|
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) |
