Overview :
Gaitjatra is the festival is marked to remember the departed soul and the literal meaning of this festival is FESTIVAL OF COWS . Thi festival is celebrated in all through Nepal and mainly in Kathmandu valley by the Newar .The festival commemorates the death of people during the year. During the festival, cows are marched in the streets and generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (August–September). It falls on the 1st day of the dark fortnight of Gunla according to the lunar Nepal Era calendar. The cow is holy to Hindus as she represents Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. It is believed that she guides the souls of the deprated to the gates of the heaven. The festival is also an occasion for satire, jokes and colorful processions. People who hace lost their family members take comfort in the fact that the holy cow has safely transported the departed souls on their afterlife journey. Children dressed up as cows, and Sadhu as well as other whimsical characters of all sorts fill the streets. This is the day who really use their right to speech by criticizing the governments/ leaders/ officials for their wrong doing in the form of comedies/ jokes and satires. People also give food and cereals to others while marking this, one of the most popular festivals of Nepal .
Brief Itinerary :
Day 1 (25 Aug 2018) : Arrival in Kathmandu (1300 m/4260 ft ) . PM: Half day Sightseeing . Overnight at the hotel .
Day 2 (26 Aug 2018): Observe RAKCHHYA BANDAN (JANAI PURNIMA FESTIVAL ) Balaju/ Budhanilkantha/ Patan Kumbeswar .
Day 3 (27 Aug 2018): Observe GAIJATRA in 3 Cities (Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur ) of Kathmamandu valley.
Day 4 (28 Aug 2018): Kathmandu to Nagarkot drive
Day 5 (29 Aug 2018 ) : Nagarko to Dhulikhel Hike
Day 6 (30 Aug 2018 ) : Dhulikhel – Namobuddha – Panauti walk and Kathmandu drive
Day 7 (31 Aug 2018 ): Departure !
Detail Itinerary:
On Arrival in Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu you will be met and greeted by Global Asia Tours & Travel’s represenatative and transferred to your centrally located hotel . After brief rest you will be taken for a quick city tours covering Swayambhunath /Monkey temple ( 2000 years) Buddhist stupa . After this we visit (time permiting ) Kathmandu Durbar Square, the cultural center of Kathmandu valley where the world’s only living goddess KUMARI is housed. Evening Typical Nepalese dinner with dance . Overnight at the hotel .
Today after breakfast we will proceed to Balaju ( BAAIS Dhara ) to understand little bit on this festival . Janai purnima is The festival of sacred thread
The full moon day festival is about reciting Bedic mantras and changing sacred thread of Hindus. Pilgrims crowd in shrines to receive welfare thread around their wrist. This festival is marked all over Nepal with family get togethers and feasts of Kwati or sprout lentils and there is special celebrations in Balaju, Gosainkunda, Patan ( Kumbeswar ) , Budhanilkantha etc . They prey to lord Shiva by bathing in the sacred lake. Kumbheswar Mahadev temple at patan is also crowded with pilgrims where a pond is specially prepared for festival. We will visit Kumbeswar Temple in Patan to more enjoy the festival. Overnight at the hotel .
Today after breakfast we visit the 3 historical cities of Kathmandu valley to observer the various activities of GAIJATRA . Gaitjatra festival is marked to remember the departed soul and the literal meaning of this festival is FESTIVAL OF COWS . Thi festival is celebrated in all through Nepal and mainly in Kathmandu valley by the Newar .The festival commemorates the death of people during the year. During the festival, cows are marched in the streets and generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (August–September). Apart from the festival you will enjoy the best of heritage and architecture while visiting Kathamandu , Patan and Bhaktapur . Ovenight at the hotel .
Morning Optional Mountain (Everest) flight. Later drive to Changu Narayan Temple, the superb pagoda temple is the symbol of very best Nepalease arts and architecture & this is Kathmanndu valleys oldest proven temple form 4th Century dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is blessed with glorious woodcarvins , metalworks, stone sculptures . The classically proportioned tripple roofed pagoda is a masterpiece of form and decorations. From you will hike uphill to Telkot where your vehicle will be waiting to pick you up . Continue driving to Nagarkot for overnight . PM free to relax . Evening sunset over the himalays . Overnight at the Mountain resort .
Early morning sunrise over the himalayas . Later after breakfast we will trek for ( 5-6 hrs ) to Dhulikhel . On arrival in Dhulikhel,quick tour of ancient Dhulikhel Bazaar . Evening free to relax at the hotel or explore the surroundings . Overnight at the hotel .
Early morning after breakfast we hike up to Namobuddha the famous tibetan Buddhist pilgriamage site . Literal meaning of Namobuddha is “ homage to the Buddha “ . For thousands of tibetan buddhist throng to this place during spring and for them this is the 3rd most important shrine after Boudha and swayambhuanath . Your guide will tell you the story of a prince who saw a hungry tigress about to devour a boy . Moved by a compassion for them both , the prince offered the tigress his own body . You can see the slav of carved stone depicting the story of a prince and hungry tigress . Namobuddha offer great view ( 360 degree panorama of surrounding countryside) and visitors may also have admissions inside the monastery and interact with the monks . Later we walk down to the ancient city of Panauti which is situated at the confluence of Rosi , Punyamati and Lilamati ( the invisible one ) . Panauti is the charming Newari city which is unspoilt with modenity and some of the highlights are Gorakhnath Temple, Indreswar temple and Brahmahini Temple . Finally we will walk to our vehicle which is already waiting for us in Panauti . Drive back to Kathmandu . Evening farewell dinner . Overnight at the hotel .
After breakfast you will be taken to the airport in time to connect your international flight .
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-Nagarkot–Dhulikhel-Kathmanadu drive
- Entrance fees at the places of visit
- Sightseeing and excursions as per the program .
- 01 Day hiking from Nagakot to Dhulikhel
- 01 day hiking from Dhulikhel to Panauti
- Sunrise and sunset excursions in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel
- Pokhara-Kathmandu flight
- Participation in Participation in the Rakchhya Bandan and Gai Jatra Festival
- All the government taxes and festival surcharges
Compliments :
Fresh flower garland on arrilval, 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 suddend change in festival dates and any expense arising from this reason .