Saga Dawa Festival at Humla Raling Monastery - 27th May 2010
Grade: easy
Duration: 10 -12 days
Max altitude: 4050m.
This
trip is the shortest and yet one of the most culturally and scenically
striking trips in Humla. The valley is reached in a day walk from
Simikot at elevations between 3000m and 4100 m.
Nyinba, a
Bhotia community also called Bara-Thapalya inhabit this valley in four
major villages in the area. The attractions are experience of the
unique village structure resembling Buddhist Mandala and culture
practiced within these villages that deeply carry the ancient
pre-Buddhist Shamastic tradition blended with the Buddhist culture and
religion.
Mt Shelmogang (5300m) (also known as Mount Crystal Peak) and Raling
Gompa and Siddhi caves of Guru Rimpoche are some of the places to
visit. The trail has been planned to visit Kharpunath temple where the
Karnali from west Tibet and Chang/Dozam river meet forming the main
Karnali, the longest and holiest river of Nepal.
Saga Dawa Festival - 27th May 2010
Saga Dawa Festival is observed as one of the most
important festival in Buddhist society all over the world. This
festival held each year on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month
of the Tibetan calendar. This festival is celebrated in honor of
Sakyamuni's enlightenment. And this auspicious day coincide with three
important events in Buddha's life, Birth, Nirvana and death.
Itinerary:
| Day
1 |
Arrival Kathmandu - transfer hotel - tour briefing |
| Day
2 |
Sight seeing in Kathmandu |
| Day
3 |
Fly Kathmandu to Nepalgunj |
| Day
4 |
Fly Nepalgunj to Simikot |
| Day 5 |
Trek Simikot to Torpa |
| Day 6 |
Trek Torpa to Raling |
| Day 7 |
Explore Raling valley (Saga Dawa Festival)
|
| Day 8 |
Raling to Bargaon |
| Day 9 |
Bargaon to Kharbunath |
| Day 10 |
Kharbunath to Simikot |
| Day 11 |
Fly Simikot to Nepalgunj & to Kathmandu. |
| Day 12 |
Depart |
|
Trek Departure: 21st May 2010
Note: The
crystal peak also can be scaled, (June-October) via pilgrim trail
leading to the top. It requires extra day while you reach Ralling Gompa. It also can be shortened returning back from Bargaon to Simikot depending on the availability of time of the visitors.
