Overview

Tour Features: This tour is the blend of Lord Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini, 6th century BC ruined monuments of Shakya dynasty in Tilaurakot, traditional villages, several Tharu tribal culture programs, several feasts, festivals and cultural events, ancient monuments in Mid/Far West Nepal, dozens of beautiful grasslands and tranquil lakes, interesting hanging cliffs, wild bee-hives in hanging cliffs, thundering waterfalls, forested hills, rare mountain flora and fauna, unique lifestyle of shepherds in Ramarosan, wildlife safari in Bardia National Park by jeeps (famous for one horned rhinos and elusive Bengal tigers!), and, beautiful landscapes, farmlands, intermountain river valleys.

Guide: English/other language speaking local guide for the entire tour.

Lord Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini (UNESCO heritage site): Lumbini is the very peaceful and interesting culture heritage of Nepal where ancient monuments glorify the birthplace of the Sakyamuni Buddha. Thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over the world come to this calm spiritual place throughout the year. Numerous holy brick foundation and intricate colorful monuments built up in spacious peaceful area from 6th century BC to till attract people from around the globe. 

Important sites in Lumbini: Just after the Buddha’s parinirvana, the Lumbini grove altered into a world famous religious site where a monastic site developed around the sacred spot of Buddha's birth. Being the most sacred point of the Holy Land Lumbini, birth spot drew the attention of generous devotees who erected numerous artistic colorful structures from 5th century B.C.   

The Maya Devi Temple, Nativity sculpture & Sanctum-Sanctorum: The exact birthplace of Lord Buddha was developed as a shrine in early 3rd century BC. Famous Maya Devi stone sculpture known as the Nativity Sculpture was installed in 4th century AD in which Lord Buddha’s mother Maya Devi, supporting herself by holding a tree branch and newly born Gautam (Buddha) standing on a lotus pedestal with heavenly blooming background are shown. The Nativity Sculpture is enshrined in the Maya Devi Temple. The exact holy birthplace of Lord Buddha, the Sanctum-Sanctorum enshrined in the Maya Devi Temple is one of the key attractions of the pilgrims and visitors. 

The Ashoka Pillar: One of the most significant monuments and an authenticity of Buddha’s birthplace is Stone Pillar erected by a great Emperor in 249BC and later on it’s called Ashoka Pillar. The first epigraphic evidence of Lord Buddha’s birthplace was discovered by West Nepal Palpa regional governor Khadga Shamsher and German archaeologist Dr. A. Fuhrer. The text written in Brahmi script and Pali Language says: “King Piyadasi (Ashoka), the beloved of Devas, in the twentieth year of the coreonation, himself made a visit to Lumbini and paid his homage. Realizing that the Sakyamuni Buddha was born here, a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected because the lord was born here.” King Ripu Malla engraved the famous Buddhist Mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” with his name Sri Ripu Malla Ciranjayatu on this pillar during his pilgrimage to Lumbini in the 14th century.   

The sacred pool Puskarini: The Pool Puskarni next to Maya Devi Temple and Ashoka Pillar is believed to be the sacred pond in which Maya Devi took a holy dip just before giving birth to the Lord Buddha and purificatory bath of the infant Buddha was given. A row of stupas with circular, square and rectangle bases built in 3rd century BC is surrounded to this holy site.

Monastery sites and World Peace Pagoda: The spacious delightful, peaceful site of numerous intricate colorful monasteries built up by many national / international government and non-government organizations looks really a wonderful heaven where one can do meditation and try to find a real peaceful way of living. Newly built World Peace Pagoda is another attraction of Lumbini. 

The monuments we visit: In Lumbini Garden, we’ll see Maya Devi Temple, 6th to 1st century BC ancient stupa groves, Ashoka Pillar, Pushkarni Pond next to the Maya Devi Temple, monks under Bodhi Tree. Beginning of monastery site, we’ll see eternal holy fire flame. 

Eastern side of the canal: Myanmar Golden Temple, Gautami nunnery, Combodian monastery (under construction), Thai monastery

Western side of the canal: Chinese monastery and Lingsing monastery 

Near Lumbini Hotel Kasai:  World Peace Pagoda 

6th century BC Maura Era ruined monuments of Shakya dynasty in Tilaurakot: A large area of interesting huge walls of mud bricks lying in the middle of Tilaurakot Sal forests is proposed to enlist UNESCO World Heritage site. There are dozens of mysterious brick walls which are really wide and worn out. There are lots of excavations made by global archaeologists led by Durham University England in collaboration with the Department of Archaeology Nepal, Lumbini Development Trust. A group of archaeologists unearthed some earthen pots, animal statues, copper coins and various household goods during excavation which are over 2400 years old. The goods found there are kept in Tilaurakot museum. Shakya prince Siddhartha Gautam spent his life there till 29 year old. 

Valley of temples - Surkhet (7th century monument ‘Kakre Bihar..): Surkhet is a beautiful intermountain valley in the lap of Siwalik hills and Lesser Himalaya range where we see interesting terraced cultivated fields, settlements, tropical sal forests, hills and hillocks, mountains and can visit recently rebuilt 7th century Hindu and Buddhist combined monument ‘Kakre Bihar’ in forested hill surround by cultivated field, Deuti Bajai temple, Bulbule lake with colorful garden and observe lifestyle of locals.

Ramarosan lakes, grasslands and waterfalls: Located an elevation of 2000m to 3800m, Ramarosan is an interesting place of a dozen of tranquil lakes, one and half dozens of beautiful large marshy grasslands, series of hanging cliffs, wild bee-hives in hanging cliffs, thundering waterfalls, rhododendron-oak forested hills, rare mountain flora and fauna and wonderful lush green landscape where we can also observe unique lifestyle of shepherds etc. This is to home to the national bird of Nepal ‘DANFE’, pheasants, partridge, mountain crow, love bird, griffin vulture, rock bees, musk deer, leopard, tiger, wild boar, yellow throated marten etc. We can see wonderful view of Api-Saipal Himalaya range, Budhi Ganga valley and settlements from here. Boating is available here these days but not reliable. This is the main source of water for some rivers and lower valley region. This is also a holy land where there are numerous festivals takes place. This place is also known as one of the touristic destinations in the region.

Beautiful shrines and landscape along the route we visit in Far West Nepal: You will visit Pancha Dewals -the five stone shrines, one of the most interesting and important Hindu shrine Baiddhanath Dham, temples of the most powerful goddess Shaileshwori and Ugratara, Behedababa and Ghodaghodi Shiv temples and see more shrines along the route. It is a scenic drive where you see heart alluring river valleys, terraced cultivated fields, beautiful traditional villages, towns, forests, hills and hillocks. Typical lifestyle in the traditional villages like Binayak, Bannigadhi, Punna, Bandugrisain, Sirkholisain and wonderful unique landscape are additional attractions. Interested people also have choice of rafting in Karnali and Seti River. 

Tharu tribes, village tour and observe their culture programs and fishing expedition in Far West Nepal: Over a dozen ethnic group of Tharu are Indo-Aryan Hindu people dwelling in lowland terai scattered from eastern to far western border of Nepal in the southern foothills of the Himalaya. It is said that they were the terai’s only ethnic group, roaming in the tropical dense forest and large grasslands with their animals before 1960s. They are mainly farmers grow various food grains and keep animals for the organic fertilizers. 

Rana and Katharia Tharu are settled in Far West Nepal for centuries and it seems that they have no internal migration. Dangaura Tharu had famous kingdom in the Asia’s biggest intermountain valley ‘Dang’ just northwest of Lord Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini but in early 18th century after the invasion of Magar dynasty, many Dangaura Tharu migrated to Far West Nepal for the safety and survival. There is alluvial fertile soil in lowland terai with lots of wetlands where can be grown up good crops especially rice. So, year by year, for better crops and better lifestyle, most Dangaura families migrated to different of part of terai, Far West Nepal. Such movement was common till 1980s. 

They have mostly thermal air conditioned cow dung-clay plastered house with clay tile made of wood, shrubs, fodder and clay. Muddy house walls are engraved with elephant, bird, fish, plant pictures and colorful wall painting is related to lifestyle of Lord Krishna and Pandava; the main 5 characters of the biggest Hindu epic Mahabharat. Forest, agriculture, earthen items are the main source of living. They grow all food they need like rice, wheat, lentil grains, mustard, flaxseed etc and keep cow and buffalo for milk, bull and male buffalo for transport, goat and sheep for meat, chicken and ducks for eggs and meat. Animal dung is used as fertilizer, fuel to cook food, scrub houses and mix it with mud and hay scrap to plaster house floor, yard and to make food garners and other household items. They collect forest products like fodder for animals, house roof, Dhakia baskets and brooms, plant bark for rope, jute threads and sacks, roots-shoots & wild fruits for vegetable, medicines, fermenting homemade beer ‘Chang’ and alcohol ‘Raksi’, wood for building house, household items, furniture & fixture etc. Whatever they need, they make their almost all things themselves from forest products, earthen items and animal dung. In present day, modernity is influencing their culture but new generation is trying to continue their ancestral profession and culture. Fish, snail, crab and mouse are their favorite fleshy meals. Even for a single fish or a mouse hunt they can spend a whole day. So, fishing and mouse hunting are quite popular in the community. 

Most Tharu people plough field with a pair of oxen and dig the corners with spades. Wheat is sown in November and harvested in March-April. Similarly, rice is planted in May-June and harvested in October. Almost all members of the families of the societies go to farmland to work and a lady at home prepares food for them and carried to the field to serve them. Traditional way of farming and harvesting is interesting. Tharu women husk rice in ‘Dhiki’, traditional rice mill, wheat and other food grains are grinded in ‘Jaanto’, the flour mill, and mustard, flaxseed, hemp seed and sesame seed are squeezed in ‘Kol’ the oil mill. Traditional oil mill is not common these days but rice and wheat mills are common in every Tharu society. Their traditional way of working at home looks very interesting. Tharu are really skilled and almost self-sufficient people who manage the household work with mostly plant and earthen based items.

We organize their classic culture programs for our guests. You will observe very interesting culture dances and typical lifestyle, household activities, dramas, traditional wedding ceremonies, cooking traditional tribal dishes, fermenting local beer, home made distillery, husking rice, grinding cereals in traditional meals, weaving bamboo/shrub mats and baskets and their interesting fishing expeditions. 

Wildlife safari in Bardia National Park: Adjoining the eastern bank of the Karnali River in the Bardia district, the largest and most uninterrupted wilderness lowland zone of Nepal terai, Royal Bardia National Park is a protected area established in 1988 covering an area of 968 km2. Within the boundary of Siwalik  Hills in the north, highway and villages in the south, Geruwa, a branch of Karnali River in the west and Babai River, villages and partly Banke National Park in the east, it has lots big grasslands, dense tropical forests, Siwalik hills and traditional Tharu villages in the buffer zone area. Nepal’s longest highway connected from the eastern border to the Far Western border, East-West Highway (also called Mahendra Highway named by a late king Mahendra) goes through the middle of the national park. So, we drive through it with a certain limit of driving speed where the visitors must registers their vehicles and their information at the national park security check points (Nepal Army) in various places along the highway. 

National Park is famous for elusive Bengal tiger, one horned rhino, giant Asian elephant, herds of swamp and spotted deer, red macaque (red monkey), black faced white monkey (langoor), wild boar, pythons, dolphin in Geruwa River etc. We often see herds of deer, rhino, monkey, peacock but tiger! There are only 2 places to drink water for tigers. If there is sunny day with no high sounds and no rough movement of human, there is high chance to see tigers (almost 99% chance in the afternoon of sunny day). If we drive through Bardia and Banke National Parks early in the morning, we may see tiger along the highway. As per the national park current rule, we should enter the national park in the morning for wildlife safari. Thus after having breakfast and taking pack lunch, we go for wildlife safari within the timeframe and takes whole day till 3-4pm.

Monthly rainfall & temperature of some tour places of Nepal