Nepal is a country that boasts not only diverse and stunning natural landscapes, but also a wealth of Hindu religious and cultural heritage. Nepal is home to numerous popular Hindu pilgrimages and sacred sites that are highly revered by both devotees and tourists. Nepal is home to several renowned Hindu pilgrimage sites, some of which are widely recognized.
The Pashupatinath temple is a significant pilgrimage site for devotees of Shiva, known for its pagoda-style architecture. The location of the place is 3 kilometers west of Kathmandu, situated on the bank of the Bagmati River. There are a total of 1000 Shiva Lingam located in Pashupatinath. The site has been recognized by UNESCO and included on the list of world heritage sites. The main festivals celebrated at Pashupatinath are Maha Shivaratri and Teej, which hold great significance. During these festivals, the majority of women visit the temple.
The temple is adorned with a gold pinnacle. Visitors have the opportunity to encounter Sadhus at Pashupatinath and even capture photographs with them. The temple is renowned for its ancient art, culture, and sculpture. The Pashupatinath temple area is surrounded by approximately 492 temples. The temple cremations are also available for visitation. Funerals of Nepalese individuals continue to occur daily on the Ghats located to the south of the temple. Every evening, a group of people gathers on the bank of the Bagmati river, opposite the temple, to perform Aarti.
Muktinath, located at an elevation of 3710 meters, is a renowned pilgrimage site that holds significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. The sacred place for salvation is located beyond the mountains. The complex features a Pagoda-style temple dedicated to Vishnu, housing a sacred image of the deity. Another significant attraction is Mukti Kunda, which consists of two holy ponds named "Laxmi" and "Saraswati" Kunda. These ponds are situated in front of the temple. It is believed that immersing oneself in these ponds can cleanse one's sins. Muktinath, which derives its name from Sanskrit, holds significant religious history. On this site, the bells of Hinduism and the flag of Buddhism are displayed together, symbolizing the recognition of unity in diversity.
The temple is surrounded by an atmosphere of peace and harmony. It is believed that the Hindu god Brahma has ignited eternal flames that continuously burn at Muktinath. Additionally, individuals have the opportunity to partake in a sacred bathing ritual at 108 taps located behind the temple. Water from the Himalayas remains cold and continues to flow consistently throughout the year.
The Changunarayan temple, located 8 miles away from Kathmandu city, is renowned as the oldest temple in Nepal. The temple is situated atop a hill in the Bhaktapur district. There is an inscription of Mandeva, who is recognized as the first historical king of Nepal. It is renowned for its culturally and archaeologically significant ancient art, craft, stones, and metalwork.
Patan was renowned as a Buddhist city in ancient times. Patan is a pilgrimage site that is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. In the Patan Durbar Square area, you can find a total of 55 major temples, 136 Buddhist monasteries, and ancient metal craft. Patan, also referred to as "The City of Beauty," is located 5 km away from the capital city. It is renowned for its exceptional art and crafts. The Krishna Temple and Baglamukhi Temple are well-known temples in this area. Some of the places worth exploring in Patan square include the Patan Museum, Mahaboudha, Kumbeshwar, Keshav Narayan, Vishwanath, Bhimsen, and Taleju temples, as well as Chasin Dewal and Sundari Chowk.
Janakpurdham is located in the Dhanusha district of Nepal. This site is renowned for its ancient culture, arts, and architecture. Janakpurdham celebrates two major festivals, namely Vivaha Panchami and Ram Navami. It is also renowned for being the historic site where Ram and Sita were married. One of the holiest cities among Hindu people is considered to be. Devotees from Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka visit this holy site on various occasions. In addition to the Ram Janaki Temple, another place worth visiting is Ratna Sagar. The sacred pond, located just off this temple, is a 10-minute walk away.
The Budhanilkantha Temple, located at the base of the Shivapuri Hills, is commonly referred to as Jal Narayan. The temple, located approximately 8 km from the city, is renowned as the abode of the slumbering Lord Vishnu. This temple is renowned among Hindu devotees. The Budhanilkantha Temple is the largest stone-carved temple in Nepal. Haribodhini Ekadashi is observed annually during the months of October and November. The large fair will be held this month. This temple is a unique Hindu shrine that attracts many Indian tourists.
The Pathivara Temple, located at an elevation of 3,794 meters, is situated in the Taplejung District of eastern Nepal. The Pathivara Temple, known as the Goddess Pathivara, is a revered pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is considered a significant holy place by the Limbu community in Nepal. The belief in this temple is that devotees who worship here have their wishes fulfilled by Goddess Pathivara. Devotees please the goddess by offering animal sacrifices, as well as gold and silver. There are two ways to reach the temple: by driving or by trekking. Travellers visiting the Kanchenjunga trek pass through the temple. The Temple area offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Mt. Kanchenjunga.
Halesi Mahadev, located at an elevation of 1500 meters, is a renowned pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists in the eastern region of Nepal. The temple is located inside a cave that is situated 67 feet below the surface. This cave is positioned between the Dudh Koshi and Sun Koshi rivers. The temple is dedicated to Lord Mahadev. According to belief, Lord Mahadev sought refuge in that place while evading the demon Bhasmasur. In addition to its religious significance, Halesi also captivates visitors with its stunning natural beauty, picturesque surroundings, and breathtaking landscape views.
The Manakamana Temple, located at an elevation of 1300 meters, is situated in the Gorkha district of Nepal atop a hill. This temple is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Durga Bhagawati. The Manakamana Temple is a highly revered sacred place dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Bhagwati. The word "Manakamana" has two distinct meanings in Nepalese. "Mana" refers to the heart, while "Kamana" means wishes. Visiting the temple is believed to have the power to make your heartfelt wishes come true. The temple is accessible by a 10-minute cable car ride from Kurintar.
Devghat is a sacred site in Nepal, situated at the confluence of the Seti Gandaki and Krishna Gandaki rivers. Devghat is a place that is home to a variety of temples and caves, primarily dedicated to Hindu deities. There are several ashrams, gurukuls, and Sanskrit schools located within the Devghat area, including those belonging to Rishi. During the Makar Sankranti festival, a large number of pilgrims visit this revered site to partake in holy baths on the Kali Gandaki river.
The Doleswor Mahadev Temple is located 20 km away from Kathmandu city in the Bhaktapur district. The pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple is considered incomplete without also visiting Doleshwor Mahadev and Pashupatinath Temple. Shiva devotees visit all three of these holy places in order to cleanse themselves of their sins at least once in their lifetime. During the time of the Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers sought forgiveness from Lord Mahadev for the numerous lives lost during the Kurukshetra war. Lord Mahadev, who was unwilling to forgive them, transformed into a bull.
Pandav recognized him and attempted to fly away, but Pandav managed to catch his tail. Eventually, the head and body became separated. According to belief, the head is said to be located at Doleshwor, while the body is believed to be in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand. During various Mahadev festivals, a significant number of devotees gather at the temple to celebrate.
Gosaikunda is a beautiful glacier lake located in the Langtang region. The trek from Dhunche typically takes 2 to 3 days. According to legend, Gosaikunda, a lake in the Puran region, is believed to have been created by Lord Shiva using his Trident. After ingesting the Halahal or Kalkut poison, he had to drink water. He needs to digest the Kalkut poison, which was a product obtained from the Samundramanthan by both Gods and Ashurs. The most auspicious day for the Pilgrimage is the Full Moon day, also known as Shrawan Purnima, which falls in the month of July. Many pilgrims from Nepal and India choose to bathe in the Lake. Trekking to Gosaikunda is highly regarded as one of the most popular treks in the Langtang region. Gosaikunda is also a source of the Trishuli River.
Damodar Kunda is a glacier lake located on the slopes of Damodar Himal in Mustang. Damodarkund holds significant importance as a pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The pilgrimage is comparable to the Kailas pilgrimage made for Lord Shiva. The Damodar Lake is situated northeast of the main Mustang trekking route, approximately a three-day walk away. It is in close proximity to the border with Tibet. The source of the Kaligandaki River is Damodar Kunda. The site is located in the Shaligram region, which is why it is also referred to as Shalgrams. The River Gandaki is also known by other names such as Kaligandaki, Saptagandaki, and Narayani.
The Swargadwari Temple, located in the Pyuthan district of western Nepal, is renowned as one of the country's most popular Hindu pilgrimage destinations. In Hinduism, "Vaikuntha Dwar" refers to the door of heaven. It is widely believed that visiting this sacred site will grant access to heaven in the afterlife. Every year, numerous pilgrims from India and Nepal visit this place. The hilltop temple is located at an elevation of 2,100m/6890ft and is approximately 360 km or 224 mi away. The temple is located in a picturesque area, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayas, lush hills, and fertile farmlands. Additionally, I recommend visiting the Aakhanda Yagya Shala Mandir, where you can witness the eternal flame that has been burning for centuries. Next, I recommend visiting the Gufa Mandir, a place where various prayers are offered.
According to legend, Swargadwari is a sacred place where the king of heaven, Indra, performed a Vedic Yagya during the Satya Yug. According to local folklore, Guru Maharaj Narayan Khatri, who is popularly known as Swami Hamasananda, spent his life in this area milking and herding thousands of cows. He was also known for performing Yagyas. He requested his landlord to donate his land. While digging the land, he discovered a mixture of rice, curd, and fire. Later, Swami Hamasananda explained that during the Dvapara Yug, the Pandavas buried those individuals and also worshipped the site before departing for heaven. The holy fire has continued to burn since that time, and it is believed that the ash from the holy fire possesses healing properties, capable of curing various ailments such as headaches and stomach aches.
The Supa Deurali Temple is a revered Hindu temple that is renowned for being a wish-fulfilling goddess. According to legend, it is believed that the goddess grants wishes to individuals who offer prayers with a heart that is clean and pure. The temple of the goddess is located in a vast gorge, at an elevation of 1,372m/4,500ft. It features a beautiful pagoda-style architecture.
Triveni Dham is a renowned Hindu pilgrimage site located at the confluence of three rivers: Narayani, Sona, and Tamasa. Religious sites are home to numerous historical temples. Pilgrims from Nepal and India visit this place throughout the year to perform pujas and partake in holy baths on various occasions. Furthermore, it is regarded as a sacred location where the cremated remains of individuals are believed to attain salvation. In addition, important death-related rituals such as shraddha and priti darpan are performed in this location.
The Valmiki Ashram, which is associated with the Ramayana, is located near Triveni Dham. The place mentioned in the Ramayana where Sita stayed during her exile, along with her two sons Lava and Kusa, is also known as this.
According to legends, gods, goddesses, and apsaras from heaven would descend to earth to bathe in this sacred river. This place is also associated with the liberation of Gajendra from the Bhagavata Purana. This place is renowned as the holy site where Gajendra, the elephant, achieved Moksha, or liberation from the cycle of life and death.
If you have any questions, please feel free to write us.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
TripAdvisor