Nepal, the top spiritual destination

Spirituality is the nectar of rituals and practices. Religiousness may create the spiritual vibration but spirituality could be experienced by anyone, anywhere without belonging to the particular religion. It is about immersing in an experience different from our normal existence. It is about discovering self and connecting with nature and people in its primitive form.

When we talk about traveling for spiritual experience, Nepal comes to the top in the list. One main region for that is the coexistence of several ancient and medieval practices like animism, shamanism, Hinduism and Buddhist philosophies from India and Tibet. Alpine lakes, peaks and hidden valleys have always been pilgrimages from the hoary past revered by all. Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and his dwellings naturally became places to go on a retreat for his followers. The most important of all was the country’s isolation which kept it aloof from the turmoil its neighbors went through. While the spiritual centers of its neighbors changed into mere monuments, Nepal is the place to experience the living spiritual heritage of the region.

Here are the five most important spiritual features which make Nepal the top spiritual destination in the world.

1. Holy Himalaya

Mountain worshiping predates the established religions. From the time immemorial, Himalayan peaks were revered as either an embodiment of god and goddesses or their abode. Climbing peaks offended locals who feared the wrath of mountain gods in the form of avalanches. All expeditions to Mt Everest pray for the mountain as the mother goddess ‘Chomolungma’ in the local Tengboche monastery before heading to the base camp.

Since the nature worshiping culture was older than religions from the Indian subcontinent, all of them revere the pilgrimage sites of the Himalayas. The most holy mountain, Mt Kailas is worshiped by Hindus, Buddhists, Jain and Bon. Muktinath and Gosaikunda Lake are the other popular pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas worshiped by both Hindus and Buddhists. The pilgrimage to these holy mountains, lakes and valleys are the best way to take a break from our routine life and immerse ourselves into the environment less affected by modernization.

2. The living spiritual heritage

In the fortification of the mountains, Nepal was a safe haven for several practices from the Indian subcontinent during the crisis. While India and Tibet went through invasion and internal arson, the spiritual practitioners fled to the peaceful valleys of Nepal several times. They all lived in harmony and are actively practiced until the date making Nepal the most amazing living spiritual heritage. The small country has sheltered and nourished earlier forms of Tantrism, Bon, Shamanism along with Buddhism and Hinduism. The pre-Buddhist Bon religion is still practiced and taught in the mountains of Dolpo and Mustang. With over 300 monasteries dating back to at least 500 years, Patan in the south of Kathmandu valley was a monastic establishment from the medieval time. Tantrism is practiced mixed with Hinduism and Buddhism throughout the country. Shamans are still believed as faith healers. Most importantly they all live in harmony and respect each other’s faith.

3. Birth place of Buddha and home of Buddhism

The Kapilavastu kingdom of Shakyas and the Lumbini garden (the birth place of Buddha) lies in present day Nepal. The 1600 ft. by 1000 ft. Tilaurakot palace ruin has been going through a series of excavations. This is where Buddha spent 29 years as prince Siddhartha. Similarly the only unearthed Buddha relic Stupa of Ramgram and the Kudan monastery ruin (where Buddha taught 5 sutra teachings), birthplace of Krakuchand Buddha and Kanakmuni Buddha makes Nepal a great place to visit to understand Buddha’s life and teachings which is admired by all as ‘a way of life’ rather than religion.

Similarly Nepal is the most stable home of Buddhism. Buddhism prevailed in Nepal and only in the northern part of India until the time of Emperor Ashoka. While the Buddhist monasteries of India were turned into ruins after the Mughals, Nepal sheltered and continuously nourished Buddhism until the date. The monastic city of Patan in the south of Kathmandu valley has records of Tibetan monks visiting to translate scriptures during the medieval period. Buddhism went through Nepal to Tibet in around the 8th century with the first Buddhist chapel of Jo Khang established in Lhasa to house a Buddha statue brought by Nepali princess Bhrikuti married to king Songtsen Gampo. Later Guru Rinpoche was called to preach Buddhism who built the first monastery of Tibet, the Samye monastery.

Nepal is also growing as a Tibetan Buddhist center after the cultural revolution in Tibet that displaces hundreds of thousands of Tibetans.

The continuous and spontaneous practice of Buddhism makes Nepal not only the birthplace of Buddha but also the home of Buddhism.

4. Meditation caves

In the lap of the Himalayas, Nepal offered the perfect natural ambiance and tranquility for spiritual masters to go on a retreat. There are plenty of meditation caves from the prehistoric times which were later used by Hindu and Buddhist sages and attained enlightenment. The 8th century saint Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) got teachings of longevity from Buddha Amitayus at Maratika cave (Halesi) and he got enlightened at Yangleso, the cave at Pharping. Similarly there are meditation caves of Guru Basistha, Nagarjuna, Milarepa, Tilopa and others. These meditation caves have been ideal places for spiritual seekers to go on a retreat creating a great positive vibration.

5. Happiest country in south Asia

Spirituality eventually brings true happiness. It is widely believed that people in the countries with low or middle income are much happier than in rich countries. Material gain in life has a price to pay with stress, envious competition and not being able to connect with nature. Keeping life simple and relying on nature is relaxing, garners greater intelligence and teaches us to be happy on small things. Nepal is one of such places where one can experience spirituality in practice to be happy.

The World Happiness Report 2021 published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network showed that Nepal has received a higher happiness index among all its South Asian peers. Nepal has even left Bhutan behind. Bhutan is the country which pioneered the Gross national happiness index which also considers indicators like social support, generosity, freedom to make life choices etc., beside the economical growth.