Mahendreswor Temple

Mahendreswor Temple

On the very close to Kot square lies a beautiful pagoda shaped two-storeyed temple called Mahendreswor Temple. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and was built in 1562 AD by King Mahendra Malla of malla dynasty. A legend states that King Mahendra Malla use to visit Pashupatinath Temple and pay homage every day before his meal. It is said that, one night he had a dream where Lord Pashupatinath adviced him to build temple near his palace so that people who are not able to go to Pashupatinath can worship there. So, as per the wish King Mahendra Malla built this beautiful temple and named it Mahendreswor Temple by adding his name. Since the temple was built by the advice of Pashupatinath, this temple is also called mini Pashupati.  Everyday many hindu devotee visit this temple to worship.

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Sundari Chowk (Patan Durbar Square)

Sundari Chwok(Beautiful Courtyard)

After reaching Mul Chowk/Mul Courtyard in Patan DurbarSquare, there is another small door on the south part which leads to a most magnificent courtyard named Sundari Chowk/Beautiful Courtyard. The name itself describes the beauty of this courtyard. It is surrounded by three-storeyed building from all side with the best example of an ancient wooden architecture on its doors, windows and tympanums. On the center of this courtyard lies a waterspout known as Tusha Hiti. The stone engraved idols of various deity around the spout are much worth to see. On top of the spout there is a small stone temple believed as an architectural model of famous Krishna Mandir. Also, there is a huge stone in front of waterspout which is said to be the bed of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla where he use to meditate.

Tusha Hiti

Nepal One Tours and Travels is organizing guided sightseeing tours everyday in February and March 2019.

Mahaboudha Temple (Patan)

Mahaboudha Temple

If you are visiting Patan Durbar Square, you must not fail to reach Mahaboudha Temple. This beautiful shikhara styled temple was built by one of the local priest named Abhaya Raj dated 14^th Century. It is said that, he built this temple after he went to Bodh Gaya in India and got influenced by the Mahabodhi temple there. Due to the image of Buddha, carved in every single terra-cotta, this temple is also known as “Thousand Buddha Temple”. On the very near to this temple there is another small shrine which is dedicated to Maya Devi, mother of Buddha. This shrine is said to have been built with the remaining bricks of Mahaboudha temple.

Rani Pokhari/Queen's Pond

Rani Pokhari of Kathmandu (A must see place)

 

Rani Pokhari/Queen's Pond also known as Nhiyu pukhu (new pond) in local newari language, is situated in the heart of Kathmandu City just in front of Durbar High School( Nepal’s first school). The construction of this pond is dated back to 17^th Century. This pond is one of the magnificent souvenir of an ancient Kathmandu. After the destruction took place in 2015 earthquake, the renovation progress is going on for the damaged parts.

Rani Pokhari was built by King Pratap Malla, one of the most prominent ruler in Nepal. He constructed this beautiful pond to comfort his queen who was shattered with sorrow after the untimely demise of their son Chakravartindra Malla who got crushed by an elephant on the ceremony of his successor to the throne. After the completion of this pond King Pratap Malla collected water from many holy places like Muktinath, Gosaikunda, Badrinath, Kedarnath etc. and spilled it into the pond to purify it. It is also said that after this pond was constructed, Queen used to visit every day in evening which later named Rani Pokhari/Queen’s Pond.

At the center of the pond lies the temple which is devoted to hindu lord Shiva. A huge stone sculpture of an elephant and Pratap Malla sitting on it with his two son has been carved in the south part of the pond. And at the four corners of the pond four temples of Bhairava, Mahalaxmi and Ganesh has been placed. This pond is protected with iron bars from all side and is opened only twice a year during the festival Bhaitika in Tihar and Chhath.

Nepal One Tours and Travels is organizing guided sightseeing tours everyday in January and February 2019.

Chandragiri Hills

People enjoying snow at Chandragiri Hill

Kathmandu is a valley surrounded by hills from every side. There are main four hills which sorrounds Kathmandu; Phulchoki, Shivapuri, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. Chandragiri hill is located at the south west corner of Kathmandu district which belongs in State No. 3 among 7 states of Nepal. 

Chandragiri hill is one of the major tourist attraction center of Nepal which offers great views of Lantang Himalayan ranges, hills surrounding Kathmandu and a magnificent topographical view of almost whole Kathmandu. Chandragiri area is located in an ancient popular route which connects Kathmandu to India in the past when there was no road transportation available in all hilly areas of Nepal. There is another legend about King Prithivi Narayan Shah the founder of the Himalayan country Nepal. King who was in a mission of fortifying his kingdom of Gorkha made his plan to conquer Kathmandu after observing the Kathmandu from Chandragiri hills. Furthermore, there is a Hindu religious history in this area. Lord Shiva carried deceased body of Sati Devi the concert of lord Shiva on his back when sati devi committed suicide after jumping on the fire. When lord Shiva moved around the world without not knowing the body was decaying and body parts felled at different location. In this area the head fell off from the dead body of Satidevi and later at the same spot statue of shiva appeared and people constructed shiva temple. This temple was known as Valaeswor Mahadev on which Vala means forehead. 

Chandragiri hills became a easy access for the visitors after the cable was constructed. It is a 12 minutes ride to reach the summit of Chandragiri hill from its base. Chandragiri hill is considered as one of the highest point of Kathmandu valley with the altitude of 2,100 meters. If you visit Chandragiri hills in a clear day this place offers you a magnificent 180 degree views of Himalayas. The view from Chandragiri is often compared from other hill location like Sarangkot or Nagarkot. Nepal One Tours and travels strictly recommends to visit Chandragiri hills when you are in a tour of Kathmandu.

Swet Bhairav

Photo Courtesy - Nepal One Tours

Swet means White and Bhairav is one of the most dangerous appearence of Lord Shiva. Therefore Swet Bhairav is also known as White Bhairav. There are altogether 8 Bhairav Temple in Kathmandu. Among them Swet Bhairav temple has also its own importance. The idol of Swet Bhairav is located at Basantapur Kathmandu just below Degu Taleju Temple. Likewise other 7 Bhairav temple, this temple is also said to be established to protect Kathmandu from bad omens and evil spirit. This idol of Swet Bhairav gets reveal only in the festival called Indra Jatra. Beside that it is kept inside the wooden curtain throughout the year. On this festival tradional Nepalese whiskey comes out from the small straw attached on the Bhairav's opened mouth and the local devotees of Kathmadu gather in front of the idol then struggle hard and push eachother to drink that whiskey immediately. Drinking this whiskey is believed to get blessings from Lord Indra for good fortune.
Nepal One Tours and Travels highly recommends you to visit Swet Bhairav Temple when you are in Nepal Tour.