Explore the land where Light of Asia was born. Learn about his philosophy and learn about the most peaceful religion Buddhism.

Region

Nepal
Maximum Altitude

1400m / 4993ft
Arrival City

Kathmandu
Meals

B|L|D on Tour, |B| in Kathmandu
Accomodation

Hotel
Transportation

Private Vehicle

Overview

Nepal: Birthplace of Gautam Buddha

Nepal holds a significant place in the history of Buddhism as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini in 563 BCE, which is located in the Rupandehi District of Nepal. Lumbini is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and attracts pilgrims and tourists from all over the world who seek to trace the origins of Buddhism and experience the serene environment that inspired the Buddha’s teachings.

Visiting Nepal: A Spiritual Journey

Lumbini: The primary destination for those wishing to visit the birthplace of Buddha is Lumbini. Key attractions in Lumbini include:

Maya Devi Temple: This temple is the exact birthplace of Buddha, where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama. The sacred pond next to the temple is believed to be where Maya Devi bathed before giving birth.
Ashoka Pillar: Erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BCE, this pillar marks the site of Buddha’s birth.
Lumbini Garden: A peaceful area that houses monasteries built by Buddhist communities from different countries, each reflecting unique architectural styles.
Sacred Bodhi Tree: A descendant of the original tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment.

Stupas and Monasteries: Apart from Lumbini, Nepal is dotted with numerous stupas and monasteries that reflect the country’s deep-rooted Buddhist heritage:

Swayambhunath Stupa: Also known as the Monkey Temple, this ancient religious complex sits atop a hill in Kathmandu and offers panoramic views of the city. It is one of the oldest and most revered Buddhist sites in Nepal.
Boudhanath Stupa: Located in Kathmandu, Boudhanath is one of the largest spherical stupas in the world and a significant center of Tibetan Buddhism.
Kopan Monastery: Situated on a hilltop near Boudhanath, this monastery is renowned for its meditation courses and serene environment.

Overview of Visiting Nepal

Visiting Nepal as the birthplace of Buddha provides a rich cultural and spiritual experience:

Historical Significance: Explore the origins of Buddhism and understand the early life of Gautam Buddha through archaeological sites and monuments.
Cultural Diversity: Experience the harmonious blend of Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as the diverse cultures and traditions of Nepal.
Natural Beauty: Beyond its spiritual and historical sites, Nepal offers breathtaking landscapes, from the Himalayas to lush valleys and rivers.
Hospitality: Nepalese

trip Highlights

Lumbini - Birthplace of Buddha: Visit the Maya Devi Temple, marking the exact birthplace of Buddha, marvel at the historic Ashoka Pillar, explore the serene Lumbini Garden with monasteries from various Buddhist countries, and meditate under the Sacred Bodhi Tree.
Stupas and Monasteries: Experience panoramic views from Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), visit Boudhanath Stupa (one of the largest in the world), and engage in meditation courses at Kopan Monastery.
Cultural and Natural Exploration: Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley, embark on jungle safaris in Chitwan National Park, and enjoy serene Phewa Lake and adventure activities in Pokhara.
Local Experiences: Immerse in Tharu culture with traditional dances in Chitwan and visit Sherpa villages in the Khumbu region.
Scenic Treks: Trek to Everest Base Camp and witness the Khumbu Icefall, traverse the diverse landscapes of the Annapurna Circuit, and experience vibrant rhododendron forests and wildlife in Langtang Valley.
Spiritual Retreats: Stay with monks and participate in prayer sessions, and engage in yoga and meditation amidst the tranquil Himalayas.

Day 1 :

Arrival Day in Kathmandu

Nepal opens from the air. During the flight, you can see the gorgeous view of mountains, green forest, paddy fields, and even the busy Kathmandu has its one charm from the aerial view. Once you land in Kathmandu, get your visa, claim your luggage and right outside the airport hall, our representative will be holding a placard of Access Nepal with your name who will provide you a warm Nepali welcome and escort you to hotel. In the hotel, our representative will be providing you briefing about the whole trip. In the evening we will be organizing a welcome dinner for you guys in a really cozy Nepali restaurant that serves authentic Nepali cuisine with some local cultural show.

Day 2 :

Sightseeing Swaymbhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa and Chat with Monk, evening visit to Patan Durbar Square

According to myth, Kathmandu was once a lake with big hills surrounding it. Manjushree a great warrior from Tibet cut the hill of Chobar, letting all the waterflood and making it good for settlement. During the waterflood, A Buddhist stupa was suddenly arisen, hence giving the name Swaymbhunath meaning “Self-existent one”. Swaymbhunath is also a monastery and a museum where we will spend some time before driving to Boudhanath. Built-in 14th Century, Boudhanath is a stupa located in the center of Kathmandu with colorful flags surrounding it. In the ancient time, people used to make offerings and worshipped Boudhanath before traveling to Tibet for business. We will also organize an opportunity for you to talk with the local monk about Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy. we will also visit local monasteries and joined monks for the prayer. You can see a lot of Hindu temples and Buddhist Stupas in Patan, an ancient palace courtyard. Newars, the ethnic community who have been living in Kathmandu from ancient times has a mix of caste following Buddhism and Hinduism which depicts the religious harmony in Nepal. A young girl from the Buddhist community is also chosen as a vessel for Hindu Goddess Taleju who is worshipped as a living goddess in Kathmandu Valley. We will visit and pray the living goddess as well during this quest.

Day 3 :

Fly to Bhairawa and Drive to Lumbini

We will catch the earliest flight to Bhairawa and then drive for an hour to reach Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. Crown prince Siddhartha Gautama was a kind and curious person from early childhood His father tried to bound him by the worldly attachments and luxury inside the palace but he left the palace in search of knowledge and true meaning life to end the suffering of a human. After years of search, he finally got enlighten and then people began to call him as Gautama Buddha. We will take a day to visit inside the Lumbini and also will join on the prayers in the monasteries. Lumbini Garden, Maya Devi temple, Pukarni pond, Ashika Pillars, etc will be our main sites of visit.

Day 4 :

Sightseeing Lumbini

Today after breakfast, we will drive to Tilarakot which is 10 Km north of Lumbini. Gautama Buddha spends his 29 years as a prince in Tilarakot where you can see the remains of his house and garden. The beautiful archeological site, Tilarakot is one of the very important historical sites. Devdaha was the maternal home of Gautama Buddha and young Gautama Buddha was very fond of the place spending a lot of his childhood and youth there. The religious and historical sites have Pakari Brikshya, a beautiful park with 7 meters Buddha’s statue, Gold statue of Sariputra (the first and top disciples of Gautama Buddha), Bodhi Brikshya as religious attractions.

Day 5 :

Fly back to Kathmandu and Drive to Namobuddha

After our breakfast, we will drive back to Bhairawa airport and fly back to Kathmandu. From Kathmandu airport, we will drive for 2 hours to reach another important religious site, Namobuddha where we will be staying in a monastery learning about Buddhism and joining the monks on their meditation, chants, and prayers.

Day 6 :

Visit Namobuddh Monastery and join the prayer along with the monks, Drive back to Kathmandu in the evening and Farewell Dinner

According to legend, in ancient times there was a young prince wandering around a forest where he saw a starved lioness with her cubs. Due to starvation, the lioness didn’t have any milk for her cubs and touched by it, the young prince offered his life to the lioness saving the cubs and the lioness with his blood and flesh. The remain of the young prince was buried where the monastery stands now and Gautama Buddha while visiting the place announced that he was a reincarnation of the same young prince. After praying and spending the afternoon in the monastery we will drive back to Kathmandu.

In the evening we will have a farewell dinner to celebrate the wonderful time we had in Nepal.

Day 7 :

Final Departure

Today is your last day in Nepal. Carrying all the beautiful memories of the trip, we will head towards the Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours prior to our scheduled fighght time.