Shashwat Dham
Located on the East-West Highway in Devchuli, Shashwat Dham is a Hindu religious site and tourist destination. The spiritual site consists of a temple of lord Shiva and a Vedic karmakanda gurukul spread over 12 acres.
The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is known as Ekambareshwor. It is modelled in the Khajuraho style of architecture. The temple is surrounded by a pond filled with water from various holy shrines from the Indian subcontinent such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Muktinath and Pashupatinath. The temple houses 16 deities, with the sanctum sanctorum belonging to the Shivalinga. The abode of Lord Shiva here is called Ekambareshwara, and it is surrounded by holy waters from the seven sacred rivers of Nepal – Saptagandaki.
The Manuscript Resource Centre unearths and preserves as many as possible. There are expert scholars to decode the archived manuscripts and spread the Sanatana knowledge to the masses for their understanding.
The Centre for Meditation and Yogic Sciences is a sanctuary for all seeking peace and happiness. The tranquil environment helps calm the mind and relief from the stress of the outside world, and the daily spiritual lectures, yoga sessions and satsangs help them find their true self. There is also a museum which allows visitors to learn about spiritual destinations in Nepal. One should not miss the Kamal Kund beside the Gurukul area, where there are many lotuses in bloom usually and create a lovely sight to behold. Sahastra Saligram in the north-east or Ishan Kona, as it is called in Vedic terms, is a collection of 1000 saligram stones – the most natural manifestation of Lord Krishna. The popular belief is, circumambulation of the stones energises the mind and spirit with positivity.
Shashwat Dham has a Dhunge Dhara and a water reservoir with cow-faced stone taps. The Hanuman Chhatra Temple and Dharma Kshetra, with a statue of Arjuna en route to the great war of Kurukshetra with Krishna as his charioteer in the temple complex, adds to the beauty of the place.
Gorkha
Formerly known as Prithvinarayan Municipality, Gorkha was originally named after King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who was born in Gorkha and united and founded modern Nepal. In 2009, the name was changed to Gorkha after the end of the monarchy in Nepal.
The old royal palace or Gorkha Durbar, Gorakhnath and the Kalika Temple dedicated to Goddess Kali are the main attractions of the town. The Royal Palace was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake, but the Gorakhnath shrine and Kalika temple are open with no entrance charges. The lower palace or Tallo Durbar and a modern park are other major attractions. Gorkha is also the starting point of the Manasalu Himal or Mount Manasalu and Mount Ganesh trekking route.
The Gorkha Museum’s Newari-style architecture is grander than the collection inside. The hallways inside are lined with art and craft items, some weapons and historical remnants of the Newari culture and the Shah and Malla kingdoms. It’s the corridors and galleries and hallways themselves, and the huge garden outside that steals the show.
The Manakamana Temple is one of the most sacred places and the abode of the Hindu Goddess Bhagwati, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. This temple is much-visited because of the belief that whatever one wishes for in this shrine is granted. There is a fantastic cable car ride over the green valleys from Kurintaar to Manakamana temple.
The Manaslu trekking is the most exciting thing to look forward to. Mount Manaslu lies just towards the east of the great Annapurna massif. The highest point of the trek is at Larkya La pass, from where a breathtaking view of the Manaslu can be savoured.
Gorkha has temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh and Lord Bhimsen, the Newari god of money and commerce and is very much revered in close vicinity. The Durbar Square is the prime attraction of the Gorkha valley, being the birthplace and early home to unified Nepal’s first ruler, Prithvi Narayan Shah. The complex is a fort, a palace and a religious destination all punched into one. Perching atop high hills, Gorkha Durbar overlooks the sprawling emerald-green Trisuli Valley. If one looks down from the edge, one can see the tiniest sliver of a stream flowing through the valley. And straight ahead, one can see the entire range of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and Himalchuli, standing majestically in the distance.
The Durbar area is where the Gorkha Palace stands towards the east. To reach the palace called Dhuni Pati, one has to climb 1700 steps from the bottom of the hill. It is a taxing adventure to pursue, but for those up to the challenge, it can be quite rewarding to finally finish the hike and be surprised by the spectacular panorama. This palace is where the first ruler of a unified Nepal was born and raised. From the windows of the palace, the king as a child prince used to look out at the entire valley and imagine it as his one day – or so says the lore.
There are several other attractions in Durbar Square, of which many were not harmed in the 2015 earthquake. The western gate of the durbar leads to the 17th-century Kalika Temple, a shrine devoted to the goddess of death and doom, Goddess Kali. The architecture is a mind-blowingly psychedelic one, with peacocks, serpents, demons and angels all interwoven in the wooden carvings. Near the palace is the mausoleum of Guru Goraknath, the saint who is said to have been the mentor and guide for young Prithvi Narayan Shah. Towards the northern gate is a towering statue of Lord Hanuman, coloured vividly in orange and red. From here, one can go visit a rocky platform called Chautara, with four sets of carved footprints, believed to be of Sita, Rama, Guru Goraknath and Guru Padmasambhava.
Bandipur
Known for its preserved, old time cultural atmosphereis, Bandipur is a hilltop settlement and rural municipality in the Gandaki province. Bandipur is located on an elevation of 1030 m on a mountain saddle of the Mahabharat range approximately 700 m above the Marsyangdi River Valley, 143 km to the west of Kathmandu and 80 km to the east of Pokhara. Since 1998 it is connected by an 8 km access road from Dumre, on the Prithvi Highway. The mountain saddle, just 200m long, is barely wide enough to accommodate the main street lined by 2 –3 storey buildings on either side. Behind these houses the mountainsides steeply descend and the gardens are only accessible by stairs.
Bandipur was established as a funnelling point of trade by Newar traders from Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley after it had been conquered in 1768 by Prithvi Narayan Shah. They took advantage of its malaria free location to develop it into an important stop along the India-Tibet trade route. With them they brought their cultural heritage and architecture which basically has remained unchanged to this day.
Originally a simple Magar village in the early 19th century, Bandipur developed into a prosperous trading centre and a community with town-like features: substantial buildings, with their neoclassical façades and shuttered windows and streets paved with slabs of silverish slate. Bandipur had its heyday in the Rana times between 1846 and 1951, when, as a measure of its power and prestige, it was granted special permission to have its own library which still exists.
In the 1970s, trading fell into a steep decline with the construction of the Prithvi Highway. For technical reasons it was logically built in the Marsyangdi valley, leaving Bandipur isolated up on the mountain. In addition to that, as a result of its poor accessibility, Bandipur lost importance because the district headquarters of Tanahun were moved to Damauli. The tradesmen of Bandipur were forced to move down to Dumre and many even left for the Terai; Bandipur turned into a semi-ghost town. The population declined considerably.
On two occasions Bandipur has witnessed some turmoil. The people were not easily and readily sidestepped by the construction of the road and fought for a different route in the planning process. In the 1970s, when the first demonstrations for democracy took place in Nepal, the people of Bandipur stormed the little garrison. Several people were killed and the soldiers fled. Again, when the district headquarters were to be moved, the people demonstrated and occupied the administration. The civil servants fled during the night. Even the king was flown in by helicopter to calm the situation. However, the decline of the little town could not be reversed. Some relics of its wealthy past remain. Although many houses are in bad condition, the typical Newari architecture is preserved. A distinctive aspect of Bandipur’s main street is a covered veranda extending along almost the entire length on the northern side. Most of the buildings still have little shops in them. The slate slabs in the main street have been destroyed by heavy vehicles, for which they were not made, but they can still be made out along the edges and in the smaller alleys. The library still exists and was carefully renovated in 2000. Another relic is a soccer-field-sized Tundikhel to the northeast of Bandipur and the villages importance as centre for schools for the surrounding villages.
Siddha Gufa Cave is 1.5 hours trek away from the northern end of the town through a muddy and exciting road for those who love adventure. For a shorter walk, one can take the route from Bimalnagar on the Prithvi Highway, it takes only 45 minutes. Once one reaches the entrance, a ladder-like staircase will take one down from the cave’s mouth into the enormous cavern. It is hard to imagine the interior of Siddha Gufa from outside. Stalactites and stalagmites adorn the centuries-old walls of the cave. Abstract rock formations carve climbing routes inside the cave and give it a mysterious look. With a depth of 437 metres and a height of 50 metres, it is the highest cave in Nepal.
Yet another shrine, this one is not for a deity but the sword of Mukunda Sen, the 16th-century Palpa King. Now, what is so special about a sword that it needs to be enshrined? Legend says that Lord Shiva himself gifted this sword to the King and the blade is a manifestation of Adi Shakti – the feminine power of the cosmos. Once a year during Vijaya Dashami or Dasain, as they say there, the blade of the sword gets sacrificial blood.
Thani Mai is a small white temple at the top of Gurungche Hill, dedicated to the mother goddess. Visit the temple to have a stunning, 360-degree vista of the entire place, with the majestic ranges of the Himalayas rising to the sky from behind all along the horizon. The climb is only 30 minutes and not that hard, and the spectacle from up above is a reward worth savouring. Sunrises and sunsets are exceptionally beautiful from here.
Bindebasini temple is an old and ornate shrine at the northeast end of Dumre bazaar, which is the main shopping lane. The walls of the temple are carved with scriptures and shlokas, giving it a mystic look all over. The shrine is dedicated to Goddess Durga. The courtyard leading up to the temple and the shrine itself will take one back to the old days.
Visiting the silkworm farm, after a 2.5 km downhill hiking from the Heritage Guest House, is a unique experience. On request and a small donation, a professional in the farm will show you the mulberry orchards that the farm owns, which are the foods for the silkworms. The worms are reared indoors from August to December and from March to May. But the process goes on all year long, and one can see it anytime from 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday to Friday.
Padma Library is not a very well-stocked one in terms of books, but it is worth a visit because of its impressive 18th-century architecture with carved windows and beams. It stands near Bindebasini Temple, so both attractions can be combined.
Tundikhel is a large, green table-top ground open for the public. Once upon a time, this man-made plateau region was used by traders to sell off some goods before making their way to Tibet or India. The ground was also used for parade purposes by the Gorkha regiment. Today, it is open to everyone. Tundikhel offers a spectacular view of the Himalayan range behind the immediate houses and buildings. Peaks like Dhaulagiri, Langtang Lirung, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal can be spotted in the distance. It is a good place to breathe in some fresh air and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Narayangarh
An important trading post, located in the centre of Bharatpur, Narayangarh or Narayanghat is a major transportation and commercial hub located on the bank of the Narayani River. The town is famous for Taas, a spicy fried goat-meat lunch dish served with bhuja or chiura. This moderately crowded city falls under the bigger umbrella of Bharatpur City and under the administrative jurisdiction of Chitwan district in southern Nepal.
The Narayangarh-Mugling Highway, which is the main driving route via the hills up to Pokhara and the capital Kathmandu, meets the east-to-west road called Mahendra Highway. The confluence of these two main arteries is one of the busiest places in Nepal, both for local traffic as well as tourism. Any car driving from the Indian border will have to cross the Narayangarh-Bharatpur area to reach the capital is also a driving factor behind its rising popularity. Narayngarh is most popularly known as the gateway to the Chitwan National Park. Canoeing in the Rapti River and ox-cart riding are some offbeat adventures that one can indulge in here.
The Bish Hazari Taal which translates to 20,000 lakes is called so because the water bodies in this place are divided into numerous small and big ones, which make it look like there are too many. The lake is a resting ground for a variety of bird species which fly over Nepal while migrating south, and thus a must-visit for birdwatchers. Bish Hazari Taal also has a lot of crocodiles hiding in the swamps.
The confluence of Kali Gandaki and Trishuli Rivers is considered to be a holy confluence forming the River Narayani, which is an important tributary of the Ganges. A few km drive up northeast from Narayangarh will bring one to this beautiful confluence. The village that surrounds the river confluence is called Devghat and can be reached via a suspension footbridge.
A half an hour’s drive from Narayangarh will take one to Tharu village. The Tharus are one of the largest ethnic groups of Nepal and indigenous habitats of the Terai region. The Tharu Cultural Museum is the main attraction which was built to conserve the heritage of the Tharus. The museum houses multiple models, artefacts, weapons, potteries and other articles about the cultural and ethnic history of the Tharus. There are cultural shows and festivals as well occasionally, where the Tharu people perform and sell their handmade products for the visitors.
Bharatpur
Nepal’s third most populous city and located in south central Nepal, Bharatpur is also the second largest metropolitan city in the country by area. One of the fastest-growing cities in Nepal, Bharatpur lies on the eastern bank of the Narayani River and serves as a commercial centre of the Chitwan district and the central region of Nepal.
The Chitwan National Park is home to one-horned rhinos, elephants, Bengal tigers, crocodiles, deer and many other wild animals. It is the third largest tourist destination in Nepal after Kathmandu and Pokhara. The park has been listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983.
The Narayani River flows north to south in the south of Bharatpur. It is the deepest and one of the largest rivers in Nepal. The Narayani Bridge connects the Chitwan District with the Nawalpur District of Nepal. Small islands, like Nagarban in the Narayani River, are popular picnic spots. The Rapti River flows east to southwest in the south of Bharatpur and meets the northern border of the Chitwan National Park.
The Tinkhole Monastery is a local favourite and the temple’s architecture reflects the Buddhist way of life. The Ganeshthan Temple at Baseni is the most famous Hindu temple in Bharatpur. This temple is believed to be constructed by Muni Makunda Sen, King of Palpa in the 15th century, but the modern temple was constructed in 1952 in the period of King Mahendra. The Bageshwari Temple is an ancient temple believed to have been built before Muni Makunda Sen and was renovated by Yogi Narahari Nath. The Harihar Temple lies on the banks of the Narayani River. The Mahakaleshwar Shiva Mandir is the only temple dedicated to Lord Shiva around Bharatpur. Along with the building, the temple has 108 lingams, a fire pit, a statue of Lord Hanuman statues, Satsang halls and Ganesha temples. The Gauri Kund can also be seen in the temple periphery. The Kalika Temple is located in Gaindakot and was built around 1992 on the top of the hill. The Jakhadi Mai Temple is on the eastern corner of the jungle and was constructed in 1982 by the locals. The Durga Temple was built by the police force within the compound of Bharatpur’s Police Academy in 1992 while the Rameshwar Temple was built in 1994. It is the city’s busiest temple and serves people through a health post.
Located in the old headquarters of Chitwan district, the Upardanghari Fort is believed to have been built by Satrubhanjan Shah, son of the prince Bahadur Shah, to defend the newly founded kingdom in the seventeenth century. The Kasara Durbar is an old palace built by Rana Regime inside the Chitwan National Park. Now, it is being used as an office of the park and hosts a museum. The Diyalo Bangala Palace or Aptari Bharatpur was the summer palace used by the Shah dynasty. It is located on the banks of Narayani River. The small islands on Narayani River that can be reached by launches, like Nagarban, are lovely spots for a picnic.
