Kathmandu 

We will begin this pilgrimage/tour in Kathmandu Nepal at the sacred temple Boudanaht and circumambulate while turning prayer flags as Buddha peers down at us with his watchful eyes.  Then we will go to Pharping where many sacred sites exist including caves where Guru Rinpoche meditated and his wife and consort Yeshe Tsogyal retreated in the 8th century. Finally we will visit the 2500 year old, self manifested temple Swayumbunath also called the monkey where families of monkeys frolick abound.

Tibet 

We will visit this beautiful, ancient and blessed land of Tibet to experience this fascinating and rich culture. We will spend 19 days by Landrover to many sacred and historical sites as described below with a backdrop of some of the highest mountains in the world of the Himalaya. 

Mt. Kailash

Mt. Kailash is  located in the west of Tibet and is  the most sacred mountain in to Buddhists and several other religions. It is believed to be the physical embodiment of the mythical Mt. Meru, and the center of the universe or 'navel of the world'. Mt. Meru is depicted as a mandala. This mountain is holy to followers of four religions--Buddhists, Hindus, Kailas is the abode of Shiva. Tibetans call Kailash Kang Rinpoche (precious home). Jains worship it as Mt. Ashtapada, the peak from which the religion's founder, Rishabanatha, achieved spiritual liberation. Followers of Bon-Po, the ancient pre- Buddhist s

hamanistic religion of Tibet, revere Kailash as the soul of Tibet. Another geographical factor that contributes to the mystical aspect of Kailash is that nearby are the headwaters of four major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Sutlej, Karnili (a major tributary of the Ganges), Brahmaputra and Indus. The mouths of these rivers ate more than 2,000 km apart, yet they all have their source within 100 km on Mt Kailash.

This is an important pilgrimage site as circumambulation (koras) are considered to render spiritual power and knowledge for the spiritual seeker especially during Saga Dawa. Tibetan Buddhists believe that a single circumambulation washes away the sins of one life and that 108 circuits secure nirvana in this life. It involves the crossing of a 5630m pass. Bon-Po tradition is to circumambulate in the opposite direction. During Saga Dawa, participants meditate and perform circumambulation. it is approximately 58 km around the mountain and for most people one full day hike, for Tibetans prostrating around—sixteen days. The main event of the ceremony is the replacement and raising of Tarboche, the flagpole which marks the mountain’s position at the centre of the universe. As the pole—festooned with prayer flags—is raised, observers throw thousands of additional paper prayers into the air, along with handfuls of tsampa (barley flour). We will spend 3 days there circumembulating and praying with Tibetan people who peaceful people who are beautiful roll models for the world and are of the country who cultivated Padmasambava’s teachings with  admirable  devotion. Also we will see other pilgrims from around the Himalaya.   

At an elevation of 14,796 ft. is one of the highest lakes in the world and is said to be the means or soul of Brahma. Bathing in and drinking its water is believed to cleanse all sins.  Pilgrims come to take ceremonial baths in the cleansing waters of the lake. Manasarovar lake has long been viewed by the pilgrims as the source of four of the greatest rivers of Asia namely Brahmaputra, Karnali, Indus and Sutlej. So it is an axial point which has been thronged by pilgrims for thousands of years.