Buddha Jayanti is on May 12, 2025

Buddha Jayanti also known as Buddha Purnima is a festival celebrated as the birthday of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Gautama Buddha is one of the most popular iconic figures in human history for the promotion of Peace, Love, and Equality.

Born in 623 BC in the sacred land of Kapilbastu in Nepal as a prince to King Śuddhodana and Queen Maya. Siddhartha Gautama was the first given name to the prince. He spent his luxurious life in the palace for 29 years.

Later he got married to princess Yāsodharā and begetting a son named Rahul. Gautama was distracted by the suffering and death of living beings and was desperate to find the reason for the cause and effect of all those sufferings.

Thus, at the age of 29, he gave up his lavish life and went into the woods to find the truth through meditating and started leading an ascetic life. After 6 years of strong penance and meditation, finally, at the age of 35, Gautama Buddha was Enlighted and was thus named ‘Lord Buddha’.

Lord Buddha started teaching people about life and death, the purpose of birth, and the cause of suffering. He traveled to the Indian sub-continent, teaching people about his finding and the number of followers started to increase and now Buddhism as a philosophy has traveled worldwide.

Buddha taught till the age of 80 before he attained nirvana (death) and his teaching is always in demand and need in this 21st century. He spread the message of love and brotherhood and now the world where we live desperately needs to follow his teaching, to make this world a living place for all sentient beings.

Now, Buddhism is one of the fastest-growing religions with millions of followers and the philosophy is taught everywhere in schools and universities. This indicates the need and importance of Buddhism as a philosophy and will be there until we implement it in our lives. Thus, recognizing the importance of Buddhism, Lord Buddha is also titled ‘The Light of Asia’.

In Nepal, Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is an official holiday and is celebrated in every nook and corner. Hindu philosophy regards Buddha as one of the 9th reincarnations of Lord Vishnu, who is also regarded as Lord of Preserver’.

There are numerous holy sites in and around Kathmandu Valley, where Buddha Jayanti is celebrated. People visit monasteries, temples, Gumbas to pay homage to Lord Buddha for his gift to humanity.

They also visit monks to take blessings and participate in religious procession towards holy sites related to Buddhism.

If you want to observe and be part of the great celebration of Lod Buddha, join the team of Discover Altitude and visit some of the highly recommended sites which include Mitra Park Swyambhunath Stupa, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Patan for a day tour.

Or if you want us to organize the Lumbini Tour the birthplace of Lord Buddha, contact us. We will arrange for this particular Buddha Jayanti to be in one of the holiest sites.

What to Experience in the Buddha Jayanti Festival Tour

Buddha Jayanti is one of the popular celebrations in Nepal and is a nationwide celebrated ceremony on the birth day of Lord Buddha. As Buddha was born in Nepal, the country has numerous monasteries, Gumba, Temples, etc related to Buddha, and Kathmandu holds the maximum in terms of number.

Travelers can spend their time visiting religious sites of Buddhism in Kathmandu or if time permits one can visit LUMBINI the birthplace of Lord Buddha. However, Lumbini is far away from the main city of Kathmandu, so one will need to be there at least a day before the Buddha Jayanti Festival.

In Kathmandu, there are numerous places one can visit and explore. Those include Swyambhunath, Bouddhanath, Patan, Namo Buddha, and numerous monasteries in and around the Kathmandu valley.

Hundreds of devotees visit these holy sites to pay homage to Buddha, and to explore this will be a wonderful experience for the travelers.

Lumbini

Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and is located to the south of Nepal. If one prefers to visit Lumbini a one-night two two-day program will be an alternative option and the best part is one can either take a direct 40-minute flight or a drive from Kathmandu.

During the BUDDHA JAYANTI FESTIVAL, devotees flock to Lumbini to observe the Buddha Jayanti Festival and pay homage to Lord Buddha for his path to enlightenment and the search he has bestowed upon all sentient beings. If time permits, one can visit Lumbini during this great day to observe the celebration.

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Trip Reviews

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5based on 55 reviews

Your search for a trekking company can stop here!

I can’t say enough great things about Kumar and Santosh at Discover Altitude. They set my trip up with minimal notice, even made some custom changes and everything went perfectly. They have great connections for everything tourism in Nepal. If you want a guide to show you around Kathmandu-they’ve got you. If you want to go for a trek-it’s their bread and butter. If you want to go for an expedition at half the cost of western companies with guides whose experience will blow your mind-easy day. Whether you’re planning a trip for next year or next week they will take care of you like family. They took the time to have tea with me and discuss my trip from start to finish over a map, they held my luggage safely while I was in the mountains, and they checked in at possible friction points (like flights) to make sure everything was going well.

I’ve heard horror stories from backpackers who used other companies and there are a ton around here. It was overwhelming for me to pick one, but Discover Altitude was recommended to me so I figured I’d give them a try. This is now the second trip they planned for me. I also recommended them to some friends who did a luxury Everest view trip with them and had nothing but good things to say. You can roll the dice and try someone else, but if you want to take the safe bet and know that you’ll have an amazing trip at a competitive price there’s no other option.

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

I had the incredible opportunity to complete 4 different treks with Discover Altitude: Three Passes, ABC, Annapurna Circuit and Langtang. Each time, the experience exceeded my expectations! The owners, Kumar and Santosh, along with their guides are exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. Everything was very well planned for all treks, and I felt safe even at the highest altitudes, thanks to their friendly and supportive guides.

There are many agencies to choose from, and I visited many, but when I met Kumar and Santosh the quality of their personalities quickly became evident. They treated me as a friend they genuinely wanted to support, not just a client, caring only about the money. Even if I hadn’t signed up, they would have treated me the same, not as potential or lost business. This authenticity is why I chose them! This was the only agency where I had that gut feeling, which turned out to be correct. They always went the extra mile. Before each trek, they spent a lot of time going through all the details with me to ensure I had everything I needed and was ready to go. They also checked up on me along the way. During all these times, they truly became my friends!

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency. They are also very competitively priced for both solo and group trips! I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

We chose a 6-day course that tours Kagbeni and Muktinath, the gateway to Mustang from Kathmandu. It takes 3 days to actually walk, so it's a safe course even for beginners.

Fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Fly from Pokhara to Jomsom (30-minute flight), then hike 3 hours to Kagbeni. Hike 5-6 hours to Muktinath. Return to Jomsom via a different route. Take a lunch break at Rupna on the way. Fly to Pokhara. Fly back to Kathmandu.

It was late May before the rainy season, but we were blessed with clear skies and were able to see the beautiful mountain ranges of Nilgiri and Annapurna. The desolate landscape of Mustang was very beautiful, and it was a very interesting experience to get a glimpse of the life of the villagers in Kagbeni.

It was quite hot during the daytime walks in late May. Short sleeves are fine. If you don't want to get sunburned, wear thin long sleeves. Since it gets cold in the mornings and evenings in Muktinath, I wore a light down jacket, but if you layer up a warm long sleeve jacket, you can wear a hiking jacket instead of a down jacket.

Our trekking guide, Amar, was very kind and not only guided us on hiking but also carefully explained the history and people's lives. (In English) He always took care to make the trek comfortable, and the walking pace was adjusted to suit our physical strength, so we were able to enjoy it without any strain.

Kumar handled advance reservations and questions, and he responded to emails very quickly. After arriving in Kathmandu, I visited the office and Kumar gave me a brief explanation of the schedule. In Kathmandu, Santosh handled my communications and accompanied me to the transfer between the hotel and the airport. Both of them were cheerful and kind.
During the tour, I asked to change my plan to stay in Pokhara for two nights after the trek (of course, the additional hotel fee was at my own expense), and I am grateful that he quickly and readily responded to my request, such as changing my flight on the return trip.

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

We had great dealings with Kumar and the team at Discover Altitude. Kumar was our initial contact, and Santosh was our day to day contact on-the-ground. Their communication was great, and everything went smoothly.

Before departing for Nepal, we emailed Kumar about what we had in mind, and he presented us with different options. We settled on a short trip from Jomsom to Muktinath - flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara and on to Jomsom the next day to commence our hike. (We took the same air-route in reverse on our way back.) In total, the trip was six or seven days, with three days hiking. (This worked out well due to our schedule, but next time we might spend a few more days walking.)

Our guide on the trip was Amar Magar. We really recommend him. (Ask for him by name!) He was thoughtful, organised, and provided clear information on what we were doing each day. His patience and pleasant manner made the trip really enjoyable.

The hike itself was good. The area from Jomsom to Kagbeni (where we stopped for the first night) was primarily along the road and the riverbed, and the scenery was primarily the dry and desolate scenery one might expect of the Mustang area. Kagbeni was a nice village to rest. (There are a number of tea houses, and an interesting temple where one of the monks showed us around.) The walk up to Muktinath the next day was a little bit tough - being a climb of about 1,000 meters. (Not 'technically' tough; more of a challenge due to low fitness levels!) After resting, we visited the Hindu pilgrimage site, which was quite an interesting experience as it attracts a lot of visitors. We stayed the night at a tea house in Muktinath, and then walked back to Jomsom via a different route, stopping at a village called Lupna on the way back. The route from Muktinath to Lupna was probably the highlight of our trip, with much more diverse terrain, including great alpine scenery, fantastic rocky cliffs and forests, and the picturesque village of Lupna itself, with a very old temple and some caves used for solitary retreats.

If you have limited time, then I would recommend the approach we took. It provides a glimpse of the Mustang region (without getting in to the Upper Mustang region, which requires more time and an expensive permit), and a taste of walking in the region. On our walk, we met a number of people who had walked the Annapurna Circuit, taking around two weeks. We might plan better and aim to do that next time!

In terms of practical considerations, noting it was mid-May, we found that we were able to walk in t-shirts and long pants. We carried a lot of warm clothing with us, but didn't need really it. (We were a bit cold briefly after arriving at Muktinath, but generally we didn't use our warm clothing. It would be smart to take something - but no need to take too much.) The bedding provided in the rooms was more than adequate, and we didn't need our own sleeping bags. (Taking a sleeping bag liner might suffice from a cleanliness perspective if this is a concern.)

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

What a once-in-a-lifetime trek to EBC! Waking up at midnight to dogs barking or in the morning to birds chirping and singing and the sound of rushing river, looking out the window and seeing the mountain so close as if within reach, roaming around Namche Bazaar and checking out the local markets, setting off in the sound of school children's morning drill, crossing rivers and valleys over the suspension bridges, passing the mani stones in the villages and the stupas on the trail, watching porters with oversized load strapped on their heads stepping to the lively beat of loud Nepali songs, navigating rocks uphill inside the dark clouds and white-out snow, trekking on the winding trail through dusty forests, misty mountain passes, wide open scrub land, and rugged and rocky barren land, with the famous and mysterious mountain peaks seemingly around every corner or suddenly elusive behind the wandering clouds, and flying down in helicopter provided every moment to admire the mountainous landscape and appreciate local life in this harsh environment. It’s been almost two weeks since I came back yet the sceneries and sounds on the trail still linger.

The EBC trek was also grueling - the long distance, the high elevation, the thin air at times mixed with dust or animal smell, the coldness at night, the completely unpredictable weather that could change by the minute – and every little inconvenience could pile on the exhaustion from a long day of trekking, but the thoughtful services by my guide Krishna made all these bearable. Every day after arriving at the tea house he made sure food was ordered and I had a spot to sit next to the stove to warm up. Every morning before we leave the tea house, he made sure bill was paid and everything was packed and ready. On the trail he was patient, watchful, and protective when the yaks and horses approaching. My tour company Discover Altitude was very flexible and allowed me to change my trekking schedule on the fly, including booking tea houses during peak season and securing single room occupancy. In fact, the three unplanned tea houses in Jorsalle, Phungi Thenga, and Dughla, allowed me to enjoy the real serenity near nature and away from crowds. The company also booked a helicopter, outside of my original plan, to fly me out back in Kathmandu in time. Their flexibility was crucial for me to have a successful and enjoyable EBC trekking trip.

Thank you Krishna for your kind-hearted service.

And thank you Santosh for showing me the street food, the hidden temples, and the vibrant life around the old town of Kathmadu.

Buddha Jayanti tour

Wonderful experience. I can really recommend Kumar who was my guide. Very kind, very helpful also. He gave me many explanations, he really knows what he's talking about. I have already planning new tours with him around Kathmandu. Thank you for all. Blessings 🙏

Truly best tour of the seven UNESCO sites in Kathmandu

I had an amazing time with Kumar. Who is extremely knowledgeable and quite spiritual himself. He gave me great insights into the history of Nepal and the social cultural religious aspect of how things work today. I felt light and insipired. Very connected to the city. I highly recommend this tour with Kumar.

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

I’m towards the tail end of my 10 day EBC trek arranged by Discover Altitude. Overall, I’ve been very happy with the trip so far. Santosh did his best to make sure my trip went according to plan. He was also extremely accommodating to my request for alterations to itinerary during the trip. Always ready to help, no questions asked.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank my guide, Sandip Lama. He is an energetic and hardworking young man that went above and beyond to make me trip as comfortable as possible. He’s also flexible in accommodating my last minute change request. For example, when I saw Ama Dablam for the first time, I was blown by its beauty and came up with the idea of doing a side trip to its base camp. It’s require at least half a days time. Sandip agreed without any hesitation and helped with the trip planning. In the end, the side trip didn’t happen simply because I ran out of steam. As a guide, Sandip’s main responsibility is leading me with the trip. But he also offered to carry my bag when I got very tired. This is what I call above and beyond. Again, thank you Sandip and I hope we’ll embark on my adventures in the future!

No. of Person	Price Per Person
1 person	US$85
2 - 3 people	US$55
4 - 10 people	US$45

Buddha Jayanti Festival Tour 2025

Buddha Jayanti is on May 12, 2025

What to Experience in the Buddha Jayanti Festival Tour

Lumbini

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Itinerary

Day 1:Touring around Kathmandu.

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Trip Reviews

Your search for a trekking company can stop here!

Alden S, United States

If you want to experience true, kind Nepali hospitality and a great trek, don’t look for another agency.

Eva B, Hungary

Mustang - Kagbeni, Muktinath 6-day tour

Hito, Japan

A short walk from Jomsom to Muktinath.

Nick O'Connell, New Zealand

A Once-in-a-lifetime EBC Trekking Trip

Jackie Z, United States

Buddha Jayanti tour

Christelle M, Australia

Truly best tour of the seven UNESCO sites in Kathmandu

Cedric A, United States

Awesome 10 day EBC trekking experience

Hongtao Chen, United States

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