Destination: Nepal

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: From Buddha to Buddha

Taking in a great combination of historical and natural sights, artistic treasures and religious centres, this great overland route mixes one part meditation with two parts adrenaline. It takes you from the birthplace of the Buddha in Lumbini to the Tibetan stupa at Bodhnath (Boudha).



Kick off at Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, just 22km from the border town of Bhairawa. The site is spread out, so hire a bike to get between temples in this Buddhist United Nations, overnight and then spend the next day detouring out to the archaeological site of Tilaurakot or riding/hiking out to surrounding Tharu villages.

From Lumbini make a beeline for Royal Chitwan National Park for a two- or three-day stay. Take a bath with an elephant and learn the easy way which Nepali animals gave us the English word 'mugger'. Track rhinos and tigers on an elephant-back safari and for a truly memorable experience, spend the night atop a wildlife viewing tower, in the nearby Kumrose community forest, surrounded by the roars and hoots of the jungle.

From Chitwan take the day-long tourist bus to Pokhara or Kathmandu. In Pokhara, hike up to the World Peace Pagoda, sign up for a tandem paraglide or just stare mesmerised at the near-perfect views of Annapurna and Machhapuchhare mirrored in lovely Phewa Tal.

In Kathmandu you could easily fill four busy days of sightseeing (see the Kathmandu Valley itinerary). Check out the elephant Kamasutra carvings at Bhaktapur, gain a deeper understanding of Buddhist art at the excellent Patan Museum and enjoy the views over the city at dusk from Swayambhunath.

Try to fit in a couple of days to try some canyoning, rafting or kayaking at The Last Resort or Borderlands, half a day's drive from Kathmandu, up near the Tibetan border.

On your last day head out to Bodhnath to take in a taste of Tibet. Make thanks for your successful journey at one of the Tibetan monasteries and follow the Tibetan exiles around the stupa as the sun sets

Travelling to Nepal?
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