Dharaha Kathmandu

 

Dharahara also called Bhimsen Tower, is a nine story (50.2m) tall tower at the center of Kathmandu. It was built in 1832 A.D. by the Prime Minister of the time, Bhimsen Thapa of Nepal. Thapa built the tower under the orders of Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari.The tower has a spiral staircase inside containing 113 steps or none because there is an elevator. The 8th floor holds a circular balcony for observers that provides a panoramic view of the whole Kathmandu valley. The tower has a 5.2m bronze mast on the roof. The tower has been open for the general public sinc

e 2005 for a small fee.

Dharahara is actually the second such tower made by Bhimsen Thapa. The original Bhimsen Tower was built in 1824 and was 11 stories high, 2 stories taller than Dharahara. Dharahara was built for queen Lalit Tripura Sundari, who was the niece of Bhimsen Thapa. She wanted a tower of her own next to Bhimshen's Dharahara.Dharahara: The Pride of Kathmandu Valley

During the earthquake of 1834, both the towers survived, but Bhimsen's tower suffered severe damage. 110 years later, on January 15, 1934, another earthquake caused Bhimsen's tower to be completely destroyed.Only 2 of the 11 stories on the second tower remained. The prime minister of the time, Juddha Shumsher, renovated Dharahara to its previous form. While the original Bhimsen Tower was obliterated, queen Lalit Tripura Sundari's tower got its name, 'Bhimsen Stambha'.

Ashokan Pillar in Lumbini

The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BC. Originally, there must have been many pillars but only nineteen survive with inscriptions, and only six with animal capitals, which were a target for Muslim iconoclasm. Many are preserved in a fragmentary state.

Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini

Maya Devi Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple situated at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal. It is the main temple at Lumbini, a site traditionally considered the birthplace of Gautama Buddha. The temple stands adjacent to a sa

cred pool (known as Puskarni) and a sacred garden. The archaeological remains at the site were previously dated to the third-century BCE brick buildings constructed by Ashoka the Great.^[1] A sixth-century BCE timber shrine was discovered in 2013.^[2]

The eternal flame of Lumbini

On our way to Maya Devi we trundled by the eternal flame. Always curious I jumped out to read the inscription.

Eternal Flame at Lumbini inscription: This Eternal Flame Symbolising Peace was lit by the Chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust, His Royal Highness Prince Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah on the occasion of the international year of peace 1986, on the 1st of November 1986.

Conclusion on spending a day around Lumbini’s temples

Again, there are lots of them. Unfortunately many are not fully completed and are no more than concrete and scaffolding. Others look near abandoned. Others again were closed.

They are spread out into zones. I’m really glad to have taken a rickshaw rather then cycle around or more insanely walk. Especially if visiting in either monsoon or hot seasons. I’d have liked to have brought a packed lunch and very glad I brought extra water. I stopped off at a small eatery with the rickshaw driver and found some soft drinks with ease. Good food was scarce.

The second best thing I did was leave the star attraction to last. The Maya Devi Temple – Birthplace of the Buddha and one of the most revered religious / ways of life places on earth. A place that my loyal rickshaw driver nearly got me kicked out of …

The Birth Place of Lord Buddha - Nepal

Lumbini is situated 300 kilometers from Kathmandu and 190 kilometers south of Pokhara. This is a holy place because it is the birthplace of Lord Buddha. This is also known as the pilgrimage destination of the world's millions of Buddhists as well as other researchers and visitors. Lumbini is one of the World Heritage site listed by UNESCO.

Lumbini is the traditional birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, who was born in the 7th or 6th century BC.

According to Buddhist tradition, Maya Devi (or Mayadevi) gave birth to the Buddha on her way to her parent's home in Devadaha in the month of May in the year 642 BC. Feeling the onset of labor pains, she grabbed hold of the branches of a shade tree and gave birth to Siddharta Gautama, the future Buddha. The Buddha is said to have announced, "This is my final rebirth" as he entered the world. Buddhist tradition also has it that he walked immediately after his birth and took seven steps, under each of which a lotus flower bloomed.

In 249 BC, the Buddhist convert Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini and constructed four stupas and a stone pillar. Ashoka's Pillar bears an inscription that translates as: "King Piyadasi (Ashoka), beloved of devas, in the 20 year of the coronation, himself made a royal visit, Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here, a stone railing was built and a stone pillar erected to the Bhagavan ["blessed one"] having been born here. Lumbini village was taxed reduced and entitled to the eight part (only)".

Monasteries and temples were built at Lumbini until the 9th century, but Buddhism declined in the area after the arrival of Islam and later Hinduism. All that remained was a sculpture, revered by local women as a fertility symbol. The garden of the Buddha's birth was lost for a thousand years.

The site was rediscovered in 1895, when a German archaeologist came upon Ashoka's Pillar, identified by its inscription. Records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site. Lumbini was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

What to See

Lumbini lies in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal. The site is a large garden with a grove of pipal trees. The area around Lumbini is entirely Hindu, but many Buddhist temples and shrines from various nations are scattered around the holy site itself.

The most important temple at Lumbini is the Maya Devi Temple, which enshrines the traditional site of the Buddha's birth. The current temple stands on the site of earlier temples and stupas, including the stupa built by Ashoka.

The modern temple consists mainly of simple white building that protects ancient ruins, with the exact spot of the Buddha's birth identified. The delicate sandstone sculptures discovered here are now in the National Musuem in Kathmandu.

Atop the temple is a small square tower of the type seen in Kathmandu, with Buddha eyes on each side and a golden pinnacle on top.

On the south side of the temple is a sacred pool  where it is said Maya Devi bathed before giving birth, and where the newborn Buddha was washed by two dragons.

The Maha Devi temple is surrounded by the brick foundations of ancient temples and monasteries. All around Lumbini, long lines of colorful prayer flags are strung between trees. They carry prayers and mantras heavenward as they flap on the breeze.

The other main sight of interest at Lumbini is Ashoka's Pillar, near the temple. It is protected by a small fence, which is decorated with prayer flags and banners from the faithful. Around the courtyard containing the pillar are bowls for incense sticks

Changu Narayan Temple, Bhaktapur

Changu Narayan Temple, the oldest temple in Kathmandu valley came in existence in 4th century. The temple is adorned by some of the best specimen of stone, wood, and metal craft in the valley. The temple stands as the ep

itome of culture, religion, history and faith of the Kathmandu valley. Read More

Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu

The Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath, situated on the top of a hill, west of Kathmandu, is one of the most popular, holy and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal. The temple is colloquially known as the 'monkey temple' because

of the large tribe of roving monkeys who guard the temple. Read More

Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple, with its astonishing architectural beauty, stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture and tradition. Regarded as the most sacred temple of Hindu Lord Shiva in the world, Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva.

Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'. Read More

Bouddhanath Stupa, Bouddha, Kathmandu

Bouddhanath Stupa, the biggest stupa in Nepal, lies about 7 km east of the capital. The Bouddhanath stupa, also called by many as Khasti Chitya, is one of the oldest stupas in the country. After 1959, many Tibetans arrived and settled in Bouddhanath area. The stupa, a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site, is included in World Heritage

Cultural site list by UNESCO. Read More

Manakamana Temple, Gorkha

Cable car is the newly introduced phenomenon in Nepal which become extremely popular among the local and tourist. The Cable car is situated in Kurintar which is near about 105 KM west of Kathmandu on the highway to Pokhara will take you to the temple of wish fulfilling goddess Manakamana. At the cable car station Kurintar

we can find some good resorts and restaurants, dedicated to serving the tourists. Read More

Famous People of Nepal

Nepal is the birthplace of many notable individuals who have contributed or had an influence on either their country or on the world.Famous people from Nepalinclude religious icons, literary geniuses, mountaineers and political rulers. Among Nepal's most famous people are the Sherpas, collectively renowned for their great mountaineering skills. Another famous group are the Nepalese Ghurkas, excellent warriors.

Perhaps the best known Nepali person is Siddhartha Gautama, better known around the world as Buddha. Siddhartha was born some time between 624 BC and 563 BC in Lumbini of Nepal. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Gautama who became known as Buddha meaning “the awakened” or “Enlightened One”. Tradition states that at the age of 30 he abandoned a life of opulence and focused many years of his life on self-denial and contemplation. One day, whilst sitting under a tree he gained enlightenment. From then on he became Buddha. For the remainder of his life he taught his beliefs to this disciples along with the goal of reaching Nirvana, the ultimate state of enlightenment. His beliefs are embodied in his Four Noble Truths. Buddha died at Kushinagara sometime between 544 BC and 483 BC, yet his teachings continue to influence the lives of individuals throughout the world.

Tenzing Norgay is the most famous Nepalese Sherpa. Born in 1914, Tenzing Norgay took part in many expeditions of the magnificent Mount Everest. In 1953 he joined Sir John Hunt's expedition of the grand mountain. Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary were the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Tenzing never took the glory, but rather always pointed to Hillary as the conquerer of Mount Everest. Following this great acchievement Tenzing was designated director of the field training section of the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute located in Darjeeling. He created his own company called Tenzing Norgay Adventures in the year 1978. The company provides visitors the opportunity to trek through the Himalayas. Tenzing Norgay died in 1986 at Darjeeling of India. His son, Jamling Tenzing Norgay continues to run his business. Other famous Sherpas from Nepal are Lakhpa, Tashi, Dorjee and Nawang.

Jhamak Ghimire, born in 1980, has become a symbol of courage to people around the world. Born with Cerebral Palsy, Ghimire was able to overcome her disability. She made great efforts to learn to read and write and is now a famous Nepalese writer and poet.

Below is a list of other famous people from Nepal along with some brief details about them:

• Bhanubhakta Achary – 1814 to 1868. Nepal's first poet.
• Bala Krishna Sama – born 1903. An influential dramatist.
• Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev of Nepal – 1971 to 2001. Accused of murdering his family and king for 3 days whilst in a coma.
• Amar Singh Thapa - 19th century. Military leader in Nepal. A national hero.
• Sir Jung Bahadur Rana – 1817 to 1877. Well-known prime minister.
• Sir Chandra Shamsher Jang Rana – 1863 to 1929. Well-known prime minister.
• King Mahendra Bir Bikram-Shah – 1920 to 1972. Brought in a political system without parties.
• King Birendra Bir Bikram Sha Dev – born 1945. Brought in democracy.

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famous people, siddhartha gautama, buddha, sherpas, tenzing norgay, jhamak ghimir