Trip Highlights

Day 01: ARRIVAL ~ KATHMANDU
Flight arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. Meet, assist by office representative and transfer to hotel. Check-in at the hotel. PM: Sightseeing tour of Swoyambhunath This Buddhist Stupa is said to be 2000 years old. The Stupa which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of Copper gilt. Painted on the four sided base of the spire are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. This hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas and Pagoda temples. Overnight at Hotel Everest or Hotel Royal Singi or Hotel Manaslu.

Day 02: SIGHTSEEING TOUR
After breakfast sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath.

Kathmandu City: Known as Kantipur, is the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal. Kathmandu is the hub of Nepal's traditional culture and arts. This is the place for rest, relaxation and easy-day sightseeing of historic and artistic temples and monuments, and mountain views. Kashtamandap the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and the Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka, Seto Machendranath and the ancient place of the Nepalese Royalty.

Swoyambhunath Stupa: One of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monuments ever built in Nepal, Furthermore it is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. Boudhanath is an imposing structure standing some 36 meters. The Stupa stands on the massive three level mandala style Platforms surrounded by colourful private family houses. Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage list this site is considered very much like Mecca for the Buddhists and every year tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the Himalayan region visit the stupa.

Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath Temple is one of the holiest Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, the temple built in Pagoda Style has gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Visitors will be permitted to view the temple from the east bank of River Bagmati, entrance in the temple being strictly forbidden to all non Hindus. Pashupatinath is the centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds. Overnight at Hotel Everest or Hotel Royal Singi or Hotel Manaslu.

Day 03: FLY TO LUMBINI
After breakfast drive to Lumbini. Sightseeing tour of Lumbini… Kapilvastu the historical ruins, located some 27 kms. to the west of Lumbini is believed to be the capital of the Sakya Republic, where Lord Buddha lived and enjoyed his life for thirteen years. Kapilvastu has been identified with Tilaurakot by the archaeologists. The place is also believed to have been associated with different important episodes. There are ruins and mounds of old stupas and monasteries made of Kiln-burnt bricks and clay-mortar. The remains are surrounded by a moat and the wall of the city is made of bricks. In fact, the city of Kapilvastu is so grand that it can be easily visualized as a seat of high culture.

Lumbini Ashoka Pillar
Emperor Ashoka erected an inscribed pillar (called Rummindei Pillar after the name of the modern village) to commemorate the spot of Lord Buddha's birth and granted tax-free status to Lumbini; the pillar is 22ft. tall Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveller records that a stupa was also raised at the place where the child Siddhartha as a child was picked up by Indra and other gods.

>> Temple dedicated to Maya Devi, Buddha's mother (c. 3rd cent. B.C. to 4th century A.D.); a bas-relief sculpture of Buddha's birth (c. 3rd cent. .C.)
>> Buddha Jayanthi (April/May) Overnight at Hotel Buddha Maya Garden.

Day 04: DRIVE TO SANULI BORDER
After breakfast drive to Sanauli border and transfer to Kushinagar. Check in and lunch at Hotel Lotus Nikko. PM: Sightseeing tour of Kushinagar, Mahaparinirvana Temple, Mata Kutir Temple and Rambhar Stupa. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day 05: DRIVE TO RAJGIR
After breakfast proceed to Bodhgaya visiting en-route Nalanda and Rajgir. Lunch at Rajgir. Dinner and overnight at Lotus Nikko, Bodhgaya.

Day 06: DRIVE TO VARANASI
After breakfast drive to Sanauli border and transfer to Kushinagar. Check in and lunch at Hotel Lotus Nikko. PM: Sightseeing tour of Kushinagar, Mahaparinirvana Temple, Mata Kutir Temple and Rambhar Stupa. Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Day 07: IN VARANASI
Early morning boat ride on the river Ganges to witness sunrise and Ghats. Breakfast at hotel. AM: Sightseeing tour Sarnath. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon free. Dinner and overnight at hotel, Varanasi.

Day 08: FINAL DEPARTURE
Free till departure. Transfer to airport for the journey onwards.