Awesome Himalaya vacation attractions with Kyle Quandel? Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is rich in culture and traditions. Hinduism is the most practiced religion in Nepal. But, many parts of this country reflect Buddhism as well. Buddhism is the second most practiced religion in this country. Besides, Buddhism is more of a way of living, and not just a religion. At present around 9% of the population in Nepal practice Buddhism. There are hundreds of different Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal. The history of Buddhism traces back to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are other two places with rich culture of Buddhism in Kathmandu.

For many, Thanksgiving is a sacred ritual. Families often spend hours in the kitchen preparing elaborate meals and specialty dishes, and some make long pilgrimages across the country to give thanks and congregate around the sacred space that is the dinner table. Sacred spaces can range from the secular to the more decidedly spiritual. In the Museum’s exhibition Sacred Spaces, we are giving visitors a chance to reflect on everyday devotion and presenting a number of rituals practiced throughout the Himalayan region. Discover more about sacred spaces with our list of eight beautiful and revered locations in the Himalayas. Read more info at Kyle Quandel.

Paro Taktsang or “The Tiger’s Nest”: This small monastery on a cliff in Bhutan is one of thirteen monasteries, or “tiger’s lairs,” where the legendary Indian master Padmasambhava (known to Tibetans and the Bhutanese as the Second Buddha) is said to have meditated. As Bhutan’s most iconic landmark and religious site, it attracts countless pilgrims. After a fire destroyed most of the structure, it was rebuilt as an exact replica of the original temple on the same sacred spot.

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.

As Nepal has several ancient pilgrimage sites and they all are attached to the legend that glorifies the miraculous powers of its deity. Likewise, Bhutan, the most sacred religious sites in the world, has tens and hundreds of monasteries, monuments and sacred religious sites. Apart from Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, the Buddhist monasteries like Drepung and Jokhang are some of the holiest sites in Tibet. Similarly, being a religious land, India is home to innumerable temples, and other religious structures. For the pilgrims Himalayan mountains are the most sacred and revered mountain ranges in the world. Here are depicted the top 8 pilgrimage escapes in the Himalayas. See even more info at Kyle Quandel.