Caer ~ Sidi

Itinerary for "Bodhnath Cultural Immersion"

Week One

Day On the agenda

1. Fly to Kathmandu
   Discover quintessential Nepal from the striking beauty, renown monasteries, temples and retreat sites of Kathmandu valley Nepal, including introduction meetings, lectures and teachings from high Lamas and Yogis, as well as visits to local Social Work NGOs and High Education Institute, in a personally tailored Cultural Immersion Itinerary based upon the Boddha Stupa community and friends being Nepalese Newars, Tamangs, Sherpas, Tibetans and other ethnic diasporas living in one of the most strategic powerplace of the Himalayas, before a further departure either to India or Tibet higher ranges, as presented in our seven tours options. This is a tentative itinerary only, valid for the 14 days option, which can always be flexible as per the participants wish and merge with any of the 7 options!
2. Arrival in Kathmandu airport / TIA
   If you take a usual flight, you will normally arrive in KTM (TIA) Airport (Nepal) by the end of the day. Welkom and transfer to Pema Hote; Shechen or Dragon GH (***), both highky experienced in lodging Westerners and situated very near the Bodhnath stupa, in secured and quiet surroundings. Evening welkom dinner and welkom rest!
3. Discovery of Bodhnath Stupa and its community.
   Discovery in and around Bodhnath Stupa area of the of the powerplace, temples, monasteries, handicraft shops and restaurants. This day starts with a little breakfast followed with a Q&A session of the itineraries and agendas options, as well as details related to the indepth approaches of the chosen program. The Cultural Immersion starts with the identification of the main logistics, transports and ressources in the immediate surrounding of the Bodhnath Stupa. Meeting with selected reopresentatives of the local Tamang, Sherpa, Newar, Tibetan and other ethnic groups living in the community. Presentation of the history and legend of the Bodhnath stupa, which is one of the most frequented Buddhist Himalayan Pilgrimage. After lunch and break, visit of the first of selected monasteries, being either Shechen Gompa (Matthieu Ricard), Chokyi Nyima Gompa (Khyentse Yangsi), Dudjom Rimpoche Gompa and/or other Dharma ressources selected. Finally, at the end of the afternoon, optional short walk along the Bagmati river to reach the scared Civa Temples of Pashupatinath, traditional site for Hindu cremation and Sadhhus. Meetings in their Ashrams with selected Saddhus and Yogis.
4. Discovery of surrounding Kathmandu city, Patan et Thamel.
   This next day is devoted to discovery of the main important sites of Kathmandu city, per se, including Thamel, Pulchowk, Jalalakhel and the location of important assets such as the Embassies, Immigration Dept, Clinics, as well as other old famous buildings such as those in Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka and several temples of Parvati et Mahadev.
5. Baktapur
   Today is devoted to visiting the old histirical city of Baktapur, its renown temples, handicraft and its surrounding hills area, including and optional drive Nagarkot, where one may contemplate a stunning Himalayan panorama (depending upon weather).
6. Pharping
   This will be the first day out of the valley. At around 19 km out Katmandou city, at the South-West of Patan, Pharping is an old pilgrimage Newar village which has become famous during the last 25 years because of the increasing Tibetan Yoga Retreat Center being created there. One can visit several Guru Rimpoche legendary caves and temples, as well as numerous high lamas retreat center and monasteries, such as those of Jadral. Behind the Jadral Gompa, a high hill provides a wonderful view of both the valley and its faraway Himalayan range. There are numerous small paths circling the site, from the Rallu Gompa upto to the top hill prayers flags in the wind, down to the other monasteries and stupa again. The contradiction, so to say, is if one pursues the road circling down from Pharping to the river, one gets to Dakshinkali altars, which is a renown site for sacrifices to Kali. More to see and say, if we go there...
7. Swayambunath / Kathmandu
   This time, we will take the ring road to the left from Chabihil and upto the other side of the Valley to visit Swayambunath, its Stupa, Monkey hill, Monasteries and artefacts. After a short visit and description of this other famous powerplace of Kathmandu legend, we will return through Chettrapati to visit the Kunphen Tibetan Clinic, then head back to Bouddha through Thamel, Durbar Square, the Kumari house, the ex- Royal Palace (museum), etc. Optional retirn on the way to Pashupati for evening encounters...

Week Two

Day On the agenda

8. Changu Narayan
   North of the Valley, this is an optional day tour starting Changu Narayan and its old temple dating from 1702, with origins in the IVe siècle. Dedicated to the God Vishnu, the temple is showing a guardian statue of Garuda (Ve siècle). There are there several other représentations of Vishnu such as that of Narsingha. One can go back from there to Bhaktapur or Nagarkot through Sankhu. It is an optional day short trip with tentive mini-treks.
9. Sankhu, Vajra Yogini, Goraknath, Namo Boddha
   Back to the north east side of Kathmandu, the village of Sankhu is a living testimony of the old Newares way of life. At 2 km north of it, is the most wonderful site of Vajra Jogini, with a serie of Temples (sacred fire) dating from the XVe century. It is a stunning reminder of the Nepalese particular charming blend of their Hindu and Bouddhist beliefs. In the same area, one can visit the other Newar village of Gokarna and its Shiva Temples (Gokarna Mahadev ou Gokarneshwar) situated on the side of the Bagmati river. One can also goto to the important powerplace temples and monasteries of Namobuddha.
10. Budhanilkantha
    15 kilomètres North of Kathmandu, Budhanilkantha is wellknown for its water pool big statue of Vishnu lying amidst on the spirals of the Ananta snake with 11 heads. This can be followup with a visit of the renown Nagi Gompa (Ani Choyin Drolma) and the Urgyen Tulku Gompa, nearby.
11. Dhulikhel
    32 km near Banepa, Dhulikhel is another wellknown site for the beauty of its Himalayan range panorama. as well as its old style mansion of its Newars community. Several Temples are there to be seen, such as those of Harasiddhi et Vishnu. Another beautiful site is that of the summit Kali temple, in diraction of Namo Buddha.
12. Follow up and day free for shopping, sightseeing, meetings, studies and/or shopping, etc...
13. Follow up and day free for shopping, sightseeing, meetings, studies and/or shopping, etc...
14. EVENING FLIGHT
    Preparation for departure, checkout and last day in Kathmandu...
    
    or optional:
    Follow up and day free for shopping, sightseeing, meetings, studies and/or shopping, etc...