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From September 23 to October 9, 2024
Summary Itinerary
Clicking on the days of travel in the summary itinerary will take you to the detailed itinerary for that day and vice versa clicking on the day in the detailed itinerary will return you to the summary itinerary. In the detailed itinerary, in addition to the images and description of the days, we also have the day of the month and the week
Main Program
Detailed Itinerary
Namo Buddha
After our trip through Tibet, back to Nepal. We will continue to our hotel in a very quiet region of the valley, close to another important Buddhist site, Namo Buddha. In a previous life, Buddha Shakyamuni, when he was still a bodhisattva, encountered a hungry tigress with nothing to feed her cubs. Buddha, due to her level of achievement, offered her own body where there is now a Thrangu Rinpoche monastery. Just below, after a pleasant walk, there is a stupa where the Buddha's brothers, in that life, kept his relics.
Today will be a day to sit, rest, read, photograph, walk or do our meditation practice. From the restaurant area of our hotel, in good weather, we will have a view of the snow-capped Himalayas, the region we have been traveling through in recent weeks.
Flight 23SEP Himalaya Airlines H9775 Lhasa 12:15 Namo Buddha 11:35
Another very welcome day to enjoy this peaceful region of the Kathmandu Valley.
Suggestion: walk of approx. 35 min to Thrangu Rinpoche monastery. Visit to the monastery, the place where Buddha offered his body to the tigress. Then a pleasant short walk to the stupa where the Buddha's brothers, in that life, kept his relics. Return calmly to the hotel. We will have completed the visit to the three most sacred stupas in the Kathmandu Valley and it will be an important opportunity, at the stupa itself or back at our hotel, to sit, read, write or take advantage of our meditation practice. We suggest using a local guide, from the Namo Buddha region, than having a guide coming from Kathmandu. Payment can be made directly to him, approx. 25 usd. We help organize it at the hotel.
Bhaktapur
Pashupatinath
On the way to our Tibetan neighborhood in the Kathmandu Valley, we will visit the third of the valley's main ancient cities, Bhaktapur (bhakt: devotion and pur: Hindu city). Bhaktapur is a listed city, with limited vehicle flow, where, for example, the film Little Buddha was filmed. Walking through its alleys is like getting to know a little about the daily life of medieval times in Nepal.
Continuing on the way back to the city of Kathmandu, we will visit the Pashupatinath temple complex, which is located around the Bagmati River, sacred to Hindus. In addition to the main temple, dedicated to the most peaceful manifestation of Shiva, Pashupati, there are dozens of small temples also dedicated to the Hindu god of destruction and reconstruction. It is also the place where Nepalis who are able will be cremated to ensure a good passage or release (moksha). End of the day free to enjoy our Tibetan neighborhood, doing our circumambulations, walking through the monasteries, doing our meditation practice, enjoying one of the cafes and our stupa.
Budhanilkantha
Walk
Nagi Gompa
For today, a suggestion and possibility is a walk outside the hustle and bustle of the city. From our hotel, we will head to the foot of one of the mountains surrounding the valley, called Shivapuri. Before starting our climb, still with our vehicle, we will visit a Hindu temple that is quite different from all the others. It is called Budhanilkantha, where there is a large statue of Lord Vishnu lying down.
Time to climb up the mountain for a few minutes to the entrance of the national park, where we will leave our vehicle and hike to an important female monastery, called Nagi Gompa. A combination of characteristics make this hike a very special opportunity in Kathmandu: the view of the valley is very beautiful, along with the peace of walking on the mountain, the legacy of a great master, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, having lived here for many years and all the environment created by the daily studies and practices of the nuns who live here. When we read the books of his youngest son, Mingyur Rinpoche (the happiest brain ever studied and who made Western neuroscientists understand the plasticity of our brains), many stories are told here with his father. Check with the nuns to see if you can visit and sit for a moment in Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche's meditation room (his incredible books in Kathmandu and on Kindle). The walk will be approx. 1h, a little less or a little more, depending on the path conditions and our pace. We will see how the national park will be in terms of vehicle entry at that time (as it changes a lot) if we prefer the car to pick up. Or it's worth a walk back to enjoy the air in nature. This is our suggestion. Depending on your stamina and experience (in this next option on steep and narrow trails), there is the possibility of a long walk back to Boudha. The walk through the park initially seems like a calmer and safer option considering the next few days of the trip. We'll talk.
Free day
A day that is always highly requested and welcome: free day to enjoy Boudha, Kathmandu, another region like Patan, with more time before heading to India.
Flight
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the international flight to Delhi. Arrival at the airport, assisted transfer to the hotel close to the airport for the flight early tomorrow morning.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the international flight to Delhi. Arrival at the airport, assisted transfer to the hotel close to the airport for the flight early tomorrow morning.
Indigo Flight 6E1152 Kathmandu 10:50 Delhi 12:25
Flight
Main temple
Walk
We will talk about flight schedule possibilities. At first I fly very early in the morning. Arrival at Gaggal airport and transfer to the upper part of Dharamsala, where the Tibetans live, called Upper Dharamsala or Mcleod Ganj, to check in at our hotel.
To end the day on a high note, we suggest a visit to the main temple of Dharamsala. Downstairs there is the pandits' room, one of the places where we can receive teachings. Upstairs, there is the Kalachakra temple and the temple with statues of Avolektsvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, and Guru Rinpoche, or Padmasambhava, the great Indian master and yogi who brought Buddhism to Tibet in the 19th century. XVIII. You will see that on each side of the altar there is a set of books (in Tibetan format). One is mainly the words of the Buddha, called in Tibetan Kangyur, and the other is commentaries by great masters, called Tengyur. We usually do at least three circumambulations, in Tibetan 'kora', around these two temples on the top floor.
Along with the visit to the main temple, a kora (circummbulation) along the path around the hill where the house of HH the Dalai Lama is located is a great way to walk a little, if it's late in the afternoon, or even at sunset. the light and views are very beautiful.
Flight Spice Jet SG2937 Delhi 07:50 Dharamsala 09:15
Teaching
Tibetan Library
In the morning teaching. For official translations from Tibetan to English we need one (1) FM radio. Cell phones are not allowed on teaching days, so it can be a very simple analog or digital radio. We'll talk. A good headset helps. We can also, either bring from home or easily buy the day before: (2) a pillow and/or yoga mat to sit more comfortably, (3) a cup or bottle (plastic if we want to avoid disposable cups), to We bring water (in the case of a bottle) to drink the tea they offer during breaks. (4) Remember to wear comfortable clothes to sit in the morning, which will be a very special opportunity.
In the afternoon we will suggest a walk to the Tibetan Library. It is normally not open during the teachings (we will talk to them), but it is still worth visiting from the outside, along with the oracle monastery, Nechung. We suggest not including a vehicle, just a guide, so you can walk to the library and, if you find it, back to Mcleod Ganj. If you prefer to return by car, we suggest a simple taxi along with the library guide to McLeod Ganj.
Teaching
Tushita
Teachings in the morning.
In the afternoon we can take a walk to Lama Zopa Rinpoche's center called Tushita. Lama Zopa is a great master of Tibetan Buddhism, born in the Everest region, his centers and monasteries around the world have excellent in-person and online courses. In addition to the always incredible libraries (see schedule), in the mornings we can participate in a meditation with instruction (confirm time the day before). In the afternoon it is common to review the teachings we had in the morning. Very good opportunity. Also a way to get to know the atmosphere of a retreat center in a slightly higher region of Dharamsala. Places like Tushita don't really like guides, with exclusively tourist motivation. If you are interested in getting to know, understand and enjoy such a special place, of course, we are always very welcome. And the walk is nice too. So, I suggest we see how you feel that day. I can call a local taxi driver to take you to Tushita and back. So, if you feel like doing this walk, you can opt for that option too. We talked a few days before, okay?
Teaching
We’ll see what else will be open.
Teachings in the morning.
We will see if we find anything else open during the teaching days (some places open in the afternoon / we will confirm), so we can suggest ways to make the most of that afternoon. We'll talk about some possibilities we have in mind.
Flight
Visits in Delhi
Early in the morning transfer to the airport. We will have a guide and car with driver available. Suggestions for visits: the last house where Gandhi lived, Gandhi Smriti. The Kartavya Path esplanade where India Gate is also located. The Sikh temple, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. All close to the hotel. More possibilities according to the pace and preferences: Laxminarayan temple, Humayun Tomb and further away Lotus Temple and, in the other direction, Old Delhi.
Flight Spice Jet SG2938 Dharamsala 09:35 Delhi 10:55
Flight
Stepping onto Bhutanese soil is already an experience… we need to get there to find out. We will continue with our vehicle to the capital, Thimphu, for approx. 1:30 am. On the way, we will stop to see the confluence of the Thimphu and Paro rivers, where there are 3 stupas of different styles: Tibetan, Nepalese and Bhutanese. Depending on the time you arrive at the hotel and if it is available, the possibility of walking around the small town.
Flight KB201 Delhi 12:30 Paro 15:20
Memorial Chorten
Buddha Point
School of Art
Tashichho Dzong
We will enjoy our entire day in Thimphu. After breakfast, we will make some koras with the Bhutanese around the King's Memorial Chörten (stupa in languages of Tibetan origin), designed by the country's third king, the 'father of modern Bhutan', in the name of world peace and prosperity. Continuing our tour, we will visit the large Kunsel Phodrang statue, or Buddha Point, from where we will have a view of the Thimphu valley. We will then visit Zorig Chusum, Bhutan's traditional painting, weaving and woodworking school, where students study art on a 6-year course. In the late afternoon we will visit Trashichhoedzong, the 'fortress of glorious religion', which is the country's governmental and religious headquarters, built in 1641.
Dochula pass
Chimi Lhakhang
Punakha Dzong
Today we will continue our journey from Thimphu to Punakha, through the Dochula Pass, with its 3080m altitude. Dochula Pass, where there are many stupas and prayer flags, offers a beautiful view of the mountains on clear days. After crossing the pass and having lunch, on the way, we will walk approx. 1 hour between rice plantations and villages to Chimi Lhakhang, monastery of a great master of crazy wisdom, known as the Temple of Fertility. Locals say that to get pregnant, just pray at this temple! We will be able to read some of his texts.
In the afternoon, we will visit Punakha Dzong, the Palace of Great Happiness. Built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637, it was the seat of government and religion in the past. Return to the hotel for a good dinner.
Arrival at the hotel for dinner and rest.
National museum
Rinpung Dzong
Time to return to Paro, the city where we landed in Bhutan, to first visit the very interesting National Museum, where we can learn a little more about Bhutanese culture, its history, flora and rich fauna. From the museum we then went to Paro Dzong, with beautiful panels and views of the city. We continue to the city where we can enjoy the market, including buying dried fruits, chocolate, flags and incense for our special walk tomorrow!
If you are interested, we can find a way to organize a hike very early in the day to the Khamsum stupa in Punakha. Let's see what your days, work and schedule will be like. We'll talk.
Walk
Taktshang Monastery (Tiger's Nest)
Gkyichu Lhakhang
Today is the big day of the beautiful and special walk to the Taktshang Monastery, the most famous in Bhutan encrusted in a rock, where Guru Rinpoche arrived there on the back of a tigress and meditated for a while. We will be able to visit and sit for a few moments in front of the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated. That's why it's called the Tiger's Nest, the most sacred temple in Bhutan. At least once a year the Bhutanese visit it. Walk will be up to approx. 4 hours, with a stop for a few minutes' rest at a café halfway. The return is calmer.
On the way back to the city, we will visit the very important Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the 108 monasteries from the XNUMXth century, built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. The construction of this temple marks the beginning of Buddhism in Bhutan. It will be a very special way to end our days in Bhutan. It contains the place of practice of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, from the Shechen monastery, which we will have visited in Kham. A good meal and preparations for the flight tomorrow.
Flights
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and farewell to the driver and guide who accompanied us all day in Bhutan.
We will see details about the lounges at Delhi airport. If you want to take a walk around Delhi too, let's talk.
Flights
Druk Air KB200 Paro 09:40 Delhi 11:30
United UA83 Delhi 23:35 New York 06:25 +1