Buddhist Holy Circuit Around Nepal With Halesi

On arrival at Kathmandu international airport, where View Nepal guide and staff receives you with warm welcome and then transfer to respective hotels, after refreshment join for briefing and orientation program where our guide informs on Buddhist Holy Circuit around Nepal regarding Heritage Sites and related information of the area of visit with welcome dinner in nice typical Nepalese Restaurant.

Kathmandu valley steeped with ancient heritage sites and monuments of both Hindu and Buddhist, morning after breakfast our tours starts with a short drive to Swayambhunath, a popular and famous pilgrimage sites for Buddhist and Hindu as well.

An ancient Chaitiya of Asia and a major symbol of Nepal’s Buddhist heritage, Swayambhunath represents Primordial Buddha or Adi-Buddha.

The hill top where Swayambhunath Chaitiya is built is called Padmagiri, Vajrakuta, Gosringa, Gopuchha, Samhegu, and Simbhu and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Swayambhunath area offers grand views of whole Kathmandu valley with distant snow capped peaks.

After Swayambhunath visit Patan or Lalitpur City, which is close to Kathmandu and an adjoining city located south of Kathmandu on the other side of Bagmati River, an historical and cultural area with old palace buildings, artistic courtyard.

The famous Kwa Baha also popularly called Golden Temple is situated in Patan. The Vhara is known by several names such as Sri Bhaskaradeva Samskarita Hiranyavarna MahaVihara, Kwa Baha, Kwaba and Hiranyavarna MahaVihara. Kwa Baha is a Tibetan style monastery.

The Mahabouddha Temple also known as Mahabodhi Mandap Vihara, one of the most well-known Buddhist sites of Patan, the architecture of the temple inspired by Bodh-Gaya temple structure in Bihar, this temple a branch of Rudravarna MahaVihara (Ukubaha).
After Patan tour leads to Bouddhanath, an important Buddhist pilgrimage and heritage sites in Nepal. The story and history mentions that this Stupa contains relics of Buddha Kashyapa, with 176 miniature stupas and paintings of Tibetan Buddhist pantheons cover the walls that surround the Stupa at Bouddhanath.

Newari style Chaitiya adorns the four gates of this large dome Stupa.

The Bouddhanath Stupa believed to be incarnation of Dharmakaya (Buddha mind) and hence an object of devotion for all Buddhists. The Stupa built in traditional Nepalese architectural style consists of a raised platform, a spherical dome, a cubical steeple and a spire of 13 discs. The plinth that consists of three terraces is believed to represent thirty-seven factors of enlightenment.

The dome represents Tathagatagarbha (the Buddha nature) from which virtuous special qualities develop.

Bouddhanath Stupa is an important pilgrimage site for Tibetans which is mentioned in Tibetan classical texts such as Biography of Yeshe Tshogyal (A.D. 8-9) and Padma Ka’thang (A.D.14).

The Tibetan government had jurisdiction over the Stupa from 17th century to 19th century. Bouddhanath has numerous Tibetan monasteries; Bouddhanath area is also called the Vatican of Tibetans or as Little Tibet.

Morning received by our guide and drives for short drive to Bhaktapur a medieval period type of city area located east of Kathmandu; in Bhaktapur visit of famous heritage places the name Bhaktapur means the city of Devotes.

Bhaktapur is 3rd largest city around Kathmandu valley, the city was once a capital of Nepal during great Malla Kingdom from 12th to 15th century.

Situated at an altitude of 1,401 meter home to traditional art and architecture, pottery and weaving industries, rich local customs and culture as every-day life of Bhaktapur people.

Places of interest in Bhaktapur:

Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Bhaktapur Naytapola Temple
The Bhaktapur National Art Gallery
Bhairavnath Temple of Bhaktapur

After a pleasant and exciting time in Bhaktapur, our tour continue with a drive to Dhulikhel just an hour drive a famous Hill Resorts of Nepal after Nagarkot, overnight at Resorts with stunning sunrise and sunsets over Himalayan mountains from Ganesh-Langtang Lirung-Jugal Himal-Gaurishankar to Everest region. Afternoon free and visit the local town or just relax.

Dhulikhel:
Dhulikhel (1440m.) a small town with long history, records show that it has been around for more than 500 years. The artistic skill and urban ethos of its Newar inhabitants have created a place of charm and beauty. Streets lined with bare-brick houses, carved wooden windows, sloping title roofs, pagoda temples and sacred statues everywhere. You will think you have wandered into a cultural theme park.

After a nice morning catching views of sunrise over Himalayan peaks, after breakfast a short drive to Namo-Buddha one of the holiest place for Buddhist in perfect tranquility surrounded with tall pine trees, after an interesting tour and visit of religious sites return back to Kathmandu with afternoon free.

Short Notes on Namo-Buddha:
One of the unsurpassable supreme sacred sites known as the Three Stupas in Nepal is Tagmo Lüjin ("The place where the future Buddha sacrificed his body to a tigress"). It is the very sacred place where the teachers, the perfect and supreme Buddha-at that time still on the path of learning-offered his own body without regret to a tigress suffering from great hunger. What follows is a history of this supreme and distinguished sacred site, whose location is unmistaken based on the clear identification given in the Sutra Requested by the Tigress and so forth.

Starting early this morning pilgrimage to Halesi Mahadev Temple taking a helicopter ride to east Nepal, the holy site located on mid hills of Khotang district, where a hike can take many hours from the nearest airstrip of Lamidanda, to save time and make the trip smooth efficient taking a chartered Heli flights.

Halesi Mahadev Temple a beautiful temple with many caves, also known as Pashupatinath of Eastern Nepal, the three main caves represents eyes of Shiva. These caves call as Maratika by Buddhist followers where Lord Padmasambhava “founder of Tibetan Buddhism of late 6th Century also known as great Rinpoche” and his wife Mandarava freed themselves from the circle of life and thus became immortal receiving Vidyadhara of longevity.

Here witness an interesting cave of Shiva's footsteps in the air shaft and intestines of the monster that he killed lie on a ceiling. After Bashmasur got killed this cave was made into a temple, you can witness a natural Shiva Linga (Phallus) formed by a stalagmite.
After an interesting and well worth a visit fly back to Kathmandu taking more than an hour Heli flight on reaching Kathmandu airport transfer to your hotel.

Morning a short drive south of Kathmandu with a visit of Pharping renown as holy Buddhist place, where Guru Padmasamba (Gurun Ringboche) stayed here meditating on his way to Tibet from India in early 7th century.

After a pleasant and interesting time back to hotel for lunch, afternoon transfer to domestic air terminal for scenic flight to Bhairahawa, on reaching at Bhairahwa airport, a short drive to Lumbini and transfer to hotel with afternoon sightseeing tour of sacred garden then return to hotel.

Depart hotel for morning interesting tour around Lumbini visit birthplace of Lord Buddha which holds a special place in the Buddhist world.

It is also mentioned in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta that the Buddha advised his followers to visit Lumbini. Emperor Asoka of Magadha Kingdom of India made a pilgrimage in 3rd Century BC and built world famous pillar with inscription stating”Here Lord Buddha was born”. Chinese pilgrims Tsen Tsai (4th Century A.D.), Fa-hsien (5th Century A.D.) and Hiuen-Tsang(7th Century A.D.) accounted their travel to Lumbini mentioning that they witness the holy tree, the pond, stupas and shrines. Hiuen Tsang described the Asoka Pillar with a horse capital on the top of it. Temple of Maya Devi, mother of Lord Buddha has been recently renovated under the vigilance of UNESCO. Several foreign monasteries and stupas have been constructed in Lumbini area.

After a wonderful and interesting visit retire back into hotel with afternoon free for own individual activities.

After a holy pilgrimage drive to Bhairahawa airport for flight to Kathmandu on reaching Kathmandu transfer to respective hotels.

Last day in Nepal as per your flight time transfer to Kathmandu international departure for flight back to home countries after a great moment and experience on Buddhist Holy Circuit Around Nepal with Halesi Mahadev visit.

Bon Voyage !

On completing impressive and interesting Buddhist Holy Heritage Sites in Nepal. “May Lord Buddha Bless you with Buddha Wisdom”?