Friday, March 26, 2010

Heritage sites of Kathmandu valley-Pashupatinah

Lord Shiva's temple-This is the main temple which houses the metre long linga, carved with the four faces of Shiva.The linga is the primary symbol of the Hindu god Shiva and the main cultic object of devotion in Shaivism (the school of Hinduism that worships Shiva as the supreme divine being). In Hindu devotional and ritual practice, the linga has four interrelated meanings and purposes: firstly, it symbolizes Shiva and his regenerative power as both the destroyer and reproducer of the universe; secondly, it represents the male reproductive organ and its seminal potentiality (and, paradoxically, ascetic restraint); thirdly, it provides the main object of cultic devotion in Shavite temples containing upraised cylindrical shafts at the center of their sanctuaries Finally, it is used as a mark, sign, and symbol of Shaivism, allowing one to identify with, and recognize, followers of this group.

View of the temple from across the river

This is the most auspicious place to be cremated in Nepal


Pashupatinath temple is the one of the biggest Hindu temple of Lord Shiva in the world located on the banks of the Bagmati river in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The temple served as the seat of national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, until Nepal was secularized.Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda,one day Lord Shiva grew tired of his palace atop Mt. Kailash and so went in search of a place where he could escape to. He discovered Kathmandu Valley and, without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in the Valley. He gained great fame there as Pashupati, Lord of the Animals, before the other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. He disguised himself as a majestic deer and would not help the other gods when they asked for his help. When Shiva did not yield to their pleas, they planned to use force. God Vishnu grabbed him by his horns and they shattered into pieces. Vishnu established a temple and used the broken horns to form a linga on the bank of the Bagmati River. As time went by, the temple was buried and forgotten. Then a cow was known to have secretly sprinkled her milk over the mound. Apparently, when the cow herders dug around the spot, they found the lost lingas and again built a temple in reverence.
Pashupati is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for Shiva devotees. The Pashupatinath Temple is the largest Hindu temple and is considered to be the holiest of all Hindu Temples. This is a two-tiered golden temple with four silver doorways, hundreds of Shiva linga's shrines and holy symbols. It is located on the holy river Bagmati, 6 km east of the city centre . Non- Hindus are not allowed into this temple.
The Pashupati Temple was built in the fifth century and later renovated by Malla kings, Its original beauty still remains with the beautifully sculpted stone sculptures found here.Pashupati is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for Shiva devotees.

Heritage sites of Kathmandu valley-Changu Narayan


Changu Narayan

Changu Narayan is the temple of Vishnu ,in the village of Changu in Bhaktapur.This 5th century temple, located over a hillock 15 km east of Kathmandu . Inscriptions dating back to 464 A.D, found here, are the first epigraphic evidences of Nepali history. The temple is believed to be sixteen hundred years old. It is embellished by the best examples of stone, wood, and metal craft. Changu Narayan Temple is the oldest temple in the Kathmandu valley

Heritage sites in Kathmandu valley-Patan Durbar Square

Krishna temple
Patan Durbar Square


Patan Durbar Square complex, situated in the center of Patan city, also known as Lalitpur, houses the residence of the former Patan royal family. Patan Square and its surroundings are good specimen of ancient Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards in the palace: Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk, the oldest one, is at the centre of Patan square.

Heritage sites of Kathmandu valley-Swayanbthnath stupa

It is also known as Monkey temple due to the large population of monkeys here

This is a smaller stupa compared to Boudanath and is located on a hill.One has to climb 365 steps to get to the top.Legend has it that the Buddha himself visited Swayambhunath and gave teachings there two hundred years earlier.

Heritage Sites of Nepal-Baudanath Supa

Prayer flags are hung from the top
Baudanath Stupa-painted with the all seeing eyes of Buddha



The cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley is illustrated by seven groups of monuments and buildings which display the full range of historic and artistic achievements for which the Kathmandu Valley is world famous. The seven include the Durbar Squares of Hanuman Dhoka (Kathmandu), Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhu and Bauddhanath and the Hindu temples of Pashupati and Changu Narayan.


加德满都谷地

加德满都谷地文化遗产有七组历史遗址和建筑群,全面反映了加德满都谷地闻名于世的历史和艺术成就。七组历史遗址包括加德满都、帕坦和巴德冈王宫广场、斯瓦亚姆布与博德纳特佛教圣庙和伯舒伯蒂与钱古·纳拉扬印度神庙。

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Heritage sites of Nepal-Royal Chitwin National Park




Date of Inscription: 1984
Criteria: (vii)(ix)(x)
Property : 93200.0000 ha
Chitwan District of the Narayani Zone
N27 30 E84 20
Ref: 284

Brief Description
At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It has a particularly rich flora and fauna. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the park, which is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger.
At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the 'Terai' region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It has a particularly rich flora and fauna. One of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the park, which is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger.


奇特旺皇家国家公园

在喜马拉雅山脚下,奇特旺是德赖地区少数几个未遭到破坏的历史遗迹之一,它曾一直延伸到印度和尼泊尔的山脉丘陵地带。公园里拥有丰富的动植物群,有珍稀的独角亚洲犀牛,也是孟加拉虎的最后避难所。