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LUMBINI: Lumbini the place
where the Buddha was born in 623 BC is situated
in the Terai plains of Nepal. A stone pillar
erected by Indian Emperor Ashoka in 249
BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the
sacred spot marks the nativity site. There
are several must visit places such as Sacred
Garden, Myanmar temple, China temple and
many more historical monuments and museums
which also includes several religious research
institutes. Lumbini is situated in the tropical
Terai plains to the south west of Kathmandu.
Access from Kathmandu fly to Gautam Buddha
airport at Bhairawa (45 min) and then drive
to Lumbini (22 km). Overland from Kathmandu
to Bhairava is (282km) i.e. 10 hrs and local
transport available rickshaws, taxis and
buses. The climate absolute extreme temperature
44 degrees Celsius maximum, 7 degrees minimum.
The rainy season lasts June -September.
 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 Himalayas 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.
DAMAN: For those seeking the ultimate
pan-Himalayan view, Daman is the place to
go. Located 80-km southwest of the Kathmandu
Valley, Daman (2,400m) 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.
MANAKAMANA: The temple of Manakamana
lies a top 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.
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
Nawami. Janakpur is also linked with Kathmandu
by air and road.
POKHARA VALLEY: Pokhara valley, the
most popular tourist destination in Nepal,
200 Km west of Kathmandu city lies beneath
the Annapurna range of the western Himalayas.
Pokhara, base for all treks to Annapurna
region offers many exotic places of interest
such as the Seti River Gorge, Mahendra Cave,
Devi's Falls and the famous Lake Phewa,
its still water displaying stunning reflections
of the majestic Fish Tail and Annapurna
Himalayas are the few.
THE MAJOR PLACE TO VISIT IN POKHARA:
 SARANGKOT:
This is a hill station situated 32 km far
from Pokhara Valley. It is a very popular
place for the magnificent view of the Himalayas
and the sunrise. Mountains like Annapurna,
Machhapucchre and Dhaulagiri are clearly
seen from here. The whole Pokhara City including
all the lakes. After the magnificent view
of the Himalayas and sunrise we return to
the hotel for breakfast.
FEWA LAKE: After breakfast proceed
on Fewa Lake. The second largest lake in
the Kingdom roughly measuring 1.5 by 4 Km.,
is the center of all attractions in Pokhara.
It is the largest and most enchanting of
the three lakes that add to the resplendence
of Pokhara. The eastern shore, popularly
known as Lakeside or Baidam, is the favorite
home base for travelers and is where most
of the hotels, restaurants and handicraft
shops are located.
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 Saturdays, carrying
male animals and fowl across the lake to
be sacrificed to the deity.
DAVI’S FALL: Locally know as
Patale Chhango (Hell’s Fall),Devi’s
Fall is an awesome waterfall lying about
2km south-west of Pokhara airport on the
highway to Tansen. David was washed away
by the Pardi Khola and mysteriously disappeared
down into an underground passage beneath
the fall. |
