star accommodation born, before traveling to India where he Vaishali – where the Buddha ordained most nights, see website for details. attained Enlightenment, gave his first the first Buddhist nuns; cured people 15 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners teachings and passed away into of a great plague; Ashoka pillar; and the Boat cruise on River Ganges Mahaparinirvana. Take a boat ride on Buddha’s relic stupa. All entry fees to the holy sites and the River Ganges, visit holy mountain Bamboo Grove - where the Buddha museums sites such as Vultures Peak and explore spent many rains retreats. All land travel in Nepal and India the ancient ruins of the famous Buddhist Vulture’s Peak - where the Buddha Four economy class flights: Kathmandu university, Nalanda. Lastly, finish the taught the Heart Sutra, visit Shariputra’s to Bhairahawa, Varanasi to Delhi, Delhi pilgrimage at the stunning caves of cave. to Aurangabad, Aurangabad to Delhi Ajanta and Ellora in Aurangabad. Nalanda – incredible ancient ruins of the Two small bottles of water each day Nalanda Buddhist University; Shariputra’s Specialist local guides at some sites stupa and museum housing hundreds Airport arrival transfer in Kathmandu of Buddhist artifacts uncovered during Touring of Kathmandu, Lumbini, the excavations. Kushinagar, Vaishali, Rajgir, Bodhgaya, Bodhgaya - the Mahabodhi Stupa where Buddha attained Full Enlightenment Varanasi, Sarnath, Ajanta and Ellora underneath the Bodhi tree; ample time Caves. for personal practice, meditation and All tips for the drivers, waiting staff and reflection; visit to a nearby village to see shoe minders how the locals live. Fees for the main guide/teacher and Mahakala Cave – a small but powerful their assistants cave associated with the protector deity in Vajrayana Buddhism, also considered What’s Not Included by many where Buddha meditated for Airfares to Kathmandu and flight 6 years before attaining enlightenment. home out of Delhi Varanasi - take an unforgettable boat Visa fees for Nepal and India ride along the burning ghats on the River Personal travel insurance Ganges; view the exotic Ganga Aarti Excess baggage charges (light offering) ritual. Taxis or rickshaws taken outside the HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Sarnath - where Buddha gave his first normal group travel sermon on the Four Noble Truths; visit Communication costs (Wi-Fi, phone Trip Highlights the Dhamekh Stupa and Archaeological calls, etc.) Museum. Kathmandu - The majestic Boudhanath Aurangabad – the magnificent Ajanta and Optional day tour in Delhi on Day 13 Stupa, symbolic of the Buddha’s mind Ellora Caves carved out to form Laundry and all items of a personal Morning nun’s puja, high on the impressive prayer halls and monasteries nature mountains of Kathmandu* decorated with beautiful murals and Any meals, snacks or drinks not part of Lumbini - the birthplace of the Buddha, stone carvings of the Buddha. the group buffet meals (including the Maya Devi Temple and World Peace breakfast at Druk Amitabha Mountain, Pagoda. * Alternatively visit the Swayambhunath lunch at Ellora Caves, lunch in Delhi on Kapilavastu—where the Buddha grew up. Stupa (also known as 'Monkey Temple'), Day 13, and 3 dinners in Aurangabad). Enthusiastic Buddhist Pilgrimages www.enthusiasticbuddhistpilgrimages.com 1 Pilgrimage to Nepal & India – 17 Days PILGRIMAGE LEADER Stupa which is a spiritual hub for Mindah. We will then visit many lovely Tibetan Buddhists in particular, who Buddhist temples nearby, including the Mindah-Lee Kumar is a Buddhist teacher visit to circumambulate this deeply- World Peace Pagoda (one of many and practitioner from Canberra, Australia. beautifully constructed stupas built She has been studying Buddhism for worldwide to inspire peace and har- over ten years. mony among all). Stay overnight in She was ordained Lumbini. as a nun for three years in the tradi- tion of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. She completed a total of three years solitary retreat in the same tradition. Her aim is to make Buddhist teachings as relevant and as practical as possible and DAY 4: Kapilavastu she posts her work on her website, The Enthusiastic Buddhist. After breakfast, we will visit Kapilavastu where the Buddha lived as a prince DETAILED ITINERARY before leaving his palace. In the after- symbolic structure. We will also visit noon, we return to Buddha’s birthplace DAY 1: Arrival in Kathmandu, some surrounding gompas, including in Lumbini Gardens where you can Nepal one housing a three-storey high statue meditate in the peace and tranquility of of Maitreya, the future Buddha. You will the park. Friday. Upon arrival into Kathmandu, have ample time to circumambulate you’ll be met at the airport and and meditate at Boudhanath Stupa and DAY 5: Kushinagar transferred to the hotel. You are even do some shopping. Around welcome to arrive earlier than this date Boudhanath Stupa are the best places Departing Lumbini we will clear and we can arrange a transfer and any to purchase quality Newari handcrafted immigration at the Nepal/Indian border extra night’s accommodation upon dharma items, including statues and enroute to Kushinagar. Arriving in request. In the evening, we will have an thangkas. Kushinagar, we visit the Parinirvana introductory meeting with all pilgrims Stupa and the Ramabhar Stupa (the at the hotel followed by a buffet dinner. Please note in the event that we cannot cremation stupa) to pay our respects to Stay overnight in Kathmandu. attend the nun’s puja, we will make a the place where the Buddha passed trip to Swayambhunath Stupa (also away into Mahaparinirvana. This is an Day 2: Nun’s Morning Puja known as ‘Monkey Temple’), one of the excellent place for us to reflect on the and Boudhanath Stupa most ancient and holy sites in impermanence of our own lives as well Kathmandu, dating back to as early as as contemplate the extraordinary We will begin our first day of our the third century BC. possibilities if we choose to live a life of pilgrimage with an early 5am start to kindness, virtue and meditation. journey up the mountains to Druk DAY 3: Lumbini Stay overnight in Kushinagar. Amitabha Mountain nunnery. Here we will experience the resonating and After breakfast, departing Kathmandu, DAY 6: Vaishali wondrous chanting of Tibetan nuns we catch a short scenic flight toward while they do their morning puja. After the border of Nepal where we visit Early this morning we will depart this we will have breakfast at the Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. Kushinagar and drive through rural nunnery while enjoying their mountain Here we visit the Maya Devi Temple India to Vaishali. Vaishali was views. which houses the birthstone marking frequented by the Buddha and is the the Buddha’s exact birthplace. The place where he spent his last rains Then we will head back to spend the afternoon activities include a short retreat (a three-month meditation rest of the day exploring Boudhanath teaching and group meditation led by retreat during the monsoon period). Enthusiastic Buddhist Pilgrimages www.enthusiasticbuddhistpilgrimages.com 2 Pilgrimage to Nepal & India – 17 Days Here the Buddha cured the local people stupa, we will head over to the museum DAY 9: Bodhgaya of a great plague and famine, ordained to view the hundreds of Buddhist the first Buddhist nuns, one of them artifacts uncovered during the This morning we return to the main being his step mother, Prajapati excavations. Then, with great temple for free time to do personal Gautami, and also announced his anticipation we will journey onwards to practice. impending departure from earth (his the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage Mahaparinirvana). This afternoon we site of all time, Bodhgaya, the place The afternoon is also free for you to will visit the Ashoka pillar and the where Buddha attained Full spend more time in the temple Buddha’s relic stupa before journeying Enlightenment underneath the Bodhi grounds. onward to Rajgir where we will stay tree. Stay overnight in Bodhgaya. overnight. DAY 10: Mahakala Cave DAY 8: Bodhgaya This morning we take a short drive This morning right after breakfast, we where we will walk uphill to visit the will visit the Mahabodhi Stupa and the cave commonly known as Mahakala Bodhi Tree in the main temple grounds Cave. This cave is associated with the which marks the spot where the protector deity in Vajrayana Buddhism, Buddha attained Full Enlightenment. as well as considered by some as the After exploring each of the significant place where Buddha meditated for six places in the temple grounds associated years before attaining enlightenment. with the Buddha’s awakening, we will make a visit to a nearby village to see After lunch, we will explore some of the Day 7: Bamboo Grove, how the locals live. many Buddhist temples close to our Vulture’s Peak and Nalanda hotel, including some Bhutanese, Japanese, Thai and Tibetan temples. Today after breakfast, we will make a The rest of the day is free for you to brief visit to Bamboo Grove where the spend more time in the blessed sanctu- Buddha spent many rains retreats, ary of the Mahabodhi temple grounds. before taking a scenic walk up to Vulture’s Peak where the Buddha gave DAY 11: Varanasi one of his most revered teachings, known as the Heart Sutra. After a short Shortly after breakfast, we will depart talk and guided meditation at early from Bodhgaya to travel to Shariputra’s cave (one of the Buddha’s Varanasi, an ancient Indian city chief disciples) we’ll head back downhill formerly known as Banaras.