Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world and also a Hindu majority country. The second largest religion is Buddhism. Nepal has several ancient pilgrimage sites. Each temple is attached to a legend that glorifies the miraculous powers of its deity. There are many pilgrimage sites in Nepal, such as-Pashupatinath temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, Barah Chhetra, Gosainkunda, Pathibhara, Tengboche; Manakaman, Gorkha, Lumbini, Muktinath, Halesi Mahadev, Janakpur, Tansen, and Swargadwari, Khaptad Ashram ect.
Nepal is also the Gateway to Kailash Mansarovar, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva. Devotees from various parts of Nepal and India throng the temples during special festivals.
The shrines in a grove of trees include a Buddhist gompa and a Vishnu temple of Jiwala Mayi . An old temple nearby shelters a spring and natural gas jets which provide Muktinath’s famous eternal flame. It’s the earth-water-fire combination that accounts for Muktinath’s great religious significance. From Muktinath you can retrace your steps to Pokhara, or simply to Jomsom and hope to catch a flight from there.
It is possible to continue beyond Muktinath and cross the Thorung La pass to walk the rest of the Annapurna Circuit but this long walk is better made in the opposite direction.
Hindu Pilgrimage in Nepal
Nepal, once the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, is a Hindu majority country. The second largest religion is Buddhism. Hinduism is a multi disciplinary religion called Sanatan Dharma. The Hindu religion has a large number of Gods but the Trinity of Gods is considered Supreme.
Buddhist Pilgrimage in Nepal
Siddartha 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.
The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950. Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.
Nepal is also the Gateway to Kailash Mansarovar, the mythical abode of Lord Shiva. Devotees from various parts of Nepal and India throng the temples during special festivals.
The shrines in a grove of trees include a Buddhist gompa and a Vishnu temple of Jiwala Mayi . An old temple nearby shelters a spring and natural gas jets which provide Muktinath’s famous eternal flame. It’s the earth-water-fire combination that accounts for Muktinath’s great religious significance. From Muktinath you can retrace your steps to Pokhara, or simply to Jomsom and hope to catch a flight from there.
It is possible to continue beyond Muktinath and cross the Thorung La pass to walk the rest of the Annapurna Circuit but this long walk is better made in the opposite direction.
Hindu Pilgrimage in Nepal
Nepal, once the only Hindu Kingdom in the world, is a Hindu majority country. The second largest religion is Buddhism. Hinduism is a multi disciplinary religion called Sanatan Dharma. The Hindu religion has a large number of Gods but the Trinity of Gods is considered Supreme.
Buddhist Pilgrimage in Nepal
Siddartha 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.
The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950. Today, Nepal enjoys a multiparty democratic system with a constitutional Monarch.
Hindu Pilgrimage Destinations
Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath
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. 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.
Balmiki Ashram
Balmiki Ashram
Balmiki Ashram
The Balmiki Ashram is situated in a forest on the banks of the Tribeni river, at the south – western corner of Royal Chitwan National Park. It was a retreat used by the great Hindu sage, Balmiki.
This is where Sita is said to have lived with her two sons, Labha and Kusha, after separating from Rama. Various statues were unearthed in this area during an archeological excavation I the late 60’s. Recently, a temple of Sita has been built here.
Varahakshetra
Varahakshetra HimachalHills
Varahakshetra
Varahakshetra, located at the confluence of the Saptakoshi and Koka rivers, is 20 km away from a town in eastern Nepal – Dharan. Varahakshetra is among the four great Hindu Pilgrimages. Here, the Boar- Varaha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu is said to have killed the demon-Hiranakshya.Apart from the main shrine dedicated to Varah, there are many to the temples with images of the Varaha in Varahakshetra. Every year on the first of Magh (November), a religious fare takes place here.
Devghat
Devghat
Devghat
Devghat is situated 6 km to the north of Narayanghat, the gateway to the Royal Chitwan National Park. On the day of the Makar Sankranti festival in January pilgrims come here to take holy dips in Narayani, formed by the meeting of the Kali Gandaki and Trishuli. There is a settlement of a community of elderly, retired people here. Devghat can be reached by taking a daily flight or bus service.Dhanushdham
Dhanushdham
Dhanushdham
Dhanushadham, a historical and religious site, dates back to the time of the great epic – Ramayana. It is located 18 km north -east of Janakpur in the south – central region of Nepal. Dhanushadham was the place where Lord Rama had broke Shiva’s divine bow, a condition for winning the hand of Sita in marriage. According to the epic, one of the three pieces of the bow fell in the present day Dhanushadham.Muktinath
Muktinath
Muktinath
Muktinath of religious importance to both Hindus and Buddhists. The main shrine of Muktinath is a pagoda – shaped temple dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. In the walls around it are 108 water spouts. The Jwala Mai temple nearby has a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural gas. Muktinath is set in an altitude of 3,800 mt. in the north – central part of Nepal. It is a six – hour walk from the Jomsom airport. Helicopters are also available.Ranighat
Ranighat
Ranighat
Ranighat is among the most popular religious places in Nepal. Rikeshwara Narayan mandir, situated here, with 50 other small temples. Pilgrims visit here to earn merit for this life as well as for their next life. It is the local version of the Pashupatinath temple with its auspicious Ghats (cremation grounds). It is situated at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and the Ridi Khola, linked by a 50 km dirt road to the hill resort town of Tansen.During the Makar Sankranti festival, hundreds of devotees from different parts of the world throng the Dhanusha temple to worship the fossilized bow fragments and to take ritual dips in the river. Here there are other temples dedicated to Ram and Ganesh too.
Gosaikund
Gosaikund
Gosaikund
A lake is believed to have been created by Lord Shiva when he thrust his Trishula (trident) into a mountain to extract water so that he could cool his stinging throat after he had swallowed poison. There is a large rock in the center of the lake, which is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine. People often claim that they see Shiva lying in the water. Devotees gather here in hordes on the full moon night of August to take holy dips in the lake.Gosaikunda is situated at the altitude of 4380 mt. to the north of Kathmdnu on the Langtang trekking trail. The holy lake is a two day long trek from Dhunche, which can be reached through an adventurous 118 km mountain road from Kathmandu via Trishuli Bazaar.
Shaligrams and Shalgrams
Shaligrams and Shalgrams
Shaligrams and Shalgrams
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.
Buddist Pilgrimage Destinations
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
Lumbini
Lumbini
birthplace of Lord Buddha, is the centre of holy faith for the millions of Buddhists all over the world. Located in south-western Nepal, Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Kapilavastu district of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Queen Mayadevi is said to have given birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who in turn, as the Buddha Gautama, gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.Lumbini has a number of temples, including the Mayadevi temple, 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.
The most significant spot of the palaces the eastern gate from where Prince Siddhartha Gautam departed on his Quest of ‘Essence for human life’. 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.
Namobuddha
Namobuddha
Namobuddha
Namo Buddha or Takmo Lujin is a very sacred place for the Buddhists. The Stupa situated just off to the downtown Kathmandu is visited by scores of pilgrims every year. There is a legend behind the reverence of this place. According to the Buddhist legend, 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
