Overview :
This is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal, traditionally celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga, the Mother Goddess. First nine days are celebrated with Tantric rituals worshiping nine different aspects of ‘Durga’.. Goddess Durga, symbolizing valor and prowess, is worshipped and offered sacrifices to ensure the devotees’ progress and prosperity. During the first ten days, pilgrims flock to various river confluences early in the morning and sacred shrines in the evening. Ghatasthapana, Phool Pati, Mahaastami, Nawami and Vijaya Dashami are the series of the events under Dashain each marked with a different set of rituals. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur.
During this the festival people are seen dressed well, eating and drinking at its best , people visit temples , put TIKA ( mix of redvermilion, rice and Yogurt ) in their forehead , receive blessing from the seniors and animals are ritually sacrificed in the various durga temples, children fly kites, people visit the friends and relatives. Government pays 13th Month salary for this festival .
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1 (9 October 19) : Arrival in Kathmandu (1300 m/4260 ft ). PM: Half day Sightseeing of Boudhanath and Pashupatinath. Overnight in Kathmandu .
Day 2 (10 Oct ) Fly to Pokhara ( 30 minutes )
Day 3 (11 Oct 19 ): In Pokhara
Day 4 (12 Oct 19) : Pokhara – Bandipur ( 1005 m /3296 ft)
Day 5 (13 Oct 19 ) : Bandipur – Gorkha – Chitwan
Day 6 (14th Oct 19) : IN Chitwan .
Day 7 ( 15th Oct 19) : Chitwan – Kathmandu drive enroute cable car ride to Manakamana temple.
Day 8 (16th Oct 19) : Celebarate Phulpati Festival ( 7th Day of the Festival )
Day 9 ( 17th Oct 19) Celebarate the 8th Day of the festival and full day sightseeing of UNESCO Heritage sites and visit Nava Durga Temples in the valley .
Day 10 (18 Oct 19 ) : Celebrate 9th Day of the festival (Mahanavami ) & drive to Banepa–Panauti and Dhulikhel .
Day 11 (19 Oct 19) : Celebarate the main day of the festival (BijayDashami – TIKA) .
Day 12 (20 Oct 19 ) : Departrue !
Detail Itinearry:
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 5th 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 8th 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 ( 10th 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 2nd 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 .
Services include:
- All the required airport transfers
- Airconditioned vehicle for transfers and sightseeing
- Service of english speaking tour guide
- Twin share accomodations
- Daily breakfast
- Kathmandu – Pokhara flight
- Pokhara-Bandipur-Gorkha – Chitwan- Kathmandu drive
- Entrance fees at the places of visit
- Sightseeing and excursions as per the program in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Tansen and lumbini
- Participation in various activities in Dashain festival
- Excursion in Sarangkot for sunrise in Pokhara
- Jungle activities in Chitwan ( canoe ride, bullock cart ride, village walk, elephant ride )
- All the meals in Chitwan
- 01 hour boating at Phewa Lake
- cable car ride to Manakamana tempel
- Visit to Temples and manuments .
- All the government taxes and festival surcharges
- Farewell dinner .
Compliments:
Fresh flower garland on arrival, welcome drinks, service of tour officer , farewell dinner , 01 bottle of mineral water every day during sightseeing), farewell scarf on departure .
Services exclude :
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees /Passort fees
- International flight cost
- Emergency rescue
- Optional tours like Mountain flight , Cable car, rafting .
- Expenses of personal nature like drinks/barbills , internet, laundry, telephone, postage, tipping/gratuities
- Expenses arising from from flight delays, flight cancellations, bad weather , road blockade,landslides, riots,political reasons ,natural calamities, incidents beyond our control.
- Rooms/hotels upgrading
- Services other than included.
In case sudden change in festival dates and any expense arising from this reason .