Ugratara, Dandeldhura

Ugratara, Dandeldhura It is a famous shaktipeeth of far western Nepal. It situated 5 km north of city of Dandeldhura. The main deity is Durga with eight hands and there is a two storied pagoda style temple. There is a big fair on the full moon in the month of Kartik.

Access: It is a three hour bus ride from Dhangadhi in the Terai.

Tripura Sundari, Baitadi

The temple of Tripura Sundari is dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is in Baitadi district.

Sahasreshwar, Achham

This temple is located in the famous Khaptad region of Achham. This site is also mentioned in the Skanda Purana.

Shaileshwari, Doti

The temple of Goddess Shaileshwari is situated at Silgadhi in Doti district. It is one of the most famous shrines in the mid-western and far-western hills of Nepal. There is mention of the place in the Skanda Purana. The deities in the temple complex include a Shiva lingam, Chaturbhuj Narayan, Ganesh, Bhairab and Masta. Special pujas are offered here during the Dashain festival.

Access: There is a motorable road served by regular bus services from Dhangadhi, Kailali to Dadeldhura and then to Silgadhi, Doti in the hills. The mountain road is known as Bhim Dutta Marga. Silgadhi is also linked by air service to Dipayal, the headquarters of the Far Western Development Region.

Badi Malika, Bajura

This temple dedicated to Goddess Kali is situated at an altitude of 3,800 m in Bajura district in the far western hills near the Budhi Ganga and Karnali rivers. There is mention of Badi Malika in the Skanda Purana and Swasthani Brata Katha. According to the Swasthani Brata Katha, the shoulder part of Sati Devi, Shiva’s consort, fell at this place while Shiva wandered around the earth with the corpse of his dear wife on his shoulders. It is a Shakti Peeth, and a temple was built at the spot where the part of the body fell. Pilgrims visit this temple hoping to get their wishes fulfilled.

Baidyanath, Achham

The Shiva Temple at Baidyanath is located at the confluence of the Budhi Ganga and Saraswati rivers in Achham district in the far western hills. There is mention of this place in the Skanda Purnana.

Khaptad Ashram

It is believed that the first Aryan entered Nepal through the route of Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash to settle in Khaptad. The history of Khaptad was enhanced half a century ago when the great scholar Swami Sachidananda Saraswati also known as Khaptad Baba, chose the place for his ashram (dwelling). Far West Nepal is as exciting for naturalists as it is for pilgrims and tourists. The Mahakali and Seti region famous for Khaptad National Park is plentiful in rare variety of living species. The green plateau of Khaptad is home to musk deer, jungle cats and the extensive grassland of Khaptad abounds in uncommon breeds of aromatic and medicinal plants. Among the 35 different types of forests recognized in Nepal 16 are found in the Khaptad Park.

Access: Khaptad Ashram, is situated at 2,923 meters and the national park region falls in the districts of Achham, Bajhang, Doti and Bajura in far west Nepal. The region is accessed from Attariya on the Mahendra Highway toward from where one has to travel north to Dipayal. From Dipayal it is an 8 to 9-hour trek. Another option is flying from Nepalgunj to Sanphe Bagar from where the Khaptad National Park area is only a day's trek away. The best time to visit Khaptad is during fall and spring when the weather is good. Buki Daha and Sajhghat are other religious sites in the area.

Chandannath, Jumla

Chandannath is one of the most famous temples in the mid-western hills and is located in Jumla. It is dedicated to Dattatraya, the trinity form of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Access: There are regular flights to Jumla from Nepalgunj. A track road has recently been opened linking Jumla with Surkhet in the south, but it will be quite some time before reliable bus services operate along this treacherous mountain road.

Swargadwari, Pyuthan

Swargadwari literally means gateway to heaven, and legends have it that the five Pandavas of Mahabharat journeyed to heaven from Swargadwari. Swargadwari is associated with a saint named Swargadwari Mahaprabhu who took samadhi in 1940 AD. There is a big fair at the site in Nepali month of Kartik and Baisakh. Pilgrims visiting also get a chance to experience the uniqueness of Midwest Nepal.

Access:It is situated 26 km west of Khalanga in Pyuthan in Rapti Zone north of Dang valley at an altitude of 2,200 meters. The area can be reached via Bhalubanga on the Mahendra Highway to Bhingri from where Swargadwari is 5-hour trek away. Another route is from Lamahi to Dang district headquarters Gorahi from where the temple site is a day's trek away. Pony rides are available on the way to Swargadwari to facilitate pilgrims and cable car service at is also being considered.

Bala Tripura Sundari, Dolpa

This temple dedicated to Goddess Durga is in Dolpa district. It is situated on a hillock surrounded by the Bheri River on three sides. There are five stone images of Bala, Tripura, Sundari, Devi and Mahakali.

Access: There are regular flights to Juphal, Dolpa, from Nepalgunj.

Bageshwari, Banke

The Bageshwari Temple is situated on the bank of a large pond in the old part of Nepalgunj town and is dedicated to Goddess Bageshwari, the Goddess of Speech or Voice. It is the most famous temple in Nepalgunj. According to the Swasthani Brata Katha, it was here that the tongue of Sati Devi, Shiva’s consort, fell while Shiva wandered around the earth with the corpse of his wife on his shoulders. A temple was built at the spot and became known as Bageshwari. Devotees throng the temple every day to offer prayers and worship.

Access: It is in proper Nepalgunj town. Nepalgunj is linked by the national highway with all the major towns and cities of Nepal and India. There are regular daily flights linking it to Kathmandu.

Ujireshwari, Palpa

It was constructed by Ujir Singh Thapa, a commander of Nepal army who defeated the British in the war of 1814-16 in the Palpa front, although Nepal lost the war on other fronts. He is reported to have made a vow that he would construct a temple if he were able to defeat the British. It is a three-storey temple in pagoda style and is dedicated to goddess Durga. There is a big fair during Krishnasthami.

Access: It is situated in Tansen which is connected by road from Butwal and Pokhara.

Gajendra Mokshya Dibyadham

Triveni is situated near the Indian border where the River Narayani, or Gandak, emerges from the Siwalik ranges to flow into the Gangetic plains. It is called Triveni (meaning three streams or rivers) as the large Narayani River mingles with the smaller Sona and Pancha rivers. This place is often mentioned in the Hindu Scriptures for a number of reasons. There is the Balmiki Ashram, said to be the retreat where a pregnant Sita, banished by her husband Ram, took refuge in the great sage’s ashram and gave birth to her two sons, Lava and Kush. It was here that the sage wrote the epic Ramayana.
The place is also known as Hari-Har Kshetra, sacred to both Shaiva and Vaishnava followers of the Hindu religion. Hari means Vishnu and Har means Shiva. There is a temple enshrining the idol of Hari-Har - half Vishnu, half Shiva.
The site contains a holy place called Gajendra Mokshya Tirtha where according to the Barah Purana, a god worshipping elephant (Gajendra meaning Elephant King) was caught in the jaws of a powerful alligator while wading in the waters to pluck lotus flowers for worship. Lord Vishnu hearing his devotee’s prayer for help personally descended on the spot riding on his Garuda and killed the alligator with his Sudarshan Chakra (discus) and saved the elephant. This act of liberation (mokshya) of the elephant king from the clutches of the crocodile (graha) has earned this place the name Gajendra Mokshya. A big fair is held at this site on Magh Krishna Amabasya, or the dark night (no moon), in the month of Magh (Jan/ Feb). Pilgrims, from both the hills and plains of Nepal and from India, take a ritual bath in the river on this occasion.

Access: Triveni can be reached by taking a link road from the Narayanghat-Butwal section of the East-West Highway.

Ridi, Gulmi

Ridi is situated on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River where it joins the smaller Ridi River to form a confluence and changes its direction of flow from north-south to west-east. Ridi is also called Ruru Kshetra in Sanskrit. There are a number of temples in Ridi, the most prominent ones being those of Rishikesh and Mukundeshwar. This area also contains a number of caves, including Kanya Gufa which has been the abode of sadhus, or holy men. Among the many festivals and fairs (melas) held in Ridi, the Maghe Sankranti draws the maximum number of pilgrims who take a bath in the waters of the Kali Gandaki River. Ridi is also known as the place where Rana Prime Minister Juddha Shumshere spent his last years of life as Rajarshi after voluntarily renouncing the all powerful Prime Minister’s Office.

Access: Ridi is connected by road from Tansen (north) and Butwal (south).

Gupteshwar, Kaski

It is a sacred cave situated near the well known David Falls in Pokhara where the Seti River emerges from underground. The cave is nearly 3 km long, and a Shiva lingam has been preserved here in the condition that it was found in. The site was discovered only in the 1990’s.

Access: The temple is easily accessible.

Taal Barahi, Kaski

Taal Barahi Temple is located on an island in the middle of Phewa Lake in Pokhara. The two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima representing the female force. Devotees in large numbers throng the temple during the fair held in the Nepali months of Baisakh (April-May) and Kartik (November-December).

Access: The temple is reached by boats from the lakeside in Pokhara.

Bindhyabasini, Kaski

Bindhyabasini Temple is the most famous temple in Pokhara. Standing on a park-like ground, the temple enshrines the Goddess Durga. Legend relates this temple to the famous temple of Bindhyabasini in Bindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is believed that King Siddhi Narayan Shah of Kaski brought the deity to Pokhara before Nepal’s unification.

Access: It is situated in the heart of the old town quarters of Pokhara.

Galeshwar, Myagdi

Galeshwar is a Shiva temple located in the village of Galeshwar, 3 km north of Beni on the bank of the Kali Gandaki River. The Shiva lingam made of stone is black in color. A big fair is held at this temple during the festival of Bala Chaturdashi.

Access: There are regular buses from Pokhara to Baglung and from there to Beni. It is about two hours’ walk from Beni to Galeshwar. With the recent completion of the road from Beni to Jomsom, Galeshwar could soon be accessible by bus.

Lo Manthang Monastery, Mustang

Lo Manthang is a walled city located at an altitude of 4,000 m in Mustang, northern Nepal. It is a former principality which was once ruled by the Raja of Mustang. There is a monastery of the Sakyapa order located within the walled city which was constructed in the 15th century. It contains priceless old manuscripts and idols of the Buddhas. A special permit is required to visit upper Mustang that lies to the north of Kagbeni.

Access: Upper Mustang is accessible via Jomsom which is accessible by both air and land. Upper Mustang is five days trek from Jomsom.

Damodar Kunda, Mustang

Damodar Kunda, situated at an altitude of 6,400 m north of Muktinath, is the source of the Kali Gandaki River where the shaligram fossil stones are found aplenty. Shaligrams are found along the Kali Gandaki from Kagbeni to as far south as Ridi. Geologists consider the shaligram to be ammonite fossils that lived in the sea millions of years ago during the Jurassic Period when the Himalaya was under water. The Hindu faithfuls consider these fossils to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu himself. There are three kundas, or ponds, at the foot of Damodar Himal.

Access: It is an extremely difficult trek in view of the high altitude. The three-day trek to Damodar Kunda starts at Kagbeni and passes through Tanghe and Chhuskang. The route meanders through uninhabited areas. Many of the pilgrims head for Damodar Kunda during the full moon in the month of Shravan (July/August).