Ex India-Nepal Overland Tour

Day 01 (Lumbini, Bhairawa):    

Lumbini: Meet at Immigration Office at Sonauli border. After completing the visa formalities transfer to hotel at Bhairawa or Lumbini. Check in to the Hotel/ Resort. Free day for stroll around the Lumbini Garden. Lumbini is the pilgrimage destination of the world's millions of people faithful to all schools of Buddhism. The must visit places are Sacred Garden, Maya Devi Temple, the Ashokan Pillar, the sacred pond-Puskarni where just before given birth to Buddha, Maya Devi took the bath. It is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the park, there are other stupas and monuments built by Shri Lanka, Japan, Myanmar, Korea, India, Germany and many other nations making it as a mini world peace center.  o/n hotel.

Day 02: Chitwan National Park:

After early break fast, drive to Chitwan National Park at Chitwan. (Optional on extra charge: you can experience the white water rafting in Trishuli River for 02 - 03 hrs on the way). On arrival, briefing on program & check in to hotel/resort. After lunch, elephant safari or jungle walk or visit elephant breeding center. Evening native cultural programmed with dinner. Dinner at camp or lodge. (Full board basis). o/n hotel.

Day 03: Chitwan National Park:

Wake up call at early morning followed by tea/coffee. Proceed to bird watching tour. After break fast, canoeing trip with crocodile game in the Rapti River. After lunch, elephant back safari to explore jungle. Evening free. o/n hotel.

Day 04: Pokhara:

After breakfast, drive to Pokhara, the most popular destination in Nepal after Kathmandu. It is about 200km from Kathmandu. Pokhara offers magnificent views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Manaslu, Mt. Machhapuchhre; five picks of Mt. Annapurna and of course Fewa Lake. This city is nestled in the tranquil valley and is the starting point for many of Nepal’s most popular trekking and rafting destination. The valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, clear lakes and the world famous views of the Himalayas. On arrival at Pokhara check in to hotel. Evening free, stroll around the lakeside and enjoy the evening. O/n hotel, PKR.

Day 05: Pokhara:

after breakfast, one hour boat ride at Phewa Lake and proceed to s/s tour of Pokhara, covering Bindhyabasini temple, Seti river gorge, Davis falls, Gupteswore Mahadev cave. Afternoon free, stroll around the lake site. O/n hotel, PKR.

Day 06: Dhulikhel:

After breakfast, drive to Dhulikhel via Kathmandu. Dhulikhel is one of the popular tourist resort of Nepal, from where, the panorama of the major peaks of the eastern Nepal Himalaya including Mt. Everest can be seen. This is also famous for world class sunrise & sunset viewing. On arrival check in to hotel. Free, enjoy the cozy atmosphere. o/n hotel.

Day 07: Kathmandu:

After breakfast, proceed to visit Namo Buddha, according to the Buddhist legend, Namo Buddha is the place where the Buddha offered his body to a starving tigress so she could feed her cubs. His reliquary stupa remained underground for centuries. Namo Buddha is a sacred place for Buddhists and many pilgrims come to both the stupa and the monastery nearby especially on Saturdays. It is a the perfect place for the meditation practice, peace lover and picnic parties. After Namo Buddha back to hotel and check out for Kathmandu. On the way, visit world famous Bhaktapur Durbar Square to witness the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind in the entire world, listed in the UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979. After Bhaktapur D/S proceed to Kathmandu and check in to hotel. o/n hotel.

Day 08: Kathmandu:

After breakfast, visit Pashupatinath, Bouddhanath and Kathmandu Durbar Square, listed in the UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979.

A). Pashupatinath Temple:

The temple of lord Shiva, Pashupatinath, is the holiest shrines for million of Hindus, with two tiered golden roof and silver doors. Although only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed in the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Baghmati River. This temple was also listed in the UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979. Just south of this temple, one can see the last rites of Hindu dead bodies at the cremation site.                                                                                

B). Bouddhanath stupa: (listed in UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979.)

This ancient colossal stupa is one of the biggest in the world, and the center of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The first stupa was said to be built some time after 600 ce, after the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo was converted to Buddhism by his two wives, the Nepali princess Bhrikuti – green Tara and Chinese - the white Tara. However, this current stupa must be built after the depredation of Mughal invaders in 14th century. Some believe that there is a piece of bone that belonged to Buddha inside the stupa. The base of the stupa takes the shape of a Mandala (symbolizing earth); on this four tiered base sits the dome (symbolizing water); then comes the spire (symbolizing fire); the umbrella (symbolizing air); and the pinnacle (symbolizing ether). The Buddha's eyes gaze out in four directions from the square base of the spire. There is a third eye between and above the two normal eyes and the nose is actually not nose but the Nepali number one, signifying the unity of all life. The spire is made up of 13 steps, representing the 13 stages on the journey to nirvana. Around the base of the stupa's circular mound are 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. A brick wall around the stupa has 147 niches, each with five prayer wheels bearing the immortal mantra Om Mani Padme Hum. On the north side of stupa is a small shrine dedicated to Ajima, the goddess of smallpox. There are number of Gompas around the Bouddhanath. They are Shakya Gompa, Chinya – lama Gompa, Nyingmapa Gompa, Kargyupa Gompa, Sakyapa Gompa, Gelgupa Gompa.                                                                                                  

C) Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is the historic seat of royalty. The square with its old temples and palaces epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here the kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Interesting things to see around here are: Taleju temple, built in 1549 ad by Mahendra Malla king, the temple of Kaal Bhairav (the god of destruction), Nautalle durbar, coronation nasal chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue of King Pratap Malla, the big drum and the Jaganath temple. It was also listed in the UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979. There are also the numismatic museum and Tribhuvan Museum inside the durbar, in the vicinity of the durbar, there is a Kumari temple in which resides the Kumari (vestal virgin) or the living goddess, who represents a very ancient Hindu deity of Nepal locally known as Taleju, is Buddhist by birth, located near the temple of Kumari, is Kasthamandap (house of wood) which is said to be constructed from wood of a single tree, in the begging of the sixteenth century, the Ashok Vinayak is situated behind the Kasthamandap which is small but very important temple for the Hindus. It is also known as Kathmandu Ganesh or Maru Ganesh. After Kathmandu durbar square walk to Thamel bazaar, the tourist hub of Kathmandu and back to hotel. Check into hotel. Free for own activities. O/n hotel, Ktm.

After Kathmandu Durbar Square, walk to Thamel bazaar, the tourist hub of Kathmandu and back to hotel. Free for own activities. O/n hotel, Ktm.

Day 09: Kathmandu:

After breakfast drive to Patan and visit Patan Durbar Square.

Patan Durbar Square:

Situated in the heart of the city, constitutes the focus of visitors' attraction. The square is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines, noted for their exquisite carvings. The Patan Durbar Square consists of three main chocks or courtyard, 1) the central Mul Chowk, 2) Sundari Chowk which holds in its center a masterpiece of stone architecture, the royal bath called Tushahiti.and 3) Keshar Narayan chowk. It was listed in the UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979. Museum: inside the durbar square, this museum specializes in bronze statues and religious objects. It is considered as one of the best museum in Asia.

Krishna Mandir: this Hindu temple of lord Krishna holds a commanding position in the palace complex of Patan, built in 1637 ad. It is the only temple in Nepal having 21 spires and is completely made of stone. It is supposed to be the first specimen of Sikhara style architecture in Nepal. Mahabouddha: a little further east of durbar square lays this Buddhist temple made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of lord Buddha are engraved. The Terra-cotta structure is one of the fourteenth century Nepalese architectural masterpieces.

Haryana Varna Mahabihar: This three story golden pagoda of lakeshore (lord Buddha) was built in the twelfth century by king Baskar Verma in which the upper story of the pagoda are the golden images of lord Buddha and a large prayer wheel. It is famous as the golden temple. Rudra Verna Mahabihar: this unique Buddhist monastery contains an amazing collection of images and statues in metal, stone and wood. It is believed that the kings in the ancient times were crowned in this monastery. Temple of Machchendranath and Minnath: the pagoda of red Machchendranath built in 1408 ad. For six months, the deity is taken to its other shrine in Bumgmati. The temple of Minnath is on the way to red Machchendranath. Patan industrial estate: this industrial estate is well known for Nepali handicrafts such as wood carvings, metal crafts, carpets and Thanka paintings. For convenience of the tourists, there is a shopping arcade where all the handicraft products are exhibited.

After Patan, visit Swayambhunath:

Swayambhunath stupa. This is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas, said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the four sides of the spires base are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. Around many Buddhist stupas different Dhyani Buddhas are seen in different meditative posture. Swayambhunath is the best place to study the Dhyani Buddha as there are 5 Dhyani Buddhas here facing five directions. It is 3 km west of Kathmandu city and is situated on a hillock about 77m above the level of the Kathmandu valley and hence commands an excellent view of the valley. The stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal. It was also listed in the UNESCO world heritage monument list in 1979.

Back to hotel. Afternoon free for own activities. O/n hotel, Ktm.

Day 10: Departure:

Free till transfer to airport for final destination. End of the tour.