MUKTINATH
The famous temple of Lord Muktinath
lies in the district of Mustang
and is situated about 18-km northeast
of Jomsom at an altitude of
about 3,749 m. The temple is situated
on a high mountain range and
is visited during fair weather. There
are two ways to go to Muktinath
from Kathmandu. Either takes a direct
flight from Kathmandu via Pokhara
to Jomsom and hike for a couple
of hours via Kagbeni or to trek all
the way from Pokhara.
GORKHA
Gorkha is the birthplace of King
Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great,
the founder of modern Nepal.
Situated on a hill overlooking the
snowy peaks of the Himalaya
is a beautiful old palace known as
Gorkha Durbar. There are two
attractive Temples of Gorakhnath
and Kali inside the palace precinct.
Gorkha can be reached in about
six hours by road from Kathmandu and
four hours from Pokhara. A side trip
Manakamana temple on the way
to Gorkha is very enjoyable and interesting.
HELAMBU
Helambu, situated about 72-km northwest
of Kathmandu, is famous of
its scenic grandeur and pleasant climate.
There are many Buddhist monasteries.
Amidst a rich and enchanting landscape.
Sundarijal, the starting point to
trek to Helambu, is a mere
11-km away from Kathmandu.
DAMAN
For those seeking the ultimate pan-Himalayan
view, Daman is the place to go.
Located 80-km southwest of the Kathmandu
Valley, Daman (2,400 m) offers
the only unimpeded view of the entire
Himalayan range. Daman is located
on the Tibhuvan Highway in between
Kathmandu and the town of Birgunj.
There is a view tower fitted with
long range telescopes. Daman
can be reached in four hours from
Kathmandu.
JANAKPUR
A great religious place, Janakpur
is famous as the birthplace of
Sita, the consort of Lord Ram.
There is an artistic marble temple
of Sita (Janaki), popularly known
as Naulakha Mandir. Religious festivals,
trade fairs and other festivals are
held here on Bivaha Panchami
and Ram Navami. Janakpur is
also linked with Kathmandu by air
and road.
BIRATNAGAR
The second largest city of Nepal,
Birtanagar has some of the
largest industrial undertaking in
the country, There are a couple of
pilgrimage spots in Dharan
and Barahachhetra nearby the city,
Biratnagar is linked with Kathmandu
by air and road.
BANDIPUR
Located on a 1000m ridge in Tanahu
district some 140km from kathmandu,
Bandhipur's hallmark is its beautiful
scenery, At the easternpart of the
town is the pagoda -roofed Bindabasini
temple which houses goddess
Durga, Bandipur's guardian deity.
The rich wooden carvings and detailed
brass -work that adorned the temple
are replicas of those found in the
many old pagoda structure of
the Kathmandu valley. The other
important temples and shrines
in the vicinity include the Mahalaxmi
temple with its exquisite woodwork
and the khadga Devi temple which comes
alive once a year during the Dasain
festival.
MANAKAMANA
The temple of Manakamana lies
atop a 1,302-m hill. The deity is
one of the manifestations of the Hindu
Goddess Bhagwati who is believed
to have the power to fulfill wishes.
It is one of the most popular pilgrimage
sites in Nepal.
Manakamana is situated 125
km to the west of Kathmandu.
It is a steep three-hour hike to the
hilltop from Abu Khaireni on the Kathmandu-Gorkha
highway. Or you can take the cable
car at Cheres, 104 km from Kathmandu
on the highway to Pokhara.
Package tours are available,
and you can be back the same day.
There are hotels at Manakamana
if you want to stay the night.
janaki@ccsl.com.np
