| NEPAL
PLACES TO SEE
KIRTIPUR:
It is a small town, eight kilometers southwest of Kathmandu,
on the top off a hill. Tribhuwan University is located
at the foot of the hill. This historic town has many
things to see such as old shrines and temples, old houses,
and people dressed in traditional costume while working
on ancient looms.
CHOBHAR :
It is situated nine kilometers southwest of Kathmandu.
This place is famous of its gorge. All the waters of
the Valley drain though it. Legends says that the god
Manjushree cut the gorge to drain out Kathmandu Valley
which was then a lake. There is a small but pictusque
temple of Adinath on the top of a hill. From this point,
one has a complete view of snow-capped mountain peaks.
Just beyond the Chobhar Gorge. There is the 17th-century
temple of Jal Vinayak. The main image of the temple
is on a massive rock. Only a small part in front vaguely
resembles an elephant's head. The image at Jal Vinayak
is different from other images of Lord Ganesh.
Shrine of Shekha Narayan
is situated between Chobhar and Dakshinkali which represents
one of the four Narayans of the Kathmandu Valley. The
shrine stands on a hillock beneath a stalactite rock.
At the base of Shekha Narayan is a pond with several
verities of fish.
DAKSHINKALI :
The temple of Dakshinkali is situated about two kilometers
south of Shekha Narayan. Dakshinkali is an important
place of pilgrimage, drawing over 400,000 pilgrims a
year. Pilgrim visit this temple to offer prayers and
animal sacrifices to the Goddess Kali. Apart from the
religious aspects, the site has also been developed
as a popular picnic spot.
NAGARKOT :
There are various places around the edge of the Kathmandu
Valley which offer great mountain views, but the resort
village of Nagarkot is generally held to be the best
mountain watchers make their way up to the village,
stay overnight in one of Nagarkot's lodges or hotels
than rise at dawn to see the sun appear over the Himalayas.
Nagarkot is popular tourist
resort of Nepal. It is situated 32 Kilometers east of
Kathmandu at an altitude of 2175m. above the sea level.
The panorama of the major peaks of eastern Nepal Himalayas
including Mt. Everest can be seen from here. Himalayan
peaks like Manaslu (8463m) Ganesh Himal (7111m) Langtang
(7246m) Gaurishanker (7134m) can also clearly seen from
Nagarkot. A motor able road links Nagarkot with Bhaktapur.
MANAKAMANA TEMPLE
Goddess Manakamana is highly noted as a wishful filling
goddess through out the country. The holy temple of
goddess Manakamana lies on a beautiful ridge west of
Kathmandu valley. It is said that she is the younger
sister of goddess Kali. She is regarded to be a very
sacred goddess. The temple is important from the historical
and archeological point of view. It is a famous pilgrimage
site for Hindus. Manakamana is four hours walk up hill
from the highway. On the occasion of Visit Nepal Year
1998, the cable cars have been plied from Kurintar Village,
Chitwan to the hill of Manakamana, which takes only
8 minutes to reach there.
DAMAN
Daman is situated 80 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu
at an altitude of about 2,400m. Daman is located on
the Tribhuvan Highway in between Kathmandu and the town
of Birgunj. For the view of breathtaking grandeur of
the world's highest peaks extending in one glittering
are from far-west of Dhaulagiri to far-east of Mt. Everest
there is no better place than Daman. There is a view
tower fitted with long range telescopes. Daman can be
reached in four hours drive from Kathmandu.
POKHARA
Pokhara valley is situated at an altitude of 827 meters
above the sea level and is 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu
valley. Prithivi Raj Marga is the highway linked with
by Bhairahawa by Siddhartha Raj Marga [Sunauli border]
It is a combination of the long arrays of world famous
snow clad peaks, emerald lakes, turbulent rivers with
deep Georges and picturesque villages inhabited by Magar,
Gurungs and Thakalis. Pokhara offers the magnificent
views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhare, five peaks
of Annapurna Himalayas and others. Pokhara numerous
lakes known as "Tal" in Nepal offer fishing,
boating and swimming, which ensure the famous Phewa,
Begnas and Rupa lakes of Pokhara. Pokhara is also referred
as the center of adventure. It is the starting point
for most of the popular trekking & rafting destination.
The serenity of Phewa lake and the magnificence of Machhapuchhare
[6,977m] rising behind it, creates an ambiance of peace
and magic
Phewa lake is situated
at an altitude of 784m above sea level with an island
temple at the middle of the lake. It is second largest
lake in the kingdom. Temple situated at the island is
the two storied pagoda dedicated to the boar magnification
of Ajima. The reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhare &
Annapurna can be seen in its serene water. Thick forest
lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake.
Begnas & Rupa
Lake:
Lies in the north-east of the Pokhara valley at the
distance of 13kms from the main city. These lakes are
locates at the foothill of Begnas, mountain and are
separated by the Pachabiya hill.
Seti River Gorges carved
by Seti-Gandaki is one of the natural wonder of Pokhara.
K.I. Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool & Prithivi
highway Bridge near bus park, provides a perfect view
of the river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made
by the turbulent flow of white water.
Davi's fall locally known
Patale Chhango in the southern flank of the Pokhara
valley is where the stream flowing from Fewa lake collapses
and surges down the rock into a deep gage, leaping through
several potholes.
Mahendra cave lies at
the north of the Pokhara valley. It is a large limestone
cave which is one of the few stalagmites stalactite
caves found in Nepal.
Tibetan Village Tashiling
in the south and Tashii Palkhel in the north of Pokhara
valley is the two Tibetan village which is inhabitant
by the Tibetan people who keeps themselves busy by producing
and trading woolen carpets and other handicrafts.
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.
Barahi Temple:
This is the most important religious monument in Pokhara.
Built almost in the middle of Phewa Lake, this two-storied
pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima,
the protectors deity representing the female force Shakti.
Devotees can be seen, especially on Saturday, carrying
male animals and fowl across the lake to be sacrificed
to the deity.
World Peace Pagoda a massive
Buddhist Stupa, is situated on top of a hill on the
southern shore of Phewa Lake. Besides being an impressive
sight in itself, the shrine is a great vantage point
which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range
and Pokhara city. You can get there by crossing the
lake by boat and then hiking up the hill.
Bindhyabasini Temple is
the center of religious activity in the old bazaar.
It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati, yet another manifestation
of Shakti. The park like grounds offer a fine picnic
area, and on Saturday and Tuesday when devotees flock
there to offer sacrifices, take on a festival local
flavor.
Pony treks are becoming
more popular by the day. With a landscape varying from
the even lakeside to small hills with the most famous
view in the country. Pokhara provides a magnificent
opportunity for sightseeing on horseback.
LUMBINI
(Lord Birth Birth Places)
Lumbini is believed to be the birthplace of the Buddha,
Siddhartha Gautama. It is a peaceful place located in
the western Terai of Nepal, close to the Indian border,
22km west of the towns of Bhairawa and Sunauli. There
is not much here except a few monuments and some monasteries.
It is believed that Maya Devi, the mother of the Buddha,
gave birth to Siddhartha, while she was traveling to
her parent’s house.
It is said that she went
into labor, then she bath in the pond and walk 25 steps
and then delivers here child. The main area is known
as the “Sacred Garden.” It only takes a
couple of hour to see everything. Most people, who come
here, visit for the day from Bhairawa. The best time
to visit Lumbini is the early morning or late afternoon,
and the hot mid-afternoon is best avoided.
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