Saga Dawa Festival Tour
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Trip Duration 14 Days
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Max, Altitude 5660 Meters
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Type Festival Tour
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Best Season April/May
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Meals Breakfast
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Accommodation Guest House
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Activity Tour & Hike
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Difficulty Challenging
Are you ready for Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024?
The Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024 awaits, promising a journey of a lifetime. This sacred event is a unique blend of spirituality and culture, and we are here to guide you through it.
Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
The Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024 is more than just a trip; it’s a spiritual pilgrimage that holds immense importance for Buddhists. It is a special tour of the sacred Mt. Kailash. This tour offers travelers to visit this holy place at a great time and enjoy the popular festival.
The celebrations for this occasion takes place on the full moon day on the fourth Tibetan lunar month. In fact, the celebration runs a month-long and honors Buddha Sakyamuni whose birth, enlightenment, and nirvana all took place in the same month.
Understanding Saga Dawa Festival
Saga Dawa, also known as the Buddha’s Enlightenment Day, is celebrated in Tibet during the fourth lunar month. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. Participants engage in various religious activities, including prayers, circumambulating sacred sites, and lighting butter lamps.
In Tibet, Saga Dawa or Saka Dawa is the most famous and popular festival that every Tibetan celebrates with grand joy. Everyone is busy interpreting the prayers and playing with the holy beads. Moreover, the celebrations include people doing Kora around Jokhang temple and distributing alms to the needy.
This “month of merits” mostly involves people doing good deeds, refraining from killing/sacrificing animals, and releasing contained animals into their natural habitats (Eg: Fishes) with pure heart and prayers.
Another interesting part is replacing the Tarboche Flag pole which is situated on the way of Kailash round. Each year the flagpole is brought down and a new pole is erected in the place. It is a customary ceremony and the best part of the festival.
The Tibetan Buddhists also perform Kora around Mt. Kailash which is a great activity for them.
Saga Dawa is the best opportunity to know and learn about Tibetan culture and lifestyle. Thus, why not come to the Saga Dawa Festival in Kailash and make memories of this grand celebration for a lifetime?
Saga Dawa Festival with Kailash Tour combined is the best choice to experience the festival and Pilgrimage journey in Kailash Tibet.
Significance of the Saga Dawa Festival Tour
The Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024 offers a unique opportunity to witness the festival’s grandeur and holiness. Pilgrims from all around the world gather to participate, making it a truly global spiritual event.
Preparing for Your Journey
Before beginning the Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024, thorough preparation is essential. This section offers valuable insights on what to expect and how to get ready.
Essential Packing List
When preparing for the tour, it’s vital to pack appropriately. Tibet’s climate can be unpredictable, so bring layers, comfortable walking shoes, and essentials like sunscreen and sunglasses.
Visa and Permits
Don’t forget to secure the necessary travel permits and visas. It’s crucial to start this process well in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles.
Accommodations and Travel
We recommend booking accommodations early to ensure a comfortable stay. The journey to Tibet can be long, so choosing the right travel options is key to a pleasant experience.
Experiencing the Saga Dawa Festival
Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to dive into the festival itself. This section will guide you through the various experiences you’ll encounter during the Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024.
Joining the Pilgrimage
Participate in the circumambulation of sacred sites alongside devout pilgrims. This spiritual practice is central to the festival and a must-do for all visitors.
Witnessing Rituals and Ceremonies
The Saga Dawa Festival is a time of religious observance. Witness various rituals, including the lighting of butter lamps and prayer flag ceremonies, which are awe-inspiring experiences.
Local Cuisine and Delicacies
Don’t miss the chance to savor Tibetan cuisine. Try momos, thukpa, and butter tea at local eateries. The flavors are a treat for your taste buds.
Exploring Natural Beauty
Tibet is not just about spirituality; it’s also known for its breathtaking landscapes. Take some time to explore the natural beauty surrounding the festival site.
Tips for an Enriching Experience
Here are some tips to ensure you make the most of your Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2024:
- Respect Local Customs: Always be mindful of local customs and traditions, showing respect for the sacredness of the event.
- Stay Hydrated: The high altitude can be challenging. Stay hydrated to prevent altitude sickness.
- Engage with Locals: Interact with the friendly locals to learn more about their culture and way of life.
Conclusion
Itinerary of Saga Dawa Festival Tour
Arrival in Kathmandu International Airport/ Meeting and greeting you by our tour leader & transfer to hotel/ Tour Briefing of Saga Dawa Festival in Kailash, Then, Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
Breakfast and our guide will take you to historical places in Kathmandu valley such as Bouddhanath, Swoyamvhu, Pashupati Temple( Known for the lord Shiva). These are the beautiful places to check in around. Then with your required document, will further proceed for visa apply and and the trip briefing would be given by the representative person. Make your final pack.
Today drive from Kathmandu to Shyaprubesi. Along the way we will reach Langtang National Park. The park is peaceful and you will enjoy it. Then will drive via mountain road and rest at local tea.
Today drive from Shyaprubesi to Kerung. we will cross Nepal Tibet boarder and finish immigration formalities. Then you will meet your Tibetan guide and drive to first town of Tibet, Kerung. The place is quite famous for small hiking tour. It will help to acclimatize your body in high altitude. Then overnight at guest house.
The cobbled and twisting lanes that revolve around a magnificent monastery of the Panchen Lama is a must to visit. Then we drive to Saga via Lhatse and sang, pass several lakes, towns and high plateau nomadic sites. By passing this beautiful sites, we reach at Saga and transfer to guest house.
Drive to Manasarovar, from hore, we can have first view of Mt. Kailash and Manasarovar. Manasarovar is highest lake of fresh water, a place of pilgrimage, attracting religious people from Nepal, India, Tibet, Russia and other neighboring countries. It is believed that taking bath and drinking water at Manasarovar lake clean all sins. Also you can explore Chui Gumba and hot spring near Manasarovar. Overnight at hotel near Manasarovar lake.
There will be a traditional ceremony for Saga Dawa in the morning at the start point of Kailash Kora. You can visit monasteries and see hundreds of Tibetans gather at Chorden karpo(white stupa), Lamas chanting the prayers in traditional Tibetan style. Tourists can join Tibetans to hang prayer flags on the vertical prayer flag before it erected. Lamas circulate around the erected vertical prayer flag by reciting special prayer.
After the ceremony, Tibetans will start to walk about 52 km trekking circuit around Mount Kailash, commencing at Darchen (4574m) and crossing the Dolma-la pass on the second day of the three day walk.
After two hours from Darchen, you come upon a grassy plain populated by nomads. There you can refresh yourself in nomadic tent and drink some soft drinks there. For this turn in the valley it is another two hours at least before reaching Drirapuk(4920m).
Today’s day will be quite harsh as we will walk across Dola Ma pass of 5613 miter from Derapuk to Juthulpuk. Then we reach at Dolma La which is covered with prayers flags. Then will start our walk downhill. On the way you will see Gauri Kunda. Finally reach at Juthulpuk Monastery and overnight at Mud House.
Fresh morning, will visit Juthulpuk Monastery. We will walk about 6 Kilometer upto our driving crew. Then via drive will head to Darchen. At Darchen, you will feel much crowded as all the Tibetan gather for final day of Saga Dawa. It’s difficult to get accommodation for new arrival peoples.
Today morning will drive to Tarboche valley to explore Saga Dawa Festival. The Tibetan lamas perform special activities base of their culture. The main important part is that every year the flag is changed. During the festival everyone recites prayers and playing the holy beads. It’s a spiritual festival. You will enjoy every bits of the festival.
Today we drive back the same way to Saga or to Dongba.
Today we drive to Kerung via same way.
Your Tibetan guide will manage to make all the formalities of Tibet immigration. Then the representative guide of Nepal will guide you and drive back to Kathmandu via same way of Langtang National Park.
Our tour leader transfer you to the Kathmandu International Airport in time for your flight and help you get on board for your onward destination with lots of memories of the Saga Dawa Festival in Kailash. Hope to see you soon with another tour packages.
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