Venerable Thupten Donyo, Director of Gyuto Vajrayana Center, is organizing a Buddhist pilgrimage to Nepal and India in November 2012. Ven. Thupten Donyo will be leading the pilgrimage and this will be his fourth trip with Gyuto Center members and friends.

A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place as an act of devotion and faith. Many enlightened beings have advised to visit the place where the Buddha was born, the place where the Buddha attained Enlightenment, and the place where he preached the first teaching and where he passed away into Maha Parinirvana. 

During the pilgrimage we will visit the major holy sites of the Buddha such as Kathmandu, Lumbini, Kushi Nagar, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Saranath and one of the 7 Wonders of the World - the Taj Mahal.  

Registration: 

A limited number of people will be accepted on join the pilgrimage. Interested members should contact Ven. Donyo for registration by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or by phone at (408) 204-8724. Registration will be taken on a “first come, first serve” basis and is open to everyone until August 30, 2012. To register for the pilgrimage, please call Ven. Donyo to make sure there are still seats available. Once you register, you will need to send a photocopy of your passport for hotel reservations in India. You'll also need to send a $500 non-refundable deposit payable by check to Thupten Donyo (please write pilgrimage on the memo line) and mail it to: 1439 Old Piedmont Road, San Jose, CA 95132 to ensure your place on the pilgrimage. Without the deposit your registration will not be confirmed. Your deposit will be part of the payment. Remaining payment must be received by September 30, 2012. If anyone wishes to join the pilgrimage from other states or other countries, they are welcome to do so. However, registration is still required and all participants must arrive in Kathmandu no later than November 2, 2012. 

Important: 

Ven. Thupten Donyo and the group will be flying to Kathmandu on Singapore Airlines from San Francisco on Friday, November 2nd, 2012 and will be returning from New Delhi (NOT from Kathmandu) to the U.S. on Saturday, November 17, 2012. We are not making a group reservation so you will need to book your airline ticket yourself based on this itinerary. We recommend booking your flight with Third Eye Travel in Fremont: www.thirdeyetravel.com. When you make your flight reservation, please mention that you are with Thupten Dony's group. You can contact Sonam of Third Eye Travel directly at (510) 487-9010 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to make your flight reservation. Third Eye Travel has always been very helpful to our members on previous trips and they have helped us with successful pilgrimage in the past. 

Indian Visa:

All participants MUST be obtain an Indian visa prior to leaving the U.S. We advise you to obtain your Indian visa before booking your international flight. It is recommended that you apply for a 10-year visa. The following is information you will need to apply for your Indian visa: two passport photos, one copy of your passport, proof of address, birth certificate or copy of your ID. You will also need to put the following information on your visa application: Purpose of visit is [Pilgrimage] Type of visa is [Tourist] Place to visit is [Buddha Gaya, Varanasi, and Agra]. Port of arrival is [Delhi]. Expected date of arrival is [Nov. 6, 2012] You must complete the application online thorough the following website - San Francisco Indian visa office - and then take your printed application form and passport to the following address: 965 Mission Street, Suite #110, San Francisco, CA 94103. If you drop off your application and passport on your appointment day before 12 pm, your passport will be ready for pick up at 5:30 pm on that same day. If you drop your application off in the afternoon, your passport won't be available for pick up until the next day. If you have all the necessarry documents in hand you can also apply by mail, but please call the visa office before you mail your application.  

References: You will need two references, one for India and one for US. Please use the following names and address for references:

India: Tenzin Chodak (our travel agent). Address: House No. 124 New Aruna Nagar. Ring Road, Delhi, 110054. Tel: 91-9990615093 

US: Thupten Donyo. Address: 1439 Old Piedmont Road San Jose, CA 95132. Tel: 408-2048724 

Nepalese Visa: Your Nepalese visa will be obtained upon arrival at the Kathmandu airport. You will need two passport photos and $40.00 USD (exact change) for Nepalese visa. 

During the trip you will be staying in very nice hotels. You will be sharing rooms that have twin beds. Most of the hotels in the remote areas are often booked earlier by other Buddhist groups so single rooms are not always available. Therefore, we advise you to encourage your family and/or friends to join the pilgrimage so you can share a room with your family or friends. We will make the greatest effort to make you as comfortable as possible.

PILGRIMAGE COST: $2,400 per person. If you would like a single room (in case any come available last minute) there will be extra $250-$300 for 14 day trip. 

COST INCLUDES:

• Three days sightseeing in Kathmandu, Nepal
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
• Flight from Kathmandu to Lumbini (birth place of Buddha)
• Flight from Varanasi to New Delhi
• 15 days transportation by A/C deluxe coach bus
• 14 days lodging in twin bed, shared rooms in Nepal and India 2 * - 4 * hotels

• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner in India
• English Speaking Tour Escort from Lumbini to Varanasi
• All entrance fees to the sites, monuments and museums. 

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:

International airfare, India and Nepal visa fees, Kathmandu airport taxes if any. Personal spending money, emergency evacuation travel insurance (not required). Medicine, immunizations, personal tips, drinks, laundry, extra luggage fees, extended stay beyond the scheduled trip dates, and changes to or extensions of the air ticket. Miscellaneous transportation needed other than what is scheduled for the group. Any incidental charges such as flight delay/cancelled incurred due to unforeseen happenings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SITES: 

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. The city is filled with historic sites, ancient temples and shrines, golden pagodas and fascinating villages. If you would like to buy statues or handcrafted gifts, Kathmandu is the best place to buy ... but you need to know how to bargin.

Lumbini is the sacred place where the Buddha was born, located in Nepal. There is an ancient shrine there with an image representing his birth as Prince Siddhartha. At this site Asoka's pillar is found, which is engraved with an inscription commemorating Emperor Asoka’s pilgrimage.  

Sravasti is said to have been Lord Buddha's residence for 25 years while living in the monastery of Jetavana in Sravasti. Sravasti is the only place where Lord Buddha was supposed to have astonished rival teachers by performing miracles. It is in Sravasti that Buddha transformed Angulimal from a dacoit into a Buddhist monk. The two 21-meter high pillars erected by Emperor Ashoka mark these sites.

Vaishali is the place where one of the eight portions of the Buddha`s relics have been enshrined in the foundation after the Maha Parinirvana of Buddha. Lord Buddha first visited Vaishali in the fifth year after his enlightenment and spent the whole rainy season there. Later King Ashoka built a stupa there.

Kushinagar is the place where the Buddha lay down and passed into Maha Parinirvana. There are sites that are related to Buddha's Nirvana and his cremation. A large mound nearby marks the place where a great stupa once stood, and where the Buddha was cremated.

Bodh Gaya is the place where the Buddha attained enlightenment. To the west of the temple is the Bodhi tree and sandstone seat where the Buddha is said to have sat when he reached his full enlightenment. It is the place which should be visited and seen by a person of devotion and which should cause awareness of the nature of impermanence. 

Rajgir is known as Vultures Peak, this is where the Buddha gave teachings on the Heart Sutra. The first Dharma council was also held here just after Buddha passed into Maha Parinirvana. 

Nalanda is home to the monastic Universities that became famous in the centuries following the Buddha’s passing away. Nalanda was a flourishing center of learning and for centuries was famous for its learned and versatile teachers. 

Varanasi is where Buddha preached his first discourse after attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. Emperor Asoka built a Stupa here which stood at a height of about 150 feet tall, the impressive ruins of which can still be seen today. 

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the 7 Wonders of the World, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj Mahal is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. 

TOUR ITINERARY: 

Important: When you book your flight please make sure you fly to KATHMANDU, NEPAL and return from NEW DELHI to US on whatever day you wish to return after the tour. 

Nov. 2, 2012: Depart from San Francisco to Kathmandu with Singapore Airlines. 

Nov. 3: Still in flight. 

Nov. 4: Arrive in Kathmandu: On arrival, check-in hotel. Free day on the arrival. 

Nov. 5: After breakfast, visit Boudha Nath and Swyambhu Nath stupa in the Kathmandu Valley. Lunch in Boudha Nath area. 

Nov. 6: After breakfast, visit Patan: to see Mahaboddhi (thousand Buddha stupa) and historical Buddha Shakyamuni statue at Golden temple. Rest of the day shopping around the city. 

Nov. 7: After breakfast, flight to Lumbini: On arrival, check-in hotel. After lunch, sightseeing of Lumbini visiting birth place of Buddha & Ashok Pillar. Overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 8: Lumbini-Sravasti. After early breakfast, drive to Sravasti. Check-in hotel on arrival. After Lunch, visit Jetvana Garden, Petalled Lotus and Ashok Pillar. Overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 9: Sravasti-Kushinagar. After early breakfast, drive to Kushinagar. Check-in hotel on arrival. After lunch, visit Mahaparinirvana Temple, Ramabhar Stupa-Cremation Site of Buddha. Overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 10: Kushinagar-Vaishali. After breakfast, drive to Vaishali. Check-in hotel on arrival. After lunch, sight seeing of Vaishali where Buddha has delivered his last sermon. Visit a huge Pillar erected by Emperor Ashok to commemorate the spot of the last Sermon. Overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 11: Vaishali-Bodh Gaya. After breakfast, drive to Bodhgaya. Check-in hotel on arrival. After lunch, visit Mahabodhi Temple/Tree under which Prince Sidharth meditated and finally obtained Nirvana - the enlightenment. Overnight at hotel.

Nov. 12: Bodh Gaya (Nalanda + Rajgir). Day excursion to Nalanda & Rajgir. Visit the ruins of Nalanda University and the Museum. Then proceed to Rajgir to visit Vulture’s Peak where Buddha has taught The Four Nobel Truths. Thereafter proceed to Bodh Gaya and overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 13: Bodh Gaya-Varanasi. Morning free. After lunch, drive to Varanasi. Check-in hotel on arrival and overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 14: Varanasi. After breakfast, Day excursion to Saranath visiting Dharmek Stupa in Deer Park, Central Tibetan Institute for Higher Studies, Sarnath Museum. Overnight at hotel.

Nov. 15: Varanasi-Delhi. After breakfast, drive to Varanasi airport to board flight to New Delhi. Check-in hotel on arrival and overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 16: Delhi-Agra-Delhi. Early morning, drive to Agra to visit Taj-Mahal which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Afternoon, return back to Delhi and overnight at hotel. 

Nov. 17: Return home from New Delhi to San Francisco. 

All participants are advised to check with their health insurance carrier regarding coverage abroad as well as their medical professionals for precautionary medical treatment for travel to Nepal and India. Emergency medical facilities may not be readily available at all times in Nepal and India. 

CHECKLIST: Below is a list to help you organize everything you'll need prior to travel.

• Advised to travel light light as possible.
• Roundtrip Airline Ticket(s): Please confirme flight details beforehand.
• Be sure to arrive to the airport at least three hours prior to departure.

• Valid Passport, Indian visa
• Extra Copy of Passport: Just in case!
• Extra passport photos
• Cash: you may need approximately $1000 - $3000 for personal needs.
  • DO NOT bring traveler's checks from small banks!
• Security: Money, passport and tickets need to be protected at all times and carried on your person in a way that they are never left behind throughout the entire trip.
• Travel Insurance: not necessary, but recommended. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

• November is good weather but may get a little cold in the morning and evening so we recommend some warm clothes and/or layers just in case.
• Comfortable shoes that can cope with a lot of walking.
• A small, light blanket can be very useful on the bus. 
• Modest clothes. Skin exposure and figure hugging clothes are not commonly worn in India and Nepal and will bring a lot of unwanted and annoying attention. 
• If you are taking any electrical items you will need 220 volt NOT 110 volt and the correct adapter plug for India and Nepal.
• Small camera and reliable alarm clock.
• Hat and sunglasses. The sun can be quite strong even in the winter. 
• Tylenol, cough drops, bandages and so on for basic first aid/medical needs.

RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL

• Stainless steel or plastic cup /first aid kit/ knife fork spoon can be useful.
• Strong plastic bags for wet or dirty clothes are very useful.
• Padlock(s). Mainly for luggage.
• Wet tissue papers or wet towels, very useful in India.
• Some dried fruits & nuts/snacks for yourself on the bus would be very useful.
• Blow up neck ring cushion.
• Small torch light. The power can go off often in Nepal and it will be very useful.

More information about the pilgrimage:

If interested, please contact Ven. Donyo directly at (408) 204-8724 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can watch our previous pilgrimage video on YouTube Part One and Part Two. 

Read more... 

Thank you and Tashi Delek.

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