Kathmandu-Dhulikhel. We start our pilgrimage tour with a visit to Swoyambhunath Stupa one of the most important centers of Buddhist learning in Nepal. The stupa is located on top of a hill overlooking Kathmandu valley. From here we visit Bodhnath stupa, possibly the largest stupa in the world and the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

In the afternoon we take a 45 minute drive to Namobuddha, situated atop a hill near the old town of Dhulikhel. This place is celebrated as the meditation site of Nama Buddha, a Buddha incarnate of ancient times. There is also a legend that the incarnate offered a starving tigress about to devour a helpless child his own limbs so that both the tigress and the child might be saved. Overnight at Dhulikhel.

Dhulikhel-Kathmandu. After breakfast we drive to Patan famous for its arts and crafts. Pilgrimage highlights are Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, a beautiful monastery and Mahaboudha, a replica of the Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya. From here we visit the Tibetan cultural center first founded by the Tibetan refugees of the late fifties and now an exhibition-cum-shopping complex of carpets, jewelery and many interesting souvenirs. Come back to hotel in Kathmandu.

Kathmandu-Bhairahawa-Lumbini. We take the flight to the southern border city of Bhairahawa. Here we''ll be met by our guides and driven 21 km. (13 miles) to the west to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. We then take our pilgrimage tour of Lumbini Gardens where Lord Buddha was born. Temple of Maya Devi, Buddha''s mother depicting the nativity scene of Buddha and the Ashoka Pillar, built by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka to mark his pilgrimage to Lumbini in 240 B.C. are the highlights here.