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T r e a s u r e s o f T i b e t w i t h T o u r i n g i n N e p a l
Post-TourtoourBhutanTourorjoinasstand-alonetour
October 17-29, 2019
Oct17Day1ArrivalintoKathmandu/HotelAnnapurnaIfcomingfromBhutantour:FlytoKathmanduDrukAirKB204,dep1030,arr1135.IfcomingfromoutsideAsiathearrivalmaybeinevening.Youwillbemetbyourrepresentativeonarrivalandtransferredtothehotelforcheck-in.Therestoftheafternoonisindependent.Oct18Day2Pashupatinath-Swayambhunath/HotelAnnapurna(B,L)OurmorningtourtakesustoPasupatinath,consideredoneoftheholiestshrinesofallHindutemples.Itis6km.eastofdowntownKathmandu.ThetemplehasremainedthepresidingdeityofNepal'sdecisiontofile.ThetwolevelsmagnificentgoldentemplewithfourtriplesilverdoorsisauniqueexampleoftemplearchitectureofNepal.ItisoneofthelargestHindutemplecomplexesinSoutheastAsiawithhundredsofShivaLingamshrinesandiconsofHindugodsandgoddesses.Thetempleisspreadoveralargearea.Non-Hindusmaypeakinside,orgoacrosstherivertogetanideaofthetemplecomplexfromabove.Fromhereyouwillbeabletowatchthecremationtraditionaswellasseethecolorfullydressedsadhusandlearnabouttheircustomsandbeliefs.We’llhavelunchatalocalrestaurantandspendtheafternoonandculminatethedayatSwayambhunath.SwayambunathisoneoftheholiestBuddhistsitesinNepalandtheoldestBuddhiststupa,saidtobe2000yearsold.Thestupathatformsthemainstructureiscomposedofasolidhemisphereofbrickandearthsupportingaloftyconicalspirecappedbyapinnacleofcoppergilt.Paintedonthefour-sidedbaseofthespirearetheallseeingeyesofLordBuddha.ThishillisamosaicofsmallChaityasandPagodatemples.Theprimaryapproachtothetempleisfromtheeasternside,where365ancientstepsleadupthesteepforestedhillside.Thebaseisabouta20-minutewalkfromthecenterofKathmandu.Thisstaircaseistheonlyroutepilgrimswouldconsiderandisthemostmemorablewayforanyvisitortoexperiencethestupa.However,forthosewithdifficultywalking,analternativeistodrivetothewestside,wherethereareonlyafewstepstoclimbtothetop.Doletourguideknowifyouwishtodothis.
Thegroupwillallexitatthispoint.AtthebottomoftheeasternstairwayisabrightlypaintedgatecontainingahugeTibetanprayerwheelnearly12feettall.Ittakestwopeopletoturnitandabellsoundsduringeachrevolution.Aroundthegatearedozensmoresmallerwheels.Devoteesspinprayerwheelstoreleaseprayersandmantrastoheaven-visitorsarewelcomedtodosoaswell.ThestaircaseispresidedoverbythreepaintedBuddhastatuesfromthe17thcenturynearthebase(womenperformprostrationsbeforethemintheearlymorning);anothergroupfurtheruparefromtheearly20thcentury.Strewnalongthestaircasearenumerousmanistones,inscribedwiththeTibetanmantraOmManiPadmeHum("Hailtothejewelinthelotus").Merchantssellsmallerversionsofthestonestotourists.Thestairsrunthroughabeautifulforest,whichispopulatedwiththehundredsofmonkeysthatgivethetempleitsnickname.ThecentralbuildingsanddecorationsofSwayambhunatharerichwithBuddhistsymbolism.Thewhitewasheddomeofthemainstuparepresentsthewombofcreation,withaphalliccomplementinthesquaretower.Risingfromthetowerisaspiremadeof13goldendisks,representingthestepstoenlightenment.Theumbrellaontopsymbolizingenlightenmentitself;somesayitcontainsabowlofpreciousstones.ThefamousBuddhaeyesgazingoutsleepilyfromeachsideofthetower(orientedtothefourcardinaldirections)arethoseoftheall-seeingPrimordialBuddha.Betweeneachofthepairsofeyesisasymbolthatlookslikeaquestionmark-thisistheNepalinumber"1"andrepresentstheunityofallthings.GoldplaquesrisingabovetheeyeslikeacrowndepicttheFiveDhyaniBuddhas,celestialbuddhaswhoareassociatedwiththefivesenses,thefourcardinaldirectionsplusthecenter,andmanyothersymbolicgroupsoffive.TheFiveDhyaniBuddhasarefurtherhonoredwithspecialshrinesatthebaseofthestupa.Theyfacethefourcardinaldirections,plusoneslightlyleftofeasttorepresentthecenterdirection.BetweenthemareshrinestofouroftheBuddhas'consorts.Linkingallnineshrinestogetherisachainofprayerwheelsandbutterlamps.Thefivemainshrinesareenclosedinbeautifulgildedcopperrepousséwork,forwhichtheKathmanduValleyisrenowned.Fillingtheplatformaroundthemainstupaarenumerousothershrinesandvotivestructures,mostofwhichhavebeendonatedbykingsandlamasinthelastfourcenturies.Fiveofthemareassociatedwiththefiveelements:earth,air,fire,waterandsky.NotableamongtheseistheHaratiDeviTemple,dedicatedtotheHindugoddessofsmallpoxandotherepidemics,aswellasaprotectressofchildren.ThesmallbrickpagodaisverypopularamongbothHindusandBuddhists,especiallymothersseekingblessingsfortheirchildren.Petitionerstossflowerpetals,rice,coloredpowderandholywaterovertheHaratiimage,thenreceiveatikafromtheresidentpriest.Monkeys,straydogs,andpigeonsfightoverthericeandthefoodofferings,contributingtothechaoticatmosphere.Theimageofthegoddessdatesonlyfromthe19thcentury;itreplacestheoriginalthatwassmashedbyKingRanaBahadurShahafterhiswifediedofsmallpox.FoodofferingsforHarati(typicallystew,riceandbread)arecookedinakitchenonthebottomfloorofagompa(monasteryprayerroom)onthewestsideofthecomplex.Visitorscanclimbstairstothegomparoof,whichislevelwiththeBuddhaeyes.FromheretherearefineviewsoverthestupaandKathmanduvalley.Northwestofthemainstupaisanotherimportantshrine,associatedwithafascinatinglegend.Shantipurisasmall,plain,box-shapedtemplesaidtocontainagreattreasure-alivingholymanwhohasbeenmeditatingintherefor1500years.LegendhasitthatShantiShri,wholivedinthe5thcentury,lockedhimselfinavaultbeneaththetemple,vowingtoremainthereuntiltheKathmandu
Valleyneededhim.Enteringamysticstate,hehasachievedimmortalityandremainstheretohelpthelocalpeoplewhenneeded.In1658,KingPratapMelladescendedintothechamberalonetoseekShantiShri'shelpwithadrought.Thekingreportedmakinghiswaythroughseveralundergroundrooms,eachmorefrighteningthanthelast.Thefirstcontainedlargebatsandhawks,thesecondwashometohungryghoststhatclutchedathiminagony,andthethirdwasfullofsnakesthatchasedhimuntilhepacifiedthemwithmilk.Thekingfoundthesaintinthelastroom,skinnyasaskeletonbutstillaliveandmeditating.ShantiShripresentedthekingwithamandala,whichbroughttheneededrain.Theoutersanctumoftheratherominoustemplecanbevisited.ItisdecoratedwithfadedfrescoesfromtheSwayambhuPurana,a17th-centuryscripturethatrecountsthecreationmythsoftheKathmanduValley.ShantipurisalsocalledAkashpur(SkyPlace)anditrepresentsthefifthelement.Thetwobullet-shapetemples(shikra)oneachsideofthestupa,knownasPratappurandAnantapur,weregivenbyKingPratapMallatohelphimearnavictoryoverTibetinthe17thcentury.Thestoryofhissuccessisinscribedonthetwinbellsinfront.AtthenortheastcornerofthecomplexistheShreeKarmaRajMahavihar,anactiveTibetanmonasterywithabigBuddhastatueandyakbuttercandleslitbypilgrims.Theresidentmonkschantaround3or4pmdaily.ThenorthwestcornerishometoAgnipur,aneglectedshrinetotheancientHindufiregodAgni,whorelaysburntofferingstoheaven.Betweenthesetwo,northofthemainstupa,isNagpur,asmalltankwithasnakeidolatthebottom.Thishelpsappeasethevalley'snotorioussnakespirits.Atthetopoftheeasternstepsisagreatbronzevajra(thunderbolt),aTantricsymbolofpower,decoratedwiththesignsoftheTibetanzodiac.Transfertohotelforovernight.Restofeveningindependent.Oct19Day3TourChanguNarayan-Bhaktapur-Patan/HotelAnnapurna(B,L)WestartwithavisittothetempleofChanguNarayan,located14km/9milesfromKathmandu.ItistheoldestandthemoststatelyexampleofPagodastyleinNepal,datedfromearly3rdcenturyAD,andconsideredtobeoneofthegreatestartisticlegaciesoftheLichhavianera.Locatedonahillockthatatonetimedoubledasasmallfort,thecourtyardofthetempleisavirtualmuseumofancientstonecarvings.Ourdrivecontinues7kmtoBhadgaon-alsoknownasBhaktapur--meaningthecityofdevotes.Bhaktapuristhehomeofmedievalartandarchitecture.Thecitywasfoundedinthe9th century.Itisshapedlikeaconchshellandisataheightof4600ft.aboveseelevel.HereyouwillvisittheDurbarSquarewithits’arrayoftemplesoverlookedbythePalaceof55windowswithitsGoldenGate,builtbyKingBhupatindraMalla.TheNyatapolaTemple,alsobuiltbyKingBhupatindraMalla,isanotherexcellentexampleofPagodastyleandstandsfiveterraceshighwithapairoffigures--twofamousstrongmen,twoelephants,twolions,twogriffinsandtwogoddessesoneachlevel.ThewonderfulexperienceofvisitingBhatapuristhatitmaintainsitssmallvillageambianceandweshallseetheresidentsgoingabouttheirdailylives.We’llstopforlunchatalocalrestaurantandcontinuetoPatan.OriginallyknownasLalitpur,PatanissituatedonthesouthernbankoftheBagmatiRiverandis5KmsoutheastofKathmandu.Its’DurbarSquareisanenchantingmelangeofpalacebuildings,artisticcourtyardsandgracefulpagodatemples.ListedasaWorldHeritageSite,theformerroyalpalacecomplexisthecenterofPatan'sreligiousandsociallife,andhousesamuseumcontaininganarrayofbronzestatuesandreligiousobjects.Oneremarkablemonumenthereisa17th-centurytemplededicatedtotheHindugodKrishna,built
entirelyofstoneinsteadoftheusualbrickandwoodusedfortemplesinNepal.We’llalsovisittheGoldenTemple,theMahabouddhaTemple(alsoknownasthetempleofthethousandBuddhasduetothecarvingofBuddhaoneachbrick),UkuandKwaBahal.Afterwards,weenjoyvisitingthePatanMuseum.ThePatanMuseumislocatedinabeautifulrenovatedMallaPalaceGarden.TheMuseumdisplaysthetraditionalsacredartofNepalinanoutstandingarchitecturalsetting.Its’homeisanoldresidentialcourtofPatanDurbar,oneoftheroyalpalacesoftheformerMallakingsoftheKathmanduValley.Thegildeddoorandwindowsfaceoneofthemostbeautifulsquaresintheworld.Themuseum'sexhibitscoveralongspanofNepal'sculturalhistoryandsomerareobjectsareamongitstreasures.TheirmeaningandcontextwithinthelivingtraditionsofHinduismandBuddhismareallclearlyexplained.Mostoftheobjectsarecastbronzesandgiltcopperrepousséwork,traditionalcraftsforwhichPatanisfamous.TherestaurantinthePatanMuseumisopenfrom10am-530pmandoffersanexcellentvarietyofNepalese,andcontinentalsnacksandmealswithorganicvegetablesandsaladsgrownintheMuseumgardens.Youcanhaverefreshmentsatthemuseumcaféifyoulike(paydirectly).Alsolocatednearbyaresomeofthebestwoodworkandhandicraftshopsinthevalley.TheTibetanRefugeeCamphasawideselectionofhandwovennaturalandvegetabledyecarpets.Returntoyourhotel.Theeveningisindependent.Oct20Day4Dakshinkali&VillageVisits/HotelAnnapurna(B,L)Wedepartatabout9amtoattendthesacrificeceremonyatDakshinkali(Tuesday&Saturdayonly).Locatedinasmallgorgeonthebankofastream19km/12milesfromKathmanduCity,DakshinkaliisdedicatedtoGoddessKali,aHindugoddessofpower.Achiefcenteroftantricworship,animalsacrifices(goats,chickens,ducks)areheldeveryTuesdayandSaturday.Thesacrificeritualisperformedwithmuchreverencefortheanimalsandtheyaretakenawaytotheirhomestobeeatenlater.Thetempleislocatedinaforestedcanyonabovethesacrificelocation.Afterwards,weshallvisitthreesmallvillagesjustoutsidethecityandenjoyspectacularlandscapesaswellasobservetherurallifestyleandseeancientspiritualsites.Chovarisasmalltownonahilltop,8kmsouthwestoftheKathmanduCity.Itisknownforit’sgorge-carvedoutofahillsideandistheonlywateroutletintheKathmanduvalley.LegendhasitthattheKathmanduvalleywasonceaprimordiallakeringedbyverdantmountains.Inthispristinelakelivedgiantserpentsuntilonefineday,saintManjushree,theBodhisatva,raisedamightyswordandinoneslash,cutopenthesideofamountainatthisveryplace.Thevoluminouswatersofthelakegushedout,leavingbehindafertilevalley.ThereisasmallbutpicturesquetempleofAdinathonthetopofthehillwithamagnificentviewofthesnowcappedpeaks.JustbeyondthegorgeisatempleoflordGanesh.Themainimageoftheshrineisamassiverock,naturallycarved.Kirtipurissituatedonaridge6kmsouthwestofKathmandu.Theancienttownship,homing35,000people,isanaturalfortressandhasaproudandcourageoushistory.BuiltonahilloverlookingtheKathmanduValley,Kirtipurwasonceanindependentkingdom.PerhapsasaresulttoKirtipur'slegendarystubbornness,thetownhasbeenunaffectedbythedevelopmentofKathmanduandPatan.TheChilamchustupaandthetempleofBaghBhairavaremajorsightshere.Kirtipuroffersquaintstreetslinedwithartistichousesandtemplesquares.Thepeopleareknownfortheirskillinbuildingandweaving.HeadingsouthfromtheTibetanHandicraftsCenteratJawalakhelwillbringustoBungamati,atownthatdatesbacktothe16thcentury.ItisherethattheRatoMachendrastatuespendshalfofeveryyear,anditistoBungamatithatthissamestatueispulledinamassivechariotevery12years.OnthewaytotheRatoMachendranathTempleinBungamatiweshallvisitKaryaBinayakshrine,oneoftheKathmanduvalley'smostimportantshrines.TheGaneshofthisshrineisactuallyanaturalstonethatlooksonlyvaguelylikeanelephant.
Khokana,asmallvillageonthesouthernflankoftheKathmanduValleyandaround11km/7milesfromKathmanduCity,wasestablishedintheseventhcenturyADbythemightyrulersofNepal,Licchhavi.ItisauniquetowninthewholeKathmanduValleyduetoitsremotenessfrommoderncivilization.Oct21Day5TourOldKathmandu–Bouddhanath/HotelAnnapurna(B,L)WestartwithawalkingtourofKathmanduCity’sDurbarSquarewithits’arrayoftemplescentralizedaroundtheHanumanDhokaPalace,theancientseatofroyalty.VisittheJagannathTemplewithit’seroticcarvings,theKalandSetoBhairavtemples,theTempleoftheLivingGoddess,thebigbellandtheKasthamandapPavilion,saidtohavebeenbuiltoutoftimberofasinglecelestialtreeandfromwhichthecityofKathmanduderivesits’name.OnwardtoOldKathmanduCitywherewewillvisitthetempleoftheLivingGoddess,whoacknowledgesthegreetingsofthedevoteesfromthebalconyofhertempleresidence.Kasthamandap–thesourceofthenameKathmanduandsupposedtobemadefromthetimberofasingletreeandDurbarSquarearewithit’sarrayoftemplesoverlookedbytheHanumanDhokaPalace,theancientresidenceoftheNepaleseRoyalty.Wewillhavelunchinalocalrestaurant.ThisafternoonweshallarriveatBouddhanathStupa,eightkilometerseastofKathmanduCity,andremainhereforthesunset.Bouddhanathisoneoftheworld’slargeststupas.Fromabove,BodnathStupalookslikeagiantmandala,ordiagramoftheBuddhistcosmos.AndasinallTibetanmandalas,fouroftheDhyaniBuddhasmarkthecardinalpoints,withthefifth,Vairocana,enshrinedinthecenter(inthewhitehemisphereofthestupa).ThefiveBuddhasalsopersonifythefiveelements(earth,water,fire,airandether),whicharerepresentedinthestupa'sarchitecture.Thereareothersymbolicnumbershereaswell:theninelevelsofBoudhanathStuparepresentthemythicalMt.Meru,centerofthecosmos;andthe13ringsfromthebasetothepinnaclesymbolizethepathtoenlightenment,or"Bodhi"—hencethestupa'sname.Atthebottom,thestupaissurroundedbyanirregular16-sidedwall,withfrescoesintheniches.InadditiontotheFiveDhyaniBuddhas,BoudhanathStupaiscloselyassociatedwiththeBodhisattvaAvalokiteshvara(Padmapani),whose108formsaredepictedinsculpturesaroundthebase.ThemantraofAvalokiteshvara-OmManiPadmeHum-iscarvedontheprayerwheelsbesidetheimagesofAvalokiteshvaraaroundthebaseofthestupa.Thebaseofthestupaconsistsofthreelargeplatforms,decreasinginsize.TheseplatformssymbolizeEarth,andhereyoucanlookoutatthemountainswhilelisteningtothechantsofthedevoutdoingkora,walkingaroundthestupapraying.Nextcometwocircularplinthssupportingthehemisphereofthestupa,symbolizingwater.AsatSwayabunath,BodnathistoppedwithasquaretowerbearingtheomnipresentBuddhaeyesonallfoursides.Insteadofanoseisaquestion-mark-typesymbolthatisactuallytheNepalicharacterforthenumber1,symbolizingunityandtheonewaytoreachenlightenment—throughtheBuddha'steachings.Abovethisisthethirdeye,symbolizingthewisdomoftheBuddha.Thesquaretoweristoppedbyapyramidwith13steps,representingtheladdertoenlightenment.Thetriangularshapeistheabstractformfortheelementoffire.Atthetopofthetowerisagildedcanopy,theembodimentofair,withaboveitagildedspire,symbolicofetherandtheBuddhaVairocana.Prayerflagstiedtothestupaflutterinthewind,carryingmantrasandprayersheavenward.ThemainentrancetotheupperplatformofBodnathStupaisonthenorthside.HereAmoghasiddhi,progenitorofthefutureBuddha,presides.BelowAmoghasiddhiistheBuddhaMaitreya,thefutureBuddha.SurroundingBoudhanathStupaarestreetsandnarrowalleyslinedwithcolorfulhomes,TibetanBuddhistmonasteries,andstreetvendors.
Returntohotel.Eveningatleisure.Oct22Day6FlytoLhasa-DrivetoTsedang/YarlungHotel(B,L,D)DuringourtourofTibet,weshallhavebreakfastatthehotel;lunchanddinnerwillbeatselectedlocalrestaurants.ThisisoneofthemostspectacularaerialviewsoftheHimalayanrangeandincludesMountEverest.Uponarrival,wedrive96km/60miles,approx2.5hourstoTsedang,knownasthecradleofTibetanCivilization. The ancient town offers a number of sites that illustrate Tibet's early history of theValleyoftheKings(ancientcapitaloftheYarlungKingswhoestablishedtheTibetanNation).(Packedlunchduringthedrive;norestaurantsalongtheway).Restofthedayisfreetoacclimatizetothealtitude.
Oct23Day7Tsedang-Samye-Lhasa/KyichuHotel(B,L,D)/KyichuHotel(B,L,D)Tsetanghashadmany"firsts.”Forinstance,thefirstkingNyatriTsenpo,thefirstpalaceYumbuLhakang,thefirsttempleTradruk,thefirstcroplandSyarisotang,thefirstTibetanOperaPakhapuandthefirstBuddhistscripturePangkongChagyaareallcreditedtoShannan. HereisalsotheplacewhereKingSongtsanGampounitedTibetandoncelivedwithPrincessWencheng.TheTangkamadeandembroideredbyPrincessWenchengherselfisstillkeptinTradrukTemple,whichisagreattreasurehouseofcultureandart.
WevisitYambuLakhang,theoldestknowndwellinginTibet,dramaticallysituatedabovethevalley.ThecastlewasdestroyedintheCulturalRevolution,buthassincebeenrebuilt.VisitTibetanKing’sTombs(ChongyeBurialMounds).TheYarlungvalleycontainsmanyofTibetanhistoriesandlegends,tombsof thegreatestkingsofYarlungDynasty. Ithasalmost20differenttombsthatbelongtothehonorablekingsofTibet.LatervisitTraddrukTemple.
Afterwards,aonehourdrive toSamyeMonastery.Auniquemonasteryandvillagerolled intoone,SamyeisahighlightofavisittoTibet.
Situated amidst breathtaking scenery, built in the 8th century, Samye Monastery was the firstBuddhistmonasterytobefoundedinTibetbyKingTrisongDetsenofTibetwhosoughttorevitalizeBuddhism,whichhaddeclined in the7thcentury. It is the first formalBuddhistMonastery for themonksinTibet.ThemagnificentanduniqueCentralHallisthree-storieshigh.ThefirstfloorisoftheTibetanarchitecturalstyle, thesecondtheHanstyleandthethirdtheIndianstyle.Thehalls inthemonasteryhousemanystatuesandmurals.Themonasteryhasbronzebells,carvedmarblelionsandtabletsmarkingthedevelopmentofBuddhism.Allthesearevaluableculturalrelics.Asdescribedinhistorical books, this monastery is considered "an unimaginable construction and incomparablemonastery."
Wecontinueapprox.2hoursdrivetoLhasa,thepolitical,religiousandculturalcenterofTibet.KyichuHotelisintheOldCity,onthemainstreetjustminuteswalkingdistancetoBarkhorSquare,JokhangTemple,bazaarsandmanyrestaurants.Thecourtyardatthebackofthehoteloffersaserenegarden.Theyalsohaveanespressomachine!Weshalltrytoconfirmroomsoverlookingthecourtyard,noguarantees.Oct24Day8PotalaPalace,KangyurStupa,Norbulingka,JokhangTemple/KyichuHotel(B,L,D)PotalaPalaceisthecardinallandmarkandastructureofmassiveproportion.ThissymbolofTibet,anarchitecturalgembuiltinthecolossalmonasticstyleofCentralTibetbyGyelwaNgapa,thefifthDalaiLama,inthe17thcentury,stands300mabovethevalleyatopthehillcalledMarpoRi.ThethousandroomsinPotaladatefrom1645whenthefifthDalaiLamabeganerectingapalacethatwouldserveasasacredandadministrativecenter.ItservedmanysucceedingDalaiLamasandasoneofTibet‚smostimpressiveandenduringmonuments,theChineseArmyofRedGuardsprotecteditduringtheCulturalRevolution.Asaresultmanyofitschapelsandtreasuresareintact,virtuallyunchangedsincethe17thcenturyNorbulingkaPalace.KangyurStupa:ThisuniquesiteisafavoritepilgrimagesiteforTibetanstoday.TheentireKangyur(TranslatedBuddhistCannon)iscarvedontoslaterocks,andtheslatesthenusedtobuildthestupaNorbulingkaisthesummerpalaceofHisHolinesstheDalaiLama.The8thDalaiLamadesignateditasasummerretreatbutthemajorityofthebuildingswerenoterecteduntilthereignsof13thand14thDalaiLamas.Everyyearasthechillairwarmed,theDalaiLamawouldleavePotalainagrandprocessionforsixmonthsresidenceintheNorbulingkha.ItisworthavisitandtheparkisagreatplacetobeatfestivaltimesandpublicHolidays.JokhangTempleintheheartofoldLhasa,establishedin7thcenturybyKingSongtsenGampo,theKingwhobroughtBuddhismtoTibet.Oct25Day9TourofDrepung&SeraMonastery/KyichuHotel(B,L,D)About8kmtothewestofcentralLhasa,Drepung,oneoftheworld'slargestmonasterywasbuiltin1416byJamyangChojeapupilofTsongkhapa,thefounderoftheGelugpaSect.Drepungliterallymeans“RiceMountain,”afterthefamousandverylargeDanayakatakaStupainSouthIndiawhereBuddhaoriginallytaughttheKalachakraTantra.Priorto1959DrepungrankedasTibet'slargest
monastery,sometimeswithapopulationexceeding10,000monks.ItalsoservedastheresidenceoftheearlyDalaiLamas,untilthePotalaPalacewasconstructedin1645.ThesecondandthirdandthefourthDalaiLamalivedandwereentombedhere.SufferingonlyminordamageduringtheCulturalRevolutionDrepunghasplentyofhistoricalrelics,Buddhistscripturesandarts.WecanvisitthePotalaCarpetFactory,locatedbelowDrepungMonsateryandobservetheweavers.Tibetancarpetshaveahistoryofover600years.Hundredsofexperiencedweaversuseold-styledverticalloomstoweavecarpetsofincrediblecomplexity.Learnabouttheprocessofnaturaldying,preparationofwool,techniqueofweavingandsymbolisminpatterns.WewillwalkdowntoNechungMonasteryanddrivetoLhasaforlunch.Intheafternoon,drivetoSeraMonastery,5kmnorthofLhasa.TheSeraMonastery’ssettingisoneoftheprettiestinLhasa,huggingtheridgethatformsthenorthernwalloftheKyiChuValley.Foundedin 1419, SeraMonastery is one of the "great three" Gelukpa universitymonasteries in Tibet. Theother two are Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery. The origin of the name 'Sera' is notcertain,butitmayhavecomefromthewildroses(serainTibetan)surroundingtheoriginalsite.
Initsheyday,Serahostedahugemonasticpopulationandfivecolleges.LikeDrepung,thecollegesinSeraspecializedin:SeraMeinstructioninfundamentalpreceptsofBuddhism,SeraJeinstructionofitinerantmonksandSeraNgagpainTantricstudies.
Themonasteryismagnificent,featuringauniquestylequitedifferentfromotherfamousmonasteriesinLhasaandcoveringanareaof114,946squaremeters(28acres).ItsmainbuildingsaretheCoqenHall, Zhacang (college) andKamcun (dormitory). Buddhist Scriptureswritten in gold powder, finestatues, scent cloths and unparalleled murals can be found in these halls. The monastery is aBuddhistthink-tankandlivelydebatesonBuddhistdoctrinesareheldhere.
Serawashardhitduringtheculturalrevolutionowingtoitsresident'sactiveparticipationinthe1959uprising.ThehighlightofthevisittoSerawouldbetowitnessthemonksdebatingoutinthecourtyard.Oct26Day10YamdrokLake;Yamdrok(KamoaLa)/Gyantse(41/2hr)/YetiHotel(B,L,D)Todaywewill drive to Gyantse, the thirdmost important city, is one of the least Chinese influencedtownsinTibetandisworthavisitforthisreasonalone.Thismorningweclimb(approx3hrs)toKampaLaPass4793mtoviewYamdrokTso(lake),alsoknownasTurquoiseLake.Atelevationof4441Mand72km(45miles)long,itisoneofthethreelargestsacredlakesinTibet.Thelakeissurroundedbymanysnow-cappedmountainsandisfedbynumeroussmallstreams.Thelakedoeshaveanoutletstreamatitsfarwesternend.Thelakewithanareaof621squarekilometersandtheunknowndepthisfan-shaped,spreadingtotheSouthbutnarrowinguptotheNorth.Themountainouslakehasadozenofislands,thelargestofwhichisabout3,000squarekilometer.Thelakefreezesupinwinter.Likemountains,lakesareconsideredsacredbytheTibetanpeople,theprinciplebeingthattheyarethedwellingplacesofprotectivedeitiesandthereforeinvestedwithspecialspiritualpowers.Accordingtolocalmythology,YamdokYumtsoLakeisthetransformationofagoddess.Enjoythebeautifulviewsofthelake;timeforphotoopportunityandshortwalk.We’llstopforlunchatNankartse;thencontinuedrivetoGyantse(90km).Upon arrival,we’ll visit Kumbum Stupa.The spectacular Bodhi stupa, or Kumbum in Tibetanwasbuiltin1412andcompleted10yearslater.Deemedasthesymbolofthemonastery,thespectacular"stupa" consists of hundreds of chapels in layers, housing about a hundred thousand images ofvarious icons. The elegant structure is worth visiting. The famous Kumbum pagoda, built incollaborationwithNewariartistsfromNepalandTibetanartists,alsostandsinthesamecourtyardwithninestories,108doorsand77chapelscontainingclaysculpturesandvariousmurals.TheStupa
risesoverfoursymmetrical floorsandissurmountedbyagolddome.Thedomerises likeacrownover four sets of eyes that gaze serenely out in the cardinal directions of the compass. Kumbummeans10,000images.Thepagodaissaidtohave100,000images,eithersculpturedorpainted,thisisthereasonforitsname"100,000ImagePagoda."ItisonetheuniquestupasinTibet.
Oct27Day11GyantsetoShigatse-PelkorChoede,&ShaluMonastery/HotelGesar(B,L,D)WestartthedaywithavisitPelkorChoedeMonastery.Its'remarkablefeatureisthatitaccommodatesthethreesectsofTibetanBuddhisminonemonasterycoexistinginpeacewitheachother.Thethreesectsare:theSakya,theKagyuandtheGelug.ThefullnameofthePalchoMonasteryis"TheAuspiciousWheelJoyMonastery."Accordingtothehistoricalrecords,thismonasterywasbuiltin14thor15thcentury.ItconsistsoftheAssemblyHall,the100000-Buddhapago-da,dratsangsandanenclosurewallasitsconstructionunits.Afterlunch,wedrive110kmstoShigatse,anancientcityonthePlateau.Itshistorycanbetracedbacktomorethan500years.Withitsaltitudeof3800m,Shigatsecoversatotalareaof182000sq.kmin18countiesandisthesecondlargestcityafterLhasa.Withpopulationof635200underitsjurisdiction,ShigatseishistoricallynamedNyangme,or‘lowerreachesoftheNyangchuRiver’inTibetan.JustbeforereachingShigastewedetour10kmsoffthemainroadtovisitShaluMonastery.ShaluistheonlymonasteryinTibetknowntopossessasignificantcollectionof14thcenturyNewaristylemurals,moderatedandenhancedbytheartisticsensibilitiesoftheYuanDynastyofChina.Arniko,masterpainterfromKathmanduvalley,pioneeredthisuniqueartthatlatercametofullflowerintheChinesecapital.ThearchitectureofShaluisararecombinationofChineseandtraditionalTibetanelements.Return10kmsbacktomainroadandcontinue12kmstoShigatseforovernight.(totaldrivetimetodayapprox.2hours)Oct28Day12Shigatse-TashilunpoMonastery-Lhasa/KyichuHotel(B,L,D)Afterbreakfast,wevisitthegreatTashilhunpoMonastery,locatedonthesouthslopeoftheNyimarihillinthewestofthecityofXigatse.TheTashilunpoMonasteryisoneofthesixmajormonasteriesoftheGelugSect.ItistheseatofthePanchenLama,secondonlyinimportancetotheDalaiLama.FoundedbytheFirstDalaiLamain1447,themonasteryisthetraditionalseatofsuccessivePanchenLamas, thesecondhighest-ranking tulku lineage in theGelukpa tradition.Tashilhunpo in itsprimehadover4,000monks,butaftertheTibetannationaluprisingthattookplacein1959,ahandfulofTashiLhunpoMonasterymonksalongwithmanythousandsofTibetansescapedintoIndia.
Itsnumeroushallscontaina21.6-meterwoodenstatueofMaitreya,thefutureBuddhaandelaborate,jewelencrustedreliquarychorten.Themonasterywasexpandedandrenovatedbythe4th,5thand6thPanchens.Sincetheearly1980spartsoftheTashilhunpomonasteryhavebeenopentothepublicanditisanimportantculturalattractioninTibettoday.DrivetoLhasa,approx.4hours.ThiseveningexploreBarkhorBazaar,themarketplacewhereeverythingisavailable,alsogoodforpeoplewatching.Tibetansspinprayerwheelsandshopastheycircumambulate.Goodforshoppingeverythingfromtrinketstotantricritualobjects.Openuntil8:30pm.Oct29Day13MorningflighttoKathmandu-Remainattheairportforflighthome.
PRICE:$4185perpersonbasedonmin4people;Singleroom:$820-$200discountwhenjoinedwithBhutanTour.PlusAirfares(estimate):Paro-Kathmandu:$280,Kathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu:$760-1225PlusChina/TibetVisa(payabledirectlyinKathmandu):$200USnationals,$115othernationalities.AndNepalVisa(payonarrival)$30.Visapricessubjecttochange.Includes:Meetandassistanceattheairportbyourrepresentative.Accommodations5nightsKathmandu:HotelAnnapurna:http://annapurna-hotel.com/7nights-8daysinTibet:4nightsLhasaatKyichuHotel,deluxeroomhttp://lhasakyichuhotel.com/index.htm1nightatTsedangHotel,deluxeroomhttp://www.tsedanghotel.com/1nightGyantseatYetiHoteldeluxeroom,http://www.yetihoteltibet.com/1nightShigatseatGasarhotel,standardroomhttp://www.gasarhotel.com/
Meals:BreakfastandlunchinNepal.AllmealsinTibet.Allsightseeingtoursaspertheprogramwithprofessionalguide.Entrancefeesatthemonumentsasindicatedintheprogram.Allthetransfersandsightseeingaspertheprogramwithlocalprofessionalguide.BottledwaterduringtouringinTibet(2litresperdayperperson) DoesNotInclude:Nepalentryvisafee,ChinavisaInternationalairfareandallapplicabletaxesAirfaresKathmandu-Lhasa-Kathmandu/QuotedSeparatelySubjecttochange]PhotographychargesinthemonasteriesandmonumentsDinnerinNepalRefreshments,bottleddrinksandmealsnotmentionedintheitinerary.TipstoyourguideanddriverInsuranceandrescueofanyformCostarisingoutofflightcancellation/roadblockades/landslides/riotsandeventsbeyondourcontrolExpensesofpersonalnatureandanyotherexpensesnotmentionedintheabovecostNotes:Allinformationinthisitineraryisaccuratetothebestofourknowledgebutpleasenotethatchanges to our trips can and do occur. Thismay be due to our effort to improve our program orlogistical reasons such as changes in flight schedules, traffic conditions, weather conditions, orgovernmentpolicies.OriginalWorldandourpartnersatDharmaAdventureswillmakeeveryeffortto keep you informed of any changes but cannot be held liable for any alterations made to thepublisheditinerary.
At timesChinadecides tocloseentrytoTibetwithoutmuchadvancedwarning. Pleasecheckwiththe travel insurance you purchase to be sure you are covered for the full cost of the tour, if thisoccurs.
