Experience Yoga & Spirituality in Kathmandu Valley

Guests are welcomed and greeted at the airport and then transferred (1 hr) to their hotel in Nagarkot. Upon arrival, we are rewarded with amazing mountain views of the whole Himalayan range. We rest up for the day and in the evening, walk around the old hilltop town to explore the area and watch the amazing sunset from the View Tower.

Nagarkot is a picturesque village 32 km east of Kathmandu. The views go from Dhaulagiri mountains in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east. On a clear day, one can see Mt. Everest (8848m), Manaslu (8463m), Ganesh Himal (7111m), and Langtang (7246m).

Overnight at your hotel in Nagarkot.

A short morning walk before breakfast to Nagarkot Tower to see the unmatched scenery of the sunrise appearing on the horizon. Before the fresh morning rays reach your eye, they hit the tip of the peaks and majestically descend downwards. The shine of rays and the glimmer of snow-clad tops and slopes of mountains completely mesmerize your senses.

After breakfast, we drive 40 mins to World Heritage Site Bhaktapur and then drive 1 hour to historic town Panauti for sightseeing.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square, in the medieval city of Bhaktapur with its ancient temples, monuments and palaces are magnificent examples of Newari craftsmanship with their beautiful carved wooden windows and latticework. Their people are still renowned for their pottery and hand woven fabrics, including the traditional local red and black saris.

Panauti is a town with an interesting historical tale and still largely unchanged over the passage of time. Surrounded by sacred rivers, it is the birthplace to a number of legendary figures and to a traditional Newari confection. It is famous for its 40 temples and 28 festivals. Rich in Newari culture, many of its festivals are unique with a completely local character.

A short drive further to Phulbari, an authentic local village where the Yoga Retreat is located. We can relax, enjoying local organic tea along with the tranquil view of the retreat’s green scenery. In the evening, we begin Personalized Yoga Session (1-2 hrs) following the BKS Lyengar System. The Yoga sessions here are considered one of the best in Nepal. We can also indulge in Ayurvedic Massage, Craniosacral Therapy depending on your interest. Organic gardening and local hike around the village are other activities of interest. We enjoy a 3-course all local organic dinner, where all the produce comes from it’s local gardens and farms

Overnight at the retreat.

Morning Yoga today with the Himalayan mountains in the background will be quite an experience and we enjoy a wholesome breakfast afterwards. You can also indulge in other therapy and massage session. The fully ecological  Vishuddhi Alaya Retreat, is applauded for its traditional Nepali housing décor using Earth mud and tiles, sustainable and eco-friendly practices like efficient buildings, organic products, produce and management. It is a peaceful space.

We take a short drive to Namobuddha Monastery, one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites. We explore the grounds, meditate, attend afternoon Puja (ritual) ceremony, talk to Ani (Woman Monk) about their ways of life and Buddhism. We also get a chance to see amazing views of the Himalayas including Gaurishankar.

We drive (1.5 hrs) towards Kathmandu to visit Pashupatinath Temple and Bouddha Stupa, both World Heritage Sites. Pashupatinath, the largest temple complex in Nepal, is one of the four most important religious sites for devotees of God Shiva. Built in the 5th century, its main pagoda style temple has a gilded roof with four sides covered in silver and exquisite wood carvings. Here, we also observe the ritualistic cremation ceremony in the temple.

Bouddhanath, built in the 14th century is the world's largest Stupa. It is the center of Tibetan culture, rich with Buddhist symbolism, architecture, a place of pilgrimage, meditation and a site of great veneration for Buddhists.

Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Our day will begin with yoga and meditation in the lush garden of our hotel. After breakfast, sightseeing tour of Kathmandu valley, including the Kathmandu Durbar Square - the Temple of Living Goddess and the Royal Palace. You will also visit Kasthamandap, a temple built from a single tree and from which the city derives its name.

Continue for a visit to Patan City, an artistic and architectural jewel founded in 250 AD. It is known as the “Town with a Thousand Golden Roofs.” Here, we shall visit the Durbar Square, Royal Baths, Mahaboudha, Krishna and Hirayana Mahabihar (Golden Temple) and The Museum.

We also visit Ayurveda Health Home, which is a pioneering Pancha Karma Centre opened 2 decades ago as joint Nepal-German venture. It is providing quality Ayurvedic care, including full Classical Pancha Karma. You can spend half the day doing therapy like Singing Bowl, Shirodhara Therapy and massage.

Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

After morning Yoga and meditation in the hotel, we visit Swoyambhunath Stupa, the oldest Buddhist shrine said to be 2000 years old. Situated on a hilltop, one can see the entire Kathmandu valley spread out below. It has numerous shrines, temples, deities and monasteries on its premises standing out as a hallmark of faith and harmony among Buddhists and Hindus.

We then visit Kirtipur, a delightful medieval village, sited on a low hill. The village people still wear traditional costumes, and we shall see them working on their ancient looms. The place is rich with ancient Newari architectural buildings and monuments. We also take time to visit the Guru Padmasambhava Meditation Cave, a sacred Buddhist site where the namesake tantric sage meditated to achieve enlightenment in the 8th century.

In the late afternoon, we head to Pure Vision Tibetan Healing Centre, where you will be welcomed by Tibetan family. Evening singing bowl meditation, therapy and massage of your choosing will be conducted followed by signature Tibetan meal. You can enjoy any form of massage of your liking such as Tibetan Champa Massage, Five Nectar Herbal Bath, Ku-Nye massage and many more to bring body and mind in balance.

Overnight at the Center.

Breakfast will be followed by visit from a Tibetan doctor and therapy session. You complete the rest of your activity sessions in the morning.

We head to observe Hindu sacrificial rituals in Dakshinkali Temple, of The goddess Kali, worshiped as the destroyer of evil. The temple is considered one of the places where the body parts of Goddess Sati fell. The main ritual of the temple is animal sacrifice, and many devotees offer goats, chickens or buffaloes to the goddess to fulfill their wishes.

Afterwards, we drive for sightseeing of Bungamati, a typical Newari village, founded in the 7th century and home to one of the most important Gods of Kathmandu Valley known as Matsyendranath, the God of Rain and compassion, worshipped equally by Hindus and Buddhists, and accredited by local people with the introduction of rice plantations in the valley. Khokana boasts a rich heritage and relatively unchanging lifestyle of the Newar people. Sited on the southern edge of the Kathmandu valley, the mighty Lichchhavi rulers of Nepal established Khokana in the 7th century, and remain relatively isolated from modern Nepali life.

Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Optional morning activity: Mountain Flight. In the afternoon, you may enjoy shopping and free time on your own or even join for a homemade Nepali meal cooking class if interested.

Evening dinner at Bhojan Griha, an authentic Nepali meal with traditional folk music and dances. You can experience this in a heritage house of a priest which is over 150 years old.

Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Drive to the airport and fly back home with great memories from Nepal.

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