Some Famous Sacred Sites of Nepal

It is interesting to have opportunity to observer and travel around the sacred religious sites and historical places of Nepal. There are many sacred sites in Nepal so it is also known as a country of temples. UNESCO have enlisted ten major places of historical and cultural importanted as World Heritage Sites. Your just a visit will help to explore the sites of real natural beauty and places of historical importances. There are few details of some prominent sacred sites of Nepal.

The Pashupatinath Temple:
This sacred shrine of God Shiva is situated just by the side of Bagmati River, a sacred river. It is the only largest and most worshipped Shiva Temple of the world. There is a sacred Shiva Linga of 3.5 feet height with five facets and it is only one in the world of its type. Located at just a distance of 5 km on northern east side is surrounded by Slesmantak Jungle.Silver coated artistic doors, gold plated roofs, pagoda house have made it cheristamic. Shiva Ratri is the famous day in which hundreds of thousand pilgrims and Saadhus visit this sacred site to pay their homage to the Lord Shiva. Hindus are only permitted to enter the temple complex however non-hindus can easily get a clear view to the temple complex from all sites at just a distance.
The Swayambunath Stupa:
It is believed to be created automatically about 2000 years ago that literally "Swa" a Sanskrit word means "Self" and "bhu" another Sanskrit word suggests "land" so it is defined as created by itself. It is enlisted in World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is situated at a distance of three kilometers on westward from the center city Kathmandu at a top of Padhmagiri hillock. It is a sacred Buddhist Shrine. The artistic and scriptural beauty and geographical location have made it a mystic place of Kathmandu. The four sides of the temple is painted with four eyes of Lord Buddha which is believed to be his watchful eyes. It is a good habitat of wild monkeys thus some have named it as monkey temple too.

The Boudhanath Stupa:
It is one of the sacred and largest Buddhist shrine of Nepal. It is supposed to be built in the 14 th century. There are almost 45 different Buddhist monasteries in its premise. It is another World Heritage Site of Kathmandu valley. Thousands of visitors especially Tibetan pilgrims visit this shrine daily. In these days it has emerged as a best location for pilgrimage and meditation.


Lumbini :
It falls in Terai fringe of Middle Nepal in the Rupandehi district. It is the sacred birth place of Lord Gautam Buddha. It is a complex of temples and shrines dating from 2en century B.C. to the 9th Century A.D. to the monasteries of modern time. The Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Temple which was built by the late king of Mustang and the Lumbini Bihar built by Nepal Government are some center of attraction in its main complex area. Outside the main complex there are other different stupa built by other countries. Thousands of visitors visit this sacred shrine daily.
Changunarayan Temple:
It is located on the top of Doladri hillock at a distance of 12 kilometers northward from the center city of Kathmandu valley at an altitude of 5000 meter. It is believed to be the Nepal's oldest temple of Pagoda Style built in about 3rd century. It is famous for its architecture and art-craft.
Budhanil Kantha Temple:
It is situated at the southern base of Shivapuri hillock at a distanc of 7 kilometers on northern side of the Center city of Kathmandu. It is named after Lord Bishnu. It is the largest lying statue of Nepal and Bharat. It is believed to be built by king Bishnu Gupt about 642 B.S. The gigantic statue of Lord Bishnu is lying on a 11-headed snake.