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Holy sites to visit in Nepal – The best place to witness the harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism

As a Hindu-majority country (81%) along with a significant and highly visible Buddhist minority (close to 9%), Nepal is home to an abundance of holy temples and other sacred spots both manmade and natural. Wherever you go in this small landlocked South Asian nation, it will offer a fascinating insight into the country’s religious and cultural heritage.

As Hinduism and Buddhism share common roots and histories, many sacred sites are actually important to both faiths. This attractive mix of religious sites stands as a testimony to the existence of harmony between these two religions.

The holy sites aren't restricted to the built structures but there are many natural features like mountains and lakes and caves are also often considered sacred in Nepal.

Here are some of the most beautiful sacred sites that is visited in Nepal recently.

Boudhanath Stupa Locate on map

Located about 11 km (6.8 miles) from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu. The massive mandal makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in the world. The distinctive white dome and the golden peak of Boudhanath Stupa is the primary holy site for Tibetan Buddhists in the world outside of Tibet.

It was built in the 14th-century and Many Buddhist sites in Tibet are modelled based on this extraordinary place. The Boudhanath area is a hub of Tibetan life in Kathmandu and the lanes around the stupa are full of Tibetan trinket shops catering to locals, as well as travellers. It’s auspicious to take a clockwise route around the stupa known as a kora path and to spin the brass prayer wheels along the way.

Fact Alert!: As of 1979, Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along with Swayambhu, it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area.

Lumbini Locate on map

Lumbini is a small town in the Western Terai located on the plains bordering India and according to archaeological evidence, was indeed the place where Buddha was born. Lumbini is one of many magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha.

Today, Lumbini is home to monasteries and Buddhist centres built by various countries with strong Buddhist traditions, so touring the place is like taking a tour of Buddhist architectural traditions from around the world.

Lumbini complex is divided into three areas: the Sacred Garden, the Monastic Zone and the Cultural Center and New Lumbini Village. The Sacred Garden remains the epicenter of the Lumbini area and consists of the birthplace of Buddha and other monuments of archaeological and spiritual importance such as the Mayadevi Temple, the Ashoka Pillar, the Marker Stone, the Nativity Sculpture, Puskarini Sacred Pond and other structural ruins of Buddhist stupas and viharas.

Fact Alert!: It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama at around 563 BCE. Gautama, who, according to Buddhist tradition, achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE, became the Buddha and founded Buddhism.

 Muktinath Temple  Locate on map

Muktinath standing tall at 3,710m (12,171ft) altitude is a sacred place to both Hindus and Buddhists. It is believed to be a place where liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth can be found. Located at the foot of the Thorung La pass, which must be crossed on the Annapurna Circuit Trek, a short drive or a longer hike starting from the village of Kagbeni in Lower Mustang offers incredible views of the snowy Himalayas and the dry, rocky landscape creating a heavenly atmosphere around us.

Despite the Muktinath being a Vishnu temple, it is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. This temple is considered to be 106th among the existing 108 Divya Desam and considered sacred by the Sri Vaishnava sect. Its ancient name in Sri Vaishnava literature is Thiru Saligramam.

Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters". For the Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath is an important place of dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers, and one of the 24 Tantric places. They understand the murti to be a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas

 Swayambhunath Stupa Locate on map

 

Swayambhunath is an ancient Buddhist stupa located on a hill top overlooking the city of Kathmandu. It can be reached via a steep staircase on the eastern side, or a more gradual road on the west. It’s one of the most iconic sites in Nepal with white dome, ornate bronze spire and intricately painted Buddha eyes. It’s also surrounded by numerous statues, temples and stone Chorten, as well as the numerous monkeys that gives Swayambhu the nickname of “Monkey Temple” famous among the western tourists.

Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous Hindu monarch 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

Fact Alert!: Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited the site in the third century BCE and built a temple on the hill which was later destroyed.

Shri Pashupatinath Temple Locate on map

Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu is often regarded as the most sacred Hindu place in Nepal. It’s located on the banks of the Bagmati River which, despite being sacred itself, is in a deplorably poor condition as it makes its way through the city. It’s where many cremations take place and lots of devout Nepalis come here to die – so make sure to be respectful of grieving families if hanging around or photographing the burning ghats.

Nevertheless, Pashupati is an impressive place to visit, the vibes and the atmosphere is completely different than any other Lord Shiva temples. The temple is also one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

It's not known exactly how old this Shiva temple is, but some of it dates from the 4th century B.C.E., and different buildings reflect different architectural styles. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple buildings, but all visitors are allowed inside the grounds. Pashupatinath is especially crowded during the annual Shivaratri festival, when sadhus (Hindu holy men) converge on the temple.

Lake Gosainkunda  Locate on map

Lake Gosainkunda sits in the Langtang National Park directly north of Kathmandu. The 14,370-foot-high lake is surrounded by beautiful mountains and will remain frozen for about half the year. Hindu mythology states that the gods Shiva and Gauri lived here, and thousands of pilgrims flock here during the Gangadashahara and the Janai Purnima festivals. In addition to pilgrims, some travelers make their way here while hiking the easier Langtang Valley trek.

The Hindu scriptures Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata refer to Samudra manthan, which is directly related to the origin of Gosaikunda.

Fact Alert!: The Samudra Manthana ( 'churning of the ocean') is one of the best-known episodes from the Hindu History. The Samudra Manthana explains the origin of Amrita.

Manakamana Temple Locate on map

The Manakamana Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, an incarnation of Parvati, located high on a hill in Gorkha District. In earlier times, the only way to reach the Manakamana temple was by a long strenuous trek for about three hours. Now anyone travelling the highway between Kathmandu and Pokhara will have noticed the cable car on the hill about halfway up it leads up to the temple. Although the temple itself was badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake and is undergoing repairs even now, Manakamana is still worth a stop in the highway.

On a clear day, there are good views of the Himalayan mountains from this temple. There are lots of places to buy delicious Indian snacks, as it’s a popular pilgrimage place for both Indians as well as the Nepali Hindus.

 Shree Bindhyabasini Temple Locate on map

The Bindhyabasini Temple is the oldest temple in the city of Pokhara, Nepal. The main temple is devoted to goddess Bindhyabasini, a Bhagawati who is the incarnation of Kali. There are smaller temples of goddess Saraswati, Shiva, Hanuman, Ganesha in the premises. The temple is situated atop a small hill and can be accessed via stone staircases on the East and North East.

Goddess Bindhyabasini is commonly believed by the residents of Miruwa that she is the replacement for the eighth child (Lord Krishna) of Devaki and Vasudeva. When Kansa tries to kill the child, who's been exchanged, she, who's herself a Devi disappears and is in fact goddess Bindhyabasini.