Swayambhunath

 

Swayambhunath is located in kathmandu,capital of Nepal which is one of the most popular, holy and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal.It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. Its lofty white dome and glittering golden spire are visible for many miles and from all sides of the valley. Historical records found on a stone inscription give evidence that the stupa was already an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination by the 5th century AD.For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath.It consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples.Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions.Amazing to look at, the architectural beauty of Swayambunath Temple gives way to the feelings of reverence and adoration. The stupa consists of a dome at the base and a cubical structure with eyes of Buddha looking in all the four directions. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. It has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south.

History of Swayambhunath

 When this temple was founded about 2,000 years ago, Kathmandu Valley was filled with a great lake. According to Buddhist legend, a single perfect lotus grew in the center of the lake. .The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning 'Self-Created' or 'Self-Existent'. The Bodhistava Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. In order to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, When the bodhisattva Manjusri drained the lake with a slash of his sword, the lotus flower settled on top of the hill and magically transformed into the stupa. Thus it is known as the Self-Created (swayambhu) Stupa. It is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous king Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.

 How to reach swayambhunath?

from airport

Once you know where is swayambhunath then you can plan to visit there. If you are somebody who just came from Airport and want to go there, then if you are taking a cab or taxi it will take maximum  1hours to reach there.You would be able to find plenty of vehicles around there.  There are two ways to reach the top of the monkey temple: the first and the most common is to get there with a car but the most beautiful way to reach the top of this amazing temple is to climb the 365 stairs of the temple.

 

Boudhanath  

Boudhanath temple is located in capital city of Nepal.It is about 11 km (6.8 mi) from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu.Boudhanath is also called (Boudha, Bouddhanath or Baudhanath or the Khāsa Caitya) which is one of the holiest Buddhist sitesThe Boudhanath temple, or Boudhanath Stupa, is the main reason visitors head toward the town. It is the main focus of tourism in the area because of it is the largest stupa found in Nepal and the holiest of all Buddhist temples outside of Tibet. The stupa in Boudhanath is the focal point of Tibetan culture inside of Kathmandu and all major holy Buddhist events and festivals are celebrated there. If you're lucky enough to be in Boudhana during the Tibetan New Year, or Losar festival, you'll be treated to one of the most distinctive Boudhanath sights and the largest celebration in the country.In 1979, Boudha became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Great Stupa of Boudhanath is the focal point of the district. There are at least 29 Tibetan Gompas (Monasteries & Nunneries) around Boudhanath. The culture is very much Himalayan with a strong presence of Tibetans & Sherpas, as can be evidenced by the number of restaurants selling momos, thukpa & other Tibetan favorites.

History of Boudhanath

 Boudhanath was a largely unknown, and infrequently visited town until the mid-1980s. Up until the 1980s, there was little infrastructure or tourist development here. The history of Boudhanath dates back to the fourteenth century, proceeding the infiltration of the Mughal people. No historian truly knows the reasons for its establishment but there are several theories. One is that the area was settled by Tibetan Buddhists after the invasion by the Chinese in 1959 with the Bodnath Stupa being the leading attraction as a place of holy pilgrimage. The Boudhanath temple eventually put the town on the map and the number of visitors have steadily increased.Nowadays, the stupa is the most popular site for Buddhists in Nepal, and throughout the day pilgrims can be seen circumambulating the structure chanting mantras. It is especially spectacular at night when adorned with butter lamps. Remember to walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction and also to spin the prayer wheels clockwise. There is a small entry fee (rps 150) to enter the stupa area.There are a handful of good hotels to choose from for anyone wanting to stay overnight in Boudhanath. There are also several good dining options, from street vendors to small restaurants. Anyone interested in Buddhist temples should make a point to visit the Boudhanath Stupa, even if just during a day trip from Kathmandu.

How to reach Boudhanath?

Once you know where is Boudhanath then you can plan to visit there. If you are somebody who just came from Airport and want to go there, then if you are taking a cab or taxi it will take maximum 30-45 minutes to reach there. If you want to go from public transportation, you should take the bus, microbus or tempo ( a three wheeler taxi) which says it is going to medical collage or sakhu or sundarijal. You would be able to find plenty of vehicles around there. 

 

Pashupatinath temple

Pashupatinath temple

It is located in kathmandu, capital of Nepal on the banks of Bagmati river.Pashupathinath is the guardian spirit and the holiest of all Shiva shrines in Nepal. This temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.The temple is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams (Holy Abodes of Shiva) on the continent. Over the past times, only born Hindus were allowed to enter the temple. Others could look at it from other side of the river. However, the norms have been relaxed due to many incidents.

Lord Shiva is known by many different names; and Pashupati is one.  Pashu means leaving beings, and Pati means master.  In other words Pashupati is the master of all living beings of the universe.  This is how lord Pashupati is eulogized in the Vedas, Upnisada and ohter religious books.

Pashupatinath is Nepal's most renowned Hindu cremation site. In HIndu culture, after the person  is dead, his/her dead body is wrapped in cloth and placed on bamboo litter and bodies are delievered by barefoot pallbearers accompanied by the male relatives. The eldest son from the family performs the cremation ceremony and the dead body is burnt. A few hours later the ashes are collected and swept in the river which will join the Holy Ganges eventually.

History of Pashupatinath :
 Pashupati means "Lord of the animals" and it one form of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva has 1008 name and forms and as Pashupati he watches over the souls of men and is worshipped as the patron deity of Nepal. Though there is no proof when the temple originated the oldest evidence is data 477 A.D but the temple may have stood here nearly 1000 years before that.As described in the history, this temple was attacked and badly destroyed by Sultan Samsuddin of Bengal in the mid 14th Century.  This plunder caused so much damage to the temple that it needed reconstruction.  It was only after ten years, in 1360 AD, that it could be reconstructed and renovated by Javasimha Ramvardhana.  Another renovation work here after was taken up by Jyoti Malla in 1416 AD.

How to Reach Pashupatinath ?
From Airport :
Once you know where is Pashupatinath then you can plan to visit there. If you are somebody who just came from Airport and want to go there, then if you are taking a cab or taxi it will take maximum 10-15 minutes to reach there. If you want to go from public transportation, you should take the bus, microbus or tempo ( a three wheeler taxi) which says it is going to Gaushala or Chabahil. You would be able to find plenty of vehicles around there.
Map that will show how to reach Pashupatinath from Airport.