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Going to India/Nepal on a pilgrimage
SattvaPaul
South Wales, UK Veteran
With a bit of luck I maybe able to go to India and Nepal around Dec/Jan. My budget probably wouldn't last me for more than a month. This would be my first trip to India (and Asia for that matter). I hope to be able to see and experience as much as possible during that time, but the focus would be on visiting Buddhist sites. I've already got a nice little book about it, but it's always useful to ask for any suggestions/tips.
Has any of you done it? Is it doable in one month? Anything I should know? All suggestions appreciated.
Has any of you done it? Is it doable in one month? Anything I should know? All suggestions appreciated.
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If you make it over there, share some news with us. They do have internet cafes.
I hope to post news when I'm there. Right now I'm at the very early preparation stage.
It has been my dream to go to India for a very long time. I must go there.
I'd love to go to Bodhi Gaya and see the Bodhi Tree (which is believed to have been propagated from the original one the Buddha became Enlightened under).
I will bring lots of Bodhi Tree leaves!
If you attend the Dalai Lama's teachings get there a couple weeks ahead of time or expect to get a hotel in one of the nearby towns and walk or take a taxi to Mcleod Ganj each day. Plus I believe there is some type of preregistration for the teachings with 2-3 forms of ID required, you can probably find details on his website. Make sure to bring headphones and a radio reciever for the translation if you go.
The 4 main pilgrimage sites (birth, death, enlightenment, and first teaching) are relativly close to each other and have plenty of accomodations for visitors. Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, is in Bihar state, a very poor state, so don't go out at night and don't expect very nice rooms. Lumbini, where Buddha was born is just across the border in Nepal. Crossing was uncomplicated when I went.
Tibetan and Nepalese cabbies, vendors, and hotel clerks are much nicer and less aggressive about freeing you from your money than the Indians are. Make sure to agree on a price upfront and don't expect anything is for free. I did have nice citizens help me out, but I also had people offer me things or help only to ask for payment after.
As I said it was a while ago that I went so things may have changed. But overall the experience was great and I highly recommend going.
I think flight tickets might be a bit cheaper now, but prices in India higher.
India obviously has many roots with buddhism and with Hinduism, so I am sure you will have a religious experience of some sort. As it has been stated above, you need to mindful that there are many people including children who may try to scam you or even rob you for that matter. Asia for the most part is far less developed which is something you can see on TV a hundred times, but untill you are actually living in such a place it won't fully hit home. Also, remember to get your injections and stuff for malaria yellow fever etc because India has a lot of mosquitos all year round. On top of that, it probably has one of the widest selection of deadly animals for a single country, so try not to sleep on the floor like a large part of the population do.
This is slightly off-topic, but the lead man for the band red hot chillie peppers had many failed attempts at getting off of heroin. He finally jetted off to India and came back several weeks later a new person. As far as I know he has not used since. It can be a life changing place. I wish you all of the best and good luck
oh yeah, altitude. I live in Denver so if you are at sea level be sure you know about what altitude you are going to. When people come here (5-6,000 ft above sea level) they do get tireder or thirstier or hungrier. When they go way above denver to like our 14,000 peaks then they can really feel it and even get altitude sickness. I have no idea what elevations you are going to but really keep hydrated along the way and don't expect the same energy level unless you are already at altitude.
Sounds like so much fun!
@AHeerdt the hike allows for you to slowly get use to the altitude, and if people start to get altitude sickness they have to be taken off of the trip. I must dig the link out for the schedule and information as I have not looked at it for many months now. It just has been something I have wanted to do for a long time.
I don't know much about them, I enjoyed their songs back in the 90's - "Under the bridge" is the song I remember most.
Whatever happened to Anthony Kiedis in India, it shows one thing to me - those who would say "it doesn't matter where you go, you take all your problems with you anyway" are right - but they've only got half of the story. Changing the outer environment can change us profoundly. The outer environment is a reflection of our mind, so it should work both ways, no?
Anyway, @ThailandTom - hope you can make your trip.
And useful info about the altitude, @AHeerdt.
I am working on doing something similar!:)
So I got very excited and started planning my trip. I followed @compassionate_warrior's advice and checked HHDL's schedule and wow! He's giving Kalachakra for World Peace from Dec 31st to Jan 10th in Bodhgaya. It's going to be an absolutely massive event.
I knew I didn't have much money and couldn't make a decision when to go and I thought it's fear holding me back, so I made a rush decision and booked the flight and accommodation in Bodhgaya to get them as cheaply as possible (also Bodhgaya was filling up really fast).
Now I have looked into my budget in more detail and the reality is that if I follow my plan, I'm going to have a very tight budget in India (maybe even too tight) and on coming back I have no money at all, to pay the rent and food for next month. Now I could actually push it somehow and be able to survive for a couple of weeks after coming back, until some money comes in, but it's all very risky.
So the alternative is to cancel my trip, miss the Kalachakra and lose some money. I really don't know what to do and I weighed pros and cons and it looks more or less even. On top of that I have a Uni course to work on (it's distance course so doable while travelling but difficult) and what I should really be doing is looking for work and sort my living and financial situation out. This would be the rational thing to do. But part of me says it's just all about fear and taking risks.
I have to make a decision pretty soon, as the time is running out to sort out the visa, and it's not much time to do the vaccinations either, and I don't want to take them if I'm going to cancel the trip.
What do you guys think?
Meditate for a while, then get the pen and paper out and do some financial calculations; then do a little more meditation.
I'm sure you'll come up with something.
Big hugs, and whatever you choose just know you are going to work your bum off at it, that is okay.
@Jeffrey, I'm not quite sure I understand your post. Just for the record, I'm not going to India for any detox (unless it's detox from Western civilisation)
Im off to Nepal myself soon, for 3 weeks. Cant wait.
Have fun on your Nepal trip and let us know how it went.
Kopan Monastery just north of Boudhanath offers 10 day Dharma retreats.
I also enjoyed spending a day in Patna just a bit south of Kathmandu. This is a town of artists where most of the Buddhist items are crafted. When I went you could freely walk around the craft areas and watch people work.
If you're flying into Kathmandu, the birthplace of the Buddha, Lumbini, may be a bit too much out of the way (its about a 10 hour bus ride), but could make a good 3 or 4 day side trip.