Nepal during Bijaya Dashami(Dashain) festival

Arrival and greeted by  the Global Asia Personal  . Later transfer to the hotel . Time permiting ,we visit  to Pashupatinath  , the holiest hindu temple  situated at the bank of Bagmati river . This is one of the most sacred Hindu temple  in the world dedicated to lordg Shiva.  This temple exist to 200 years  BC . Near the temple  we can see the crematoriums in the bank of Bagmati river  where local Hindus observe the death rituals.  From here we continue our  tour to  Boudhanath which is the largest  stupa in the world . It looms 36 m high with 4 pairs of eyes facing the  four cardinal  driections .  It was built in 5^th Century  in an octagonal foundation representing Mandala (Lotus) .  Thousands of people from Tibetan origin live in this area  and there are dozens of massive Tibetan Monasteries.   Overnight at the hotel

Morning after breakfast you will be taken to Kathmandu aiport for your Flight to Pokhara , the lake city  and tourist capital of Nepal .  It is an enormous sunlit playground of green hills, lakes, forests , rivers, waterfalls, terraced fields and  dazzling mountains.  On arrival  you will be taken to the hotel  and brief rest . Later Half day sightseeing of Devi’s fall, Gupteswar Cave and  boat ride to Talbarahi Temple  situated in the middle of the lake. Evening free to explore lake side on  your own . Overnight at the hotel .

Morning  you are free for optional activities  like Paragliding /Ultralight /  PM : Hike up to Peace monastery. This place offers the  great view of of Pokhara valley and the  amazing  view Mt. Annapurna.

Morning excursion to Sarangkot for the sunrise over the himalayas . Later  visit Bindevasini temple , the The famous hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Durga .  During Dashain  thousands of hindu pilgrims throng  to the temple and animals are also ritually sacrificed .  Later after breakfast we drive to Bandipur a small hill town ( queen of hills ) with Newar settlement . Evening explore the surroundings and time permiting  visit the Thanimai Temple on the hilltop .  Evening  enjoy the quiet town and interact with the locals . Ovenight at the hotel .

Early morning after breakfast  we drive to Gorkha , the birth place of King Prithvi Narayan Shah , the great founder of Modern Nepal and  the ancestral home of the Shah kings.  Visit Gorakhkali temple from where flowers/Jamara and offering to Durga Bhagawati will be taken to Hanumandhoka( the  main Dashain Ghar in Kathmandu )  . Visit  if Gorkha museum  in also very interesting. Later we continue drive to Chitwan for Jungle safari.  Time permiting  in the evening village walk /bullock cart ride  in the nearby village .  In the evening  dinner followed by  Local Tharu cutural dance.

Early morning wake up call and tea , coffee/cookies will be served .  Later elephant  back safari  in the jungle . During this safari  there are plenty of opportunity   to see  one horn rhino, deer, monkeys, wild boar,  bears,peacocks , various species of birds and  perhaps even a tiger . On return you will have your breakfast  at the resort .

In the afternoon  depending on the season : Afternoon: depending upon the season, elephant bathing will be held on the Rapti River, and you are welcome to join in giving the elephants a scrub.

PM: After Lunch  you will be taken for a traditional dug-out canoe on the Rapti river. On this silent river ride you will get an opportunity to view aquatic birds and see animals on the river banks. And at the end  we will visit Gharial (Crocodile) Breeding Centre.  From this place nature walk  in the jungle and back to the  resort .  Evening  dinner. Overnight at the resort .

Morning afte breakfast we drive  to Kathmandu  enroute visiting  hilltop Manakamana temple  (the temple of wish fullfilling  goddess)   by cable car .   We will see hundreds of people queuing up to go uphill to the temple  and specially during  Nabaratri

(Dashain ) there a lot of rush and thousands of people will visit this temple of powerful Hindu  goddess ). Later we continue driving to Kathmandu   and arrive Kathmandu in the evening  . Evening free to explore the surroundings .  Ovenight at the hotel .

This is the  significantly  important day of the festival . In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. Military will  also offer gun salute . With this the Dashain feasting starts. We will observe and enjoy  the various pujas and rituals  to take place  in the Temples and individual homes.Overnight at the hotel .

This 8^th day of the festival is Maha Asthami: On this day many some Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep,buffaloes , chicken, ducks are  ritually sacrificed at the the Durga temples. The sacrifice continues till dawn. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed. Apart from the festivities we also visit the Heritage sites and  Navadurga Temples .

We will start our day from the early morning visit to Dakshinkali which known Durga temples where animals are ritually sacrificed .Later  we visit Kathmandu durbar square , Patan and Bhaktapur which are the center points for this festival.

Today after breakfast we will visit   Dhulikhel enroute visiting  Banepa and Panauti to see the celebrations in the country side.

This ninth day  of the festival is called Nawami  and Durga tempels all over the country will be full  of people from Morning to Evening . Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. On this very day the god Vishwa Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colourful  but  a day unfortuant to innocent animals.  Our visit to Kathamdu durbar square today will be of  very interesting  as this is the  only day of the year when the doors of the famous Taleju temple at Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square) are open to the public. This is also the day when Nepalese Military perform ritual sacrifices of  the buffaloes  to please Goddess Durga.

This  the main day ( 10^th day of the festival called Dashami ) of the festival where all the family members gather  and receive Tika ( red vermilion , rice and yoghurt) , jamara  and  receive bleassings from the elders.  People dressed up well  and  their forehead is filled with Red Tika and  Jamara .  On the 2^nd half of the day  you will see  people more relaxed playing cards, drinking and eating  . Most of the business / markets will be closed  and you will experience very less cars on the road.  This festival  promotes friendship, love and makes the family bond stronger .  People from far lands come home to  meet the friends and families back home.  Evening we will organnize special farewell dinner to our guests with unlimited Local “Rakshi”

Morning free. Later trasnfer to the airport in time to connect your flight back home .