In this article, we are going to talk about Pilgrimage Trip In Nepal in detail.
Nepal is a country that has huge importance religiously. The pioneer of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in this country and started his journey of sharing peace and wisdom. There are beliefs that the country was once a home of Hindu gods. The country has enough religious Buddhism and Hinduism pilgrimage sites to make it the top on its own. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is in the southern lowlands of Nepal. Likewise, Pashupatinath, the most important Hinduism Temple, is located in the capital of the country.
If you are looking to heal your soul and heart through a pilgrimage trip, Nepal is the ultimate place. The country is equally a must-visit country for both Hinduism and Buddhism. There is enough religious evidence and memorials to make you wash all the negativity from your mind and life. This country has been the ultimate place to be for thousands of Hinduism and Buddhism people around the globe. If you ever visit any of the pilgrimage sites of the country, you can guess how worthy these sites are.
The fact is very much popular that the country is known for its mountains and surreal natural beauty. But one thing people all too often forget to mention is the importance and significance of the country religious-wise. The country is overly rich when it comes to the religious and pilgrimage site. Even the people from different religions seem to enjoy and get inspired after the visit of Nepalese pilgrimage sites. Now you can guess how good this country is in fulfilling your religious longings when people from foreign religions are having an eventful time here.
The country is the perfect time to get yourself blessings from the world’s most important Buddhism and Hinduism religious sites. Let’s discuss more on that in the following article.
Major Highlights of Pilgrimage Trip in Nepal
- Know what it is like to travel in Nepal.
- Explore the small and landlocked but beautiful Himalayan country.
- Get a chance to see the sky-touching mountains.
- Tour around some of the most important Hindu and Buddhist religious sites.
- Know the diverse cultures and traditions of the people.
- Visit the place where Siddhartha Gautama was born.
- Get your blessings from most sacred temples like Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Swayambhunath.
- Enjoy the natural show along with religious exploration.
Top 10 Pilgrimage Trip in Nepal
Here are the top 10 pilgrimage trips to do in Nepal. It is not that the below-listed tours are the end of Nepal. There are plenty of other destinations as well but we have tried to mention only the most popular ones here.
Pashupatinath Temple Tour
Pashupatinath Temple, the most sacred temple of Hindus, is a religious gem of the country. Located in the heart of the nation, Kathmandu, the temple is a must-visit for every person from Hinduism. Dedicated to the most lethal Hindu god, Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath sees pilgrimages from various locations. The holy temple is on a UNESCO world heritage site list. It is one of the places you should probably visit while in Kathmandu. That is why the tour of the temple is included in most of the Nepali tours.
The temple is by the holiest river of Nepal, the Bagmati River. The area of the temple is wide and is dotted with various small temples and shrines. The temple itself is regarded as the finest Pagoda style temple in the world. It is believed that the temple was built around the 5th century after finding Shiva Lingam. There are about one thousand Shiva Lingas around this temple area. The temple never gets tired of providing blessings to its visitors. People across various religions arrive at the doorsteps of this temple to get blessed.
Muktinath Temple Tour
The temple we are talking about is another most important pilgrimage site to be. Located in the deserted hills of the Mustang region of Nepal, Muktinath Temple is sacred for both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is also one of the highest placed temples with an altitude of 3,800m. It is also a part of the world’s most renowned trekking trail: Annapurna Circuit Trek. Thousands of visitors come to this temple to fulfill their utmost desire and get “Mukti”.
The temple is one of the Shakti Peethas for Hindus and they believe that a part of the corpse of Sati Devi was fallen here. Mostly the Indian pilgrims arrive here to complete the tour of all Shakti Peethas. And there is a belief that taking bath in the ponds and water taps(108) of the temple clears all of the sins of a person.
For Buddhist people, the temple is one of the Moksha(freedom) getting places.
As of that, people from various places around the world land here. Not only religious wise but the place can impress you view-wise. The temple is located under the rain-shadowed part of the Annapurna region. And the deserted view of the surrounding hills and mountains is just breathtaking.
Lumbini Tour
You may have known about Lumbini before. The place is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama(Lord Buddha) who introduced the principles of Buddhism to the world. Obviously, this place is a place to visit once in a lifetime for Buddhist pilgrimages. However, people from different religions come to this place to see the historical evidence of the place. The place is around 282 KM southwest of Kathmandu in the lowlands of Nepal.
If you check the area of the Lumbini pilgrimage area then it covers a wide area. In that area, you’ll find various Buddhist gompas, temples, shrines, stupas made in different styles by different countries. However, the main attraction of the place is Maya Devi Temple and its sacred lake and park. The temple is devoted to the mother of Gautama Buddha and the very temple is believed as the place where Buddha was born. By the Maya Devi Temple, there is an ancient Ashoka Pillar which clearly implies that the Buddha was born in Lumbini. Touring around this temple, you will find the old remains of ancient buildings from the ages. The place gives you loads of peaceful, calming, mindfulness vibes.
Tilaurakot Tour
Tilaurakot is another important Buddhist pilgrimage site to visit in Nepal. Placed some 28 KM west from Lumbini, Tilaurakot is the place where Buddha spent 29 royal years. This is a place that is also part of Nepal’s Buddhist Pilgrimage circuit. It is an ancient city of Kapilvastu where Prince Siddhartha’s palace was located. Here Buddha celebrated the lavish life before abandoning everything in search of wisdom.
The place has remains of old worn buildings that depict the ancient history of Buddha’s time. If you visit this place now, you will see the palace’s scarps. The place is not excavated properly and there are possibilities of other vintage findings also. The place is good to explore as you can connect with the times of Buddha. Tilaurakot is not as popular as Lumbini which is a very sad thing to hear. The ancient palace of Buddha has so many things to be explored by many.
Gosaikunda Pilgrimage Trip In Nepal
Gosaikunda Lake is one of the popular lakes in Nepal. The lake is known for both tourist and pilgrimage purposes. Every year thousands of visitors reach this place to fulfill their desire. The place is located in the hillocks of the Northern hills of Nepal. This lake is understood as the lake formed by Lord Shiva. It got made when Lord Shiva drew his trident in the hillocks and created this lake to drink water to cool his flaming throat after consuming poison.
Furthermore, there is a huge rock in the middle of the lake which is believed to be the remains of the Shiva memorial. Another interesting fact about this lake is that the water of the lake gets extracted through an underground way and reaches straight to the Kumbeshwar Pool of Patan. The lake sees the most number of pilgrimages during the month of full moon day from June to Mid-August. People visit this place to take a holy dip and get their sins washed away.
Manakamana Temple Tour
If you ask someone about the must-visit place for a pilgrimage tour in Nepal, he/she will surely mention Manakamana Temple once. “Manakamana”, a word made of two words, “Mana” means heart and “Kamana” means a wish. It is believed that coming to this temple with a pure heart and worshipping here can make a wish come true. The temple is one of the most visited temples in Nepal. People across the border from Hindu communities come every year to worship for their wishes.
Manakamana Temple is located at the top of a hill at an altitude of 1300 and is 105 KM west of Kathmandu. This temple of Hindu Goddess Bhagwati is believed to be the most powerful temple in the world. Because of that thousands of pilgrims visit this temple all year round. There is a cable car way to reach the top of the hill to the temple. If you wish to hike all the way to the top then you can do that too. From the top of it, you can view various mountains also. Therefore, it is a scenic pilgrimage tour also.
Namo Buddha Pilgrimage Trip In Nepal
Namo Buddha Tour is another popular pilgrimage trip in Nepal that you probably should do. The place is popular for Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, one of the most important monasteries in Nepal. It is also famous as the hill station to view a picturesque panorama of mountains and hills. To reach here from Kathmandu is only 40 KM drive. People in big numbers come here every day for hiking, meditation, and religious purposes.
The monastery is important among the Buddhist communities. Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery is a big monastery and houses 250 monks. It is known that there are Buddha’s bones and hair kept safely inside the monastery. Located nicely at the top of the Namo Buddha Hill(1,750m), the monastery provides immense spirituality and ecstasy. It is the best place to meditate and find spirituality. Hiking all the way to Namo Buddha is a better option to do.
Swayambhunath Stupa Tour
Also known as the Monkey Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa is a major pilgrimage site in Nepal. It is also a UNESCO listed world heritage site. Situated just in the Capital city of Nepal, the temple is visited by many pilgrimages across the world. Amid the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu, this grand stupa remains intact at the top of a hillock. The stupa is one of the oldest of its kind in Nepal.
Swayambhunath Stupa is a great place to know the Buddhist worship. Plus, you can have a round view of Kathmandu valley from the temple. While roaming around this temple, you’ll see monks performing prayers, tourists enjoying the view, and monkey dancing. The stupa was built around the 13th century and since then it has become an ultimate Buddhist Pilgrimage site. There are numerous important monuments in the Swayambhunath Stupa area like Gold-plated Vajra, Buddha Statue, The Sleeping Buddha, The Dewa Dharma Monastery, and Harati Temple.
Boudhanath Stupa Tour
It is yet another very popular Buddhist stupa from Kathmandu. The scenic Boudhanath Stupa resides only 8 KM east in Boudha. The stupa also has recognition as a World Heritage site from UNESCO. Built-in Mandala design, the monument is one of the most attractive things you’ll ever see inside Nepal. The place is very popular as an evening hangout also. However, the number of people coming from abroad to see this stupa is much higher.
The stupa was built around the 14th century and it has become a center of Tibetan Buddhism. Until now, people like to come here to get inspired through meditation and pilgrimage visits for Buddhist people. The design of this stupa is a lucrative one. It has four eyes as a symbol of Buddha’s eyes on all four sides. The stupa contains three large platforms stacked. Each of the details of this stupa has something relatable to the real world.
Halesi Pilgrimage Trip In Nepal
Halesi Mahadev is among the most popular pilgrimage sites in Nepal. The temple is located 215 km east of Kathmandu valley. Halesi Mahadev is a pilgrimage site for Hindu, Buddhist, and Kirant people. The interesting fact about this temple is it is at the top of a small hillock inside the cave. You’ll see the image of Lord Shiva inside the cave. The temple is also popular as the Pashupatinath Temple of Eastern Nepal.
It is believed that Lord Shiva used this cave to hide from demons. There is Buddhist importance also in this place. The people from Buddhist take this place as one of the six pilgrimage sites. Various Buddhist ascetics like Guru Rimpoche, Padmasambhava found salvation meditation and gained immortality here at Halesi. That is why this Hindu and Buddhist Pilgrimage crowds this place.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Pilgrimage Trip in Nepal
Where is Nepal?
Nepal is a country in South Asia. The nation lies between two big powerhouses: China and India. It is a small country that India and China Surround, but it’s a beautiful Himalayan country.
Is Nepal safe for travel?
Of course, yes. The country is one of the peaceful countries in the world. The people here are from multi-society, culture, and religion but they believe in “Unity in Diversity”. People treat foreigners as their good as they also believe that guests are the real good to a nation.
Do Nepalese understand English?
Not all of the people you meet on the trip can speak English. But most of the people can understand English and can manage to communicate with foreigners. The thing is simple, the rural Nepalese do not get English and the urban ones can easily understand. We don’t think that language will be a big problem while traveling in Nepal.
How to behave nicely with Nepalese on the Trip?
Like in most of the countries, a smile can do wonders for you in Nepal also. You can add “ Namaste” to greet people inside the country. The process of joining both of the palms is a popular way to greet each other in Nepal. Don’t act rude or try to harass anyone, Nepalese can be as unpleasant as they can be nice.
Is it safe to travel solo or for a women traveler?
Without any doubt, yes. The country is very much safe to do a solo trip or for a women traveler to wander around. Most of the people of the nation have this belief that they should take good care of their guests. Still, you can never expect what can happen on the trip. In such cases, traveling with friends or guides can be more sensible.
When to do a Pilgrimage Trip in Nepal?
Well, the pilgrimage tour is possible all around through every season and month. But if you don’t like the rainy and cold season much then you should probably pick the Autumn and Spring. In addition, these are the best times to travel in Nepal. The weather and temperature in Autumn and Spring are very much stable and pleasant to travel around in Nepal.
Can I get the tourist VISA for Nepal Upon on the arrival at the Airport?
Sure, it is quite easy to get a tourist VISA at the airport after arrival. There is a VISA department at the airport which issues visas to arrivals. You only need an unexpired passport and USD 25 for 15 days’ visa. And, for 30 days you have to pay USD 40.
What is the luggage limit for domestic flights in Nepal?
Generally, administration in the airport allows taking 5 kg of carry-on luggage and 10 kg of checked-in luggage. For any weight higher than that you have to pay additional charges.
Will I get ATM counters along the trail?
Well, this depends on where you are heading. If you are visiting some rural place’s pilgrimage site then you may not get ATM booths to cash out. And if you are picking some city area pilgrimage sites, then you will get enough ATM booths. You can just withdraw money from Kathmandu before leaving for the trip. That will be a nice way to avoid any money hassle.
What about Internet access on the trip?
The Internet is very much accessible on a Pilgrimage trip in Nepal. Like in most cases, you will get Internet facilities along the trip. The hotel and lodges have the Internet to attract guests. That means you don’t need to stay away much from the Internet world.
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