Maha Shivaratri Special Tour 2012
The Great Night of Lord Shiva
Mahashivaratri In Kailash & Manasarovar: 8 Days (Via Kathmandu)
Shivaratri is 'the Great night of Lord Shiva'. Devotees of lord Shiva consider the night as the most auspicious one. Shivaratri falls on the '13th night/14th day' in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of Maagha or Phalguna according to the Hindu Calendar (Vikrama sambat - BS). The celebration takes place in the night before and the day of the new moon.
There is a legend inscribed in Hindu mythology 'Purana' about the origin of Shivaratri. During the churning of the ocean to have the elixir; a pot of lethal poison emerged from the ocean. Both the Gods and the demons were horrified because the poison was so toxic that it could destroy the entire living things. They then ran to Lord Shiva and pray for help. Lord Shiva drank the poison in order to save entities from the destruction. Instead of swallowing the poison, Lord Shiva held the poison in his throat, so due to its effect the color of his throat became blue. Since then Lord Shiva is known as 'Nilkantha'. Lord Shiva saved the world from destruction, so the Shivaratri is celebrated for this reason.
Outlined Itinerary
- Feb 16: Arrival in Kathmandu.
- Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport Kathmandu. You will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to Hotel.
O/N Hotel Grand
- Feb 17: Morning, Sightseeing Tour - Afternoon: Fly to Nepalgunj.
- Morning: Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu. Visit Pashupatinath temple & Budhanil Kantha Vishnu temple (sleeping Bishnu).
Afternoon: Transfer to domestic airport for your flight to Nepalgunj. The flight takes about an hour to reach Nepalgunj. Our representative will receive you at the airport and transfer to Hotel.
- O/N Hotel Siddhartha
• Kathmandu to Nepalgunj: 1 hour flight
• A very basic transport (non-ac Bus) will be available in Nepalgunj
Feb 18: Morning, Fly to Simikot (By Aircraft) - Acclimatization- Very early morning (at 5 am) you should be ready to go to the airport for your flight to Simikot. Normally, the flight leaves for Simikot at around 6.00 am, if there is a clear weather in all places (Nepalgunj, en route and Simikot). Delay by an hour OR two is quite normal in this sector. So, passengers are requested not be panic.
The flight requires about an hour to reach Simikot. Our representative will receive you at the airport and take you to the Hotel. Our representative will do some immigration formalities whereas you will be having rest in hotel.
- O/N Sun Valley Resort (dormitory room) – basic but the best available
• Nepalgunj to Simikot: 1 hour (by Twin otter aircraft with 15 seats OR Dronier aircraft with 15 seats)
• The flight can be delayed by an hour OR two, which is normal.
• If the weather is not good in Simikot OR en route to Simikot, the flight will be canceled
Feb 19: Fly To Hilsa By Helicopter - Then Drive To Purang (Taklakot – 3400 M.).
Early morning, you will be escorted to Hilsa (Nepal/China border) by our Helicopter. The flight takes about 25 minutes to reach Hilsa from Simikot. You will be met by our local representative in Hilsa and escorted to his house(tea shop). Here, you have to halt until all group members arrive.
Hilsa boarder is not officially opened for trading purpose; so there still are some certain restrictions and rules to follow while traveling through this boarder. We can’t just travel to Purang (Taklakot) with our guide and vehicles, we should have a military escort from the border to Purang (Taklakot) and it takes some time to manage this. So, at this point, it can be delayed to cross the boarder. Passengers are requested to have patient and let us arrange everything smoothly.
From Sher, it takes another an hour to reach Taklakot (Purang -3700 m.) by drive.
- O/N Purang Guesthouse (twin sharing room with attached toilet) - basic but the best available
• Simikot to Hilsa: 25 minutes by KAWASAKI 117 Helicopter - 9 seats and B2 (Euro copter) Helicopter with 5 seats
• Hilsa to Sher trek: 10 minutes
• Sher to Taklakot drive: 1 hour by 4WD Land Cruiser
Feb 20: Drive, Purang To Lake Mansarovar (Chiu Gompa – 4550 M.)- Early morning (after breakfast) you will depart for Lake Manasarovar (4560 m- Chui Gompa). The drive takes about 2 to 2 & 1/2 hours. On the way, we will take a short break in Rakshas Taal (Lake Ravana) to see the breathtaking views of Rakshas Taal with back ground view of holy mount Kailash.
After having holy dip and lunch, you will depart for a circumambulation around the lake Manasarovar on jeep. The journey around the lake requires approximately 2 hours.
- O/N Guesthouse OR similar (all dormitory room)–Dharamsala type with Tibetan toilet
• The distance of Mansarovar circumambulation: 72 km
• Taklakot to Lake Manasarovar: 2 hours by Land Cruiser
• Jeep tour around Lake Manasarovar: 2 hours by Land Cruiser
Feb 21: Yama Dwara Darshan - Back to HIlsa
Morning drive to Yamadwara (OR Serson, 10 kms / 4750m), the auspicious gateway to the Parikrama (circuit) around the Mt. Kailash.
After having Darshan from Yamadwar, you will be returning back to Hilsa.
Despite of a very basic facility in Hilsa, we will take you there & keep overnight stay because the next day you will be picked up by Helicopter early morning, so you can catch your onward scheduled flights without any problem.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE OUR GROUP NOT TO FORCE US TO CHANGE THIS. IF WE ARE FORCED CHANGE, GROUP MEMBERS HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR MISSING FLIGHT OF ONWARD DESTINATION.
Instead of staying in Hilsa, if you stay in Purang, there is 90% chance of missing your flights from Simikot onward, some times, you even miss international flight.
- O/N Local Guesthouse (very very basic with local village style)
• Lake Manapoint to Hilsa: 3 hours drive by Land Cruiser
• Lake Manasarovar to Yam Dwar: 2 hrs drive
• Yama Dwar to Hilsa trek: 2 and 1/2 hrs
Feb 22: Fly, Hilsa – Simikot (Heli) Then Continue Fly To Kathmandu By Aircraft- Early morning, you will be picked up by our Helicopter from Hilsa then brought back to Simikot. From Simikot airport, you will be continuing fly to Nepalgunj then onward to Kathmandu.
- Overnight Hotel Grand
• Hilsa to Simikot: 25 minutes flight by Helicopter
• Simikot to Nepalgunj: 1 hour flight by aircraft
• Nepalgunj to Kathmandu: 1 hour flight by aircraft
Feb 23: Departure from Kathmandu.- Transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for your flight back home.
Tour Cost: INR. 250,000/- per person
Services Includes
- Two nights Hotel in Kathmandu (on twin sharing) on full board basis (veg. meal)
- All arrival / departure transfers in Kathmandu
- Half day sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
- Kathmandu – Nepalgunj – Kathmandu flight ticket
- Nepalgunj – Simikot – Nepalgunj flight ticket
- Simikot – Hilsa – Simikot flight by Helicopter
- Two nights Hotel in Simikot (on full board basis)
- Special permit for Humla (Simikot) region
- One night Hotel in Nepalgunj on full board (veg. meal)
- Necessary transfer in Nepalgunj
- All airport tax
- Tibet permit & permit for Kailash Manasarovar region
- Tibet group visa
- Guest House accommodation in Tibet
- Supporting staff
- Meals (veg. Indian meal) during the tour
- Transportation in Tibet with 4WD land Cruiser
- Tibetan tour guide
- Nepali service crew
- All necessary camping and Kitchen equipment
- A supporting truck for bringing foods and luggage
- Salary, foods, visa, permit & transport for Nepali staff
- All applicable taxes and service charge
Services Excludes
- Extra nights Hotel in Kathmandu and Nepalgunj (incase of bad weather or any other region)
- Due to bad weather, if we need to charter Helicopter from Nepalgunj to Simikot (INR. 25,000/- pp extra)
- Personal expenses on the tour
- Any emergency rescue OR evacuation due to illness or any other region
- Single room occupancy in Tibet & Nepal
- Insurance for any loss OR damage items
- Personal tipping
- Any additional cost due to unforeseen circumstances.
