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The most important festival for Tibetan Buddhism, the 'Saka Dawa Festival' commemorates Shakyamuni's Buddhahood and the death of his mortal body. At every monastery sutras are recited and 'Cham' dances are performed. It is said that good deeds in the month of this festival deserve 300 fold in return and this leads many people to donate large sums to the religious orders, monasteries and to the beggars that gather at this time of
year.
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A rugged overland journey across Tibet to witness the Saga Dawa festival beneath Mt Kailas, the most sacred mountain in the Himalaya
Mt Kailas is the most sacred mountain in the Himalaya. It is also one of the remotest - located in far west Tibet and a week s overland drive from Lhasa. We have timed our journey to Kailas to coincide with the Saga Dawa festival when many hundreds of Tibetans gather to pay homage beneath the sacred mountain.
We fly to Lhasa and explore the Jokhang Temple, the Norbulingka and the Potala Palace as we acclimatise in the renowned capital of Tibet. At Gyantse we visit the Gumbum Monastery before continuing to Shigatse and the famous Tashilhunpo Temple.
Leaving behind the Lhasa to Kathmandu highway, we embark on a rugged drive across the Tibetan Plateau. On arrival at Mt Kailas, we transfer to Tarboche where throngs of Tibetan pilgrims have established their camps. The Saga Dawa festival is one of the most important in the Tibetan calender, celebrating the birth of the Sakyamuni Buddha. Following the festival we have the option of trekking around Mt Kailas before transferring to the shores of Lake Manasarovar to spend time camping alongside its sacred waters.
Our return journey traverses the Tibetan Plateau close to the snow-capped Himalayan Range before descending the Sun Kosi Gorge to Zhangmu and the Kathmandu Valley.
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Saka Dawa Festival Tour [B]
25 Days trip, High altitude adventure touring (three day optional trek),
8 nights hotels, 16 nights camping
Departure Date:
May 07, 2003 - 31 May 2003
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A rugged overland journey across Tibet to witness the Saka Dawa festival beneath Mt
Kailas, the most sacred mountain in the Himalaya
Mt Kailas is the most sacred mountain in the Himalaya. It is also one of the remotest - located in far west Tibet and a week s overland drive from Kathmandu and
Zhangmu. We have timed our journey to Kailas to coincide with the Saga Dawa festival when many hundreds of Tibetans gather to pay homage beneath the sacred mountain.
We drive to Zhangmu and we embark on a rugged drive across the Tibetan Plateau. On arrival at Mt
Kailas, we transfer to Tarboche where throngs of Tibetan pilgrims have established their camps. The Saga Dawa festival is one of the most important in the Tibetan calendar, celebrating the birth of the Sakyamuni Buddha. Following the festival we have the option of trekking around Mt Kailash before transferring to the shores of Lake Manasarovar to spend time camping alongside its sacred waters.
On our way, drive back to Lhasa at Gyantse we visit the Gumbum Monastery continuing from Shigatse and the famous Tashilhunpo Temple. We explore the Jokhang Temple, the Norbulingka and the Potala Palace in Lhasa the renowned capital of Tibet.
The last part takes you Trans Himalyan flight over the Himalayan from Lhasa to
Kathmandu.
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Price Includes: Accommodation in Hotel in double room basis with breakfast in standard Hotel in Lhasa and best available Hotel en route where accommodation in hotel, transport by Jeep or Land Cruiser, truck to transfer equipment baggage, personal equipments (Personal, camping), tours with local English speaking guide, Tibet entry permits, flight ticket (as per itinerary), entrance permit for monasteries, transfers Airport - Hotel - Airport, etc.
Where accommodation is in camping: Yak to carry food and equipments during trekking around Mt. Kailash, All meals (breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with tea/coffee), all necessary equipments (tents, two men tents, dining tents, kitchen tents, toilet tents, sleeping bags, mattress, down jackets).
Above cost excludes: Lunch and dinner in Hotels\restaurants, Airport taxes, Chinese Visa fee, Nepal entry and re-entry visa fees, Photography fees in some Monasteries, insurance, all personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, tips, etc. |