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NAMO BUDDHA :
This
Namo Buddha is situated on a hill above
Panauti and requires either drive or good
hike, walk is recommended to visit this
place. There is an amazing story concerning
Buddha being commemorated by an ancient
stone slab and a stupa with the all seeing
eyes of Lord Buddha. It is an ideal place
for in meditation. Monsoon i.e. May, June
July are not recommended. About two and a
half hours north of Dhulikhel on foot, the
stupa rest on a red-earth ledge near the
tops of jungle ridge. During February-March
pilgrimage season, Tibetans and Bhotias
arrive by the vanload to circumambulate it.
Among the houses surrounding the stupa is a
dinky Tamang 'Gompa' when you can enter.
A trial leads up to a bigger Tibetan gompa
on top of the prayer flag festooned ridge
behind and in one of the out buildings is
preserved a famous stone relief sculpture
depicting the legend of Namo Buddha.
According to the fable Buddha, in on of his
previous lives as a hunter, encountered a
starving tigress and her cubs here, and
moved by compassion, offered his own flesh
to her, a sacrifice that helped pave the way
for his eventual rebirth as the historical
Buddha. The stupa is supposed to contain the
hunter's bones and hair.
POKHARA VALLEY :
The
Pokhara Valley stands one of the most
picturesque sites of Nepal. Some believe it
to be the Nepalese Paradise in the
ecological sense. The perpetual beauty of
the valley is enhanced by its three renowned
lakes including Fewa, Begnas and Rupa which
own their natural resource in the glacial
sector of the Annapurna Range of the Supreme
Himalayas. The Annapurna Range is virtually
the abode of five major peaks, namely
Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Annapurna III,
Annapurna IV and Annapurna South. The scenic
beauty of the tall water-fall also makes our
trip more enchanting; it is called Devis
Fall. The mighty deep gorge of the Seti
River, the Mahendra Cave, the K.I. Singh
Bridge, The Mahendra Bridge, the Tibetan
Settlement are too seeing worthwhile.
Pokhara Valley owns the second biggest
woolen industry of Nepal; most of the rugs
are woven in Tibetan design. The valley is
also abound of Buddhist monasteries and
Hindu temples. One interesting shrine is the
'Barahai' belonging to a blood-thirsty Hindu
Goddess. It is located in a solitary island
within the Fewa Lake where animal slaughters
are not uncommon scenes as part of the
religious ritual called 'Puja.' Pokhara is a
major point which forks out to many
different trekking destinations. A fabulos
mountain flight in viewing the western
Himalayan Ranges of Nepal also starts from
here and ends here; it is an hourly air trip
handled by the domestic airlines. The
striking landmark is none other than Mt.
Machhapuchhre (the metaphorical usage of
Fish-Tail) though located at a far distance
direct to the magnetic north. Pokhara is
situated a little over 200 kilometers west
of the capital city and is connected by air
as well as by surface route. It also proves
a via-point in plying to Baglung, Shyangja
and Tansen. There are many panoramic and
interesting places to pay decent visits
outside the Kathmandu Valley. Most of them
can easily be reached from Kathmandu by
surface-route or air-route. Others we are
afraid you must follow up the trek-route
which is often lead through sloppy rough
trail.
KAKANI :
Kakani
is located 29 km north-west of Kathmandu at
an altitude of 1982 m above sea level and is
famous for the magnificent view over
Kathmandu Valley and the north-western
Himalayas ranges against the vastness of the
sky. The fabulous area of Kakani features
attractions ranging from beautiful alpine
scenery to the magnificent Himalayan
Panorama particularly the Ganesh Himal
massif. A close view of the other peak of
Himalayas which can be seen from here are
Gaurishanker (7134 in), Choba Bhamte (6016
in), Dorje Lakpa, Manaslu (8163 in),
Himalchuli (7893 in), Annapurna (8091 m) and
the other several peaks. A majestic view of
the sunset can also be seen from this place.
A trip to Kakani along the beautiful highway
of Trishuli Road, is scenically rewarding
with green forest and mountains grandeur in
one direction and fertile river flats and
terraces cultivation on the other. This road
begins from Balaju and terminates at Kaule
from where the road bifurcates.
LUMBINI :
Lumbini
is the birth place of Lord Buddha, the
apostle of peace and compassion. It is 21 km
west of Bhairahawa and 285 km south-west of
Kathmandu. It is a place of pilgrimage for
Buddhist as well as place of reverence for
peace lovers of any religious faith
throughout the world. In Lumbini the central
attraction is the sacred garden with Maya
Devi temple depicting the birth of Lord
Buddha, Ashoka Pillar pinpointing the birth
place of Buddha and Shakya Tank where Maya
Devi, the mother of Lord Buddha, is supposed
to have taken a dip before bringing forth
the baby - Lord Buddha. Around this holy
site, there are remnants of Monasteries and
Chaityas built over the centuries following
Buddha's birth in 632 BC.
The work is underway at Lumbini to transform
three square miles of flat, empty land into
an expression of Buddha's peace and
compassion creating a sculpted landscape to
make the teaching of Lord Buddha accessible
to all humanities. The project area designed
on a north-south axis encompasses three zone
each covering one square mile. The Lumbini
village lies as a gateway to the outer
world. The second zone, on either side of a
canal and walkway will be developed into a
monastic enclave where nations, institutions
and organization can build places of worship
that reflect varying religious ideals and
styles. A meditation center will be the
highlight of this zone. The third and most
important zone is the sacred garden itself
where the beauty of its plant life will be
restored to create a reverent atmosphere in
which one can experience Buddha's universal
message. |