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Butwal - Visit Butwal Nepal - Travel Batauli Nepal

2011-04-28T06:43:00.000-07:00

Butwal (Nepali: बुटवल) is a large town in southern Nepal in Rupandehi District, in Lumbini Zone -- of which Butwal is the administrative center. It is located 240 kilometres west of Kathmandu and 22 kilometers north of Bhairahawa, at the northern edge of the Terai plain below the Siwalik Hills. Its name is derived from Batauli Bazaar in the town's oldest district.

Through highway and air links, Butwal connects western Nepal to the capital Kathmandu. It has highway connections to the Indian Border at Sunauli and to hill towns Tansen and Pokhara. Butwal is a major gateway to Nepal.

Butwal is a small city of about eight thousand hector square in area, situated on the low-altitude flat-land (Terai) near the border side to India, is a home to eighty thousand Nepalese of different religion, language, ethinicity and identity. Butwal connects Bhairahawa city, Tansen town, and Narayanghat city through different highways. Butwal is only 26KM from the Indian Border and about 22 km from Bhairahawa, and Tansen is about 36 KM away from Butwal.

History

Fossils of ancient hominoids Ramapithecus were found near the Tinau (Tilottama) River as early as 1932, including a 10.1 million year old tooth.

Historically Butwal connected Nepali people with their Indian neighbors. As the British East India Company annexed Awadh from its hereditary rulers while the Shah Dynasty attempted to annex the Terai, Butwal became one of bones of contention leading to the Gurkha War 1814-16.

When King Tribhuvan fled to India in 1950 during the revolt against the Rana dynasty he travelled through Butwal. Then it was little more than a village on the western bank of Tilottama River (also known as Tinau). With completion in 1968 of Siddhartha Highway from the border at Sunauli through Butwal to Pokhara and then in the 1990s Mahendra Highway across the full east-west expanse of Nepal's Terai, Butwal has developed rapidly.

Population

The city of Butwal, whose population grew from a mere 26,824 in 1991 to a staggering 3,71,884 in 2008 has progressed multi dimensionally when compared to the other small townships of the country. Most of the population consists of Tribal people, who have been dependent on Butwal for their trade and commerce for a very long time. There is also a constant flow of tribal immigration from other towns and hilly villages. The majority of the population is Hindu and there is a considerable Muslim population from the Terai region.

What makes Butwal?

Butwal is known for commerce, industries and agriculture. It has Nepal's second largest horticulture business, and has more than one thousand industries and business enterprises employing over four thousand people. The Tinahu river waters Butwal's flat land, and many farmers use under-ground water system for drinking and supplying water to their farms. Many farmers here have embraced integrated farming, and schools and universities in this region continue to grow. Rice, Wheat, Bean, and Beaten Rice are popular agriculture produce. Many of such produce are equally imported from India and sold to major cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara.

Education

Apart from its major role in the enhancement of trade in Nepal, Butwal has also acted as a great center for education. It is one of the well renowned education hubs of the Lumbini zone of Nepal, with 4 reputed colleges, a few Private colleges and a number of schools. It also boasts on the performance of students with an average score better than anywhere in the country. With a number of educational institutions giving opportunities of higher studies in Engineering, Medicine, Fine Arts and Commerce and Management, Butwal functions as a viable option for healthcare to the rural hilly areas neighboring the city.

Major Educational Institute in Butwal-:

Butwal Multiple Campus (Nepali: बुटवल बहुमुखी क्याम्पस) has more than 5000 students and classes in Arts, Education, and Science.
Annapurna Model College has a B.A. program.

Places to Visit at Butwal Nepal

Like most of Nepal, Butwal also capitalizes on the great industry of tourism. The major attractions in Butwal include the hill park, the Siddha Baba temple and the museum.

Aap Khola (mango river) where people go for swimming and to obtain water during droughts. There is a view of nearby Manakamana Temple.

Butwal Hill Park (Deepnagar) - an historic place for the Gurung community. This hill used to be called Gurung Dada because Gurungs were buried here. It separates the city into 2 parts and gives views of both sides.

Phulbari (PhoolBari) (Manimukunda Park) - The winter palace of Palpali Sen clan is very fascinating from natural and archaeological values. There are ruins and antiquities of the majestic palace of Manimukunda Sen an ancient Palpali king containing 6 large rooms as well as royal residence, administrative and fascinating scenic grandeur of Butwal, Siddharthanagar and other neighbouring villages of Rupandehi district can be vividly seen from here at night also. His Majesty's Government, archaeological department has attempted to maintain it in 1991. Now Butwal municipality has formed council for the conservation of Manimukunda Sen Park to conduct Phulbari Development Programme and attempted to make it an amusing and a tourist resort.

Jitgadhi - a fortress during Angol Nepal war, Narayan temple built by (1864 B.S.) Hanuman temple and Shivalaya of Hanumagngadhi, Jalabinayak Mehadev temple, Siddababa temple, Nuwakot etc. are famous centres of attraction in Butwal.

Murgiya Jharbaira - about 13 km west from Butwal city. This place is known for secondary schools, rice and oil mills, temples and natural beauty. Temple of Lord Shiva (Parroha Parmeshower Bolbam Dham) is situated near by here with is internationally famous for receiving blessings from Lord of the Lord Shiva Shankar and temple of Goddess Durga at the center of town.

Sainamaina - Located about 12 km. west from Butwal and to North from Banakatti, Sainamaina as an open museum is very famous and fascinating resort from historical archaeological culture and natural points of view. Among the different Gramas villages of Shakya King, it was in the samgrama site. An Indian queen (Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh) because of the British disturbance in her kingdom came to this area with her soldiers and porters (‘Sena’ and Mena’) and finally this area came to be known as Saina Maina. It is an exquisite treasure trove of ancient ruins and antiquities: statues of dancing saints, ruins of palace, well etc.

Siddha Baba Temple is located on hills at the border of Butwal Municipality. Devotees believe that Siddha Baba will grant their wishes and offer pigeons at the temple. On Saturdays, the weekly holiday in Nepal, large number of devotees visit this temple and special Microbus services are offered. The temple is located 1 Kilometer from Butwal, on the SiddharthaHighway to Tansen and Pokhara. Visit this temple to worship, and also to get an awesome view of the Tinau River. It is said that Siddha Baba will grant the wishes of the devotees who visit the temple. Every time a person's wish is granted, that person will release a pigeon at the temple. Interestingly, there is a large number of pigeons found around the temple.

The Statue of Buddha (Jogidanda) was very significant different ruins of having the values of classical art are scattered here and there. This famous archaeological site is being occupied by homeless and landless people. Some of the antiquities of this site are seen thrown around the Lumbini museum.

Nuwakot Hill Top : Climb the Nuwakot Hill Top (890 meter), located at north east of Butwal. Get breathless views of Himalayan range including Macchapuchhre in North and views of the Lumbini and Terai region from Butwal to Bhairahawa.

Where to Stay and Eat

There are several budget hotels at Traffic Chowk, near the bus stop, in the center of town of Butwal on the main road.

The Major & best Hotel at Butwal is given below-:

Hotel Sindoor, a little south of the bus stand, is a modern quiet place with clean rooms for $24/35 (Appox). It is a bit overpriced. You may get a discount. It is the best place in town. Its is 26 Km. from the Indian Boarder and 22 Km. from the airport Bhairahawa.

Hotel Sindoor has 22 Suite, Deluxe, Air-conditioned, air-cooler rooms, Rooms are furnished and decorated with Nepali Style and culture. All the rooms are attached bath with hot and cold water round the clock. For your dining pleasure we offer you wide varieties of delicious food from four major cousins Nepalese, Indian, Chinese and Continental at its own Dining hall. And you can enjoy soft and hard drinks at its Simrik bar. We have 3 conference and Banquets hall. The biggest once accommodates 150 and other has capacity of 50 and 30. We accept foreign currencies, MasterCard. Visa card and Travelers Cheque. On request we can provide Domestic and international air tickets as well train ticket to different part of India.

Hotel Sindoor have National, International telephone services, Fax and e-mail service. We have beautiful garden and parking on its own premises. You contact Hotel Sindoor by calling at +977-071-540381, +977-071-540189 or Visit http://www.hotelsindoor.com.

Hotel New Gandaki which has really basic rooms with common bath for Rs 140 Appox and Rs 225 (appox) with bath.

Santosh Guest House, a few blocks west of Traphik Chowk, is one of the best budget places.

Hotel Siddhartha, Traphik Chowk, has clean, comfortable rooms with bath and hot water for Rs 400/450. It has a good restaurant.

Hotel Kandara, Traphik Chowk, is a modern place with a pleasant, small garden. It has clean rooms with bath for Rs 300/450 Appox, with hot water and a carpet for Rs 450/750 Appox, and with A/C for Rs 1250 Appox. Most rooms have a TV and air-cooler. The rooms in the front can be noisy. It has a decent restaurant.

How you will Get In Or Out from Butwal Nepal

Fly from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and then drive from Bhairahawa to Butwal, or drive all the way to Pokhara to Butwal or from Narayanghat to Butwal. Many tourists chose to visit Butwal after visiting Lumbini, the Birth Place of Bouddha. The airfare from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa is about Rs 2000 Appox. , and a bus ticket from Bhairahawa to Butwal is about Rs 10, and a bus ticket from Kathmandu to Butwal is about Rs 200 Appox.

Long distance buses depart from Traffic Chowk, Butwal Bus Park on the main road. The government Sajha Yatayat booking office a little down from Traffic Chowk, across from the modern traditionally-designed temple. There are morning buses to Kathmandu (Rs 145 Appox) and Nepalganj (Rs 140 Appox).

There regular buses to Bhairawa/Sunauli (23km).

You book private night buses at shop with a red sign (in Nepali), next to Fedee Restaurant at Traffic Chowk. Private day buses are booked at the office (has a red sign in Nepali) between the Siddhartha and Samrat hotels.

There are buses to Birganj (Rs 120 Appox), Gorkha (Rs 100 Appox), Janakpur (Rs 195 Appox), Kathmandu (Rs 150 Appox), Mugling (Rs 140 Appox, night), Narayanghat (Rs 59 Appox, all day), Nepalganj (Rs 150 Appox, day and night) and Tansen (Rs 110 Appox, morning).

Major Airports Close to Butwal, Nepal:

The distances below are straight-line estimates. If you are planning a trip, check the exact driving distance to/from the airport.

The closest major airport is Gautam Buddha Airport (BWA / VNBW). This airport has domestic flights from Bhairawa, Nepal and is about 22 km from the center of Butwal, Nepal.

Another major airport is Pokhara Airport (PKR / VNPK), which has domestic flights from Pokhara, Nepal and is 76 km from Butwal, Nepal.

International airports near Butwal, Nepal

188 km: Tribhuvan International Airport - Kathmandu, Nepal (KTM / VNKT)

257 km: Varanasi Airport - Varanasi, India (VNS / VIBN)

273 km: Amausi Airport - Lucknow, India (LKO / VILK)

360 km: Gaya Airport - Gaya, India (GAY / VEGY)

Domestic airports near Butwal, Nepal

22 km: Gautam Buddha Airport - Bhairawa, Nepal (BWA / VNBW)

76 km: Pokhara Airport - Pokhara, Nepal (PKR / VNPK)

96 km: Bharatpur Airport - Bharatpur, Nepal (BHR / VNBP)

107 km: Gorakhpur Airport - Gorakhpur, India (GOP / VEGK)

Local airports near Butwal, Nepal

78 km: Meghauli Airport - Meghauli, Nepal (MEY / VNMG)

78 km: Meghauli Airport - Meghauli, Nepal (MHU)

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Visit -Shree Darlamdanda Mahakali Bhagwati temple Palpa Nepal

2011-03-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

Darlamdanda is a village development committee in Palpa District in the Lumbini Zone of southern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 2389 people living in 469 individual households.

This VDC shares its borders with Khanichhap VDC in the east, Nayar Namtalesh and Chappani VDCs in the south, Yamgha VDC in the west, and Syangja district on the north. The holy place Ramdi on the bank of Kali Gandaki river is located in this VDC. The famous and unique Ramdi-pul (bridge) in the Palpa Syangja section of Siddarath Highway is located here. There are special occasions like haribodhani ekadashi (also called Kattike Thuliekadashi), baishakhe sakranti (Nepali new year) that people from neighbouring VDCs and districts visit here.

Darlamdanda Higher Secondary School is one of the major educational institutions in the area. It was established in 2013 BS (Bikram Sambat) as a primary school. It has been upgraded to higher levels in different steps. This school has a huge impact on the educational life of the people in the remote north of the district headquarter.

The climate in the area is very nice all yeararound. The snowfall is a rare case almost no record so far. It rains heavily in the summer. There is no irrigation facility so farmers have to depend on the rain (monsoon). The climate is very friendly to grow variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

This place was also known for the Sani Ukali (short but steeper climbings) on the way from Ramdi to Tansen and the Thuli Ukali (big one) in the neighbouring Chappani VDC. There was a project,around 1991 AD (2047 BS) to improve this historical trekking road from Ramdi to Tansen and some section of this was upgraded nicely. However, the work was not completed. After few years, another project started to provide a roadway from Tansen to Ramdi. This included a very hard work of the local people. By 2008 AD (2065 BS) the first phase of it was completed. Except for heavily raining seasons, there is a transportation service available from Butwal and Tansen to Darlamdanda and neighbouring village development committees.

About Shree Darlamdanda Mahakali Bhagwati Temple

Shree Darlam Mahakali Bhagwati temple is located at Darlam Danda VDC-1, Darlam Danda Palpa, Nepal. It is situated at five kilometres south west from the holy place Ramdighat at the bank of Shree Krishna Gandaki River and about 12km north east of major town Tansen, Palpa, Nepal. At this place, the ancestors of late Padampani Gaire had been worshiping Shree Mahakali Bhagwati for several years. In 2000BS, late Padampani Gaire established small temple and worshiped a statue of Mahakali made of clay every day. On 2010BS, Kartik shukla triyodashi, Shree Mahakali appeared in his dreams and said him that she would appear as a stone at a particular time and place. She wanted him to bring that stone and start worshiping her instead of the clay statue. Surprisingly, Mr Humakanta Bashyal, an astrologist had the same dreams on the same night. Both of them went to search the stone according to instructions of goddess independently and found the holy stone at Sapangdi , approximately 200 feet east of the present temple. The holy stone was approximately five feet tall. Since then, this holy stone is worshiped as Shree Darlam Mahakali Bhagwati established in the temple and worships, punchayan puja and rudravishek hawan have been offering to Darlam Mahakali every day. A new temple is being built at the same place now.

The new temple is being built based on the instructions of Shree Darlam Mahakali given to Mr Ganraj Gaire, son of late Padampani Gaire on 2048BS Kartik 22nd in his dreams. The structure of temple is similar to the Manakamana temple as per Shree Mahakali Bhagwati instructions. This temple is built on the land donated by Gaire families, the descendents of late Padampani Gaire and is now made public property where everyone can worship every day.

The structure of this new temple is based on pagoda architecture. The main construction was started on the auspicious day of 2053BS Ashwin Mahanawami. The master plan of this development is to built Shree Ganesh Temple, Shree Bhagawati Panchayan Temple, Shree Shive Temple, Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple, Yagya Mandap, Hawan Kunda, Ved Vidyapeeth and Vandar Kashya around the main temple. To complete this master plan, develop this area as a holy place and keep sacred importance of this temple, Shree Darlam Mahakali Bhagwati temple deveopment and management committee has been established on 24th Bhadra 2057BS. This committee has 17 members representing five VDC of nearby villages. It is registered in district administration office Palpa. It is continuously working with the blessings of Goddess Bhagawati and voluntary works of her devotees. The committee needs constant support of devotes like you to send the holy message of Goddess to everyone. If you wish to donate and support us, please contact us on the details below. You are also kindly requested to come and visit this temple and obtain the holy grace of Shree Darlam Mahakali Bhagawati . May the Goddess bless all of us.

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Visit Lumbini Anchal Nepal

2011-03-05T03:13:00.000-08:00

Lumbinī (Sanskrit: लुम्बिनी, "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi district of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama founded the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha lived between roughly 563 and 483 BCE. Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath.

Lumbini is in the foothills of the Himalaya, 25 km east of the municipality of Kapilavastu, where the Buddha is said to have lived till the age of 29. Kapilvastu is the name of the place in question as well as of the neighbouring district. Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, and others under construction. Also here is the Puskarini or Holy Pond - where the Buddha's mother took the ritual dip prior to his birth and where he, too, had his first bath - as well as the remains of Kapilvastu palace. At other sites near Lumbini, earlier Buddhas were, according to tradition, born, achieved ultimate awakening and finally relinquished earthly form.

In Buddha's time

In the Buddha's time, Lumbini was a park situated between Kapilavastu and Devadaha in India. It was there that the Buddha was born. A pillar now marks the spot of Asoka's visit to Lumbiní. According to an inscription on the pillar, it was placed there by the people then in charge of the park to commemorate Asoka's visit and gifts. The park was previously known as Rummindei, two miles north of Bhagavanpura.

In the Sutta Nipáta (vs. 683) it is stated that the Buddha was born in a village of the Sákyans, in the Lumbineyya Janapada. The Buddha stayed in Lumbinívana during his visit to Devadaha and there preached the Devadaha Sutta.

For centuries, Buddhists- all over the world, knew that Lumbini where the Lord was born is somewhere around. The descriptions of famous Chinese pilgrims (of ancient times) Huian Tsang and Faeihan indicated to this area-saying ‘Lumbini-where the lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth and one could see the snowy mountains amidst a splendid garden-embedded with stupas and monasteries!

Orientation and Information

The main archeological sites are located in the Sacred Garden. The newer temples are located north of the Sacred Gardens and some of them are in the new Master Plan area and some aren’t.

There is a tourist information booth is near the parking area at the entrance of the Sacred Garden. They may be able to arrange a guide. One of the Lumbini Development archeologists can provide good information about the site.

You can change money at the Nepal Bank of Ceylon, in Buddha Nagar on the main road (Sunday to Thursday, 10 am to 2 pm, Friday, 10 am to noon).

History

It is believed that the Sacred Garden was made after the Buddha’s death and that there was at least one Buddhist monastery here when Emperor Ashoka visited. The Indian Emperor Ashoka came to Lumbini in 245 BC and erected one of his famous pillars here. In 636 Hsuan Tang and saw many run-down monasteries. In the 15th Muslim came to the area and most likely destroyed what remained of the monument here. After this time the site got covered over by jungle and was lost. In 1896 Palpa Shumsher Rana excavated the Ashoka pillar. Nothing really remains of the ruins of the past accept the pond where it is said Maya Devi bathed. There are some foundations of viharas and stupas near the pond.

Festivals

There is a Buddhist festival in April/May called Buddha Jayanti here to celebrate the appearance of the Buddha. At the same time there is a big Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Nepali month of Vaisakha (April/May), when Hindu come to worship Maya Devi as Rupa Devi, the goddess of Lumbini.

Best Place to See In Lumbini Nepal

The Ashokan Pillar
Discovered by the now famous German archaeolgist Dr. Fuhrer, the pillar is the first epigraphic evidence relating to the life history of Lord Buddha and is also the most visible landmark of the garden. The historic importance of the pillar is evidenced by the inscription engraved in the pillar (in Brahmi script).

It is said that the great Indian Emperor Ashok visited the site in the twentieth year of is ascendancy to the throne and as a homage to the birthplace,erected the pillar.

The inscriptions in the pillar roughly translates as: Kin Piyadesi beloved of th Gods, having been anointed 20 yeas, came himself and worshipped saying Here Buddha Shakyamuni was born: And he caused to make a stone (capital) representing a horse; and he caused (this) stone pillar to be erected. Because the worshipful one was born in the village of Lumbini has been made free of taxes and recipient of wealth"

Puskarni-the sacred pool
South of the Ashokan Pillar, there is the famous sacred pool- ‘Puskarni’ believed to be the same sacred pool in which Maya Devi took a holy dip just before giving birth to the Lord and also where infant Buddha was given his first purification bath. Architecturally the pool has the projecting terraces in descending order and is reverted with a fine brick masonry.

Sanctum-Sanctorum of the Birthplace
The single most important place of the Lumbini (and to the entire Buddhist world for that matter) is the stoneslab-located deep in the Sanctum sanctorum.Revealed after a hard and meticulous excavations under the three layers of ruins over the site of a famous Maya Devi temple, the stone slab foundation pinpoints the location of the original place-marking the exact spot of the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Maya Devi temple
Maya Devi temple
has been built in the memory of Gautam Buddha’s mother, Maya Devi. This has become one of the major Nepal Buddhist Tour Destination for the tourists from abroad. The splendid sculpture that has been engraved is Buddha standing upright on a lotus petal and his mother under the Sal tree. This temple is believed to have been built 2000 years back. This is indeed amazing that the temple has been excavated and has been restored for people to learn about the rich culture of Buddhism.

Getting there and around
Buses run regulary after every hour or so from morning six o' clock to afternoon five o' clock to Lumbini from Bhairawa, an industrial town situated 284 km to the southeast of Lumbini. They are crowded and slow: it almost takes an hour for the 22km trip.

You can hire a cab for the day for about US$15. The cost may sound little bit expensive, but it's worth spending if you are travelling in a small group. The other option is you can hire a three-wheeler tempo for about half the price. You can also take a 45-minute flight from Kathmandu to Gautam Buddha Airport at Bhairawa.
Buses from Bhairawa leave from near the main intersection, across the street from the Hotel Yeti.

Air The closest airport is at Bhairawa, from where there are flights to and from Kathmandu.

Depending on how long you want to stay in Lumbini, a bicycle or hiring a rickshaw would be nice to go around but not necessary (especially for the fact that one cannot find a bike for rent easily).

Where To Stay in Lumbini Nepal

Most people come just for a day trip and usually stay the night in Bhairawa or Sunauli 22 km away. It is possible to stay in the very basic facilities at some of the monasteries for a donation. Sometimes the bathrooms can be quite depressing. The Theravada monastery has a basic dharmshala. It may be possible to stay at the Tibetan Monastery, outside of the winter months. It may also be possible to stay at the Dae Sun Suk Gu Sa Monastery.

Lumbini Village Lodge, Lumbini Mehalbar, about 2 km east of main site, has simple rooms (a bit depressing) for Rs 200/300 appox. Basic meals are Rs 40 appox.

Sri Lankan Pilgrims Rest House about a half-hour walk (3km) from the Sacred Garden, is a large modern place that has clean rooms with common bath and hot water. Dorm beds are Rs 250 Appox. It has a restaurant.

Hotel Rainbow has air-cooled rooms for Rs 500/600 Appox. It is over-priced and is right on the highway so can be noisy.

Mikasa Hotel is a new place with good rooms.

Lumbini Buddha Hotel (email: asainadv@mos.com.np) is a mid-range place with hot water and air-cooled rooms. It has a restaurant. It is southwest of the Sacred Garden.

Lumbini Hokke Hotel (20236, 80236; fax: same), several km north of the main site, is a luxury hotel with rooms for $90/130. It is managed by Japanese and is used mainly by Japanese Buddhist pilgrims. Meals for non-guest are $12 or more. It has rooms with Japanese furniture. It is one of the best hotels in Nepal.

Hotel Lumbini Garden New Crystal is newly built. Pool, health club and meditation center.
The Lumbini Garden Restaurant, near the main parking lot (car park), is a decent place that has Indian and Western dishes. The is an eating place in the compound of the Theravada Monastery

Address of Hotels in Lumbini

Hotel Lumbini Garden
Buddhanagar, Mahilawar,
Lumbini, Nepal.
Tel: 977-71-580145/622155
Fax: 977-71-580045
Lumbini Hokke Hotel
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Hotel Nirvana (Lumbini, Nepal)
P.O. Box 24
Paklihawa Road, Siddhartha Nagar
Lumbini, Nepal
Phone:
(977)-71-520837
977)-71-520516
Fax: (977)-71-521262
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Buddha Maya Gardens Hotel
South Of Lumbini Garden, Lumbini, Nepal
+977 71 580 220
(The Buddha Maya Gardens Hotel, Lumbini is set in 4 acres of grounds. A 10 minutes walk away from the Mayadevi temple)
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Places around Lumbini
Kapilvastu
Located some 27 km. west of Lumbini lies the ruins of historic town of ‘Kapilvastu’. Believed to be the capital of Shakya republic where the Lord lived and enjoyed his life until his thirteeth year, Kapilvastu has been identified with. Tilaurakot by the archaelolotists. Also, the place is believed to have been associated with different important episodes: there are ruins and mounds of old stupas and monasteries made of kiln-burnt bricks and clay-mortar. The remains are surrounded by a moat and the wall of the city are made of bricks. In fact, the city of Kapilvastu are in such a grand scale that it could be easily be visualised as a seat of high culture.

Aroarakot
About 10 km northwest of Taulihawa there is a rectangular fortified area which is popularly known as Arourakot. The fortified area is identified by the famous Indian archaeologist P.C. Mukharji as the natal town of Kanakmuni Buddha. Remains of ancient moat and brick fortification around the Kot can still be clearly located. A brick lined well is seen to the south and elevated mound towards the northwest corner.

Gotihawa
About 5 km. southwest of Taulihawa, there is a village called Gotihawa. In the village there is an Ashokan Pillar standing in a slab. The upper portion of the pillar is broken and lost and only the lower portion of the pillar 3.5m. high is still intact. Adjoining the pillar towards its northeast there is a huge stupa with successive ring of wedge shaped Mauryan bricks.

Kudan
About 2 km. southwest of Taulihawa, on the left side of the Shoratgarh Taulihawa road stands the village Kudan having a huge structural ruin with a cluster of four mounds and a tank. The mounds were excavated in 1962.

Niglihawa
About 8 km, northwest of Taulihawa, there is another site of archaelogical importance. The site has quadrangular tank surrounded by bushes, locally known as Niglisagar. On the western Bank of the tank there are two broken pieces of the Ashokan pillar, the longer one laying flat and the shorter ones stack into the ground. The pillar bears 2 peacocks on the top part and a Devanagari script inscription reading Om mani Padme Hun Ripu mallasya Chiran Jayut 1234.’

The shorter portion of the pillar which is partly buried in the ground measures 1.52m in length bears four lines of Ashokan inscription in the Brahmi script which roughly translates as: "King Piyadasi Beloved of the gods, after 14 years of his coronation enlarged for the second time the stupa of Buddha kanaka Muni, and after 20 years of his coronat ion he came himself and worshipped (and ) he caused (this) stone pillar to be erected:"

Sagarhawa
About 12 km. north of Taulihawa, there is a forest area called Sagarhawa. In the midst of the forest there is a huge rectangular tank which is popularly known as Lumbusagar, or a long tank. The ancient tanks ruins which were excavated and indentified by Dr. Aslois A Fuhrer as the ‘Palace of massacre of the Shakyas’ in 1895 can still be located on the west south banks of the Sagar.

Lumbini Development Project
To develop "Lumbini" as a center of International Buddhist Culture and Learning a master plan development is underway. As suggested by Mr. U-Thant. The UN secretary a master plan was prepared by Mr. Kenzo T ange, the reputed Japanese architect. The salient features of the plan are

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Visit Swayambhunath Temple Kathmandu Nepal

2011-02-26T02:59:00.000-08:00

Swayambhunath (Devnagari: स्वयम्भूनाथ स्तुप; sometimes romanized Swoyambhunath) is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. The Tibetan name for the site means 'Sublime Trees' (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning 'self-sprung'.[1] For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice, Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it second only to Boudhanath.

The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose - but is the Nepali symbol of 'unity', in the main Nepali language dialect[citation needed]. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south leading to the southwest entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra. Tsultrim Allione describes the experience:

Mythology

According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning "Self-Created." The name comes from an eternal self-existent flame (svyaṃbhu) over which a sūpa was later built.

Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice had transformed into these monkeys.

The Bodhisatva Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that the valley can be good settlement and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, Manjushri cut a gorge at Chovar. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower become the Swayambhunath stupa.

History

Swayambhunath, is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. According to the Gopālarājavaṃśāvalī Swayambhunath was founded by the great-grandfather of King Mānadeva (464-505 CE), King Vṛsadeva, about the beginning of the 5th century CE. This seems to be confirmed by a damaged stone inscription found at the site, which indicates that King Mānadeva ordered work done in 640 CE.

However, Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited the site in the third century BCE and built a temple on the hill which was later destroyed.

Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous king Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.

The stupa was completely renovated in May of 2010, its first major renovation in 90 years and its 15th in the nearly 1,500 years since it was built. The dome was re-gilded using 20 kg of gold. The renovation was funded by the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center of California, and began in June 2008.

What to See

The primary approach to the temple is from the eastern side, where 365 ancient steps lead up the steep forested hillside. The base is about a 20-minute walk from the center of Kathmandu. This staircase is the only route pilgrims would consider and is the most memorable way for any visitor to experience the stupa. However, an alternative is to drive or take a taxi to the west side, where there are only a few steps to climb to the top.

At the bottom of the eastern stairway is a brightly painted gate containing a huge Tibetan prayer wheel nearly 12 feet tall. It takes two people to turn it and a bell sounds during each revolution. Around the gate are dozens more smaller wheels. Devotees spin prayer wheels to release prayers and mantras to heaven - visitors are welcomed to do so as well.

The staircase is presided over by three painted Buddha statues from the 17th century near the base (women perform prostrations before them in the early morning); another group further up are from the early 20th century.

Strewn along the staircase are numerous mani stones, inscribed with the Tibetan mantra Om mani padme hum ("Hail to the jewel in the lotus"). Merchants sell smaller versions of the stones to tourists. The stairs run through a beautiful forest, which is populated with the hundreds of monkeys that give the temple its nickname.

Main Stupa

The central buildings and decorations of Swayambhunath are rich with Buddhist symbolism. The whitewashed dome of the main stupa represents the womb of creation, with a phallic complement in the square tower. Rising from the tower is a spire made of 13 golden disks, representing the steps to enlightenment. The umbrella on top symbolizing enlightenment itself; some say it contains a bowl of precious stones.

The famous Buddha eyes gazing out sleepily from each side of the tower (oriented to the four cardinal directions) are those of the all-seeing Primordial Buddha. Between each of the pairs of eyes is a symbol that looks like a question mark - this is the Nepali number "1" and represents the unity of all things. Gold plaques rising above the eyes like a crown depict the Five Dhyani Buddhas, celestial buddhas who are associated with the five senses, the four cardinal directions plus the center, and many other symbolic groups of five.

The Five Dhyani Buddhas are further honored with special shrines at the base of the stupa. They face the four cardinal directions, plus one slightly left of east to represent the center direction. Between them are shrines to four of the Buddhas' consorts. Linking all nine shrines together is a chain of prayer wheels and butter lamps. The five main shrines are enclosed in beautiful gilded copper repoussé work, for which the Kathmandu Valley is renowned.

Filling the platform around the main stupa are numerous other shrines and votive structures, most of which have been donated by kings and lamas in the last four centuries. Five of them are associated with the five elements: earth, air, fire, water and sky.

Harati Devi Temple

Notable among these is the Harati Devi Temple, dedicated to the Hindu goddess of smallpox and other epidemics, as well as a protectress of children. The small brick pagoda is very popular among both Hindus and Buddhists, especially mothers seeking blessings for their children.

Petitioners toss flower petals, rice, colored powder and holy water over the Harati image, then receive a tika from the resident priest. Monkeys, stray dogs, and pigeons fight over the rice and the food offerings, contributing to the chaotic atmosphere. The image of the goddess dates only from the 19th century; it replaces the original that was smashed by King Rana Bahadur Shah after his wife died of smallpox.

Food offerings for Harati (typically stew, rice and bread) are cooked in a kitchen on the bottom floor of a gompa (monastery prayer room) on the west side of the complex. Visitors can climb stairs to the gompa roof, which is level with the Buddha eyes. From here there are fine views over the stupa and Kathmandu valley.

Shantipur
Northwest of the main stupa is another important shrine, associated with a fascinating legend. Shantipur is a small, plain, box-shaped temple said to contain a great treasure - a living holy man who has been meditating in there for 1500 years. Legend has it that Shanti Shri, who lived in the 5th century, locked himself in a vault beneath the temple, vowing to remain there until the Kathmandu Valley needed him. Entering a mystic state, he has achieved immortality and remains there to help the local people when needed.

In 1658, King Pratap Mella descended into the chamber alone to seek Shanti Shri's help with a drought. The king reported making his way through several underground rooms, each more frightening than the last. The first contained large bats and hawks, the second was home to hungry ghosts that clutched at him in agony, and the third was full of snakes that chased him until he pacified them with milk. The king found the saint in the last room, skinny as a skeleton but still alive and meditating. Shanti Shri presented the king with a mandala, which brought the needed rain.

The outer sanctum of the rather ominous temple can be visited. It is decorated with faded frescoes from the Swayambhu Purana, a 17th-century scripture that recounts the creation myths of the Kathmandu Valley. Shantipur is also called Akashpur (Sky Place) and it represents the fifth element.

Other Shrines
The two bullet-shape temples (shikra) on each side of the stupa, known as Pratappur and Anantapur, were given by King Pratap Malla to help him earn a victory over

Tibet in the 17th century. The story of his success is inscribed on the twin bells in front.

At the northeast corner of the complex is the Shree Karma Raj Mahavihar, an active Tibetan monastery with a big Buddha statue and yak butter candles lit by pilgrims. The resident monks chant around 3 or 4pm daily. The northwest corner is home to Agnipur, a neglected shrine to the ancient Hindu fire god Agni, who relays burnt offerings to heaven. Between these two, north of the main stupa, is Nagpur, a small tank with a snake idol at the bottom. This helps appease the valley's notorious snake spirits.

At the top of the eastern steps is a great bronze vajra (thunderbolt), a Tantric symbol of power, decorated with the signs of the Tibetan zodiac.

When to Go
The weather is most pleasant in Kathmandu in spring and fall. Swayambhunath is most atmospheric in the morning (before 9am), when it hosts more pilgrims than tourists. If possible, visit on a Saturday, the only day Nepalis have off from work. This is the primary day of activity around the Harati and other shrines.

Festivals and Events
The two main festivals celebrated at Swayambhunath are Buddha Jayanti (in April or May) and Losar (in February or March). During these times, many pilgrims visit the temple and the monks create a lotus pattern on the stupa with saffron-colored paint. Also important is the month-long Gunla celebration (August or September) marking the end of the rainy season.

View the More Pictures of Swayambhunath Temple Kathmandu Nepal Click Here

Visit Sagarmatha National Park Nepal

2011-02-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Sagarmatha National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal containing the southern half of Mount Everest. The park was created on July 19, 1976 and was inscribed as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1979. Sagarmāthā is a Sanskrit word, from sagar = "sky" (not to be confused with "sea/ocean") and māthā = "forehead" or "head", and is the modern Nepali name for Mount Everest.

The park encompasses an area of 1,148 km2 in the Solukhumbu District and ranges in elevation from 2,845 metres (9,334 ft) at Jorsalle to 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) at the summit of Mount Everest.[1] Barren land above 5,000 m (16,400 ft) comprises 69% of the park while 28% is grazing land and the remaining 3% is forested. Most of the park area is very rugged and steep, with its terrain cut by deep rivers and glaciers. Unlike other parks, this park can be divided into four climate zones because of the rising altitude. The climatic zones include a forested lower zone, a zone of alpine scrub, the upper alpine zone which includes upper limit of vegetation growth, and the Arctic zone where no plants can grow. The types of plants and animals that are found in the park depend on the altitude. The park contains the upper watershed of the Dudh Kosi river basin system.

The park's visitor centre is located at the top of a hill in Namche Bazaar, also where a company of the Nepal Army is stationed for protecting the park. The park's southern entrance is a few hundred metres north of Monzo at 2,835 m (9,300 ft), a one day hike from Lukla.

Geology:
According to the continental-drift theory, the Himalaya were uplifted at the end of the Mesozoic Era, some 60 millions years ago. The resulting young mountains of this region are still rising and the net growth is a few centimeters per century.

Flora and fauna

In the lower forested zone, birch, juniper, blue pines, firs, bamboo and rhododendron grow. Above this zone all vegetation are found to be dwarf or shrubs. As the altitude increases, plant life is restricted to lichens and mosses. Plants cease to grow at about 5,750 metres (18,860 ft), because this is the permanent snow line in the Himalayas.

Forests of pine and hemlock cover the lower elevations of the national park. At elevations of around 3.500 meters and above, forests of silver fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees are found. The forests provide habitat to at least 118 species of birds, including Himalayan Monal, Blood pheasant, Red-billed chough, and yellow-billed chough. Sagarmāthā National Park is also home to a number of rare mammal species, including musk deer, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear and red panda. Himalayan thars, langur monkeys, martens and Himalayan wolves are also found in the park.

The partial pressure of oxygen falls with altitude. Therefore, the animals that are found here are adapted to living on less oxygen and cold temperatures. They have thick coats to retain body heat. Some of them have shortened limbs to prevent loss of body heat. The Himalayan bears go into hibernation in caves during the winter when there is no food available.

The famed bloom of rhododendrons occurs during the spring (April and May) although much of the. flora is most colorful during the monsoon season (June to August). The wild animals most likely to be seen in the park are the Himalayan tahr, goral, serow, musk deer and Himalayan black bear. Other mammals are weasels, martens. Himalayan mouse hare (Pika), jackals and langur.

The park provides a habit for at least 118 species of birds. The most common birds to be seen are the Impeyen pheasant (the national bird of Nepal), blood pheasant, cheer pheasant, jungle crow, red billed and yellow billed coughs and snow pigeon. Fairly common birds are the Himalayan griffon, lammergier, snow partridge, skylark and many others.

Seasons:
The summer climate is cool and wet and winter is cold and dry. Almost all of the annual precipitation, averaging less than 1000 mm, falls during the summer monsoon, from end of May to September. Climatically, the best time to visit the park is between October and May, except for December to February when, daytime temperatures often drop below 0 C and there is heavy snowfall.

Local Inhabitants:
The park is populated by approximately 3000 of the famed Sherpa people, originating from Tibet in the late 15th or early 16th century A.D. Their lives are interwoven with the teaching of Buddhism. The main settlements are Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Khunde, Thame, Thyangboche, Pangboche and Phortse. There are also temporary settlements in the upper valleys where the Sherpas graze their livestock during the summer season.

The economy of the Khumbu Sherpa community has traditionally been agriculture, livestock herding and trade with Tibet. With the coming of international mountaineering expeditions in the 1950s, the region also attracted larger numbers of foreign trekkers. Today the Sherpa economy is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism.

How to Get There:

Fly in and out of Lukla, followed by 15 days walk.
Bus to Jiri and trek for 21 days, flying back to Kathmandu from Lukla.
Fly in and out of Phaplu and trek for 16 days.
Fly in to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu and a 10 day walk to the park.

Namche Bazaar

Important Points:
There are trekker lodges with food available in places like Namche Bazaar, Thyangboche, Pheriche and Lobuche and along most of the main trekking routes the small villages have basic accomodation.

There is the Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) at Pheriche which has medical facilities and also accepts credit card as payment.

The National Park ranges from 3000 m to 8000 m and above in altitude. Visitors need to be careful and aware of High Altitude sickness (HAS). Do not climb to fast or too high in one day, no more than 400 m in a day. Signs of HAS include: headache, difficulty in sleeping, breathlessness, loss of appetite, nauseousness and general tiredness.

A few water-based attractions besides the snow covered peaks of the Sagarmatha National Park are its rivers and glaciers. This is one area where the glacial and snowmelt water along with rain combine to create some of Nepal's gushing rivers like the Dudh Kosi, Bhote Kosi, and the Imja. Some of the prominent glaciers of the area include the Khumbu, Imha, Nangpa and Lhotse. (For more info about Nepal's rivers, see the river rafting & kayaking page.)

The two most popular destination towns to fly into, in order to start travel through the park are Lukla and the highest airstrip in the world at Syanboche. There are regular flights from Kathmandu to Lukla. If you prefer to do more trekking to reach the park and less flying, there are alternative ways of reaching the park. One way is to fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and walk 10 days, or fly to Phaplu and trek for 5 days. Taking a bus to Jiri is also followed by a 10 day walk to get into the park.

Most of the park is explored by foot and some of the more popular places to check out are Chukung Valley, Thame Valley, Kala Patthar Base Camp (also known as Everest Base Camp), Lobuche, and Gokyo Valley.

Best Times for travel to the Sagarmatha National Park

The best times for travel to the Sagarmatha (Everest) park are March through May or October through November. Although these times are the warmer and clearer days of the year, the nights can still drop below 0 at higher elevations. If you are camping you should be well equipped and stocked with food, fuel and any other supplies.

Entry Fees into Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park:
At Monjo there is the Sagarmatha National Park enterance station where you will have to show your passport and pay a National Park fee.

National Park fee per person per entry:

For Nepali Nationals Free
For SAARC Nationals Rs 100
For Foreign Nationals Rs1000
Children under 10 years Free

Prohibited in the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park

Motor bikes and mountain bikes are prohibited in the park as well as beer bottles and other glass bottles. You should either bury any trash or dispose of it in designated refuse pits. Using firewood is prohibited, locals and visitors are required to buy kerosene for an alternative form of energy. Dole, Pheriche, and Syangboche are all designated places to buy this fuel.

For those wishing to travel by climbing any peaks below 6000 meters will have to buy a permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association. For those wishing to travel the peaks over 6000 meters, you will have to get permission from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation.

Travelers should always be aware of their body and any signs of high altitude sickness because it can be dangerous or even fatal, especially since the elevation changes are so great in this region. If climbing over 3000 meters, doctors do not advise ascending more than 400 meters a day. If you do get ill and need medical attention while in the park, there is the Pheriche Aid Post (which also has a communication center) and the Kunde Hospital, they also offer medical tips to travelers and locals.

More Pictures

The excited trekkers quickly exited the plane and were encouraged to leave quickly by the whistle-blowing policemen. A few minutes later the weary but happy trekkers who had finished their trek jumped into the airplane and off they went back to Kathmandu. Nupla is in the background. The airport in Lukla was renamed in 2008 to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport. The bituman runway is 527m long, the width is 20m, and the runway incline is almost 20%.

Lukla To Namche Bazaar 05 Planes Land Uphill At Tenzing Hillary Airstrip In Lukla

Lukla To Namche Bazaar 06 Plane Ready To Descend Lukla Airstrip With Karyolung, Lukla, And Nupla

Lukla To Namche Bazaar 18 Monjo

Lukla To Namche Bazaar 19 Monjo Entrance To Sagarmatha National Park, Kani Paintings Of Vajrapani, Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri,

Visit Palpa Nepal - Tansen Nepal

2011-02-19T00:23:00.000-08:00

Palpa District, a part of Lumbini Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Tansen as its headquarters, covers an area of 1,373 km² and has a population (2001) of 268,558.

Palpa is not really a tourist destination, and compared to other cities, it's one of Nepal's less visited places. Other destinations in the area such as Pokhara, Kathmandu, and Bhaktapur but palpa may be more interesting to visit.

Before Nepal was united, Tansen was the capital of the Palpa kingdom ruled by the Sen Dynasty. The history of Tansen dates back to the 16th century. Prithvi Narayan Shah, who united Nepal, mother was from the Sen Family. For years the Gorkha and Palpa kingdoms were in alliance and combined they took control of western Nepal. In 1806, Prithivipal Sen, the last king of Palpa, was asked to come to Kathmandu and he was beheaded. Palpa became parted of the Kathmandu kingdom and Tansen became the administrative city for the area. Members of the Shah and Rana family have ruled the region, often after being exiled from Kathmandu trying to overthrow the king of the time.

Go to Palpa (Tansen)

Tansen is between Pokhara (5 hr, 110km) and Sunauli/Bhairawa (2 hr, 55 km), just off the Siddhartha Highway, and is a pleasant place to stop on the way between the two places. It is the administrative center for the area.

Best Places to visit in Palpa

Tansen Bazar

The township of Tansen is among a few towns outside the capital which bears a rich legacy of the traditional art and architecture. Perched on the lap of the spectacular Srinagar Danda (hill) Tansen, commands a gorgeous panorama of the Himalayas as well as the plains of Terai. Located at an elevation of 1310 meters Tansen is a pleasant place to visit during any season of the year. The hill of Srinagar, half an hour’s walk up Tansen Bazaar at an elevation of 1524 m. is rare vantage point to view the contrasting manifestation of nature. An Incredibly Long panorama of the mountains encompassing Kanjiroba, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Langtang Himal at a stretch is visible from here on one hand, while on the other the plains of Madi valley and the bigger terai also comes to distinct view from the same point. Tansen is a good put off point for short as well as long treks. You can visit some of the beautiful points on the Kali Gandaki river such as Ranighat Palace and Ramdi Ghat the dense and serene woody slopes of Rambhapani and Satyawati lake.For longer treks you can choose any area in Annapurna-Dhaulagiri region such as Dhorpatan, Jomsom, Ghorepani or Annapurna Sanctuary. Tansen also provides opportunity for study of Buddhist culture and the life and culture of Magar tribes.

Siddha Baba Temple

The Siddha Baba Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a pilgrimage site for many Hindu devotees. The temple is found on the hills that border Butwal & Palpa. It is said that Siddha Baba will grant the wishes of the devotees who visit the temple. Every time a person's wish is granted, that person will release a pigeon at the temple. Interestingly, there is a large number of pigeons found around the temple.

In visiting the Siddha Baba Temple, it would be best to avoid going here on Saturdays if you want to avoid a large crowd. Saturday is the weekly holiday in Nepal, hence a large number of local devotees come here during that day.

Ranighat

Palpa Ranighat: Visit the ancient building (palace) set on a massive rock bed at the bank of the Kali Gandaki river for viewing palace garden, stone walls, and a small shrine. This palace was built in 1892 by Governor Khadka Shamser in memory of his wife Tej Kumari, and is often called the Taj Mahal of Nepal.

Amar Narayan Temple
This temple is a traditional three-tiered pagoda-style temple built in 1806. It has well carved doors and has some intricate woodwork. It has erotic figures on the roof struts. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful temples outside of Kathmandu Valley. The temple was built by Amar Singh Thapa, who annexed Tansen to become part of Nepal.

Shreenagar Hill:

One of the most picturesque spots in the whole Palpa region, Shreenagar hill abounds in scenic grander and magnificent natural surroundings. A mere 30 minutes climb on foot or 10 minutes drive from the town of Tansen, One would reach the top of the hill which commands a unique spectrum of natural extravaganza-from the snowcapped Himalayan peaks in the north to the lush green wide expanse of plains of Terai in the south, and of course, the panoramic view of the Tansen town. The impressive meadow on the hill top is an ideal spot to view the breathtaking scenes of majestic Dhaulagiri, annapurna and the famed twin peaks of Machhapuchare-the fishtail mountain. also, many beautiful short walks and excursions may be enjoyed from this point. To the comfort of the visitors, there are newly built facilities like cottages and camping sites on the top of the hill. An added attraction is a recently built ‘Twa-dewa’, a huge Newari style bronze lamp stand.

Ramdi
A half-day walk through fertile landscape shaped by teRamdi-Riverrraced rice fields lead to Ramdi at the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. Ramdi is a ‘Ghat’ (cremation place) where people bring their deceased relatives for their final rites. Besides this, Ramdi is famous for its cave temples, where the farmers from surrounding villages offer milk to protect their cattle from leopards and jackals.

Tansen Durbar
Built in 1927 AD by Pratap Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the Durbar is a grand imposing palace in the heart of the town. Once it was the seat of the Rana governors, the Durbar is now the district secretariat of Palpa district.

Where Stay?
Mostly best Hotels is found in Tansen. There are some undesirable, basic hotels near the bus station for around Rs 100. Hotel The Bajra (20443), a little up the hill, has clean rooms with common bath for Rs 100/150 and with bath and hot water for Rs 250/350.

Hotel Gautam Siddhartha (20280), up the hill, has basic, quiet, clean rooms for Rs 160.
Hotel Srinagar (20045; fax 20467), on the ridge above town 2km away, is a comfortable place that has rooms for $30/40. It is well located and has great views. It is best to call in advance to make sure that have a room available. It is used mainly by tour groups. It is a good way above the town, and you can call and have them pick you up.

Hotel the White Lake (20503, 20291), up the hill, has comfortable rooms for Rs 400/600. It has good views and is a good value.

Where to Eat

Nanglo is one of the popular restuarnt in Tansen. It is situated in the middle of the Bazaar.We can get all the Nepali as well as Western foods over here.The resturant is decorated in a ancient way considering all the Nepali culture and traditions.The people of the town usually go there to have a family gatherings and also for lots of special celebrations.

Nanglo West, a branch of a Kathmandu-based restaurant, has a pleasant indoor and outdoor seating area. It serves really good Nepali and Newar food, and decent Western food.

Doko Restaurant has Tibetan and Newari food.

Hotel Srinagar has a good restaurant.

Travel

There are many buses to Butwal (Rs 25) and to Sunauli/Bhairawa (Rs 44). There is one government Sajha Yatayat bus daily to Kathmandu (Rs 140). There is one bus to Pokhara (Rs 95) and others coming from Butwal. There is a bus to Kakarbhitta. To go to other place in the Terai, you change buses at Butwal.

You can also take one of the more comfortable and faster semi-tourist buses that go between Pokhara and Sonauli. These buses run along the Siddhartha Highway, so you have to get off at Bartun, which is the village three km from Tansen at the road that turns off to Tansen. From there you can either get a bus to Tansen or you can walk up the steep 1km short-cut that begins north of the intersection.

The highway running north–south has some great views, so you may want to ride on the roof. If you are coming here from Pokhara for the best views sit on the right side of the bus.

There are no rickshaws or taxis in Tansen. The better hotels can usually arrange a vehicle or a motorcycle hire. You can rent a bicycle at some guest houses.

Must Visit Palpa Nepal

World’s best festivals: Bisket Jatra - Bhaktapur, Nepal

2011-01-18T00:45:00.000-08:00

Bisket Jatra is one of the most colorful and boisterous celebration in Bhaktapur.In Thimi, the local crowd celebrate it by carrying the palanquins of Hindu deities across the town square. People smear and throw vermilion , as they carry the palanquin of the deities. Yomaris(Newari rice cake prepared especially during New Year) are thrown from homes towards the Balkumari temple, while the boisterous crowd tries to catch it.According to a local belief, a son will be born to anyone who catches a yomari!

Offerings for the deity

Nepal has its official calendar that begins from the first day of the first month Baisakh. This very first day is observed as Nepali New Year which usually falls in the second week of April. People go for picnics, have get- togethers and celebrate the day socializing in various ways as this day is also a national holiday. The Bisket Jatra Festival of Bhaktapur coincides with Nepali New Year. There is a legend that every man who married the Bhasktapur -

Vermilion on the palanquin of the deity

Princess died the honey-moon night. So, one brave prince stayed a wake the night to see that two serpents came out of the two nostrils of the princess when she was asleep. The prince quickly took out his sword and chopped the serpents head off the body. The next day morning, the serpents were displayed in a pole and the Bhaktapur amidst the celebration which continues till today in the form of Bisket Jatra Festival. Still the symbolic pole is erected in Taumadhi Tole of Bhaktapur during this festival. After two days of the erection of the pole, images of Lord Bhairab and his female counterpart Bhadra are enshrined in two large chariots and pulled through crowds of cheering onlookers. When the chariot reaches a sloping open square, there is a tug-of-war between the inhabitants of the upper and lower parts of the town. Winners are considered to be blessed with good fortune for the coming year. The festival concludes with several days of dancing and worship. Thimi, another ancient town of the Valley, also celebrates the New Year with special festivities.

Crowds gather to witness the jatra

Bisket Jatra heralds the start of the Nepali New Year and is celebrated with the most aplomb in Bhaktapur. In one of the most exciting annual events in the Kathmandu valley, a huge and ponderous chariot carrying images of the god Bhairab is hauled by dozens of villagers to Khalna Tole. The creaking and swaying chariot lumbers around town, pausing for a huge tug of war between the eastern and western sides of town. After the battle the chariots head to Khalna Tole, where a huge 25m-high lingam (phallic symbol) is erected in the stone yoni (female genital symbol) base.

In the evening of the following day (New Year’s Day), the pole is pulled down, again in an often-violent tug-of-war. As the pole crashes to the ground, the New Year offi cially commences. Variations on the Bisket Jatra theme can also be seen in the villages of Timi and Bode. In the former there’s a parade of images of the gods, with villagers throwing red powder over them. In the latter, there’s a tonguepiercing ceremony, with one villager spending the day with an iron spike piercing his tongue.

Pashupatinath Temple - Visit Pashupatinath Temple Kathmandu Nepal

2010-12-30T01:50:00.000-08:00

PashuPatiNath Temple is one of the biggest Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The temple served as the seat of the national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, until Nepal was secularized. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises. Anyone not born in Nepal or India is considered a non-Hindu by the temple authorities. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river.

It is regarded as the most sacred among the temples of Lord Shiva (Pashupati).

Legend

Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda, one day Lord Shiva grew tired of his palace atop Mt. Kailash and so went in search of a place where he could escape to. He discovered Kathmandu Valley and, without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in the Valley. He gained great fame there as Pashupati, Lord of the Animals, before the other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. He disguised himself as a majestic deer and would not help the other gods when they asked for his help. When Shiva did not yield to their pleas, they planned to use force. God Vishnu grabbed him by his horns and they shattered into pieces. Vishnu established a temple and used the broken horns to form a linga on the bank of the Bagmati River. As time went by, the temple was buried and forgotten. Then a cow was known to have secretly sprinkled her milk over the mound. Apparently, when the cow herders dug around the spot, they found the lost lingas and again built a temple in revrence.

Pashupatinath Temple Panorama of the Pashupatinath Temple from the other bank of Bagmati river, Kathmandu, Nepal.

History

The temple was first established in the 17th century. The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Bhat-Brahmins from South India (Karnataka) origin since last 350 years. Only the priests from Shimoga District - Karnataka are selected as priests. The priests of Pashaputinath are called Bhattas and the chief priest is called Mool Bhatt or Raval. The chief priest is answerable only to the King of Nepal and reports to him on temple matters on a periodic basis.

This tradition is supposed to have started by the request of Adi Shankaracharya who sought to unify the different states of Bharatam (Unified India) by encouraging cultural exchange. The unique feature of this temple is that only 4 priests can touch the idol. This tradition is supposed to have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 17th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which was prevalent in that temple. This procedure is also followed in other temples around India which were sanctified by Adi Shankaracharya. Malla kings honoured the request of Adi shankarachaya as latter being one of the greatest ever Hindu acharyas.

However,this tradition was recently changed after the historic revolution in Nepal which demolished the monarchy and established democracy where Nepalese priests supported by the anti- Indian Maoists government.There was widespread protests by most Nepalese as they saw this as an intereference in their religion.

Festivals at Pashupati Temple
Pashupati area is regarded as one of the most important places of pilgrimages for the followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees from within and outside the country come to pay homage to Pashupatinath every day. And on special occasions like Ekadasi, Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), Poornima (Full moon day) the whole atmosphere turns festive and mirthful as people congregate here in a far greater number.

During the Shivaratri (also spelled Shivratri) festival Pashupatinath temple is lit with ghee lamps throughout the night and the temple remains open all night. Thousands of devotees take ritual baths in the Bagmati river on the day of the festival and observe a fast for the whole day. Hundreds of sadhus (sages) from different parts of Nepal and India come here on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.

Auspicious Days to Visit
In August, during the Teej festival, thousands of women visit the temple to bathe in the holy waters of the Bagmati River. Because this ritual is meant to bring a long and happy marriage, many women dress in red saris, which are traditionally worn for wedding ceremonies. Full moon and New moon days are also considered auspicious to visit the temple.

What to See

Pashupati Temple stands in the center of the town of Deopatan, in the middle of an open courtyard. It is a square, two-tiered pagoda temple built on a single-tier plinth, and it stands 23.6 meters above the ground. Richly ornamented gilt and silver-plated doors are on all sides.

On both sides of each door are niches of various sizes containing gold-painted images of guardian deities. Inside the temple itself is a narrow ambulatory around the sanctum. The sanctum contains a one-meter high linga with four faces (chaturmukha) representing Pashupati, as well as images of Vishnu, Surya, Devi and Ganesh.

The priests of Pashaputinath are called Bhattas and the chief priest is called Mool Bhatt or Raval. The chief priest is answerable only to the King of Nepal and reports to him on temple matters on a periodic basis.

The struts under the roofs, dating from the late 17th century, are decorated with wood carvings of members of Shiva's family such as Parvati, Ganesh, Kumar or the Yoginis, as well as Hanuman, Rama, Sita, Lakshman and other gods and goddesses from the Ramayana.

Pashaputi Temple's extensive grounds include many other old and important temples, shrines and statues. South of the temple, for instance, is Chadeshvar, an inscribed Licchavi linga from the 7th century, and north of the temple is a 9th-century temple of Brahma. On the south side of Pashupati temple is the Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are taken, and pillars with statues of various Shah kings.

In the northeast corner of the temple courtyard is the small pagoda temple of Vasuki, the King of the Nagas. Vasuki has the form of a Naga (mythical snake) from the waist upwards, while the lower parts are an intricate tangle of snakes' bodies. According to local belief, Vasuki took up residence here in order to protect Pashupati. One can often see devotees circumambulating and worshipping Vasuki before entering the main sanctum.

The Bagmati River, which runs next to Pashaputinath Temple, has highly sacred properties. Thus the banks are lined with many ghats (bathing spots) for use by pilgrims. Renovating or furnishing these sites has always been regarded as meritorious.

Arya Ghat, dating from the early 1900s, is of special importance because it is the only place where lustral water for Pashupatinath Temple can be obtained and it is where members of the royal family are cremated. The main cremation site is Bhasmeshvar Ghat, which is the most-used cremation site in the Kathmandu Valley. The preferred bathing spot for women is the Gauri Ghat, to the north.

Royal Funerals After Palace Massacre in Nepal

Queen Aishwarya funeral pyre
June 2, 2001 at the
Pashupati Nath Arya Ghat

The body of Queen Aishwarya of Nepal is carried to her funeral pyre June 2, 2001 at the Pashupati Nath Arya Ghat complex in Kathmandu, Nepal. Several royal funeral ceremonies were carried out in the evening, one day after the Nepal''s king and queen, along with other members of the royal family and servants were shot and killed in their palace. According to Hindu tradition, the dead are to be cremated before sundown of the day following their death.

Below is the best places to see

» Gold-painted images of guardian deities
» Chaturmukha (four-faced statue)
» Chadeshvar, an inscribed Licchavi linga from the 7th century
» Brahma Temple
» Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are taken
» Arya Ghat
» Gauri Ghat (holy bath)
» Pandra Shivalaya (15 shrines)
» Gorakhnath and Vishwarup Temples
» Guhyeshwari (Guhjeshwari) Temple
» Kirateshwar Mahadeva Mandir and Surya Ghat

How to Reach

There are regular bus services from Kathmandu (from Ratna Park or City Bus Station) to Patan,. It takes approximately 45 minutes to reach Goshala, the stop for Pashupatinath.

Battery-operated Safaa tempos depart from near the Ratna Park office in Kathmandu and drops the pilgrims at Ring Road, west of Pashupatinath. Thereafter, a tempo going to Chabahil or Bodhnath can be hired.

Visit NagarKot Nepal - Holidays, Tours & Tourism Nepal

2010-12-18T04:41:00.000-08:00

Nagarkot is a village and Village Development Committee located 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3504 and had 655 houses in it. At an elevation of 2,195 meters, it is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur District. It is renowned for its sunrise view of the Himalaya including Mount Everest as well as other snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and sunset views. We can see the panoramic views of the captivating landscapes and hills with the Kathmandu valley. You can breathe the cool mountain breeze in the resort town of Nagarkot. There are resorts from top-end quality to decent lodges to accommodate you and serves different cuisines.

Get in

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Buses

It is best to travel by private-hire cars and taxis to Nagarkot. Tourist shuttle buses also operate. From the international airport, it should take about 40 mins and from the city center, about an hour. A scenic drive via the ancient city of Bhaktapur and tiny villages along meandering mountain roads is a journey by itself, before arriving at Nagarkot.

See in Nagarkot

Nagarkot is surrounded by thickly forested hills of pine trees which give you an idyllic escape- with only the wind and the sound of rustling leaves to disturb you.

It is a rustic resort high on the northern fringe of the kathmandu valley. It is an outstanding hilltop that offers great views of Himalayas, breathtaking mountain scenery and the most impressive views of sunrise and sunset.

From Nagarkot, one see the breathtaking views of the major himalayan peaks of Nepal like Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, dorje Lakpa, sisa pagma, Choyu, Gauri Shankar, etc. On a clear crystal day, one can even see the tip of Mt. Everest (8848 m) from here. Many tourists go to Nagarkot at afternoon, stay at one of the resorts to view early morning sunrise over the mountains.

5 good reasons to visit Nagarkot

1) For those longing for some really refreshing environment to be free from hectic busy schedules in the crowded Kathmandu.Nagarkot provides a scenic beauty and divine peace far from heat, dust, smoke and city’s hustle bustle.

2) Nagarkot is the nearest point from the Kathmandu valley from where on a clear day, the view of Mount Everest can be seen.

3) Nagarkot is ideal hilltop venue to acclimatize for high altitude adventures as it is located at 7200 ft above sea level.

4) It is the transit point for Helambu and Lang-tang trekking.

5) Nagarkot is also a good point for mini-trekking. There are several treks possible to and from Nagarkot such as sankhu, changu Narayan, Dhulikhel, Sundarijal, Nala, etc.

Plenty of resorts can be seen in Nagarkot, offering full board and accommodation. Situated just below the peak, many tourists stay here and trek to the hill top to watch the sunrise. It is considered the best time to view the mountain ranges because it is when the skies are clear.

Visit Nepal - Cheap Tour & Travel at Nepal

2010-09-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Nepal! The biggest natural museum in the world. Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and latitudinal variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 600 m above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 m, all within a distance of 150 km with climatic conditions ranging from subtropical to arctic. This wild variation fosters an incredible variety of ecosystems, the greatest mountian range on earth, thick tropical jungles teeming with a wealth of wildlife, thundering rivers, forested hills and frozen valleys.

Within this spectacular geography is also one of the richest cultural landscapes anywhere. The country is a potpourri of ethnic groups and sub-groups who speak over 70 languages and dialects. Nepal offers an astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions and adventure sport, Travel & Tours opportunities found nowhere else on earth. And you can join in the numerous annual festivals that are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style highlighting enduring customs and beliefs.

Kathmandu - City of Hills

The valley is situated at an altitude of 1,336 m above sea level and covers an area of 218.sq. miles. The rich tapestry of the cultural heritage of Nepal is synthesized in the Kathmandu Valley, the home of the ancient and sophisticated Newari culture. The Newars are the indigenous inhabitants of the valley and the creators of the splendid civilization of its three cities - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The skillfully built temples and palaces, delicately engraved stone and metal images, carved wooden columns and pillars, and the history laden shrines and chaityas of these three historical cities stand testimony to the Newars's artistic achievements.

Machchendranath Temple:-

The temple of Sweta Machchhendranath is situated at Machchhendrea Bahal between Indra Chowk and Asan Nepal. It is a pagoda of considerable artistic beauty. The deity is also called Jammadyo or Machchhendra.

Akash Bhairav Temple:-

A three-story temple in the main market avenue, called Indra Chowk, the image of Akash Bhairav is displayed outside for a week during Indra Jatra, the festival of Indra, the God of Rain.

Hanumandhoka (Kathmandu Durbar Square) :-

It is the historic of royalty. The Durbar Square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Interesting things to see here are: Taleju Temple built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549 AD, the temple of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction, Nautalle Durbar, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue of King Pratap Malla, the Big Drum and the Jagnnath Temple. It was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Monument List in 1979. The name of the palace 'Hanumadhoka' is actually two words. 'Hanuman' (the monkey god) and 'dhoka' (door). The palace was named so becuase of the statue of Hanuman outside its main entrance; the red statue at the right side of this picture frame.

There are also the Numismatic Museum and Tribhuvan Museum inside the Hanuman Dhoka Palace building. Photography is prohibited inside the museums. Both the museums remain closed on Sundays, Mondays and government holidays.

Temple of Kumari (Kumari Ghar) :-

Kumari (Vestal Virgin), or the living Goddess, who represents a very ancient Hindu deity of Nepal locally known as Teleju, is Buddhist by birth. The temple of kumari is situated in the vicinity of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building has instricately carved wooden balconies and window screens. The Kumari acknowledges greetings from her balcony window. Once a year, during Indra Jatra festival, the King of Nepal seeks the Kumari's blessing.

Kasthamandap:-

Located near the temple of Kumari, it is said to have been built by King Laxmi Narsingha Malla in the beginning of the sixteenth century. It is said to be constructed from the wood of a single tree. The city of Kathmandu derives its name from this temple.

Ashok Vinayak:-

The small but very important temple of Ashok Vinayak is situated behind the Kashtamandap. It is also known as Kathmandu Ganesh or Maru Ganesh.

Jaishi Dewal:-

A five-minute walk from Kasthmandap is the Shiva Temple of Jaishi Dewal which is famous for its erotic carvings. It is still one of the main routes of the chariot festival of Indra Jatra and other festivals.

Tundikhel:-

A huge green field known as Tundikhel flanks one entire side of the old city. Some of the important landmarks of the Kathmandu valley are located in the periphery of the Kathmandu valley are located in the periphery of this area. At the south-western end of Tundikhel is a 59.29m. tower built by Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa in 1832 A. D. known as Dharahara or Bhimsen Stambha. The sundhara fountains with golden water spouts, situated at the foot of this great tower, also belong to the same period.

Pashupatinath Temple:-
Situated 5km east of Kathmandu, the temple of Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath, with two tiered golden roof and silver door is considered one of the holiest shrines for Hindus. Although only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed in the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati river. The temple was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Monument List in 1979.

National Park Tour

Chitwan is one of the finest national Parks in Asia, renowned for its dense concentration of wildlife and top class tourist lodges, which provides the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat. Chitwan which means the heart of the jungle is among the last surviving examples of the continuous band of forests and grasslands which once extended from the Indus river in Pakistan to the Burmese border.

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your family vacation in Neapl. Find a variety of vacation packages in Nepal at Unique Nepal Adventures.

Chitwan National Park Nepal | Visit Chitwan National Park Nepal

2010-08-16T04:03:00.000-07:00

Chitwan National Park Nepal

Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal. Formerly called Royal Chitwan National Park it was established in 1973 and granted the status of a World Heritage Site in 1984. It covers an area of 932 km2 and is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal in the Chitwan district. In altitude it ranges from about 100 meters (330 ft) in the river valleys to 815 meters (2,674 ft) in the Churia Hills.

In the north and west of the protected area the Narayani-Rapti river system forms a natural boundary to human settlements. Adjacent to the east of Chitwan National Park is Parsa Wildlife Reserve, contiguous in the south is the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park. The coherent protected area of 2,075 km2 represents the Tiger Conservation Unit (TCU) Chitwan-Parsa-Valmiki, which covers a 3.549 km2 huge block of alluvial grasslands and subtropical moist deciduous forests.

History - Chitwan National Park Nepal

Since the end of the 19th century Chitwan - Heart of the Jungle – used to be a favorite hunting ground for Nepal’s ruling class during the winter seasons. Until the 1950s the journey from Kathmandu to Nepal South was arduous as the area could only be reached by foot. Thus, in an area known as Four Mile Forest comfortable camps were set up for the feudal big game hunters and their entourage, where they stayed for a couple of months shooting hundreds of tigers, rhinocerosses, leopards and sloth bears.

In 1950 Chitwan’s forest and grasslands extended over more than 2,600 km2 and was home to about 800 rhinos. When poor farmers from the mid-hills moved to the Chitwan Valley in search of arable land, the area was subsequently opened for settlement, and poaching of wildlife became rampant. In 1957 the country's first conservation law inured to the protection of rhinos and their habitat. In 1959 Edward Pritchard Gee undertook a survey of the area, recommended creation of a protected area north of the Rapti river and of a wildlife sanctuary south of the river for a trial period of ten years. After his subsequent survey of Chitwan in 1963, this time for both the Fauna Preservation Society and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, he recommended extension of the sanctuary to the south.

However, by the end of the 1960s 70% of Chitwan’s jungles were cleared using DDT, thousands of people had settled there, and only 95 rhinos remained. The dramatic decline of the rhino population and the extent of poaching prompted the government to institute the Gaida Gasti – a rhino reconnaissance patrol of 130 armed men and a network of guard posts all over Chitwan. To prevent the extinction of rhinos the Chitwan National Park was gazetted in December 1970 with borders delineated the following year and established in 1973, initially encompassing an area of 544 km2

In 1977 the park was enlarged to its present area of 932 km2. In 1997 a bufferzone of 766.1 km2 was added to the north and west of the Narayani-Rapti river system, and between the south-eastern boundary of the park and the international border to India.

The park’s headquarter is located in Kasara. Close-by the Gharial and Turtle Conservation Breeding Centres have been established. In 2008 a Vulture breeding centre was inaugurated aiming at holding up to 25 pairs of each of the two Gyps vultures species now critically endangered in Nepal - the Oriental white-backed vulture and the slender-billed vulture.

Climate Nepal - Chitwan National Park Nepal

The area is located in the central climatic zone of the Himalayas, where monsoon starts in mid June and eases off in late September. During these 14-15 weeks most of the 2,500 mm yearly precipitation falls – it is pouring with rain. After mid-October the monsoon clouds have retreated, humidity drops off, and the top daily temperature gradually subsides from ±36°C / 96.8 °F to ±18°C / 64.4 °F. Nights are cooling down to 5°C / 41.0 °F until late December, when it usually rains softly for a few days. Then temperatures are rising gradually.

Mammals - Chitwan National Park Nepal

The Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals. The „King of the Jungle“ is the Bengal Tiger. The alluvial floodplain habitat of the Terai is one of the best tiger habitats anywhere in the world. Since the establishment of Chitwan National Park the initially small population of about 25 individuals has increased to 70-110 in 1980. In some years this population has declined due to poaching and floods. In a long-term study carried out from 1995-2002 tiger researchers identified a relative abundance of 82 breeding tigers and a density of 6 females per 100 km2

Leopards are most prevalent on the peripheries of the park. They co-exist with tigers, but being socially subordinate are not common in prime tiger habitat [9]. Apart from these top predators fishing cats, jungle cats, clouded leopards, leopard cats, marbled cats, golden jackals, Indian wild dogs, sloth bears, Bengal foxes, Spotted linsangs, palm civets, Large and Small Indian civets, several species of mongoose, binturongs, honey badgers and yellow-throated martens roam the jungle for prey. Striped hyenas are rare and prevail on the southern slopes of the Churia Hills. Smooth-coated otters inhabit the numerous creeks and rivulets.

Birds - Chitwan National Park Nepal

Every year dedicated bird watchers and conservationists survey bird species occurring all over the country. In 2006 they recorded 543 species in the Chitwan National Park, much more than in any other protected area in Nepal and about two-thirds of Nepal's globally threatened species. Additionally, 20 black-chinned yuhina, a pair of Gould's sunbird, a pair of blossom-headed parakeet and one slaty-breasted rail, an uncommon winter visitor, were sighted in spring 2008

Especially the park’s alluvial grasslands are important habitats for the critically endangered Bengal florican, the vulnerable lesser adjutant, grey-crowned prinia, swamp francolin and several species of grass warblers. In 2005 more than 200 slender-billed babblers were sighted in 3 different grassland types. The near threatened Oriental darter is a resident breeder around the many lakes, where also egrets, bitterns, storks and kingfisher abound.

The park is one of the few known breeding sites of the globally threatened Indian spotted eagle. Peafowl and jungle fowl scratch their living on the forest floor. Apart from the resident birds about 160 migrating and vagrant species arrive in Chitwan in autumn from northern latitudes to spend the winter here, among them the Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and Pallas's Fish-eagle. Common sightings include Brahminy ducks and goosanders. Large flocks of bar-headed geese just rest for a few days in February on their way north.

As soon as the winter visitors have left in spring, the summer visitors arrive from southern latitudes. The calls of Indian cuckoos herald the start of spring. The colourful Bengal Pittas and several sunbird species are common breeding visitors during monsoon. Among the many flycatcher species the Paradise flycatcher with his long undulating tail in flight is a spectacular sight.

Tourism - Chitwan National Park Nepal

Chitwan National Park is one of Nepal’s most popular tourist destinations. In 1989 more than 31,000 people visited the park, and ten years later already more than 77,000. There are several lodges inside the national park offering full board and accommodation in combination with elephant and jeep safaris, rafting tours and guided jungle walks. The pioneer safari lodge is Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge receiving guests since 1972. Tiger Tops has developed standards for responsible conservation tourism, e.g. supports the “Long-term Tiger Monitoring Project” and anti-poaching units operating in the national park.

On the edge of the national park Sauraha is a well-known spot for tourists. Accessible from the nearby Bharatpur Airport, Sauraha offers a choice of hotels, lodges, restaurants and agencies that organize day trips into the protected area.

HOW TO GET THERE

Chitwan is linked by public buses, tourist coaches, and air service. There are eight entrance gates to the park

Kasara via Jagatpur
Ghatgain via Patihani
Bhimle via Maghauli
Khagendra mali via Bhandara
Sunachuri via Sunachuri
Sauraha via Tandi (Ratna Nagar)
Laukhani via Pragatinaggr
Amaltari via Danda
Kujauli via Rajahar

Content by Chitwan National Park

Visit Pokhara Nepal | Pokhara Tourism | Mountain Hills | Phewa Lake

2009-08-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

About Pokhara

The name Pokhara is derived from the word Pokhari, which in Nepali means pond or a lake. There are about eight different lakes in Pokhara. Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City (Nepali: पोखरा उपमहानगरपालिका Pokhara Up-Mahanagarpalika) is a city of close to 200,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, 198 km west of Kathmandu. It is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Biratnagar. It is the Headquarters of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and the Western Development Region. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country.

Pokhara lies on an important old trading route between China and India. In the 17th century it was part of the influential Kingdom of Kaski which again was one of the Chaubise Rajaya (24 Kingdoms of Nepal) ruled by a branch of the Shah Dynasty. Many of the mountains around Pokhara still have medieval ruins from this time. In 1786 Prithvi Narayan Shah added Pokhara into his kingdom. It had by then become an important trading place on the routes from Kathmandu to Jumla and from India to Tibet.

Originally Pokhara was largely inhabited by Brahmin, Chhetri and Thakuri (the major villages were located in Parsyang, Malepatan, Pardi and Harichowk areas of modern Pokhara) and the Majhi community near the Fewa Lake. Later in the 18th century A.D the newars of Bhaktapur migrated to Pokhara and settled near main business locations such as Bindhyabasini temple, Nalakomukh and Bhairab Tole. The establishment of a British recruitment camp brought larger Magar and Gurung communities to Pokhara. At present the Khas (Brahmin, Chhetri, Thakuri and Dalits), Gurung (Tamu) and Magar form the dominant community of Pokhara. There is also a sizeable population of Newars in Pokhara. A small Muslim community is located on eastern fringes of Pokhara generally called Miya Patan.

Geography OF Pokhara

Pokhara is situated in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. The Seti River and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air. To the east of Pokhara is the municipality of Lekhnath, a recently established town in the valley.

In no other place do mountains rise so quickly. In this area, within 30 km, the elevation rises from 1,000 m to over 7,500 m. Due to this sharp rise in altitude the area of Pokhara has one of the highest precipitation rates of the country (over 4,000 mm/year). Even within the city there is a noticeable difference in the amount of rain between the south of the city by the lake and the north at the foot of the mountains.

The climate is sub-tropical but due to the elevation the temperatures are moderate: the summer temperatures average between 25–35 °C, in winter around 5–15 °C.

In the south the city borders on Phewa Tal (lake) (4.4 km² at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level), in the north at an elevation of around 1,000 m the outskirts of the city touch the base of the Annapurna mountain range. From the southern fringes of the city 3 eight-thousanders (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu) and, in the middle of the Annapurna range, the Machapuchare ('Fishtail') with close to 7,000 m can be seen. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city and its name derives from its twin peaks, not visible from the south. The porous underground of the Pokhara valley favours the development of caves of which three prominent ones can be found within the city: Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor. In the south of the city, a tributary of the Seti coming from Phewa Lake disappears at Patale Chhango (Nepali for Hell's Falls, also called Devi's or David's Falls, after someone who supposedly fell into the falls) into an underground gorge, to reappear 500 metres further south.

Pokhara At Glance

Pokhara spans 8 km from north to south and 6 km from east to west but, unlike Kathmandu, it is quite loosely built up and still has much green space. The Seti Gandaki flowing through the city from north to south divides the city roughly in two halves with the down-town area of Chipledunga in the middle, the old town centre of Bagar in the north and the tourist district of Lakeside (Baidam) in the south all lying on the western side of the river. The gorge through which the river flows is crossed at five points, the major ones are (from north to south): K.I. Singh Pul, Mahendra Pul and Prithvi Highway Pul. The eastern side of town is mainly residential.

Pokhara has become a major tourist hub of Nepal, more than making up for the loss of its trading importance. The city offers a combination of nature and culture with a distinct tourist district in the southern subdivisions of Baidam, Lakeside and Damside. It is mostly known as starting and ending point for Annapurna treks.

Get In At Pokhara

You can travel to Pokhara from the capital Kathmandu using the tourist bus travels that are readily available or the local microbuses or buses which leave Kathmandu for Pokhara almost every 15 minutes. These buses are available until late afternoon. There are night buses as well running on this route but these can be a painful ride, so avoid them. The local buses will cost you around NRs. 400 to 600. Coming from the southern border to India, several buses leave to Pokhara from the border city, mainly in the very wee hours (first at 4AM). It takes about 9 hours and costs between 280 and 380 Rs. Flights cost roughly $90 each way and take only 1/2 hour from KTM. They have the bonus of giving you a bird's eye view of the countryside and of the mountains themselves.

Places to Visit in Pokhara-:

Phewa Lake-:

Phewa Lake, Phewa Tal or Fewa Lake is a lake of Nepal located in the Pokhara Valley near Pokhara and Sarangkot. It is the second largest lake in Nepal and lying at an altitude of 784 m (2,572 ft) it covers an area of about 4.43 km2 (1.7 sq mi) with an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) with maximum water depth is 22.8 m (75 ft) when measured with echo-sounder (depth measuring gauge; PLASTIMO ECHOTEST II) on 5 December 2009. Maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 46 million cubic meters (37,000 acre feet). Annapurna looms in the distance from the lake and the lake is famous for the reflection of Mount Machapuchare on its surface. The holy Barahi mandir (temple) is situated on the island located in between in the lake.

Location-:

The eastern Pokhara Valley receives irrigation water through a canal running from a reservoir by the Seti River in the north of the city. Phewa Lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Lake Side and Dam Side). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bars. The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the Pokhara city, from where the view of the mountains, mainly Machapuchare, or Fishtail Mountain, is seen best. To the east of the valley are few smaller and few bigger lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects.

Phewa Lake was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon. The outflowing water is partially used for hydro power. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and it was rebuilt by the Chinese. The power plant is located about 100 m (330 ft) below at the bottom of the Phusre Khola gorge.

Begnas and Rupa Lake-:

There are about eight different lakes in Pokhara and besides the the fewa lake, the other two lakes known as Begnas Lake and Rupa lake located about 15 km from Pokhara are ideal places for relaxation, boating and fishing. Begnas Tal is quiet, clean and peaceful Get to Begnas by bus, or by a taxi, or cycle from Pokhara. Visit Begnas Bazaar for a unique hillside market experience. There are a few basic hotels to stay in and the odd refreshment shop. The walk along the road leading to Begnas Tal is fascinating, the seasonal rhythms of daily life in the country make great images.

Begnas Lake is Surrounded by pristine Nature, with gurgling mountain springs forming natural boundaries on either side, the Begnas Lake Resort spans a whole hillside of unspoilt forestland. To the North and the North-East are the great Himalayan snowy peaks, below which lie terraced paddy fields and the tranquil Begnas Lake, lending a perfect picture frame for the window of every guestroom. Surrounding the resort area are Chestnut, Orange and other fruit bearing trees interspersed by bushes of Coffee, Cardamom and flowering plants. The entire resort breathes of pure, unadulterated Nature. In this healing and life-nourishing environment, we have established the Himalayan Nature Spa that offers a wide range of classical Ayurvedic treatments as well as soothing and rejuvenating massages conducted by an experienced team of Ayurveda experts from Kerala.

Devi's Falls (Patale Chhango)-:

Devi’s fall is one of the deepest caves in Asia. This waterfall was first explored in 1970 by the B.K.R.E. Himalaya, and later explorations were made in 1980 and 1982 by D. Gebauer (Atlas of the Great Caves of the World). According to the book, the Devi’s fall measures 48 metres deep and 1,479 metres long.

Devi's Fall Pokhara Nepal

Devi’s fall is also locally known as Patale Chhango. This is the most fascinating waterfall in Pokhara and the first of its kind in Nepal. During the monsoon season the water level in Devi’s fall rises to an amazing height, the most turbulent water currents engulf even the safety barrier built around the falls. The increasing water level attracts local people and foreigners alike who seem to be rejoicing in the unusual very strong swirling and roaring of the water that takes a giant leap each time to show its uncontrollable might.

Pokhara is the only city in Nepal which is famous for water falls. As we drive by the river sides below the hills we can see several beautiful and dashing water falls flowing downhill and finally flowing to the rivers. The highway to Baglung consist of several water falls. The city itself has a Witness a unique waterfall that lies 2 Km from central Pokhara City. The water fall directly goes into a deep and narrow canal with no ends. It is believed that this deadly waterfall took the life of a tourist named David, who fell down into the canel and was never found, and hence the name David waterfall, named in his memory by the people of Pokhara. This place has many nick names like Davy's Fall, David's Fall or Davis's Fall, all mean the same thing.

Mysterious Mahendra Cave-:

Visiting a cave when on vacation might sound like a strange attraction, but the Mahendra Cave is one of the sights in Nepal that has more to offer than expected. Located near the city of Pokhara, the cave and surrounding sights are worth the trip.

In the year 1950, young shepherds stumbled across the Mahendra Cave that was named in honor of King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. Locals refer to the cave as the House of Bats (Chamero Odaar) due to this shy species of wildlife that call the cave home. Generally, the Mahendra and other caves in the region are explored with flashlights, but more recently lights have been installed into the cave. The lights have caused great concern amongst conservationists, as some of the bat species that inhabit the caves are very rare. Since the installation, the sightings of bats have declined as the lights clearly disturb the bats, forcing them to relocate. The lack of supervision when tourists and visitors enter the caves is also very disturbing as the constant noise and movement of humans is very stressful to the bats. For more Pictures of Mahendra Cave Click Here

Over and above being famed for housing bats, the Mahendra Cave is a natural cave that is made from limestone. The entire cave is decorated in spectacular stalagmites and stalactites that shine and glimmer when light is shone on them. Walking through the cave, armed only with a flashlight, is definitely more rewarding than when the cave is lit with artificial light. The stone that is dripping from the roof and covering the cave floor comes alive under the beams of the flashlights and increases the excitement of this dark adventure.

As one of the darker sights in Nepal, the Mahendra Cave gives visitors the opportunity to embark on an adventure. There is still much of the cave that has not been explored and gives the cave an atmosphere of awe, when thinking of the mysterious, unknown territory that no man has yet been privileged to see.

Museum-:

One museum display the life styles and history of the Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharu and other one Natural history museum and is functioned by the Annapurna Conservation area project. Butterflies, insects, birds and wild life found in the Annapurna region.

Mountains Views: Spectacular Panorama of the Annapurna range forms the backdrop of Pokhara valley. The mountains stretching from east to west includes Annapurna I to IV. It lies at the distance of 40kms from the valley and at the elevation of 900m. Among these Annapurna. Annapurna I (8.091m high is the highest peak. Mt. Machhapuchhare with its pyramid shape dominated all the other neighboring Peaks. The other peaks are Mt. Dhaulagiri 8167m, Lamjung Himal 6983m and Manaslu 8163m and Himalchuli.

Tour at Kathmadu City - Best place for Holiday

2009-01-07T04:28:00.000-08:00

Kathmandu (Nepali: काठमांडौ, Nepal Bhasa: येँ) is the capital and the largest city of Nepal. The city is situated in Kathmandu Valley that also contains two other cities - Patan and Bhaktapur. Nepali is the lingua franca of the valley and is the most widely spoken language. Nepal Bhasa/Newari is the language spoken by native people, the Newars. English is understood by most of the educated population of the city. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1400 m and is inhabited by about 700,000 people. Kathmandu is the most developed city in Nepal.
History
Kathmandu is situated in the heart of the Himalaya mountains, and has a rich history. Considered by some to be among the most beautiful cities in the world, the earliest known inscription in the Kathmandu Valley is dated 185 AD. The oldest firmly dated building in the earthquake-prone valley is almost 1,992 years old. Four stupas around the city of Patan said to have been erected by Charumati, attest to the ancient history present within the valley. The Kirats are the first documented rulers of Kathmandu Valley, the remains of their palace are in Patan near kendra Hiranyavarna Mahavihara (called "Patukodon"). The Licchavi Dynasty whose earliest inscriptions date back to 464 AD were the next rulers of the valley. The Malla Dynasty consisted of Newar rulers, who ruled Kathmandu Valley and the surrounding area from the 12th century till the 17th century when the Shah Dynasty founder Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley as he created present-day Nepal. Most of ancient Nepali Architecture present in Nepal today is from the Malla/Newar era.

The city of Kathmandu is named after a structure in Durbar Square called Kaasthamandap. In Sanskrit, Kaasth (काष्ठ) is "wood" and Mandap (मंडप/मण्डप) is "covered shelter." This unique temple, also known as Maru Sattal, was built in 1596 A.D. by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. The entire structure contains no iron nails or supports and is made entirely from wood. Legend has it that the timber used for this two story pagoda was obtained from a single tree.

Kathmandu is also sometimes called "Kantipur". Kanti is an alternate name of the Goddess Laxmi, and Pur means the place where such a goddess resides; thus, the name Kantipur demonstrates the ancient belief that it is the place where Laxmi dwells. Newars, the native people of the Kathmandu valley use the original term from Nepal Bhasa, Yne.

Present

Being the capital city of Nepal, Kathmandu is home to most of the government offices, embassies, corporate houses, and the palace. A golden heaven to the most famous artists in the world, it has the old palace of Newar kings, Kathmandu Durbar Square, which is listed as UNESCO world heritage site, is in Basantapur, next to Freak Street, which was the popular hippie spot during the seventies. The Shah King's Palace stands right next to Thamel - the tourist hub of the country. A small world within itself, Thamel is famous for the most attractive hotels and shopping centers in the world. It consists of two parallel streets just to the west of the palace. It is home to world famous hotels, ranging from different stars. The palace is at the head of Durbar Marg, a street lined with various shops. Most of the streets in Kathmandu are named from Nepal Bhasa, owing its origin to the rich Newari Culture and heritage. In a sense, Kathmandu is the most read text in the field of culture, history and Newari civilization in South Asia.

The "old" city is noted for its many Buddhist and Hindu temples and palaces, most dating to the 17th century. Many of these landmarks have been damaged by earthquakes and pollution. This valley hosts an UNESCO World Heritage Sites composed by seven different Monument Zones: The centers of the three primary cities, Kathmandu Hanuman Dhoka, Patan and Bhaktapur, the two most important Buddhist stupas, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath and two famous Hindu shrines, Pashupatinath temple and Changu Narayan. Since 2003 the site has been inscribed in the World Heritage List as being "in danger" out of concern for the ongoing loss of authenticity and the outstanding universal value of the cultural property.

Kathmandu has been popular with western tourists since the 1960's when it became a key stop on the Hippy Trail, when Jho: Chheen (Nepal Bhasa, continuous house)(Freak Street) was the one of the main location. It is also the subject of a popular Bob Seger song for the same reason. It is rumoured that many rock singers used to visit Jho: Cheen and downtown Kathmandu in search of tranquility and Nirvana.

Tribhuvan International Airport is located about 25 km from the city center, offering domestic and international flights.

Geography

The city is located in the northwestern part of Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley covers an area of 565 sq. kilometres. It is situated at 1336 m above the sea level. Bagmati, Bishnumati, Dhobikhola, and Tukucha rivers wind through the city.

Administrative divisions

A crowded street (Jamal) in Kathmandu.

The metropolitan has been divided into around 5 sectors by metropolitan authorities as follows[2]

Central sector

The central sector consists of wards 1, 5, 11, 31, 32 and 33.

East sector

The east sector consists of wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 10(Baneshwor), 34 and 35.

North sector

The north sector consists of wards 2, 3, 4, 16, 29.

City core

This is the most densely populated part of the city. This part consists of most of the historical and cultural monuments of the city.

West sector

The west sector consists of wards 13, 14 and 15.

Demographics

According to 2001 census, there are 235,387 households in the metropolitan city[3]. Kathmandu metropolitan authorities estimate the number of people living in the city to be around 1,081,845 people [4] The largest ethnic groups are Newars, Brahmins and Kshetris. The major languages are Nepali and Nepal Bhasa. The major religions are Hinduism and Buddhism.

Government

The city is looked after by Kathmandu metropolitan office located at Bagdarbar. The city hosts Singhadarbar, the government seat of Nepal (with office of Prime Minister, Supreme Court and Senate). Most of the ministries are present in the Singha Darbar premises. The Royal Palace is located in central part of city in ward number 1.

Economy

Tourism, sometimes said to be the 'third religion' of Nepal, is the country's most important industry, and plays a large role in the economic activity of Kathmandu. The neighborhood of Thamel is Kathmandu's primary 'traveler's ghetto,' packed with guest houses, restaurants, shops and bookstores catering to tourists from abroad. Freak Street, Kathmandu's original traveler's haunt made popular by the hippies of the 1970's, remains a popular alternative to Thamel.[5]

In addition, Kathmandu houses most of the banks, business houses, offices, organizations and share market of Nepal. The busiest economic centers are New Road of Kathmandu, Ason, Putalisadak and Darbar Marg. New Road is regarded as financial hub with presence of most of the banks in this street.