Ichangu Narayan Festival
- 12/05/2020
Haribodhini Ekadashi is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is the day when Vishnu awakens from his cosmic slumber. The festival usually falls in October – November. During the festival, many pilgrims gather at Ichangu Narayan temple.
Nagarjun Day Hike
- 12/07/2020
Nagarjun hill is also known as Jamachok hill, a day hike to Nagarjun Hill is perfect day escape from the busy Kathmandu. The Nagarjun is located only about 15 minutes away from city center of Kathmandu and it falls now in Shivapuri-Nagarjun national park.
Nagarjun Day hike or trek is available every day with Outfitter Nepal Treks and Expedition. You have great views of Annapurna Himalayan range, Manaslu Himalayan range, Ganesh Himal and langtang Himalayan range from the top of the Nagarjun hill. The Nagarjun has religious importance as well, there is Buddhist monastery with statue of Lord Buddha and statue of Arya Nagarjuna too. Many people hike and visit the monetary to pay the homage to the respect God as well.
Nagarjun day tour can be arranged any day on sunny day so, you can see the great Himalayan views and can experience the hike through forest. It takes approximately 3 hours to reach the hill top of Nagarjun from the Balaju bypass. There is entrance gate of the National park near Balaju bypass where we start our day hike to the hill of the Nagarjun and once we reach the top of the hill then return the same trail to the start point to end the day hike.
The Nagarjun Day Hike is a perfect selection if you have a day in Kathmandu and want to utilize the day in best way. It does not probably attract to those who have plan to do longer trek in Nepal such as Everest Base camp or Annapurna Base camp however if you have limited days and not have enough day to take the longer treks, then the Nagarjun day hike is the perfect introduction of hiking experience in Nepal.
Origin of Swayambhunath
- 12/07/2020
According to the 15th century Swayambhu purana, Lord Buddha planted a miraculous lotus that radiated a brilliant light and blossomed in the lake that once covered the Kathmandu Valley. This lotus later transformed into a sacred hill on its own and the place came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning ‘Self-Created’ or ‘Self-Existent’.
Swayambhunath is regularly visited by thousands of pilgrims including Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, Newari Buddhists of central and southern Nepal, and even people of other faiths.
The ‘Monkey Temple’
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Swayambhunath is also fondly known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ on account of hundreds of monkeys that abound the hill.
At short distances from Swayambhunath are other historical temples such as the Shiva Jyotirlinga temple of Pashupatinath, Boudhanath Stupa, Changu Narayan, Dakshinkali and Budhanilkantha.
Golden Vajra at Swayambhunath Temple
Swayambhunath houses the famous six meter high image of Shakyamuni, the oldest persona of Lord Buddha. Evening prayers are held every day around this statue along with the chanting of Sanskrit sutras.
Celebration of Festivals
The two main festivals celebrated at Swayambhunath are Buddha Jayanti and Losar. During these occasions, many pilgrims circumambulate the temple while the monks create a lotus pattern on the stupa with saffron-colored paint. The month-long Gunla celebration marking the end of the rainy season is another important event in Swayambhunath.
A Fascinating Experience
Swayambhunath is a mosaic of small stupas, pagoda temples and monasteries, and presents a magnificent view of the Kathmandu valley. Centuries-old statues, thousands of butter lamps, carved icons and the fragrance of incense sticks create a magical atmosphere at this ancient religious shrine.
Some of the prominent monuments in Swayambhunath include the Buddha statue on the western side, the huge gold-plated Vajra ‘thunderbolt’ in the east, statue of the sleeping Buddha, the Dewa Dharma monastery, noted for a bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings, and the temple dedicated to Harati, the goddess of children.
Swayambhunath is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in entire Nepal and must not be missed on a trip to Kathmandu.