Nepal Buddhist Tour

Swayambhunath, Buddhist tour

Swayambhunath, to the west of Kathmandu Valley, is an ancient religious site on the top of a hill. It’s also known as ‘Monkey Temple,’ foretold in many mythological stories. It is a sacred Buddhist temple but is also popular among Hindus.

Swayambhunath stupa has giant eyes and eyebrows that have symbolic meanings. The word ‘Swayambhu’ means self-created. The parts of the stupa have different purposes. The dome signifies the whole world. The eyes represent wisdom and compassion, and the curled nose symbolizes unity. History says a ruler inside Kathmandu Valley found it around the Lichhavi period. Even Emperor Ashoka built a monument to it later.

Boudhanath

Boudhanath is a big white dome between a giant Mandala with a big pair of huge eyes that symbolize a beacon of peace. Many tourists come just for a visit or as a pilgrim to this 14th-century-built Buddhist stupa.

This spectacular Buddhist site became the pilgrimage center for many centuries and is still notable. People gather here to see the grand view of the site. They offer peace and prayers through lights, butter candles, chants, etc. The prayer flags, wheels, and monks will give you spiritual vibes. You will observe the serenity in the aura and air of this place.

Namo Buddha

Namo Buddha is on the outskirts of the valley, particularly to the southeast of a valley surrounded by the Tamang community. It would be best to drive for a few hours to get there.

At an elevation of around 1750m, it is perfect for a short hike, meditation, and watching the beautiful sunrise and sunset. Along with the magnificent view of the mountain peak, this Buddhist site is an important pilgrimage site.

Legend says that the Namo Buddha stupa was built on the bones of the Prince, who offered himself to a hungry tigress to save her and her cubs. The vital lesson for any individual on the learning path is to overcome compassion and help without hesitation. The same thing happened to the Prince; hence, this Monastery is prominent for all Buddhist followers.

Kapan Monastery

Kapan monastery on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley is well-known for preaching Buddhism to practitioners. You can visit the Monastery and take a look around every Saturday. Otherwise, it doesn’t allow the public to enter on other days of the week.

This Monastery accommodates around 400 monks and teaches them to get a monastic life. It’s an excellent place to learn more about Buddhism and its philosophy, as you can interact with monks and use their library.

Pharping Monastery

On the southern outskirts of the Kathmandu valley, there is a sacred site for Buddhists, Pharping Monastery. Around 200 monks reside and study Buddhism in this Monastery.

This peaceful and calm place offers visitors a break. You can meditate, study Buddhist philosophy, or experience a monastic life for a day or more. A small hotel near the Monastery runs the Monastery and helps with its expenses.

Besides the monastery area is the Vajrayogini temple, famous for being used by Newar Buddhists. You can also visit the Yanglesho cave, a small retreat near the Monastery. Pharping Monastery is a renowned institution for young monks who want to live a monastic life.

Matepani Gumba

Legend says that the Tibetan king, who used a sacred sword to slay demons, lost his sword in Matepani, Pokhara. Since then, it has been a holy and auspicious place.

The Monastery has beautiful architecture and marvelous art on the wall. Though it has its own mythological story, people only found the Monastery in 1960 AD.

Monks perform daily and special rituals at the end of the day. You might observe the rare tradition if you have a friend there. Walking up to the gumba, you will see the spectacular view of Mount Machhapuchhre and the serene environment.

World Peace Stupa

World Peace Stupa is one of the significant tourist attractions in Pokhara. It is one of eight peace stupas built by a monk of Nipponzan-Myohoji. Four statues from different places signify different yet sacred meanings: special pujas and daily Buddhist rituals are held in the Dhamma hall near the peace statue.

You will find majestic Annapurna Himalayas and lake views from Pokhara. Pokhara City is also famous for hiking and cycling trails for tourists. You can enjoy the religiously significant peaceful place with a splendid panoramic view in Pokhara, Nepal.

Hyangja Tibetan Refugee Camp

Hyangja is on the outskirts of Pokhara Valley. You can take a vehicle to this small village or hike it.

This village consists of Tibetan refugees who fled China during the Cultural Revolution. They live here, and they practice their Buddhist rituals in the monasteries. They are still keeping their language, culture, and traditions alive.

If you made it to the camp, you could explore the areas and monasteries with someone who knows the site better. You can interact with them and learn more about their Buddhist cultures and language.

You may buy some handmade and eccentric souvenirs from them. They sell handmade bracelets, necklaces, rings, woodcarvings, carpets and rugs, and clothing. They also sell authentic thangka paintings.

Maya Devi Temple, Nepal Buddhist tour

Maya Devi temple is the main temple around the site of the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

It has a sacred garden and a sacred pool. Archaeologists have found the first evidence of Buddha’s life here. So many archaeologists have invested their time and effort in discovering many facts and artifacts of ancient times.

Emperor Ashoka built the temple when he visited it around the third century. This ancient temple is of the utmost importance, being the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ashoka Pillar

Emperor Ashoka built the Ashoka pillar while he was in Lumbini to pay homage to the birthplace of Buddha. After losing his life in the Kalinga War, Ashoka devoted his later life to Buddhism. He built several Ashoka pillars in India and Nepal.

The Ashoka Pillar in Nepal is half-broken and capped to protect it from breaking down. The construction of this pillar was to honor the Emperor’s visit to Lord Buddha’s birthplace. You may find it fascinating because the Emperor visited the place around the 3rd century.

And this pillar still stands here even though it’s half broken in present status. You will find more facts about it once you visit and read the inscriptions on the stone.

World Peace Stupa, Lumbini, Nepal

Two peace stupas were built in Nepal, one in Pokhara and another in Lumbini. The architecture and design of the stupas are the same, signifying the world piece. The white dome looks fascinating from far and near as well.

The Japanese built it on the premises of the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Like the World Peace Stupa of Pokhara, it has four statues of different Buddhas brought from other countries.

Tilaurakot in Lumbini

Tilaurakot is on the outskirts of Lumbini. It traces the ancient royal family in which Gautam Buddha was born and spent his first 29 years as a prince in this old location.

There are remnants of the palace, which you will see while visiting it. After much research, archaeologists have found palaces, temples, monuments, sculptures, ponds, etc. They have also displayed many artifacts in the museum.

Siddartha Gautam Buddha pioneered Buddhism in the Indian Subcontinent, including Nepal. He is believed to have been born between 563 and 483 BCE and is considered the one whose teachings laid the foundation for Buddhism.

Traveling around Nepal isn’t challenging for tourists. You can quickly explore different locations. If you know English, it won’t be difficult for you to interact with people. Most people of Nepal can speak English fluently. You can even find translators if people don’t understand your language.

As a traveler on a Buddhist tour in Nepal, you might need a professional guide, which you can easily hire through travel agencies. You may need a permit from a related organization to enter the Monastery and observe the monks’ monastic life.

You might need to hike to some Buddhist sites or take a private vehicle. However, it’s not that hard to reach them. You can either take any means of transportation or walk on your own.

Nepal is a safe country to travel in, although it has an open border with India and shares a border with China. The rate of severe crime is comparatively lower than in any other country if you are careful while in the streets of Nepal; crimes that mainly occur to people are minor ones like pickpocketing and mugging.

Similarly, we don’t have any problem even though solo females can travel and tour cities and mountains.

Siddhartha Gautam Buddha (Lord Buddha) was born in Lumbini of Kapilvastu kingdom, present-day Nepal. Lumbini site holds Mayadevi temple, which is said to be the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Twenty kilometers west of Lumbini is Tilaurakot, which has been concluded to be the kingdom of the Saky dynasty.

The tour cost depends on the itinerary type and Accommodation categories every night, whatever you have chosen. These packages are the basic ones that you will find in different travel agencies or companies.

Similarly, if you are traveling in a group, then you might get a heavy discount.

There are some privileges for couples traveling together. It would help if you made an inquiry and only decided how much money you would spend on your tour.

The vehicle is significant wherever you travel and tour Nepal. We can’t walk to our travel destinations, even though we will trek in the Himalayas. Boundless Adventure provides vehicles according to the size of your group—cars for up to 3/4 of people.

Jeep or van for 6/7 people. TOYOTA Hiace/minibus for up to 14 people, Bus for 24, 32, and 45 people. Every vehicle has complete air conditioning.

You can find all sorts of lodging facilities every day. On the trip, you can get budget and standard hotels to luxurious five-star hotels. You can also find some tacky yet very affordable lodges. As you know, the price range for the rooms is according to the categories of the hotel.

Hence, you can select the accommodation type on your own. You can use such a facility to meditate and experience monastic life. If you want a luxury stay, you can enjoy your accommodation to the fullest.

Food is the primary thing you must be careful about when traveling and touring. You must ensure that food is safe to eat, as you can get sick if you don’t have clean food. It would be best to ensure that the prepared ingredients were good and the kitchen was hygienic.

Your packaged tour will include a professional licensed tour guide during your trip. Your guide will speak English as a primary language. We can provide language-specific guides at an extra cost if you require language-specific guides.

You can travel to Nepal in any season. It’s not like you will have any problem visiting Nepal, but autumn and fall are the best seasons to travel.

March to June and September to December are the best months to visit Nepal, as the weather is warm, dry, and pleasant. You can see the blue sky, magnificent Himalayas views, and greenery.

Not suggested Buddhist tour season in Nepal

Since autumn and fall are suitable for travel, monsoon and winter aren’t good seasons. The monsoon makes the roads slippery. Most roadways to Pokhara, Lumbini, and Kathmandu are landslide-prone areas. You will continuously have flight delays due to rainfall, and Pokhara receives the most precipitation.

During the winter, the heavy fog will disappoint you on your tour. The area is moist, so traveling on roads and airways isn’t easy. But many people who travel worldwide can come here in any season.

Nepal is a tiny and beautiful country. You will love traveling to this country. The welcome, love, and farewell you will get here are warm and cozy. You will love the hospitality and friendly nature of the people.

Since Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal, your Buddhist tour will be fascinating and wondrous. You will love the place, monasteries, people, food, and schedule. The facts you will learn about Buddhism and the practices Buddhists use to live their lives are very informational.

You can get firsthand experience of how to live a monastic life, learn meditation, and spend quiet time in nature. Besides, it is very safe to travel to Nepal as the serious crime rate is comparatively meager here. You can have a fun and safe trip here.