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TIBET
OVERLAND ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu and
transfer to Hotel.
Day 2: Full day
guided sightseeing inside Kathmandu to the major sites:-
Swayambhunath: One of
world’s most glorious, ancient, enigmatic and the holiest of Buddhist
Chaityas and dates back more than 2000 years. Situated on a hillock
Swayambhunath, literally “the Self-Created or Existent”, is a mosaic of
small stupas and pagoda temple contributed by and time by the succession
of kings and noblemen. The main structure of is made of a solid hemisphere
of brick and clay supporting a lofty conical spire capped by pinnacle of
copper gilt. Painted on the four sides on the base of the spire are the
“All Seeing Eyes” of Lord Buddha. The main features of Swayambhunath in
brief are “The Five Buddhas.”
Bouddhanth: This colossal
and ancient Stupa, one of Nepal’s most unique monument and said to be the
world biggest, attracts Nepalese pilgrimage of Tibetan stock from as far
as Dolpo and Mugu as well as Tibet, Ladhak in India and Bhutan. Baudhanath
Stupa with all seeing eyes of primordial Adi Buddha on all the four sides
of the stupa is said to hold the remains of Kasyapa - the Buddha of the
previous time.The Stupa 100 meters in diameter, built on an octagonal
base inset with prayer wheels by the Lichchivi King Mana Deva in the fifth
century rises to 36 meters above the base including the spire, “all seeing
eyes” and the pinnacle represent the stages of enlightenment, symbol of
royalty, compassion, knowing and nirvana. There are many myths about the
origins of the stupa.
Guheshwari: The short
drive from Bouddha will take you this place said that when Sati, the
consort of Siva, immolated herself due to her father’s insult, Siva
stricken with grief, wandered the skies with her corpse as pieces of her
body fell to earth thus creating 51 sacred sites. Her private parts fell
here thus the name “Guheshwari”.
Pashupatinath: Just a
small walk takes you the temple of lord Siva-Pasupatinath with two tiered
golden roof and silver doors is famous for its superb Newari architecture
situated near the banks of sacred Bagmati River. Entrance to the temple
precinct is permitted to the “Hindus Only”, however visitors can clearly
see the temple from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. Pashupati,
literally, “Lord of the Animals” is the patron deity of Nepal and believed
to have been unearthed by an obscure herdsman while one of his cattle was
showering the earth with milk. Across the sacred river, above the array of
decorated monuments is the “Slasmantak or Mrigasthali Ban (forest)” where
legends have it that Lord Siva dwelled in a form of an antelope to evade
the hordes of demigod
Tibet Part
Day 3: Fly to Lhasa and get transferred to
Tsetang.
A China Southwest Airline flight which departs
Kathmandu in the mid - morning will wing you over the Himalayas in
what must be one of the most spectacular flights to Gongar airport,
90km from Lhasa. You will be met here by your guide and then proceed
to Tsetang where you will have rooms reserved for you at the Tsetang
Hotel. Rest of the day will be at leisure.
Day 4: Tsedang Sightseeing.
Your, encounter with Tibet will begin with a
visit to the palace of Yambulakhang which was built by the first
Tibetan king Nyatri Tsenpo in the second century BC. Local folklore
has it that the king was descended from heaven. Later, we will visit
the Tradruk Temple.
Day 5: Drive to Gyantse
Today, we will begin our overland journey across
the Tibetan plains to Gyangtse via Yamdrok
, or "Turquoise Lake". Overnight at Gyangtse Hotel
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Day 6: Drive to
Shigatse
We then continue on to Shigatse, a short drive of
only 90kms, arriving in time for lunch. Shigatse is the second
largest city in Tibet and after exploring the local market we will
make a detailed visit to the Tashilhunpo Monastery. This monastery
is one of the largest functioning monasteries in Tibet and there is
much to explore within its high surrounding walls.
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Day 7: Sightseing and
return to Lhasa
After breakfast, you
will visit Tashilunpo monastery. This is the official seat of the
Panchen Lama, second in importance to only the Dalai Lama. The
monastery itself was built in1447 by Gendun Drup and once housed
upward of 3400 monks. Of particular interest in the monastery is the
nine-foot statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. In the
afternoon you will drive back to Lhasa.
Day 8: Sightseeing in Lhasa.
After breakfast, you will visit the Potala
Palace. The palace of the Dalai Lama a treasure of Tibetan culture
was, till 1965, the seat of both religion and politics in Tibet and
quite possibly, the singularly most important building in all Tibet.
It was built in the seventh century by Tsongtsen Gampo as a fort and
later renovated by the fifth Dalai Lama in the seventeenth century
to its present specifications. Your next stop will be Norbulingkha,
the winter palace of the Dalai Lama, which was built, in the
eighteenth century.
Day 9: Sightseeing in Lhasa
Today you will visit the Drepung monastery. This
is the largest monastery in the world and once housed 10,000 monks
and nuns. It was built in 1419 and the second, third and fourth
Dalai Lamas lived and were entombed here. Your next stop will be the
Jokhang Temple. This is the holiest shrine in Tibet and houses a
golden statue of the Buddha, which was brought to Tibet by the
Chinese princess "Wen Chen". You then stop off at Barkhor Bazaar
outside the Jokhang monastery. This is a bustling flea market and
is, generally, the place to buy souvenirs.
Day 10: Transfer to the airport for your
flight back to Kathmandu, Remiander of the day at leisure
Day 11: Depart Kathmandu
Prices available on request with excellent discounts for large
groups.
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