Janakpur

Janakpur, known as Janakpurdham, is one of the historical and religious cities of Nepal. Janakpur is the administrative headquarters of Dhanusa District of the Janakpur Zone and has a population of approximately 80,000. The city is located about 123 km south-east of Kathmandu, 20 km from the Indian border at 26° 42' 44" N, 085° 55' 18" E. Janakpur has a substantial tourism industry due to its significance in the Hindu religion and is home to the only operational railway in Nepal, the Janakpur Railway. 

Janakpur historically called Mithilanchal, is the centre of the ancient Maithili culture, which has its own language and script.

The first millennium BC text Shatapatha Brahmana  tells that the king Mathava Wideha, led by his priest Gotama Rahugana, first crossed the Gandaki river and founded the kingdom of Wideha, whose capital city was Mithila. As Gotama Rahugana composed many hymns in the Rgveda, these events must date to the Rgvedic period.

The most important historical reference to Mithila/Janakpur is in the Hindu epic Ramayan, where Lord Ram's wife Sita Devi (also called Janaki) is said to have been the princess of Wideha. Her father, King Janak found baby Sita in a furrow of a field and raised her as his daughter. When she grew up, the king announced that she should be wed by whoever was able to string the divine bow of Shiva. Though many royal suitors tried, Lord Ram prince of Ayodha alone could even lift the bow. As Ram and Sita are major figures in Hinduism, Janakpur is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus.

In addition, both the great saints Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism, and Wardamana Mahavira, the 24th and final Tirthankara of the Jain religion, are said to have lived in Mithila/Janakpur. The region was an important centre of Indian history during the first millennium.

The centre of Janakpur is dominated by the impressive Janaki Mandir to the north and west of the bazaar. This temple, one of the biggest in Nepal, was built in 1898 by Queen Brisabhanu Kunwar of Tikamgarh. It is also called "Nau Lakha Mandir" after the cost of construction, said to be nine (nau) lakh. The oldest temple in Janakpur is Ram Mandir, built by the Gurkhali soldier Amar Singh Thapa.  Pilgrims also visit the more than 200 sacred ponds in the city for ritual baths. The two most important, Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar, are located close to the city centre. The wiwah Mandap temple where Lord Ram and Sita are said to have been married. It is situated next to the Janki Mandir.

Major religious celebrations include the major Hindu festivals such as Bijaya Dasami, and Dipawali. followed by spectacular Chhath Puja (sun worship) six days after Dipawali. Both the festivals Dipawali and Chhath are heavily celebrated with a carnival-like atmosphere. The locals take pride in the way these festivals are celebrated.

On the full moon day of February/March before the festival of Holi a one-day Parikrama (circumambulation) of the city is celebrated. Many people offer prostrated obeisances along the entire eight km route. Two other festivals honor Ram and Sita: Ram Nawami, the birthday of Lord Ram, in March–April, draws thousands of pilgrims. And the Biwaha Panchami or Biwaha festival re-enacts the wedding of Ram and Sita at the famous Biwaha Mandap temple on the fifth day of the waxing moon in November or early December(after Kartik Purnima),where Rama broke the bow of Shiva.

Pilgrims stay in one of the city's five good hotels or small guest houses. There are also five fully equipped dharmashalas.

Begnas Lake

Begnas Lake is the second largest lake of Pokhara Valley. Tucked away at an altitude of 650 meters, this lake is located in the Siswa village on the eastern part of Pokhara and is 13 km away from the city of Pokhara. Spread across a total area of 3 square km, the lake has a capacity of 29.05 million cubic meters. Average water depth of the lake is 9.37 meters and the maximum water depth is 13.84 meters. The northern and western parts of the Begnas Lake are relatively deeper than the eastern and southern parts.

If one thing defines Pokhara in popular tourist imagination, then it is its lakes with crystal clear. The word ‘Pokhara’ means the valley of the lakes and the word is a direct derivation of ‘Pokhari’ which literally means a lake. Apart from Begnas Lake, the other lakes which are some of the major Tourist Attractions in Pokhara are Phewa, Rupa, Maidi, Khaste, Gunde, Dipang and Kamal Pokhari inside the valley. 


The Begnas Lake area is composed of slate and phyllite zone with beds of calcareous conglomerate and gravel deposits. The vegetation here is different in comparison with that of the other parts of Pokhara. The major species on the southern aspect of the hills on the northern part of the Begnas Lake is Shorea robuista while the major species of the forest on the northern aspect of the hill lying on the southern part of the lake is Schima-Castonopsis. Dense forest characterizes the northern and southern part of the lake whereas there is cultivation on the eastern part and fishery project on the western part. The lake water is drained out by Khudi Khola from the western part. 


The forest area is rich with diversity of flora and fauna. The forest surrounding the Begnas Lake in Pokhara is home to more than 150 species of avian species. The northern part of the lake is best site for spotting water fowls. The forest is also home to mammal species including leopards. You will find here some endangered species of plants and animals.

Manakamana Temple

Manakamana is the name of a Hindu Goddess. It is believed that the Goddess fulfils the wishes of the people. The term ‘mana’ means the ‘heart’ or ‘soul’ and ‘kamana’ means the ‘wish’.

The most popular temple of Manakamana is in Gorkha. The others are in various places like manakamana. It is said that a King of Gorkha was blessed by the goddess to get victory over small kingdoms and make a big Gorkha. Manakamana of gorkha is a popular place for a specific fair called Panchami. The temple was initially inaccessible and one had to ride on horseback for 2–3 days. Now it is easily accessible by Cable Car. 

The queen of Ram Shah, the king of Gorkha born in 1614 AD, was a goddess known to only her devotee, Lakhan Thapa. One day the king saw his queen in the form of a goddess. He told about it to Lakhan Thapa and he died instantly, in 1636 AD. The queen committed Sati (commit cremation with the husband's pyre as per custom of that time). Lakhan Thapa lamented on her Sati.The queen consoled him to reappear again. Six months later, a farmer hit a stone while ploughing his field. Blood and milk came out from the stone. Lakhan Thapa came to know the news. He worshipped the place with 'tantric' rituals. The flow of blood and milk ceased. The site became the foundation of the present-day shrine- Manakamana Temple. Manakamana meaning wishes fulfilling goddess. The current pujari, Priest, is the 17th generation descendant of Lakhan Thapa. 

^{There is cable car service, the only cable car service in Nepal, from Kurintar to Manakamana, It is 10 minutes cable car ride from Kurintar to Manakamana. Kurintar is 95 km, 2 hours drive, from Kathmandu on the way to Pokhara. Kurintar is at an altitude of 258 meter high from sea level. When there was no cable car service people used to walk 3–4 hours all the way to Manakamana. Due to the Cable Car it is now very easy to get to this one of the most famous religious destination.}

Bindabasini Temple

Pokhara is a popular destination in Nepal, filled with many fascinating sights for tourists to investigate. One of the most popular and most visited of these is the intriguing Bindabasini Temple, known locally asBindhyabasini Mandir. Standing proudly atop a hill, this striking temple looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara.

The white pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhpuchhare mountain ranges. It is located near the busy Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a center of commerce in the Himalayas.

Bindabasini temple or Bindhyabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious fervor. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is Pokhara's chosen guardian deity. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple she is seen as Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty aspect of the goddess. Durga appears in the form of a Saligram. A Saligram, according to Hindu mythology is an propitious stone. It is said that the temple was created after the goddess ordered king Khadag Bum Malla to set up a her statue here. The Bindabasini temple was then founded in BS 1845. Since its establishment, Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Animal sacrifices are typically presented at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Hindu festival of Dashain sees large numbers of believers coming to offer sacrifices at Binhyabasini Mandir. Indeed, there is little space for tourist during the festival of Dashain.

The ornate structure of Bindabasini Temple is surrounded by a park-like landscape. Many come here to enjoy pleasant picnics whilst enjoying the amazing panorama. Spectacular views can be absorbed from this marvelous vantage point which looks out over the town of Pokhara and takes in some of the impressive Himalayas. Adding to the peaceful atmosphere is the fresh scent of “Dhup”.

A visit to Bindabasini Temple can be combined with a stroll through the Old Bazaar. Nearby is also the popular holiday leisure spot of Phewa Lake. Located at the foot of the hill on which Bindabasini Temple stands is the roadway to Sarangkot, another popular lookout point.

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

This Cave divided into two parts. First parts is about 40 meters long, there is a natural cave and temple of Load Shiva to visit the first you have to pay Rs 30 per person as entry fee. In this first part you are not allowed to take photos. Next parts start after temple which way goes to the down side if Devis fall, the distance about 100 meters from second entrance, from there you can see the view of Davis Fall as well as natural rocks, Electric lights are managed for the convenience of the visitor. To visit 2nd part you have to pay Rs 100 per person. This cost covers 1st part and 2nd part. So if you pay Rs 100 you can visit both parts. After the Lord Shiva temple on second parts of this Cave you are allowed to take photos. Second parts is closed during 4 month of Monsoon.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest is one of the tallest mountains in the world. It is part of the Himalayan Mountains. They were formed in the last few million years. After the supercontinent of Laurasia broke up millions of years ago, India moved slowly north towards Asia and then crashed into it. The seabed between the two plates (the earth's crust is divided into large areas of land called plates) was crumbled and pushed up on the northern rim of India to form mountains. These two plates of the earth's crust are still moving, so the Himalayas are being pushed up higher.
The highest mountain on the planet, Mount Everest is growing two inches taller each year. Satellite technology says the mountain is currently 29,107 feet tall. First recognized as the highest peek in 1852, it got its western name ten years later in 1862. Mount Everest was named for Sir George Everest (1790-1866), a British surveyor. Surveyors don't agree on the height of Mount Everest. The British government in the 1800's thought the height was 29,002 feet. In 1954 the Indian government said it's 29,028 feet, but a widely used unofficial figure says it is 29,141 feet! 
Mount Everest sits on the border between Nepal and Tibet. 
People from the western hemisphere weren't allowed to climb Mount Everest until the early 1920's. The first known climb that made it to the top was made by a New Zealander named Edmund Hillary and a Napalese named Tenzing Norgay. They climbed the mountain in 1953. Since then Everest has been climbed by 400 people. Access is restricted by the Nepalese to prevent too much damage to the environment.
Mount Everest is 97 degrees below freezing, talk about cold!

Panchase

Panchase Fewa lake Watershed Development Committee is a non profitable, non political social organization organized by the people living in Fewalake watershed area. It was established in 2067-06-17 (3 Oct. 2010) by an assembly representing all the six VDC's (Bhadaure Tamagi, Chapakot, Dhikurpokhari, Kaskikot, Sarangkot & Pumdhi Bhumdi)  of Fewa Lake catchments area. The assembly was managed by Nillgagan BIkash Samaj, Bhadaure Tamagi-4, Harpan Kask.