Lumbini is the birth place of Lord Buddha and has been declared as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. It is small town in the southern Terai plains of Nepal, where the ruins of the old city can still be seen. At the age of 84, he left this world with thousands of followers to keep Buddhism alive. Lumbini has since been a holy ground for Buddhists all over the world. The restored garden and surroundings of Lumbini have the remains of many of the ancient stupas and monasteries. A large stone pillar erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 250 BC bears an inscription about the birth of the Buddha. An important part of Lumbini is the temple of Maya Devi. It has a stone image of Maya Devi giving birth to Lord Buddha as she holds onto a branch.
An important archeological site near Lumbini, Kapilvastu evokes the ancient palace where Lord Buddha spent his formative years. Scattered foundations of the palace are abundant and archeologists have by now discovered 13 successive layers of human habitation dating back to the eighth century BC. Access: Siddhartha Highway connects Lumbini by road to Pokhara, Tansen and Kathmandu.
Regular Flights from Kathmandu to Siddharthanagar, which is a 15 – 20 minute drive from Lumbini, connects Lumbini to the capital.
JANAKPUR
Janakpur lies off the Mahendra Highway. It is indisputably the most fascinating city of the Terai. It is one of world’s most car free cities. The city has not been founded on commerce but religion, so there just aren’t that many private vehicles, and buses are kept out of the core area by a well-sited bus park and a ring road. Though the city is easy enough to get around on foot, rickshaws are a terrific deal. Janakpur is the capital of the ancient state of Mithila and the Janaki Temple, located in the center of the city, is well known in the Hindu Kingdom. Sita the wife of Lord Ram was born here and a number of Hindu tourists visit the temple to pay their respects to Ram and Sita. On the occasion of Ram and Sita’s marriage (Bibaha Panchami) and their wedding ceremony is enacted throughout the week. During this period the city is filled with festivities. The other important festival in Janakpur are Ram Navami – the birthday of Lord Ram, Parikrama – Held on the full moon day of Feb – March, Holi – the festival of colors, Diwali – the festival of lights and Chath – offering are made to the sun god.
Other temples and sights: Ram Mandir, Dhanush Sagar, Ganga Sagar, Ramanand Chowk, Hanuman Durbar – to see the world’s biggest rhesus monkey. Access: Buses from Kathmandu and other major cities link Janakpur. There is a flight from Kathmandu to Janakpur everyday.
RIDIGHAT
Ridi is among the most popular religious places in Nepal. It is linked by 50 km from Tansen at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Ridi Khola. It is a temple of Rishikeshwara (Vishnu) Narayan Mandir with 50 other small temples. Pilgrims visit here to earn merit for this life as well as for their next life. About 200 Vishshnavas of the Nimbarka & Sri Ramanuja Sampradaya sects live in near by Ridi Bazar.
MUKTINATH (SALVATION-LAND)
Pilgrimage to Muktinath, in the Nepal Himalaya near Tibet, is a richly symbolic event in all its expressions—social and religious, in legend, myth and fable, in history and in its spatial or geographical dimensions. The precise way in which Muktinath was designated as an especially holy space by Hindus, over two thousand years ago, is not known. The clues, however, are still present and obvious. It is clear that several of the natural features found at Muktinath and within its larger sacred field are imbued by its devotees with supernatural characteristics. It is safe to say that in the overall sacred environment, these natural-supernatural elements take on prime importance and are of considerable attraction to all pilgrims, Buddhist and Hindu alike. Alongside, the three natural elements at Muktinath -- the spring water, natural gas fires and fossils, there is also a sacred grove of popular trees of the species Populous ciliate, locally called lekh pipal or bhot pipal.
This is one of the 106th sacred Muktichhetra (assured of salvation) of 108 sacred places of Vaishnavs, where Lord Vishnu got free from the curse of Sati. It hosts the largest Shaligram. It also has a Jwaladevi, a divine flame is continuously burning since thousands of year. This pagoda –shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, set into the wall around 108 water spouts from which pours holy water.
Location: Muktinath is situated on the upper part of the river Kali of Buri Gandaki on the north side of the main Himalayan range and south of Lo-Manthang or Mustangat, at an elevation of 3,8000m (or approximately 12,500 ft) on the western slopes of the Damodar Himal, northern extension of the Annapurna Himalayan massif.
DEVGHAT
Devghat is a confluence of river Trishuli and river Kaligandaki and is very significant religious Triveni. It is 6 Km north of Narayanghat. Here all 7 holy Gandaki Rivers meet together to form a Narayani River. Like Triveni of Ganges and Yamuna at Alahabad in India Devghat is one of the main sites for the festival of Makar Shankranti in Nepal. Many pilgrims from around Nepal and India come to immerse themselves in the river. Makar Shankrati is also popularly known as Maghe Shankranti. It is the first day of Nepali month Magh (Mid January). In this place the demigods came to honor Lord Vishnu when he saved Gajendra, an elephant from the attack of a crocodile after hearing his prayers of devotion.
PASHUPATINATH
Lord Shiva is worshipped as Pashupati, which means Lord of all living creatures. The temple of Pashupatinath is 6 Km east of Kathmandu. Pashupati-Chhetra (site of Pashupatinath) is one of the holiest places in the Hindu Kingdom of Nepal. Many Hindu Pilgrims come to Pashupatinath round the year. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus from all over World make Pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri (Night of Shiva, one day before black moon in February). There are many temples of various Hindu Gods in the holy site. Guheswori temple is the most important among other temples. A walk from this temple to Aryaghat (cremation grounds) near Pashupatinath temple is very popular among non-Hindu tourists. Pashupatinath Temple area is an UNESCO World Heritage site.
GORKHA AND MANAKAMANA
Gorkha is a hill bazaar and the ancestral home of the Shah dynasty. This is the birthplace of the idea of unifying Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. About 1000 feet above the town lies the famous Gorkha Palace. The palace has beautiful architecture and you get an awesome view of the mountains and the lush green valleys down below. A holy cave below the palace is famous as Saint Gorakhnath lived here and the town got its name from this cave.
Manakamna is a temple of the wish fulfilling Goddess on top of a hill in the Gorkha district. It is a scenic and pilgrim site. Innumerable devotees have touched the soil of this holy place and it continues till this day to offer solace and peace to all those who choose to lay their wearied heads on the loving lap of the wish fulfilling mother. The other attraction is the Lakhan Cave, which is located north east of the temple and is easily accessible by moderate 30 minutes walk or a joyful pony ride. Access: Gorkha is accessible by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Manakamna is best accessed by the Cable Car from Kurintar, which is on the Tribhuvan Highway. Manakamna has a half-day trek option from Abu Khaireni and is a wonderful trek.
The adventurous and outstanding trip would be to go to Manankamna using the Cable Car and trek to Gorkha along the ridge, this trip has wonderful views and you could experience the real Nepali village life, as this route is not a regular tourist option.
TANSEN
Tansen would give the visitor a taste of everything in the kingdom of Nepal. It is on the way from Pokhara to Lumbini, and is not too far from the Royal Chitwan National Park. It is located 4300m above sea level and has very good weather, which is moderate throughout the year. The Srinagar hill has the beauty of a real hill station. The great views are worth taking the trouble to walk up to the highest point of the town. On clear days the view reveals Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Gauri Shankar and other peaks. The kings of Tansen wielded great power before the Gurkhas unified today’s Nepal. The Ranas built palaces and mansions to develop Tansen into a hill station. One of these palaces has a huge door called the Baggi Dhoka. The town’s intricately patterned Dhaka is the most popular hand woven cloth of Nepal. Nepal’s national cap is also made from the same cloth. There are potters and metal workers. Places of interest: Rani Mahal, Riddi Bazaar, Srinagar Hill Top etc. Access: Siddharth Highway connects Tansen from Lumbini and Pokhara.
GOSAINKUNDA
Gosainkunda is a significant pilgrimage place among all worlds' religious places for Hinduism. It is located at about 150 Km. north to Kathmandu (117 km by bus and 11 hrs, on foot) in Rasuwa district at an elevation of 4380 metres. Langtang National Park keeps Gosainkunda in its lap. The holy lake is a two day long trek from Dhunche, which can be reached through an adventurous 118 km mountain road from Kathmandu.
According to the Hindus legend, a lake have been created by Lord Shiva when thrust his Trishula (trident) into a mountain to extract water so that he could cool his stinging throat after he had swallowed poison. There is a large rock in the centre of the lake, which is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine. Similarly Gosain means a monk and Kunda means a pool. People often claim that they see Shiva lying in the water. Devotees gather here in hordes on the full moon night of August to take holy dips in the lake. It is believed that in the eastern and western side of the lake altogether nine lakes including Saraswotikunda, Suryakunda, Ganeshkunda Nagkunda, Bhairabkunda, Aamakunda etc exists. With a view to make journey convenient and time saving there is also an arrangement of Helicopter services.
Pilgrimage to Muktinath, in the Nepal Himalaya near Tibet, is a richly symbolic event in all its expressions—social and religious, in legend, myth and fable, in history and in its spatial or geographical dimensions. The precise way in which Muktinath was designated as an especially holy space by Hindus, over two thousand years ago, is not known. The clues, however, are still present and obvious. It is clear that several of the natural features found at Muktinath and within its larger sacred field are imbued by its devotees with supernatural characteristics. It is safe to say that in the overall sacred environment, these natural-supernatural elements take on prime importance and are of considerable attraction to all pilgrims, Buddhist and Hindu alike. Alongside, the three natural elements at Muktinath -- the spring water, natural gas fires and fossils, there is also a sacred grove of popular trees of the species Populous ciliate, locally called lekh pipal or bhot pipal.
Devghat is a confluence of river Trishuli and river Kaligandaki and is very significant religious Triveni. It is 6 Km north of Narayanghat. Here all 7 holy Gandaki Rivers meet together to form a Narayani River. Like Triveni of Ganges and Yamuna at Alahabad in India Devghat is one of the main sites for the festival of Makar Shankranti in Nepal. Many pilgrims from around Nepal and India come to immerse themselves in the river. Makar Shankrati is also popularly known as Maghe Shankranti. It is the first day of Nepali month Magh (Mid January). In this place the demigods came to honor Lord Vishnu when he saved Gajendra, an elephant from the attack of a crocodile after hearing his prayers of devotion.
Tansen would give the visitor a taste of everything in the kingdom of Nepal. It is on the way from Pokhara to Lumbini, and is not too far from the Royal Chitwan National Park. It is located 4300m above sea level and has very good weather, which is moderate throughout the year. The Srinagar hill has the beauty of a real hill station. The great views are worth taking the trouble to walk up to the highest point of the town. On clear days the view reveals Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Gauri Shankar and other peaks. The kings of Tansen wielded great power before the Gurkhas unified today’s Nepal. The Ranas built palaces and mansions to develop Tansen into a hill station. One of these palaces has a huge door called the Baggi Dhoka. The town’s intricately patterned Dhaka is the most popular hand woven cloth of Nepal. Nepal’s national cap is also made from the same cloth. There are potters and metal workers. Places of interest: Rani Mahal, Riddi Bazaar, Srinagar Hill Top etc.
Gosainkunda is a significant pilgrimage place among all worlds' religious places for Hinduism. It is located at about 150 Km. north to Kathmandu (117 km by bus and 11 hrs, on foot) in Rasuwa district at an elevation of 4380 metres. Langtang National Park keeps Gosainkunda in its lap. The holy lake is a two day long trek from Dhunche, which can be reached through an adventurous 118 km mountain road from Kathmandu. 
