Day 6 – Friday, April 9, 2021 – Bandipur

130 km, 3-4 hours

After breakfast, we bid farewell to our staff and head to Bandipur, which is a little more than a 3-hour scenic drive.  The road follows the rivers, goes through the terraced farmland and villages and ultimately brings us to the medieval-looking Bandipur Village.

Bandipur was once a vibrant town on the Nepal-India trade route.  After construction of modern roads in the 1970s, it lost much of its traffic, but because of its hilltop location, it’s well preserved historic cultural atmosphere, mild weather and great mountain vistas, now tourists are attracted back to this place.  We’ll check-in our boutique heritage style accommodations, and after getting refreshed, set out to explore the wonders of this area.  On a clear weather day, Bandipur affords magnificent views of the central Himalayas and the Marshyangdi Valley.

We will visit the Khadga Devi Temple, the most sacred and auspicious temple in Bandipur.  Then we head up to the Martyrs Memorial Area, which honors seven men from Bandipur who were killed during the anti-Rana insurrection of 1951.  Then we’ll head down to the shrine of Paarpani Mahadev (Shiva) prayed to by the villagers for rain during dry spells.  We return to the bazaar along the main trail.  If you want a little bit more active walking, we recommend visiting the Silk Farm, which is less than a 30-minute walk towards the west.  Our local guides will give an interesting tour-and-talk on the history and method of silk harvesting in the Nepali hills.

A quick descend to the bazaar will bring us to a unique and typical Newari town.  Here the compact houses are built with bricks and have tin or slate roofs.  This is truly an impressive town with beautiful temples and palaces.  Stroll the narrow lanes beneath traditional Newari wooden houses or sit in one of the many pati- pauwas (platform) and become part of an authentic Nepali experience. 

Overnight in Bandipur

 

Day 7 – Saturday, April 10, 2021 – Pokhara

6 km, 3 hours

Following breakfast, we leave for the Pokhara Valley, situated in the lap of mighty Annapurna and Fishtail Mountain.  Pokhara has lakes, gorges, waterfalls, mysterious cave temples and gorgeous mountain views; which truly make it the natural capital of Nepal!  We check-in to our resort on the lakeside and set out to explore the wonders of the area.

We’ll begin at Devi’s Falls, in the Kaski District of Nepal, where water cascades down from the lake and literally disappears into the earth!  Opposite the falls lies the mysterious cave of Gupteshwar Mahadev.  We may also get to visit the Tibetan Village and its monastery.  In the evening, enjoy a relaxed stroll by the lakeside.

 

Day 8 – Sunday, April 11, 2021 – Pokhara

Early morning, we will drive to Sarangkot to enjoy a sunrise view of the Himalayan Panorama.  On a clear weather day, Sarangkot offers spectacular views of the western range of the Himalayas and the valleys.  On our way back, we’ll stop at the Bindhebasini Temple-the most revered of the Hindu Temples in Pokhara.  We will also stop at the vibrant Old Bazaar.

If one is keen on hiking, you can hike to the Peace Stupa at the ridge top towering over Fewa Lake, take a boating trip in Lake Fewa or visit the island temple of Goddess Barahi-probably the most visited of all the temples in Pokhara.  Depending on your interest, we can also visit the Mountaineering and National History Museums.

 

Day 9 – Monday, April 12, 2021 – Lumbini

Flight time 20 minutes

After breakfast, we’ll fly to Bhairahawa and then drive to Lumbini, located in the western Terai (south) plains of Nepal.  It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Prince Siddhartha (known as the Buddha) was born.  This is a special place for both Hindus and Buddhists to celebrate the life of Lord Buddha; his Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana (Death).  The newly born Prince is believed to have taken seven steps and uttered a timeless message to all humanity.  They believe this happened in the beautiful Sal grove, which is now the focal point of the Lumbini Garden area.  This religious zone is spread over a larger area, at least a few kilometers in length.  It is interspersed with Buddhist monasteries from different schools, countries, and influences.  The west monastic zone gathered the monasteries of the Mahayana School, while the eastern monastic zone grouped the ones of the Theravada School with a water canal separating the two monastic zones.  We will visit the birthplace of lord Buddha, marker stone and different monasteries.

As per widely held beliefs, Maya Devi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, gave birth to the Prince Siddhartha while passing through the Lumbini Garden, on the day of “Vaishakha Purnima” (full-moon day of May) in 623 BC.  The Queen is believed to have taken a bath in Pushkarini (the Sacred Pond) and taken support of a tree branch in anticipation of the delivery, before giving birth to the little infant, who became Buddha.  Lumbini – the birthplace, Tilaurakot or Kapilvastu – where Buddha spent his first 29 years, Devdaha – his maternal home, and other sacred places and monasteries all over Kathmandu and Nepal, are crowded with devotees on the day of Buddha Jayanti, which will be May 26, 2021!

 

Day 10 – Tuesday, April 13, 2021 – Back to Kathmandu

After a morning flight back to Kathmandu, we will drive 30 minutes to Bhaktapur City- the best preserved of the medieval Malla Principalities, where we will visit the palaces, temples and shrines with their intricate carvings and sculptures.  We will also get to enjoy their “Bisket Jatra Festival”, which is a weeklong festival marking the ancient solar Nava Barsha (New Year) and is the only festival that does not follow the lunar-based Nepali calendar.  The jatra commences after a special Tantric ritual in the Bhairab Temple in Taumadhi Tole in Bhaktapur.  Bhairav and Bhadrakali are then placed in large chariots (locally known as Rathas) and pulled through crowds of cheering onlookers.  During the festival people replay a drama passed on over the centuries.  Our chariots will pause for a tug-of-war between the eastern and western sides of the town and then we move down a steep road leading to a river, where a 25-m high lingam (vertical pole) is erected.  In the evening the following day, the pole is pulled down, again in a tug-of-war and as the pole crashes, the official new year commences.  Bisket Jatra is also celebrated in Thimi and Balakhu with Jibro Chhedne Jatra and Sindoor Jatra respectively.  The festivities conclude with several days of spiritual entrancement, dancing and merry-making.

 

Day 11 – Wednesday, April 14, 2021 – Bhutan

Paro 2,280 meters – Thimphu 1 hour

We will transfer to the airport for our flight to Paro, Bhutan.  We will drive an hour to their capital, stop at Chunzom, walk across the scenic bridge and through the traditional gate.  Then we continue our drive to our lodgings, where we will check-in and relax.

Later, we’ll visit the majestic Tashichhoedzong Monastery, home of Chief Abbot and over 150 other monks.  The inner sanctuary is mainly dedicated to the “triple gem”.  Buddha Shakyamuni (present Buddha) is in the middle as the main figure, which is the one who achieved enlightenment.  Towards our left is Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rimpoche, often considered as the second reincarnation of Lord Buddha – he is respected as the one who planted the seed of Buddhism in the country back in the early 7th century.  Towards our right is Zhabdrung Rinpoche, founder of Bhutan.

Time permitting, enjoy a leisurely walk around Thimphu.

Overnight in Thimphu

 

Day 12 – Thursday, April 15, 2021 – Thimpu

2,300 meters – Tango/Chagri is 45 minutes

We arrive at the parking lot where we begin a 45-minute hike to Tango (horse head), Buddhist University.  This is where Zhabdrung heard the sound of a horse, an emanation of Avalokiteshvara.  Many other great Buddhist masters, including Lam Drukpa Kuenley, meditated here.

Outdoor picnic lunch at Dodenna by the river (time & weather permitting)

After lunch, we’ll visit the National Textile Museum and National Institute of Traditional Medicine.  We’ll receive a spiritual blessing of longevity at the Drubthob Nunnery.  Check out for yourself how strong the 900-year old house is – still standing, with the descendants of celestial Sonam Peldon still living in the house!  A couple of years ago, the caretaker was guided, by celestial beings in his dream, to discover a very important treasure hidden somewhere around the house.  The next morning, the caretaker went to the same spot and discovered a stone shaped like an egg, which is believed to be the dragon egg where we can see the self-created statue of Chenrigze, the Buddha of Compassion.

Overnight in Thimphu

Day 13 – Friday, April 16, 2021 – Thimpu, Cheli-la, & Kila

Thimphu (2300 m) – Cheli La (8300 m)/Kila Goenba (3100 m) – Paro (2300 m)

One of the best ways to see more of Bhutan, in a short span of time, is to enjoy the drive from Thimphu to Cheli La/Kila Nunnery to Paro, where you will not only drive through the country; but get a chance to explore the Himalayan valleys by taking small hikes around Himalayan mountain trails and meeting with some indigenous people.  It’s about a 3-hour drive from Thimphu – Cheli La, one of the highest points of motor roads in the country.

You can start your hike from the Pass to Kila Goemba, which takes about an hour and half – a nunnery located on the edge of a cliff!  The nunnery also houses about 30 nuns who try and spend their lives dedicating themselves to find a perfect realm.  A vegetable lunch and tea will be served at the nunnery guesthouse while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Paro Valley.  Afterward, descend to the road where we will be picked up by our transport and transferred to our hotel.  A must-see in Paro is the Dungtse Lhakhang, Kychu Lakhang temple road.

Before driving to Paro, we will drive to Dochula and attend the Rhododendron Festival, which is the opening day of the festival!  This 3-day festival is held at the Royal Botanical Park in Lamperi, Dochula, about 35 kms from Thimphu.  This festival showcases about 29 types of Rodhodendrons out of the 46 species grown in Bhutan.  This year the festival will be held on April 16-18, 2021.

 Overnight in Paro

 

Day 14 – Saturday, April 17, 2021 – Tiger’s Nest

Hike about 3-4 hours to the legendary “Taktshang” (Tiger’s Nest) and beyond to Ugyen Tsemo and Zangtopelri Temples (time permitting) and the monastic school for the young monk companions while practicing some mantra to accumulate merit and hike the valleys of the Himalayas.

We’ll visit Lekshey Jungey, where we will be greeted by Ani Kencho; after tea, we will visit the living quarters of the nuns.  There are nuns as young as 5-6 years old under the care of the School.  If you can, please buy some of their stationery, which helps the school.  It’s the only one of its kind.  Most of the students here come from broken families or have no parents, some from poor family backgrounds, etc.  Everyone is well taken care of by the school and Rinpoche and allowed to study western education and learn about Buddhism simultaneously.  The school has minimal support from the government financially, so their only source of income, or anything that keeps the school running, is from donations and support from individual tourists and locals, however, this is not mandatory, this is only a suggestion.

Later in the evening, dinner will be served with a family at their local farmhouse with traditional cuisine (time permitting).

Another optional excursion is the traditional herbal bath.  With advance notice, you can experience a traditional Hot Stone Bath in a farmhouse.  This is purely a Bhutanese traditional method of curing arthritis, skin ailments, joint pains, hypertension, stomach disorders, arthritis, and many other minor diseases.  Even if you don’t have any of these issues, after a laborious hike, you will feel more relaxed from the hot stone bath.  It costs around US $35 per person and advance notice is required.

 

Day 15 – Sunday, April 18, 2021 – Departure

After breakfast, according to your flight times, fly to Bangkok and then back home!