Manakamana 

Manakamana Temple

The Manakamana Temple (Nepali: मनकामना मन्दिर) situated in the Gorkha district of Nepal is the sacred place of the Hindu Goddess Bhagwati, an incarnation of Parvati.The name Manakamana originates from two words, “mana” meaning heart and “kamana” meaning wish. Venerated since the 17th century, it is believed that Goddess Manakamana grants the wishes of all those who make the pilgrimage to her shrine to worship her.

Temple Architecture

The Manakamana temple is set in a square and looks across a massive sacred magnolia tree. The temple is four storied with tiered pagoda style roofs and lies on a square pedestal.The entrance to the temple is in the south-west direction and is marked by one stone, which is the sacrificial pillar.After the disastrous 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Manakamana’s south-west portion began to tilt. The entrance to the temple has digressed from its silver door frame and the wood frames are also decaying. Two colossal black wooden pillars supporting the temple have also shifted positions, causing the temple to incline. The earthquake on November 13, 2011, with its epicentre in northeast Gorkha further weakened the temple’s structure because of which the temple base get subside into the ground. The slopes next to the temple have faced numerous mudslides creating a threat to the temple.

According to a report submitted by the Department of Archaeology (DoA) and the Ministry of Culture (MoC) in 2011, the wooden planks supporting the temple are swarming with termites. The improper channelling of water has led to the decay of the temple’s brick foundation. However, a research officer at DoA asserted that the temple is damaged beyond repair and must, in fact, be relocated. The Manakamana temple was destroyed by the 2015 massive earthquake. The temple is in the restoration process.

Mythical Foundation

The legend of Manakamana Goddess dates back to the reign of the Gorkha king Ram Shah during the 17th century. It is said that his queen possessed divine powers, which only her devotee Lakhan Thapa knew about. One day, the king witnessed his queen in Goddess incarnation and Lakhan Thapa in the form of a lion. Upon mentioning the revelation to his queen, a mysterious death befell the king. As per the custom of that time, the queen committed Sati (ritual immolation) on her husband’s funeral pyre. Before her Sati, the queen had assured Lakhan Thapa that she would reappear in the near future. Six months later, a farmer while ploughing his fields cleaved a stone. From the stone, he saw a stream of blood and milk flow. When Lakhan heard an account of this event, he immediately started performing Hindu tantric rituals at the site where the stone had been discovered thus ceasing the flow of blood and milk. The site became the foundation of the present shrine. According to tradition, the priest at the temple must be descendent of Lakhan Thapa.

Bells At Bhagwati.

Getting there.

Manakamana is suited in Gorkha District of Nepal. 94 kilometres from Pokhara and 106 kilometres from Kathmandu.In earlier times, the only way to reach the Manakamana temple was a long strenuous trek for about three hours. Now, there is a facility of a cable car from kurintar, just 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Mugling to Manakamana. The cable car rides over the distance of 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) in 10 minutes more or less. You can get daily bus or Toyota Hiace from Kathmandu pickup and drop. 

With Welcome Note When we  Enter At Manakamana Cable Car station.

Main Entrance of Cable Car.

About the Cable car

The cable car usually operates during the daytime from 9 am to 5 pm and stops during a lunch break from noon to half past one. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated Manakamana cable car on November 24, 1998. The cable car system was imported from Austria and guarantees a hundred percent safety. It has features such as automatically operated generators in case of power failure and hydraulic emergency drive. The employees working at the cable car service are qualified and well trained for emergencies.

The bottom station of the cable car is placed at Kurintar (258 metres (846 ft)) and the top station is at Mankamana (1,302 metres (4,272 ft)). With 31 passenger cars and 3 cargo cars, the cable car can handle up to 600 persons per hour. The number of passengers per carrier is 6. The cable car requires a starting power of about 523 Kilowatt and continues further at a power of 420 Kilowatt. All passengers are insured up to Rs. 1,00,000.

Ticket Price

Catagory Two Way Normal Nrs.640.00 Student NRs.480.00 Child NRs.385.00 Elderly NRs.450.00 Disabled NRs.320.00 Goat NRs.240.00 Indian NRs.800.00 Indian (Child) NRs.520.00 SAARC and Chinese USD. 10.00 SAARC and Chinese (Child) USD. 7.00 Foreigner USD. 20 .00 (Other than Indian, SAARC and Chinese) Foreigner Child USD. 15.00 (Other than Indian, SAARC and Chinese)

Some Pictures throughout the journey

Trishul river and Highway seem from Cable Car .

Cable Car reaching Manakamana Temple.

Small Village from the Cable car heading towards Manakamana Temple.

Daman Nepal

Simbhanjyang, Daman, Palung-Tistung

Simbhanjyang -

Simbhanjyang is a high mountain pass at an elevation at 2488m above the sea level, located in southern Nepal.  The road over the pass is asphalted. It’s called Tribhuvan Highway and is located between Kathmandu and Hetauda. This small, narrow mountain road with little traffic is the oldest of Nepal’s highways and connects the outskirts of Kathmandu with Birgunj on the Nepal-India border. Named in memory of King Tribhuvan (1906-1955), its construction was finally completed with Indian assistance in 1956 and provided the first serviceable road connection with India. 

It's also very famous for the weekend gateway among Kathmandu valley people!. Simbhanjyang is connected with Daman it's just four kilometers difference. From Simbhanjyang hike to NTC tower and you will get the better view of Himalayan ranges from Mt. Everest to Annapurna, just ask any local people in Simbhanjyang where is NTC tower they will direct you.

Manaslu from Simbhanjyang pass

For the Awesome view of mountains, This place is truly a heaven for photographers and nature lovers.

West View from Simbhanjyang "layer by layer"

It could be adventures ride experience for the riders.

Into my own little palace

"Its sunshine here but my fellow friends are under cloud"

view of Hetauda and Birgunj from Simbhanjyang pass. 

Chuniya Bazaar from Simbhanjyang pass

Chuniya Bazaar 

Daman

Daman is a one of the most beautiful tourist attraction in Thaha Municipality, Makwanpur District, central Nepal. It lies on the Tribhuvan Highway, about 77 kilometers (48 mi) southwest of Kahmandulfway to Hetauda elevation of 2,322 meters (7,620 ft).

Daman has among the greatest views of the Himalayas, on a good day from Dhaulagiri in the west to Mount Everest in the east.

If you are lucky enough to get the view. People living here are truly lucky !!!

Langtang Ranges

                                  "Golden time "

Manaslu

Gaurishankar 

                                   "Sunrise From Daman"

Perfect Places to spend time and watch sun rise slow and high !

              "Memories from Daman"  

Undoubtedly, Daman is a perfect time to spend weekends from the hectic life in the city. Come and help these people promoting tourism in this place.

Enroute Palung-Tistung 

A route you cannot forget full of views of Himalayas and rice fields, kids going school.

Palung-Tistung

All this is my photography and if you want to use it you can ask for permission.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar Square 

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is in front of the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the current town of Bhaktapur , also known as Bhadgaon,which lies 13 km east of Kathmandu Valley. While the complex consists of at least four distinct squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square and Pottery Square), the whole area is informally known as the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and is a highly visited site in the  Kathmandu Valley.

History

It is the home of traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and craft work, magnificent windows, pottery and weaving industries, excellent temples, beautiful ponds, rich local customs, culture, religion, festivals, musical mystic and so on. Bhaktapur is still an untouched as well as preserved ancient city that is itself the world to explore for tourists.

Landmarks

Layaku (Durbar Square)

The most important of all the tourist sites in bhaktapur, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is renowned as one of the most attractive destination for Nepali as well as international tourists. The area is called "Layaku" in Newari language. Ancient temples and shrines, sculptures and historical heritage sites constructed in different eras carry the identity of this city.

Highlights of the ancients Nepali art like golden gate, 55 Window Temple, Statue of bhupatindara Malla, Museum, Krishna Temple. Big Beel, dog Barking Bell, Siddhilaxmi Temple, Taleju bhagwati Temple etc can be observed in one place here. this durbar square is also a hub for local residents to get some refreshment after fatigue and to stroll around to have some fun time. This place can sasily be reached through different parts of Bhaktapur. 

NYATAPOL DEVAL - Five Storied Temple

The tallest and most impressive pagoda styled temple of Nepal, Nyatapol is situated at word number 11 of Bhaktapur Municipality. This beautiful temple made of clay bricks and wood, is considered one of the finest architectural masterpieces of Nepal. Inside the temple, an idol of deity. Siddhilaxmi, who is the manifestation of wealth, has been installed. it is said that the temple survived the ravage of the major earthquake in 1933 (Except some minor damage to the ceiling of the fifth floor)

Bhairab Nath Temple

The temple of Bhairavnath is a famous ancient temple lying close to historical Five-Storey Temple. the temple has the idols of bhairavnath and God Betame. There is a popular legend regarding the location of this temple. The story says that Lingo Festival was very famous in Bhaktapur in the ancient days and even the God Bhairav of Kashi made a visit to Bhaktapur to observe the festival in the guise of a man. The king on learning the visit of Bhairav commanded his misisters and Aachaju (People with knowledge of necromancy) to catch him and keep him in the city. Aachaju while looking for bhairav using his magic saw his head taller than other people. As Bhairav tried to escape, sinking himself on the land, his head was cut by sickle. Late it is believed that aachaju was full of remorse for cutting the head of bairav and through his magic he got the head of Bhairav placed in the temple to begin the worship. That is way, it is velieved that Bhairav has got his torso in Kashi, India and head in Nepal. 

The Lion Gate :

 Dating as far back as A.D. 1696, this gate is guarded on either side by two huge statues of lions. Alongside, there are two stone images of Bhairav (the dreadful aspect of Shiva) and Ugrachandi (the consort of Shiva in her fearful manifestation).

The Golden Gate : 

The Golden Gate is said to be the most beautiful and richly moulded specimen of its kind in the entire world. The door is surmounted by a figure of the goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical man-bird) and attended by two heavenly nymphs. 

The Palace of Fifty-five Windows : 

This magnificent palace was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was subsequently remodelled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony with Fifty-five Windows, considered to be a unique masterpiece of woodcarving.

The Art Gallery:

 The Art Gallery contains ancient paintings belonging to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions of various periods and descriptions. This gallery is open everyday except Tuesday.

The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla:

 This statue showing King Bhupatindra Malla in the act of worship is set on a column facing the palace. Of the square's many statues, this is considered to be the most magnificent.

POTTERY SQUARE

Pottery Square is one of the beautiful tourist sites of Bhaktapur. the square is famous for artistically shaped potteries made out of clay. Tourists love to see potteries made of clay before their eyes. Tourists to not miss the visit of pottery square. They take pains to reach the square and take lots of photos. 

SIDDHA POKHARI

The pond made by the Malla King, Yaksha Malla, is the largest pond of the city. According to the general belief, moving around the pond after carrying out of a deed leads to fetching of a desired result. This clean pond is also a home for fish farming.

Local tourists throung the pond during holidays. The scene of people throuwing food scraps at fish and trying to catch the glimpse on their cameras is quite common during holiday time. The place is a dating point for amorous couples. The pond is near Bhaktapur hospital, which lies at a distance of 2 km from Sallaghari Bhaktapur.

Major festival

Bhaktapur is also known as the city of festivals and celebrations. The city celebrates festivals each month starting from new year festival to the Holi purnima at the end of the year.

• Bisket Jatra(New year festival)

• Kumar Khasti (Sithi Nakha)

• Gathamaga charya

• Sa: Paaru (Gai Jatra)

• Gunla

• Pulu Kisi (Indra Jatra)

• Sithi Nakha

• Dhanya Purnima (Yomari Purnima)

• Maghe sankranti (Ghya-chaku sankranti) (Makar Sankranti)

• Shree Panchami

Getting There:

From Kathmandu you can take bus (Local Transport) from bagbazar buspark to bhaktapur durbar square.Its approx 12-14 Kms from kathmandu. If you private taxi them it will cost 3500-4000 NPR approx.

Some Photos From Bhaktapur Durbar Square:

Art&Craft in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, All local made Art&Craft you can find in the streets of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

*Tourist have to pay 1500 NPR for Durbar Square Fee.