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Buddhist Pilgrimage Tour
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Buddhist Pilgrimage tour in and outskirt of kathmandu

Kathmandu the capital city of Nepal is famous as a touristic hub in the world. This city carries own historical and cultural back ground. This city is also known as city of temples and monasteries. Nepal, a secular country is predominant by Hindus but equally share its space with other religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam etc. Boudanath and Swayambhunath in Kathmandu are one of the holiest Buddhist stupas in Kathmandu. Each year thousands of Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims and Buddhist pilgrims around the world pay homage to these holy sites.

The arrival of Buddhist monks during (c. 563-483 BC) began Buddhism in Kathmandu valley. Newar Buddhism was formed during Hindu Lichchavi era. There were formations of various monasteries, buddhist orders and values during this time. Similarly,  a golden era for Buddhism in Kathmandu began during the period of Princess Bhrikuti and Arniko (1245-1306 AD. Both these national treasure played a pivotal role in spreading Buddhism in Tibet and china in the contemporary situation.   There are over 180 monasteries based on Newar Buddhism, over 50 tibetan Buddhist Monasteries along with various Theravada Bihars.

Padmasambhava, 8th century monk   made the following prediction; ” When the iron eagle flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered over the earth and the Dhamma will go to the land of the red man”. Yes, this is era where his prediction seems to be true. Tibetan buddhist pilgrims are scattering all over the world spreading Buddhist values. The westerners following Buddhist religion has increased significantly over the period of years and same with various people of the world.

Buddhism is that cosmic religion which does not believe in omnipotent god, where truth is found by own life experience, where doubts are easily accepted and inner peace is mostly valued. With the rise of Buddhism in the world and so in Nepal, there has been significant increase in number of Buddhist monasteries in kathmandu. You can find various monasteries in kathmandu or outskirts of Kathmandu.   VIN offers this Buddhist Pilgrimage trip for those volunteers who strongly wish to gain experience on Buddhist life style, observing day-to-day life of young monks, monks but lacks time for the long time involvement.

VIN has been working with 14 different monasteries and nunneries in the out skirts of Kathmandu. With great satisfaction rate of past volunteers VIN is encouraged to design this short Buddhist Pilgrimage trip.

Name of the Trip: Buddhist Pilgrimage visit in kathmandu:

Start date: Flexible regarding the dates depending on the

Duration: 1 night 2 days:

Day I: short induction at VINs office. Visit 2-3 different monasteries on the way, sightseeing and observation.   Head towards the destination monastery. Lunch followed by introduction with the monks. You can now visit monastery area by your own. Evening puja. Dinner.

Day II: Breakfast, involve in morning puja. Observe classes to the young monks, Lunch and drive back

Cost: 120 USD

What is included: VINs orientation, accommodation, transportation and food 1 lunch,1 Dinner and 1 Breakfast, Monastery Donation, VINs project donation.

Duration: 2 nights 3 days.

Day I: Same as day I in above itinerary.

Day II: Breakfast, involve in morning puja. Visit monastery area and observe life style by own. Lunch (If you are skilled, under VINs approval you can also take 1 0r 2 classes in the monastery), evening puja followed by dinner.

Day III: Involve in morning puja, observe monastery by own interaction, Lunch and drive back to Kathmandu.

Cost: 170 USD

What is included: VINs orientation, accommodation, transportation and food, Monastery Donation, VINs project donation.

Duration: 3 nights 4 days.

Day I: same as Day I above

Day II: Breakfast, involve in morning puja. Visit monastery area and observe life style by own. Lunch (If you are skilled, under VINs approval you can also take 1 0r 2 classes in the monastery). Or Observe freely by own ), evening puja and dinner.

Day III:   Activities same as day II . You can also choose to spend night in another monastery or the same.

Day IV: Involve in morning puja, self exploration of monastery , Lunch and drive back to Kathmandu.

Cost: 220 USD

What is included: VINs orientation, accommodation, transportation and food, Monastery Donation, VINs project donation.

Buddhist Pilgrimage tour in and outskirt of Lumbini

Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, is situated at southern portion of Nepal which is around 6 hours drive from capital Kathmandu. It lies on the terai region and is characterized by plane area with high temperature during summer. Being a Buddhist pilgrimage site, it is also listed in UNESCO World Heritage site and has dominant archaeological and religious importance..

Gautam Buddha is also regarded as an incarnation of Hindu God Bishnu. Therefore,   birth place of Buddha is also equally important for hidus. This place is also worshipped as holy place by hindus well. On the full moon of Nepali month of Baishakh, Hindu Pilgrims come to the Mayadevi Temple to worship Queen Mayadevi as Rupa Devi the mother goddess of Lumbini.

Lumbini is also home for many of the Buddhist Monks who settle in many of the monasteries. There are notable number of monuments, museum and Mayadevi Temple. The Sacred Garden which is spread in area of around 9 sq. km. is accompanied by the Ashoka Pillar.   Asok Pillar is made by Ashoka the emperor of Maurya Empire. You can find many pilgrims chanting and meditating in this holy site. The excavation in the Mayadevi temple has revealed the marker stone showing the exact birth place of Gautam Buddha. The Lumbini Museum is another spectacular place that easily attracts people who are interested in history and archeology. This museum has wide variety of Mauryan and Kushana coins, religious manuscripts, terra-cotta pieces, stone and metal sculptures.

Another attraction in lumbini is Puskarni Pond where Queen Mayadevi, Mother of Gautam Buddha used to take bath. The sacred Garden is accompanied by monasteries and monuments built by different countries and it are forbidden to construct any kind of shops, hotels and restaurants around the bordered holy site of Lumbini. There is eastern and western monastic zone. The ravadin Monastery lies in Eastern zone while Mahayana and Vajrayana Monastery lies in Western Zone. The China Temple is built by the Buddhist Association of China which is a complex pagodas containing prayer rooms and meditation cells. The other remarkable temple and monuments are Dae Sung Ga Sa Korean Temple, Japan Peace Stupa, Myanmar Temple and the replica of the Swayambu Stupa of Kathmandu, International Gautami Nuns Temple. There are also other beautiful monuments and temples built by Vietnam, Thiland, Mongolia, France, Germany and Srilanka.

There is also Lumbini International Research Institute which provides facilities for the study of Buddhism and religion. This institute contains around 12 thousand books on religion, philosophy, art and architecture.

Lumbini Pilgrimage Tour

Over 350 million Buddhist followers’ i.e 6.77 world population are eager to pay homage to birth palce of Gautam Buddha, founder of Buddhism. The number of pilgrims visiting lumbini is increasing day by day. VIN   has designed Lumbini Pilgrimage trip focusing on all national and international individuals who wish to visit lumbini within their short time frame.

2 nights 3 days:

Day 1:

Head to lumbini at 7:00 in the morning and reach at 2-3 pm. Lunch and short intro. Visit Afternoon, visit birthplace of Lord Buddha (Maya Devi temple) excursion to Peace Stupa (Japanese monastery).

Day 2

Breakfast followed by Half day excursion to Lumbini Development Trust area. (Eastern monastic zone). Visit to the Vihar of Royal Thai (Thailand), Mahabodhi Society of Calcutta, Myanmar Monastery (Myanmar), Eternal Peace Flame, Lumbini Museum

Lunch Half day excursion to Lumbini Development Trust area. (Western monastic zone) Visit to the

Chinese Monastery (China), the Great Lotus Stupa, (Tara Foundation Germany), Lumbini

International Research Institute (LIRI)

Day 3:

After having breakfast, leave for Kathmandu.

Cost: 180 USD

What is included: Kathmandu to Lumbini tourist bus fare. All meals (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner), Accommodation, Guide service to sightseeing areas, Transportation to the program areas, Entrance tickets where applicable, guide service.

What is excluded: (Price does not include air fare, personal expenses, laundry and bar.)

3 night 4 days:

 Day 1:

Head to lumbini at 7:00 am and reach at 2-3 pm. Lunch and short intro., visit birthplace of Lord Buddha (Maya Devi temple), Excursion to Peace Stupa (Japanese monastery).

Day 2

Breakfast followed by Half day excursion to Lumbini Development Trust area. (Eastern monastic zone). Visit to the Vihar of Royal Thai (Thailand), Mahabodhi Society of Calcutta, Myanmar Monastery (Myanmar), Eternal Peace Flame, Lumbini Museum.

 Lunch followed by Half day excursion to Lumbini Development Trust area. (Western monastic zone) Visit to the Chinese Monastery (China), the Great Lotus Stupa, (Tara Foundation Germany), Lumbini

International Research Institute (LIRI)

Day 3:

Breakfast, the day followed by observing activities in the monastery, interaction with the monks etc. short walk to the local community and experience life style of locals.

Day 4: After having breakfast, drive back to Kathmandu.

Cost : 240 USD

Accommodation: you will be staying in the monastery but if the accommodation is not available in the monastery you might also need to stay in hotel arranged by VIN.

What is included: Kathmandu to Lumbini tourist bus fare, All meals (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner), Accommodation, Guide service to sightseeing areas, Transportation to the program areas, Entrance tickets where applicable, guide service.

What is excluded: (Price does not include air fare, personal expenses, laundry and bar.)

Accommodation: you will be staying in the monastery but if the accommodation is not available in the monastery you might also need to stay in hotel arranged by VIN.

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