Nepal Hindu Pilgrimage Tour - 8 days

As your flight lands in Kathmandu, you can witness the fantastic views of mountains and hills surrounding the valley. Following the customs, you will be welcomed by our representatives from Third Rock Adventures and transferred to the hotel located in the tourist hub, Thamel. After relaxing at your hotel, you can head to our office nearby and meet your guide and team.

In the evening, explore the lively streets of Thamel to enjoy the music, parties, or different cuisines. After a warm Nepali dinner, head to the hotel and await the exciting city tour starting tomorrow.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is a treasure trove for Hindu pilgrims and tourists to explore the rich culture, tradition, and religion. On this day, you will be visiting the many religious places in Kathmandu. First up, you can head to Pashupatinath temple, located to the northeast of the city. It is one of the most significant holy Hindu temples around the world. The temple dates back to 1692 CE, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The salient features of the pagoda-style temple are its gold-plated roof and the giant Bull statue bowing to the Shivalinga in the main temple. Although non-Hindu tourists can not visit the main temple, they can witness it from afar and visit the different shrines in the temple's vicinity.

Following the visit to the Pashupatinath temple, you will be driven to the northern end of the valley under the Shivapuri hills to visit the Budhanilkantha temple. The temple is open-air and dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu, whose status sits reclined on the floor in the state of sound sleep. The statue is still regarded to be the biggest stone carving in Nepal. Hundreds of pilgrims show up in the festival of Haribodhani Ekadashi, which signifies the awakening of Lord Vishu from his long sleep.

Later in the afternoon, if the time persists, you can visit the Kathmandu Durbar Square upon your return. The Durbar Square is located in Basantapur/ Freak Street, with courtyards having temples and holy shrines of Hindu and Buddhist gods and goddesses.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On this day, you will be heading to one of Nepal's most renowned Hindu temples, Manakamana. After having breakfast, you will take a long drive on the Prithvi Highway to the west. Passing by the Trishuli River on the side, you will eventually reach Kurintar. At Kurintar, there is a cable car station that connects the hills of Manakamana. It is a 25 minute long Cable Car ride which is interesting and wholesome.

The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhawani, an incarnation of Parvati. As per the Nepali name, "Mana," which means heart, and "Kamana," which means wishes, it is believed that Goddess Bhagawati grants wish to the devotees that come here and worship.

Sitting in the confluence of Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers at the height of 1300m, you can observe the views of Annapurna, Manaslu, and Lamjung Himal. Usually, the temple is filled with Hindu pilgrims and particularly crowded during auspicious occasions and festivals.

After puja and exploring shrines of other gods, you will head to a nearby hotel for the night's stay.

Overnight stay at Manakamana.

Early in the morning, we will drive off further west along the Prithvi Highway to Pokhara, the 'city of lakes. As you reach Pokhara, you will witness the up-close views of Mt. Machhapuchhre and Annapurna Massif. We will transfer you to the hotel around Lake Phewa, located in Baidam. After relaxing at your hotel, you can head out for some sightseeing activities in Pokhara.

The city is serene and beautiful, with both natural and artificial beauty. You can start the tour by boating on Phewa Lake and visiting the island temple of Tal Barahi. The two-storied pagoda temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is a Hindu holy place famous for marriages, puja, and other auspicious activities. From there, take a ride to the oldest temple in Pokhara, Bindabasini, which is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati. It is located atop a hill and was built in the 17th century by the ancient King of Kaski. Visit the many shrines of gods Vishu, Ganesh, Shiva, Saraswati, and more in the vicinity. From the hill, you can see breathtaking views of Pokhara city.

If time permits, you can also explore the other tourist destinations in Pokhara, like the Bat cave, Gupteshwor Cave, and the Davis Falls located close. You can also witness the history of Mountaineering in the International Mountaineering Museum before heading back to the hotel.

Overnight stay in Pokhara.

This is an exciting day as you will be visiting further up northwest to Jomsom to witness the amazing Muktinath temple parched amidst snowscapes. You will be transferred to Pokhara airport early in the morning to fly to Jomsom airport. Jomsom is the major tourist and commercial area of the Mustang district.

You will instantly experience the strong winds in the Jomsom bazaar, where women and men sell different local produce made from Apples grown abundantly there. You will drive to Muktinath temple from the airport, passing by the ancient villages. Muktinath temple is a holy pilgrimage for Hindu and Buddhist religions and dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Situated at the foot of Thorongla mountain pass at an altitude of 3800m, it is regarded as one of the world's highest temples.

In the outside courtyard of the temple, there are 108 bull-faced taps where devotees lay their hands to touch the holy water. Also, there are two small sacred pools where devotees take a bath even in the freezing temperatures to rid themselves of sins. After the rituals and the prayers, you will drive back to Jomsom.

Overnight stay in Jomsom.

After having breakfast, head to the airport then take a flight to Pokhara. On the way, you will witness a birds-eye view of the green hills and the snow-capped mountains of Annapurna Massif, Thorongla, Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and other peaks.

From Pokhara, you can collect your belongings and then take a long drive back to Kathmandu. After returning to Kathmandu and relaxing at your hotel, you can head out to stroll around in the streets of Thamel for souvenir shopping.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On this day, you will be taking a short ride in the Kathmandu Valley to visit a majestic Hindu temple, Dakshinkali. Located just about 23 km from your hotel in Thamel, the drive leads through blacktopped roads then to rocky roads of Pharping village.

Pharping is located to the southeast of Kathmandu and is a typical Newari town. You can see the green farmlands where locals plant rice and Maize. The old Newari houses are beautiful and overlook the pleasant town with its traditional lifestyle. A little further down the road you will head to Dakshinkali temple, a significant Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali, the protector of children and devotees. On any auspicious day or festival, the temple is jam-packed with Devotees who offer their prayers and sacrifice animals to appease the goddess. The main idol of the goddess is situated inside the main temple.

In the afternoon, if time persists, then you can head to Patan Durbar Square on your way back to Kathmandu. The durbar square is located in the Newari town of Patan and was once the royal residence of the Malla Kings of Nepal. The palaces have now been turned into a museum with a different metal, wood, and artworks on display. You can stroll in the courtyards and check out other temples of Lord Krishna before heading back.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

On your final day in Nepal, you will pack up your bags and bid farewell to our team, who will drop you off at the international airport. As you return homeward, you will reminisce about visiting some of the most majestic temples, and pilgrimage sites huddled between hills and mountains. If you wish to extend your trip to other tourist places like Chitwan and Lumbini, get in touch with us to plan and organize an even more exciting tour.