Buddhist Pilgrimage to India and Nepal

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Pilgrimage was greatly encouraged by the Buddha as an effective means to cleanse and purify one's karma and deepen one's spirituality.

“To destroy ultimately all fears and to aid beings to obtain merit you made many relics to appear as eight sacred stupas, I bow down.” (from the Twelve Great Deeds of the Buddha)

Lama Choedak Rinpoche will lead this trip which is well organised and affordable. Rinpoche is very experienced having lead pilgrimage more than ten time. He will guide the group, explaining the significance of each site, leading prayer and meditation and giving teachings. There is free time on the daily schedule for individual exploring etc.

View photos from previous pilgrimages.

This years itinerary visits traditional sites of the four most significant events in Buddha’s life including Lumbini (birth), Bodhgaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first turning the Wheel of Dharma) and Kusinagar (passing away). Also the large Tibetan Buddhist community of Boudhanath in Kathmandu will be included. This year’s pilgrimage will also visit the important Buddhist holy and archaeological areas of Ajanta and Ellora Caves in Maharashtra State.

Cost

Cost of the land travel, domestic airfare and twin share accommodation and food is estimated at AUD$2500. You will required to pay most of the day to day hotel accommodation and food expenses as you go. Domestic airfares and some hotel accommodation booking may have to be paid in advance but you will be notified of this and the method of payment.

The domestic flights will be Varanasi to Delhi, Delhi to Aurangabat and Aurangabat to Mumbai. Pilgrims need to organise and pay for their own international flights to Kathmandhu, Nepal and from Mumbai, India.

A Joining Fee of $300 per person is required to be paid by 20 August 2016. Any profits from the joining fee will all be donated towards the Stupa Temple of Peace Project in Canberra.

A valid passport as well as a visa to Nepal and India is required. India visas must be obtained in advance while Nepali visas can be obtained on arrival at Kathmandhu airport.

Jampal will be the booking coordinator so please email him or phone 03 5155 0329 if you have any queries.

The dates of Friday 25 November to Tuesday 20 December 2016 are still tentative and may vary a day or so. You may wish to arrive in Kathmandhu a day or two earlier or, similarly, stay on after the pilgrimage and continue with your own itinery.

The following itinerary is tentative. It will be confirmed by 20 August 2016.

  • Friday 25 November 2016 - Meet in Kathmandu
  • Friday 25 to Tuesday 29 November - Stay and explore the large Tibetan exile community of Bodhnath, Kathmandu
  • Wednesday 30 to Thursday 31 November - visit Tibetan exile settlement of Pokhara and Lama Choedak Rinpoche’s family
  • Thursday 1 to Friday 2 December - visit Lumbini, birthplace of the Buddha
  • Saturday 3 December - visit Kushinagar, place of Buddha’s passing away.
  • Sunday 4 December - visit Vaishali, significant holy Buddhist site
  • Monday 5 to Tuesday 6 December - visit Nalanda University and Rajgir, significant holy Buddhist site
  • Wednesday 7 to Saturday 10 December - Visit Bodh Gaya, place of Buddhist enlightenment and holiest Buddhist pilgrimage site.
  • Sunday 11 to Tuesday 13 December - Visit Varanasi, India’s holiest city on the Ganges and place of Buddha’s first teaching.
  • Wednesday 14 to Thursday 15 December - visit Delhi, Capital city of India
  • Friday 16 to Monday 19 December - visit Ajanta and Ellora Caves, significant Buddhist archaeological site.
  • Tuesday 20 December - Depart via Mumbai.
When
25th November, 2016 12:00 PM to 20th December, 2016 12:00 PM
Contact
Phone: 02 6238 2088
Event Fee(s)
Pilgrimage Joining Fee (per person) $300.00
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Teacher Lama Choedak Rinpoche