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Nepal
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Hindu Pilgrimage
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| There are
three kinds of Hindu Pilgrimages in Nepal for 1.
Lord Shiva 2.
Lord Vishnu, and 3. Ma
Shakti. According to Purans Himalaya is home of Lord
Shiva and Parbati. Hence there are many Pilgrimage sites related to
Lord Shiva in Nepal. Pashupati Nath Temple is the Holiest pilgrimage
of Lord Shiva. Mt. Kailash is the mountain of Lord Shiva and it is
considered holiest of all holy mountains. Mt. Kailash is in Tibet
near Nepal Tibet border. A mountain with a Temple on its top is also
considered Holy Mountain. There are several Shakti-peeths related to
Durga Ma through out Nepal. Dakhinkali and Guheswori are most famous
Shakti-peeths of Kathmandu valley. Other important Shakti-peeths are
Pathibhara, Shaileswori, Vindyavashini, Mankamana, Jogeshwori, etc.
Such Shakti-peeths are usually situated on the top of a mountain.
The confluence of rivers, particularly when they are major
tributaries of the Ganges, is always regarded as religiously
significant by Hindus, as it is believed a third spiritual river
also joins. Such confluence is called Triveni. |
Pashupatinath
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Lord Shiva is worshipped as Pashupati, which means Lord of all
living creatures. The temple of Pashupatinath is 6 Km east of
Kathmandu. Pasupat-Chhetra (site of Pashupatinath) is one of the
holiest places in Hindu Kingdom of Nepal. Many Hindu Pilgrims come
Pashupatinath round the year. |
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Hundreds of thousands of Hindu from
all over World make Pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri (Night of
Shiva, one day before black moon in February). There are many
temples of various Hindu Gods in the holy site. Guheswori temple is
the most important among other temples. A walk from this temple to
Aryaghat near Pashupatinath temple is very popular among non-Hindu
tourists. Pashupatinath Temple area is UNESCO World Heritage site. |
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Gosaikunda
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| Gosaikunda is a glacier lake in
Langtang. It is 2 to
3 days trekking from Dhunche. According to Puran lake Gosaikunda was
created by Lord Shiva by his Trident. He had to drink water after
intake of Halahal or Kalkut poison. He has to digest the Kalkut
poison which was the product obtained from Samundramanthan by Gods
and Ashurs. The most auspicious day for the Pilgrimage is Full moon
day (Shrawan Purnima) in July. Many pilgrims from Nepal and India
take a bath in the Lake. |
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Shaligrams & Shalgrams
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| The Shaligrams are specifically
described as fossil-stones which have taken shape in the Gandaki-river,
and as characterized by the presence of discus marks . The legend,
related at length tells us that Gandaki, the lady-devotee, performed
penances for long years, and that she got a boon from Vishnu, which
made Vishnu reside in her womb (in her depths) as her own offspring;
the Shaligram-stones are thus the forms of Vishnu. Like the worship
of Siva in the form of a lingam, the worship of Vishnu in the shape
of a Shaligram is an iconic in character. Shaligrams are always
naturally found in the river Gandaki. The region where Shaligrams
are found is also called Shalgrams. The Shaligrams region is in
Mustang and River Gandaki basin. These also include the famous Kali-Gandaki
river, Muktinath, Damodar Himal, Damodar Kunda, Devghat, etc. |
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Devghat
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| Devghat is a confluence of river Trishuli and river
Kaligandaki and is very significant religious Triveni. It is 6 Km
north of Narayanghat. Here all 7 holy Gandaki Rivers meet together
to form a Narayani River. Like Triveni of Ganges and Yamuna at
Alahabad in India Devghat is one of the main sites for the festival
of Makar Shankranti in Nepal. Many pilgrims from around Nepal and
India to immerse themselves in the river. Makar Shankrati is also
popularly known as Maghe Shankranti. It is first day of Nepali month
Magh (Mid January). In this place the demigods came to honor Lord
Vishnu when he saved Gajendra, an elephant from the attack of a
crocodile after hearing his prayers of devotion. |
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Damodarkund
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| Damodarkund is a
glacier lake at the slope of Damodar Himal in Mustang. The Damodar
lakes are located three days walk north east of the main Mustang
trekking route and very close to the border with Tibet. Damodar
Kunda is the source of River Kaligandaki. The site is in the region
of Shaligram and hence it is also called Shalgrams. Other names of
River Gandaki are Kaligandaki, Sptagandaki, and Narayani. |
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Ridighat
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| 50 km from Tansen
at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Ridi Khola. In this small
place, here is a temple of Rishikeshwara (Vishnu) with 50 other
small temples. Pilgrims visit here to earn merit for this life as
well as for their next life. About 200 Vishshnavas of the Nimbarka
& Sri Ramanuja Sampradaya sects live in near by Ridi Bazar. |
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Muktinath
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| This is one of
the 106th sacred Muktichhetra (assured of salvation) of 108 sacred
place of Vaishnavs, where Lord Vishnu got free from the curse of
Sati. Here is a largest Shaligram. Here is also a Jwaladevi, a
divine flame is continuously burning since thousands of year. This
pagoda –shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu situated at an
altitude of 3800 m. Set into the wall around 108 water spouts from
which pour holy water. |
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Janakpur
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Janakpur is in 375 Km south east of Kathmandu and is famous Hindu
pilgrimage site. Janakpur is a birthplace of Janaki Sita. Janaki
Sita was married to Lord Ram the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Places of interest are: Janaki Temple, Biwah Mandap, and numerous
beautiful ponds. The most auspicious day for the Pilgrimage is Biwah
Panchami (November). It is day of celebration of the wedding of the
Goddess Sita and the God Ram with mock wedding processions. Many
pilgrims from Nepal and India attend the celebration. A holy saint
Sri Shurkiswor Das discover the ruins of the ancient capital Mithila
King and the birth place of Sita. The present temple was built by
Queen Brishabhanu of Tikramgarh of India. |
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Barahachhetra
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| Lord Vishnu, the
Preserver of the Universe, has incarnated as Baraha (Boar) in this
region and hence it is called Barahachhetra. It is one of the four
holy places in Nepal. According to Puran that Lord Vishnu came down
to earth in the form of a boar and destroyed Hiranyakashyapu, an
evil demon, at this very spot. It is on the bank of Saptakoshi. This
pilgrimage is accessed through Dharan. Since the site is related to
Lord Vishnu it is assumed as sacred as Gaya for Shraddha (Offering
to ancestors). The Pilgrimage is at a confluence of tributaries of
river Koshi and hence many pilgrims around Nepal and India come here
for dip at the day of Makar Shankrati. |
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Balmiki Ashram
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| It is
an island in Narayani River near Triveni, 20 km south of Kusunde,
which lies between Narayanghat and Butawal in Mahendra Highway.
Goddess Sita was exiled from the royal palace and stayed here. She
gave born twin sons Lava and Kusha. This Ashram was a retreat used
by the great sage Balmiki, who wrote complete epic of Ramayan. |
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Buddhist pilgrimage
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Shiddartha Gautam led the
world on the path to enlightenment and became Lord Buddha two
thousand five hundred years ago. There are four most holy places
associated with the Lord Buddha and are Buddhist pilgrimage. |
Lumbini
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| Where
Buddha was born as the Prince Shiddhartha Gautam. The site is in now
in a beautiful Garden. Lumbini is about 20 minute drive from
Siddarth Nagar, a town in mid western Nepal. Ashok Pillar, Maya Devi
Temple, Archeological excavation sites, various Buddhist temples and
monasteries from Buddhist countries from all over worlds are in the
Lumbini Garden. Bodhgaya: Where Buddha enlightened under a Holy
Banyan tree. Sarnath : Sarnath where Siddhartha Gautama who came to
be known as the Buddha, the 'Awakened One', delivered his first
sermon, after attaining enlightenment. Kusinagar: is revered as the
site of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, his death and cremation, that
marked his final liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth. |
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NamoBuddha
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Namobuddha is the place where Lord Buddha, in
an earlier life, offered his body to a starving
tigress so she could feed her cubs. It is said
that his hair, bones and so forth were made into
a Stupa, the Stupa now known as Namobuddha. It
is in east of Kathmandu valley near Panauti. Important
Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu valley are Swoyambhunath,
Bouddhanath, four Stupa built by Ashok Emperor
in Patan and one Chabhil, etc. There are several
Tibetan monasteries around Kathmandu valley. Some
of the monasteries are recently built. Thengboche
Monastery is the highest altitude monastery in
Nepal. |
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Nepal Pilgrimage
Reservation Form
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