|
Day 1 Delhi
Flight to Delhi.
Arrival in Delhi and transfer to the hotel. Check in time is
1200 hrs.
Day 2 Delhi
In
Delhi’s 3000 years of existence, seven cities stood where the
present capital of India stands. Here you’ll encounter a
fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary - where
government buildings, medieval palaces and bazaars exist besides
a modern metropolis. Delhi
is a city waiting to be explored.
After
breakfast sightseeing of Old
and
New Delhi.
Visit
the 7th city of Delhi, Shahjahanabad
(Old Delhi) which was built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
(1639-48 AD) after he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi.
Red Fort – the
17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone
is surrounded by a huge boundary wall 33m high. Inside are
exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens.Opposite the Red Fort
lies Jama Masjid
(Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble,
completed in 1656. It is India’s largest mosque where more
than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. Visit
Raj Ghat on the
banks of the river Yamuna, Mahatma Gandhi’s Memorial, where he
was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The
memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a
simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last
words “Hey Ram”. An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Afternoon
visit New Delhi.
Visit
the Humayun’s Tomb,
built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early
example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the
Taj Mahal. The Qutub
Minar – the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory
started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The minar is 72.5m high
with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. Proceed
to the Rashtrapati
Bhawan once the Viceroy’s residence is now the official
residence of the President of India. Designed by Lutyens, it
combines western and eastern styles – the dome reflects the
Buddhist stupa, the chattris Hindu and the graceful colonnades
very British. It has 340 rooms. The Government
Buildings designed by Baker, are topped by baroque domes and
decorated with lotus motifs and elephants, while the north and
south gateways are Mughal in design.
The northern
building
has an inscription with “Liberty will not descend to a
people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.
It is a blessing which must be earned before it can be
enjoyed”. The Parliament
House,
designed by Baker is 173m in diameter. Inside is the
library and chambers for the council of state, chamber of
princes and legislative assembly. The India
Gate (42m), commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died
in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and
Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on
the arch and foundations. Under the arch, the Amar Jawan Jyoti
commemorating Indian armed forces’ losses in the Indo-Pakistan
war of 1971.
Overnight
stay at the hotel in Delhi.
Day 3 Delhi/Kathmandu
Transfer to the
airport to connect flight to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu
transfer to the hotel.
Kathmandu,
the capital of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, nestled in the
cradle of the Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world. It
is the world’s only Hindu Kingdom, unified by King Prithvi
Narayan Shah in the late 18th century. Nepal is known
as the kingdom where deities mingle with mortals. It is a blend
of the best of China, Tibet and India, squeezed between the
vastness of China to the north and India to the south, east and
west, and the staircase to the forzen heights of “the roof of
the world. Nepalese people are perhaps the friendliest in the
world, with kind and spiritual nature.
The scenery is simply without parallel.
After
noon visit Kathmandu city, a city which looks like a living
museum. Visit the Durbar
Square, the highest concentration of at least 48 buildings
of unique architecture, palaces, monuments and temples are found
here. We continue to the Kumari Bhal, or the Temple
of the Living Goddess. A young Buddhist girl whom the locals
believe is a living goddess appears in a window of the temple
courtyard. However, you will not be allowed to come any closer
to this deity, as only Hindus are allowed an audience with her.
Overlooking the Durbar Square is the Hanuman
Dhoka Palace, built by King Pratap Mall in the 17th
century, which means the “gate of the Monkey God”. At the
entrance there is a huge statue of the Monkey God Hanuman from
the Ramayan epic. Shiva-Parvati
Temple, a three storey temple famous for its erotic stone
carvings.
visit to the world’s most glorious Buddhist
Also visit stupa of Swayambunath.
It is said to be 2000 years old and is situated 70 m above the
level of valley. Often referred to as the `Monkey Temple’.
This temple is believed to be famous in the tantric cult.
Overnight
at the hotel.
Day 4 Kathmandu
After
breakfast visit the second sister city of the capital, Bhadgaon
(Bhaktapur), which means “the City of Devotees”. It is the 3rd
largest in the valley, which has preserved its medieval
character, said to have been founded by King Ananda Deva in the
9th century. The houses with artistic stone cutting
work, as well as the beautiful wood carving date back to the
time of King Bhupatindra Mallas (17th century). The
city was constructed in the shape of a conch shell – an object
of religious significance to Hindus and Buddhist. Visit
Durbar Square
with King Palace
specially its golden gate and 55-Windows-Palace (15th
century), the 5 storey Nyatopala-Temple,
the highest and probably the finest temple in Kathmandu Valley,
built by King Bhupatindra. The 2 storey Bhairabnath-Temple
(18th century) as well as the Dattatraya
Temple dedicated to God Vishnu and the Pujahari
Math with its famous Peacock Window. Apart from the usual
temples and palaces, the added attractions are
the Big Bell, the bell of the Barking Dog, the lion gate,
and the picture gallery.
Afternoon visit the
ancient town of Patan also
known as Lalitpur (City of Beauty and Fine Art) .It was an
important Buddhist centre, that flourished under the Malla
kings. Patan is an
ancient city filled with exotic pagodas, intricate gateways,
fabulous deities, and endless carvings.
Stroll through the city, visiting Durbar
Square with the Old King’s Palace. Visit Krishna
Temple with its depictions of ancient Hindu epics and the
Ashoka Stupa, and the mythological bird Garuda with spread wings
on the peak of a pillar sits. Also
visit Taleju Temple
(17 century), the 3 storey Bhimsen
Temple. Further you see the Shiva
Temple with two stone elephants and artistic, erotic stone
cutting work, and the Mahabuddha
Temple (14th century), the temple of 1000 Buddhas, similar
to the one in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained Nirvana. Next we
visit the Tibetan
Refugee Settlement.
This is an interesting slice of culture and history
contained in a relatively small area. In 1957 the Chinese
invaded Tibet, causing thousands of Tibetans to flee their
country. The Tibetans crossed the Himalayan Mountains on foot
and many settled in Nepal. This camp was formed with the help of
the United Nations and provides a place for the people of Tibet
to work and live self-sufficiently, while they await the
opportunity to return to their homeland.
Overnight
at the hotel.
Day 5 Kathmandu/Jiri
Drive to Jiri,
1860 m where begins your trekking Tour, which is a relatively
new town by the look of the small hotels and restaurants that
have sprung up. Dinner and overnight in tents at Jiri.
Day 6 Jiri/Bhandar
The
trek starts with a climb to the ridge top at 2400 m then drops
down to Shivalayas
at 1800 m. From Shivalaya one again climbs to Sangbadanda
at 2150 m and one begins to see the mani stone walls which an
indication of the region being Buddhist. As always mani walls
and most holy Buddhist structures in the mountains have to be
crossed from the left and in a clockwise direction with your
right always to the structure, which could be a flag, chorten (stupa),
shrine or monastery etc. Trek continues to Kosaribas
at 2500 m and onto a pass at 2700 m before descending to Bhandar
at 2200 m. There is a diversion to Thodong
if one is interested to see the cheese factory established in
the 1950s with Swiss aid. Overnight at Bhandar in tents.
Day 7 Bhandar/Sagar
The trail drops
down to the Likhu Khola
and crosses the river at 1580 m. One then has to climb through Kenja
and then rise steeply yo a fork where you choose the route to Sagar
at 2440 m. These are mostly Sherpa villages here. Overnight at
Sagar.
Day 8 Sagar/Junbesi
Today you will
cross the Lamjura pass
at 3530 m after a long and gradual climb. This region is full of
rhododendrons in spring. Goyem
at 3300 m on your way to the pass is good lunch stop. The pass
is the highest point between Jiri
and Namche Bazaar
and from the top you descend to the Tragdobuk
at 2860 m then to the pretty Sherpa village of Junbesi
at 2675 m. There is monastery and restaurants here and good
spot to do small walks and hikes around the region. Overnight at
Junbesi.
Day 9 Junbesi/Nuntale
Today
the trek has a downward route initially to Phaphlu
and then a climb to a ridge at 3060m and from here you can get
the first views of the Everest. The route then descends to Salung
at 2980 m and the Ringmo
Khola at 2650 m. Take a dip in the river if you wish as the
waters of the Dhudh Kosi
is much colder. Around the Ringmo
you have apple and other fruit trees. One has to again ascend to
the Trakshindo pass
at 3071 m and descend to the monastery that you can visit here.
Further down one comes to the camping place for the night called
Nuntale. Overnight
at Nuntale.
Day 10 Nuntale/Kharikhola
Toady we trek
down to the Dudh Kosi
right down to 1500 m. As in most treks in the Nepal Himalayas it
is a series of climbs and descents and again one climbs to Jubing
at 1680 m and continue upto Khari
Khola at 2070 m. Overnight at Khari Khola.
Day 11 Kharikhola/Puiyan
The
trail drops to 2010 metres then climbs to Bupsa
at 2300m . The trek all along gives one the interesting view
of the Dudh Kosi
river 1000m below the steep side. This view ends once we get
close to Puiyan at
2730 m that is off the Dudh Kosi valley. Overnight at Puiyan.
Day 12 Puiyan/Phakding
The
trek today is a steady walk up the ridge at 2800 m and a drop
down to Surkhe after
that there is a turn towards the Lukla
airstrip. From here follow the route to Phakding
at 2650m. This is where you spend the night at camp.
Day 13 Phakding/Namche
Bazaar
First
ascend to Benkar at
2700 m and then onto Chomoa.
Here is a lodge that was built by a resident Japanese and like
many other foreigners who spent long months in a country faraway
from their own fascinated by its simplicity and awe inspiring
beauty. This is also where you enter the Sagarmatha national
park that is a protected zone. Once again one has to make a
steady climb to Namche Bazar at 3440 m. This is the main
settlemnet of the Solu
Khumbu region and the has a post office, police station,
national park office and a colourful market. Overnight at Namche
bazar.
Day 14 Namche
Bazaar/Thangboche
One begins the
walk today to Khumjung
or takes the direct route to Dhudh
Kosi at 3250 m where there are water driven prayer wheels.
Then asteep ascent brings one to Thangboche
at 3870m. The phographers favourite with the beautiful Ama
Dablam peak in the background. Thangboche temple was founded
50 years ago by Lama Gulu. The main temple was earlier destroyed
in 1933 by and earthquake and was one of the early shrines of
this Khumbhu region when Buddhism was introduced here by the
Rinpoche of Ronbok in the 17th century. They were not called
monasteries as initially there were no monks and nuns with
formal organization and this was introduced much later. Thangboche
is also famous for the annual Mani
Rimdu festival which is held every November- December where
they have masked dances dramatising the victory of Buddhism over
Bon, the ancient animistic religion.
Over night at
Thangboche.
Day 15 Thangboche/Pheriche
From here on the
altitude is something one has to come to terms with. After an
initial drop down to Devuche
the climb is steadily upward crossing excellent mani stones
to Pangboche at
3860m. There is monastery here with a yeti scalp and normally a
good lunch stop. The trail further climbs to Pheriche
at 4240 m. There are several good restaurants here catering to
mountain expeditions with a a lot of its imported food in use
all the time of the year. Overnight at Pheriche. Another night
at Pheriche is recommended as an acclimatization stop.
Day 16 Pheriche/Lobuje
Trek
to Lobuje 4930m is
via Phalang Karpa at
4340m and Dulgha at
4620m. Nepal being a rather well organised trekking country and
the local populace depending so much on it has managed to build
small trekking huts and lodges in all these farflung villages.
However they tend to be crowded and noisy sometimes but the
views of the mountains are superbTrekking to Melemchingaon.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Day 17 Lobuje/Gorak
Shep
This
day is going to be when you encouneter the highest parts of the
trek. However this is not without
reward for those who love mountains as the best views of
Everest are possible from here. Gorak
Shep one reaches 5160 m and the highest point on the tek. If
one is energetic enough to Trek to Kala
Pattar at 5545 m the best view of Everest is possible
without climbing it ! The night is spent at Gorak
Shep or for those who do not like the altitude one can come
down to Lobuje but downhill can be tiring in these altitudes.
Overnight Camp.
Day 18 Lobuje/Pheriche
Trek to Pheriche.
Day 19
Pheriche/Tengboche
Trek to Tengboche.
Day 20 Tengboche/Namche
Trek to Namche.
Day 21 Namche/Lukla
Trek to Lukla.
Day 22 Lukla/Kathmandu
Fly to Kathmandu.
Arrival transfer to the hotel.
Day 23 Kathmandu/Home
Transfer to the
airport for flight to back home. (Check out time is 1200 hrs)
|
