Nepal is famous for Himalayan adventure thrills and cultural insights, but it has also flourished for spiritual trekking. The main reason is the centuries-long coexisting harmony between the two most prominent religions, Hinduism and Buddhism. Without a hint of conflict in religion and culture, this spiritual atmosphere makes Nepal a special place for spiritual healing.
For a long time, Nepal has welcomed people seeking a spiritual journey. Nepal is the home for religious and spiritual journeys. Some of the major attractions for tourists in Nepal are temples, monasteries, and gumbas.
Since religion is a central part of Nepali life, you will come across a temple every few hundred meters, no matter which town you travel to. Most people in Nepal feel that spirituality is a significant part of our lifestyle, and religion profoundly influences cultural heritage. For example, Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini, Nepal.
Temples like Pashupatinath, Changu Narayan, Buddhanilkanta, etc., attract people from the Hindu religion, whereas temples like Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Muktinath, etc., provide spiritual peace for Buddhist people. Many saints and priests encourage people to travel to the Himalayas for spiritual peace.
Trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal is an adventure and a spiritual journey. Many mountains in Nepal are named after gods; some are considered sacred, with their temples and gumbas in their surroundings. Opportunities for yoga and meditation are available at these locations. These activities can help improve physical health and promote mental relaxation.
Hence, this guide is appropriate if you are wondering about the next Spiritual tour or trek in Nepal.
Why is Spiritual Tourism and Trekking Necessary?
Spirituality is an essential aspect for Nepalese people, who follow it daily. It is deeply rooted in Nepalese culture. Spiritual Tourism and Trekking are deeply related to each other as they provide breathtaking Himalayan adventure and the chance to get immersed in the religion and culture of the Nepalese people. Here are a few paramount importance of Spiritual Tourism in Nepal
Economic Development
Apart from thrilling and challenging adventures in the mountains of the Himalayas, tourists have recently been visiting Nepal to be at peace with themselves. Spiritual tourism has been generating significant income and is the leading source of revenue for the local people. Many places in Nepal that provide spiritual tourism services generate substantial income. This income, in return, is used to develop regional infrastructure, employment opportunities, and development of further tourist services.
Cultural Importance
Nepal has several important religious sites, such as Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini, and Muktinath. Because of its rich history, Nepal has long promoted religion and spirituality. More awareness of Spiritual Tourism attracts people who want to experience these places firsthand before going to other adventurous trekking spots. These sites allow spiritual tourists to learn about Nepal’s diverse cultural heritage and religious practices.
Personal Growth
Many people who visit Nepal for spiritual tourism are amazed by its calm and peaceful nature. After participating in yoga, meditation, and sadhana, they often find themselves in a pristine environment. Their goals in life become more apparent as they become more inspired.
Unique Experience
Spiritual Tourism is different from Adventure Tourism. Tourists who have yet to participate in spiritual tourism often find themselves experiencing and enjoying Nepal trekking differently. When they visit an old monastery where monks chant their sacred chants or the evening Aarati in Muktinath, where the entire village joins together to sing the praise of gods and goddesses, they will feel the experience is brilliant and different from regular sightseeing during adventurous trekking.
Spiritual Places in Nepal
If you want to visit spiritual places in Nepal, there are multiple options depending on your interests and time frame. Tourism in Nepal also involves culture, religion, and spiritualism.
Spiritual tours in Nepal can be as short as a one-day tour or multiple tours and treks. Some of the ritual places in Nepal are Pashupatinath temple, Boudhanath, and Swayambhunath. You can visit these few temples in Kathmandu to understand history and spirituality.
On top of that, they are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you want a multiple-day tour, you can take a round trip of the temples in Kathmandu, visit the Namo Buddha monastery, go to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and visit the Talbarahi temple, located on a small island in the Phewa Lake.
Besides these, there are various other spiritual places and temples in Nepal, such as Changunarayan (the oldest temple in Nepal), Manakamana temple, Chimkeswori, Pathivara temple, and Halesi Mahadev, among many others.
Overall, you will have plenty of Spiritual places in Nepal and can pick from the abundance of choices here. These are the relatively accessible areas that can be traveled by road, but if you want to fill those trips with adventure, you can always hike up to the mountains and visit some temples, monasteries, and gompas.
Shaman Healing
Shaman Healing Day Tour is an exclusive and unique tour package. This tour is mostly for sick people who will participate in the healing ritual led by the master gurus or priests. They are experts in Shaman Healing rituals. They wear unique clown-like dresses, dance like maniacs, and murmur some unique mantras.
The Shaman Healing Day Tour occurs near Kathmandu, such as Rasuwa or Nuwakot. During the tour day, the touring agency contacts the masters, who provide information on when and where the master performs his healing ritual. The day tour begins the day before the healing ritual day.
The best attraction for this tour is the scenic route from Kathmandu to either Rasuwa or Nuwakot. Observe the healing ritual via the measure of the Shaman and explore the surrounding village. We will return to Kathmandu the next day to observe the Shaman healing ritual.
Spirit of Kathmandu Private Day Tour
Unique from other standard Kathmandu Day Tours, the Spirit of Kathmandu Day Tour is another chance to enjoy the life and spirituality of the city. Many people mistake Kathmandu for being the city of nightlife, pubs, clubs, and discos, but there is more to it than that. Kathmandu city is entire of temples, monasteries, and gumbas.
During this tour, you will visit different places in Kathmandu Valley that are listed as world heritage sites by UNESCO. These include famous places like Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Patan Durbar Square, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. However, you will be a visitor and participant on this trek. You will participate in all the religious rituals, such as aarati, dancing, singing, etc.
Day trip for Yoga and Meditation in Kathmandu
Another Spiritual place in Nepal is the Yoga and Meditation Centre in Kathmandu. The two familiar places for meditation and Yoga in Kathmandu are Shivapuri Ridge and Pharing Asura. You can enter the Asura cave for excellent yoga sessions or hike towards Shivapuri Ridge for a breathtaking group meditation routine.
Other places, like Tapoban commune or Nepal Yoga Home, offer amazing yoga and meditation sessions. These places are perfectly curated for meditation, yoga, and spiritual calmness.
Buddhist Places Pilgrimage Tour
Nepal has many sacred Buddhist sites worth visiting. Kathmandu, in particular, has two world heritage sites—Swayambhunath and Boudhanath—along with ancient and new monasteries based on traditional and Tibetan Buddhism. Other notable Buddhist places of interest in Nepal include Namo Buddha, the Asura Cave of Pharping, and Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. If you want inner growth and peace of mind, join our multi-day Buddhist pilgrimage tour to explore these incredible spots.
Benefits of Spiritual Tourism
Spiritual Tourism takes you closer to nature.
It helps build new relationships and find new people with like-minded choices.
Spiritual Tourism is the best and most effective way of immersing in local culture and tradition.
It is also the best way of healing your body and cleansing your mind from daily stress.
Spiritual Tourism provides an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth.
Learn from the Local Spiritual Guide
One of the most productive reasons for Spiritual Tourism in Nepal is the chance to learn from the local spiritual guides. Often known as Gurus, they are ideal teachers about spirituality, simple living, and a high-thinking way of life. They have sacrifi worldly realistic pleasures and dedicate themselves to spiritual living. They teach and encourage meditation, sadhana, yoga, bhajan, kirtan, and aarti in the evening, freeing your body and mind from irrelevant stress.
Some of Nepal’s well-known local spiritual guides are Swami Veda Bharati, Swami Basudev Gauli, Baba Hari Das, and Yogi Narayana. There are many benefits of learning from the Local Spiritual Guide.
Exchange Cultural Values
The best way to learn about the culture and traditions of the local Nepalese people is from a knowledgeable local spiritual guide. This will give you a deeper understanding of the history and meaning of the new culture that you need to become more familiar with.
Authenticity
The country’s spiritual practices and activities are well-known because of Nepal’s experienced local spiritual guides. They can provide accurate and authentic answers to your queries about spirituality.
Expert in Spiritual Practice
Local Spiritual Guides in Nepal are experts in many spiritual practices, such as Hinduism, Shamanism, and Buddhism. Hence, they can provide valuable guidance and methods and expose you to these practices. They motivate seekers of spiritual life to explore and learn about them, which eventually helps them discover more about living a spiritual life.
Spiritual Trekking in Nepal
Spiritual trekking in the high-altitude mountains of Nepal is an experience unlike any other. It brings you closer to spirituality in ways nothing else can. You can participate in various treks in Nepal. Some of the popular ones include the Gosaikunda Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Kailash Manasarovar Trek, and Panch Pokhari Trek.
This trek takes you to the lap of the Himalayas so that you can mix the adventure of trekking in the mountains with different religious activities that raise spirituality. Many places in Nepal that are famous for trekking are often linked with sacred places for gods and goddesses where they are worshipped.
Hence, during these treks, you can enjoy your fantastic adventure, heal your body, and clean your mind.
Some of the popular trekking destinations in Nepal for Spirituality Trekking are listed below.
Gosaikunda and Langtang valley trek
The Gosainkunda and Langtang Valley trek is a more popular spiritual trek in Nepal. This trek takes you closer to the Gosaikuna temple and lakes, sacred places for Hindus in Nepal. Gosaikunda temple is famous for the prayer on a full moon day in September. It marks a special occasion when domestic and Indian pilgrims come in hordes to worship these lakes. Generally, the Gosaikunda Trek takes about four days to complete.
On the first day, we transfer from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, to Dhunche, the capital of the Rasuwa district. In the following days, we complete the trek. We journey from Deurali, situated at 2600 meters above sea level, to Lauribinayak. Finally, we reach Gosaikunda, our ultimate destination for this trek.
You can mix up your itinerary by adding a yoga program to these treks. Doing yoga amid the spiritual energy of the mountains and high-altitude lakes is a next-level experience. A spiritual trek to Nepal’s high-altitude lakes and mountains deeply connects with spirituality. You can also opt for trekking in the high-altitude mountains.
Even in the trails leading up to those high mountains, you will find numerous temples, monasteries, gompas, chortens, mani walls, and praying flags, which are highly important to the Buddhists.
Phoksundo Lake trek
Shey Phoksundo is another popular spiritual trek in Nepal. This trek takes you closer to the Phoksundo National Park and the Phoksundo lakes. Phoksundo Lake is often taken as an exquisite spot for adventure trekking or a beautiful tour package. However, this trek can also offer an opportunity to enhance your spirituality.
The local people consider many areas of the Phoksundo trek sacred and religious such as Shey Phoksundo lake. They also believe the lake water heals diseases and keeps people stress-free. Hindus believe that bathing in the Phoksundo Lake will help them cleanse themselves from their sins and that they will rest in peace in the afterlife.
A vast monastery on the shore of the lake hosts various religious rituals. People worship the gods and goddesses, sing and dance, and light candles and incense throughout the temples.
Kailash Mansarovar trek
Kailash Mansarovar trek is a popular trail in Tibet, offering stunning Himalayan views that include Holy Mt. Kailash (6714m) and Mt. Cho Oyu (8201m). It is also the trek that promotes spirituality mainly because the trekking destination lies at the lap of a religious place. Kailash is the home of Lord Shiva according to the Hindu mythology.
During your trek to Kailash Mansarovar, you will visit several religious and spiritual places, such as the Sera monastery, Yamdok Lake, Palkor monastery, and Tashilunpo monastery, which the local and foreign pilgrims worship. Several spiritual activities occur in this location, such as meditation, yoga, dancing, and singing. Participating in those activities will reduce your stress and raise your spirituality, which can even help you find yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions By Travellers
What is the significance of Spiritual trekking?
The primary significance of spiritual trekking is that you can mix adventure with raising spirituality. During this trek, you can reduce stress and even find yourself.
What are some popular Spiritual trekking destinations in Nepal?
Some popular Spiritual trekking destinations in Nepal are the Shey Phoksundo Trek, Gosaikunda and Langtang Valley Trek, and Kailash Mansarovar Trek.
Can you go on a Spiritual tour in Kathmandu?
There are various Spiritual tours in Kathmandu, such as the Spirit of Kathmandu Private Day Tour, the Shaman Day Tour, and the Temple and Stupa Tour.
What should I pack for a spiritual trek?
Some items you should pack for the Spiritual trek are Sleeping Bags, pens, notebooks, Clothing, Trekking Poles, and a Yoga Mat.
What are the most sacred places for Hindus in Nepal?
The most sacred places for Hindus in Nepal are Pashupatinath, Buddhanilkanta, Changu Narayan, and Muktinath Temple.
Conclusion
Hence, spiritual tourism in Nepal has flourished in recent years. The religion, culture, and traditions significant to the Nepalese people interest many worldwide.
Trekkers and Tourists are taking advantage of spiritual tours and treks. Spiritual Tourism not only provides trekkers with adventure but also heals the body and cleans their minds.
