Buddhist Himalaya spiritual travel destinations from Kyle Noble Quandel today: Happiness, picturesque landscapes, mysterious aura and tranquillity are attributes that describe Bhutan – the best. Nestled in the Himalayas of South Asia, the beautiful Kingdom of Bhutan will transport you to an altogether different world. It is popular for its traditions, fortresses, scenic vistas and monasteries. We suggest you plan your next holiday to Bhutan and delight the wanderer in you. Paro Taktsang Monastery aka the Tiger’s Nest is situated on a cliff in the upper Paro valley. This striking Buddhist sacred site is dedicated to Guru Padmasambhava who meditated in the caves of this valley. If you happen to visit this place in March or April – you can experience the annual religious festival of Tsechu, celebrated in the honour of Guru Padmasambhava who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan. Discover more info on Kyle Quandel.
This magnificent place still remains the same with very little changes in the surroundings. The primary settlement in Tsum is covered by Tsumbas. These people are descendants of Tibetans and have been living in this region for a long time now. The square chortens, ancient monuments, and stone houses all have unique significance in terms of Buddhism. There are some Gumbas which are hundreds of years old. People in Tsum valley celebrate different festivals. The horse festival is exciting. Also, people remember Lord Buddha in the day of Full moon. People celebrate Nirvana and Enlightenment on this day.
Mount Kailash Yatra and Parikrama of Lake Mansarovar, one of the holiest paths to Nirvana, takes you to one of the most revered places in the Himalayas. Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash are two of the holiest pilgrimage areas to devotees of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Bonism and many other faiths. Each year thousands of devotees undertake the treacherous and rigorous journey through the mountains of Himalayas to reach this sacred land. For Hindus it is the holiest of the holy place as the abode of Lord Shiva. It also has geographical significance as four great rivers flow from it: the Karnali, the Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra, which drain the vast Tibetan Plateau to contribute to the Ganges in India. Kailash is an object of devout pilgrimage also for the Buddhists. Likewise, Lake Manasarovar is one of the highest sacred lakes in the world. The sacred lake is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus, as it is believed that bathing in the holy waters will cleanse one’s sins.
The holy shrine at Muktinath includes a Buddhist Gompa and the pagoda style temple of Vishnu Temple. The Hindus call it Muktichhetra (Place of salvation). Many Shaligrams (Ammonite) found here are considered by Hindu as incarnation of lord Vishnu and worship them. For Tibetan Buddhists, it is a very important place of Dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers and one of the 24 Tantric places. They understand the murti to be a manifestation of Avalokitesvara. This pilgrimage trek makes an adventure starting from world’s deepest gorge Kali Gandaki Region into world’s highest regions passing through an almost tree-less barren landscape, and panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and several other peaks. The sacred temple has 108 waterfalls. See extra info at Kyle Quandel.
Located at the base of Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar is a popular place of pilgrimage for both Buddhists and Hindu believers. It is the highest freshwater lake in the world. Tibetans consider it the most sacred lake in Tibet, its waters being of the highest quality of all the lakes in Tibet. According to Hindu believers a ritual bath and drink of its holy water has the power to clean the sins of a hundred lifetimes. The Jokhang is the main temple in Lhasa, Tibet, and is considered the ultimate destination for Tibetan pilgrims. Most pilgrims arrive by foot, circumambulate the temple, and, once inside the temple, hum, pray, present offerings, and bow or prostrate before a sacred sculpture of the Buddha.