14 Hindu Pilgrimage Sites in Nepal

Nepal is known as the “Land of God” where a diverse range of religions, and pilgrimage sites can be observed all around the nation. Hindu Pilgrimage Sites in Nepal are for those travelers who are seeking religious tours in Nepal. The nation of sanctuary and holy places attracts thousands of deities devotees every year.

If you’re seeking spiritual enlightenment, there’s no other ideal location than the beautiful country of Nepal. As this country holds lots of historic sanctuaries, devotees have strong religious values.

Pilgrimage places and culture in Nepal are very important to the Nepalese people. If you are interested in visiting soul-stirring shrines and getting salvation then you should proceed on a Hindu pilgrimage sites tour in Nepal.

We have compiled a list of Hindu pilgrimage sites of Nepal like Pashupatinath Temple, Budhanilkantha Temple, Doleshwor Mahadev Temple, Devghat Dam, Muktinath Temple, Supa Deurali Temple, Swargadwari, Dupcheswor Mahadev Temple, Manakamana Temple, Halesi Mahadev Temple, Janaki Temple, Triveni Dham, Pathibhara Devi temple and Gosaikunda.

Most travelers visit these sites to please with a vow or to complete their vow. Furthermore, believers of Hinduism believe that visiting ancient pilgrimage sites and taking holy baths can cleanse sins and lead to salvation. Some of them proceed to do death-related rituals like Shraddha and Tarpana.

In this blog, you can get to know about some of the Hindu pilgrimage sites in Nepal. Few of the pilgrimages are enlisted in the world heritage sites.

Top 14 Hindu pilgrimage sites in Nepal:

The majority of the ancient Hindu shrines are well-known tourist attractions, while others are little-known and sacred. Take a moment and continue this blog to get knowledge and the values of the shrines of Nepal.

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is the world’s famous Hindu pilgrimage site which represents the temple of Lord Shiva. This temple is constructed in the Nepalese pagoda design aesthetic. Designated as a world heritage site, Pashupatinath is located at the shore of the Bagmati River in Bagmati Province in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Pashupatinath has a square base platform that rises to the height of 23m and 7cm. Interestingly, the temple has 4 major doors which are wrapped with silver stripes and bell structured gilded pinnacle.

Among 4 doors, the primary entrance to the temple courtyard is on the western side, while the other three gates are only open during festivals.

In Pashupatinath, only the priest can go inside and touch the main statue of the Shiva linga. In the outer ward of the temple, there are 1000 Shiva Linga. Keep in mind, that only persons who practice Hinduism are authorized to enter the temple grounds. However, others can witness it from the other side of the holy Bagmati river.

With a fortune, everyone can get to see the evening Pashupatinath aarti which is held at the side of the Bagmati river. The astonished Lord Shiva’s mantra and aarti grant soul-stirring feelings to everyone who listens to it.

Also, you can get to witness the corpses on fire. The area of this temple remains crowded with a large number of pilgrims during Teej and Maha Shivaratri. This tour of the Hindu pilgrimage site will be one of the most memorable journeys.

Budhanilkantha Temple

Budhanilkantha Temple is Nepal’s greatest stone carving temple which is famous among Hindu devotees. It is renowned as the sleeping Lord Vishu, located near the Shivapuri NP Hills’ foothills.

The temple is only 9 kilometers distant, located on Kathmandu’s northwestern outskirts. Locally it is known as Jal Narayana temple where the Maha Vishnu is lying above the serpents in the middle of the pond.

The statue of Budhanilkantha is carved in a single black basalt stone. Budhanilkantha temple will be crowded with national and international Hindu worshipers, at the main fete ‘Haribodhini Ekadashi’. This big fete falls in the months of late October- early November. It is the temple’s main event, commemorating Lord Vishnu’s waking from his long slumber.

If you are interested in knowing and visiting the religious place in Nepal, Budhanilkantha temple should be added to your shortlist. Additionally, once you finish the Hindu pilgrimage sightseeing at Budhanilkantha, you can walk to another nearby hiking area.

Doleshwor Mahadev Temple

Doleshwor Mahadev temple is the hidden gem of Nepal which is also named the Kedarnath of Nepal. Historically significant Doleshwor represents the temple of Lord Shiva which is located on the southeast side of Jagati in living heritage, Bhaktapur. Doleshwor Mahadev is a remarkable place every Hinduism devotee should reach once in a lifetime.

Based on the remarkable links between Doleshwor and Kedarnath, the Doleshwar Mahadev temple in Nepal is the apex part of Kedarnath. It has a mythical history that the head of Shree Kedarnath is revealed in Nepal and the body in India.

Lord Kedarnath in Nepal is represented by a big rock jutting in the middle of a lush forest. In addition, the old stone scripture at Doleshwor  Mahadev Temple is written in the ancient Nepalese language ‘Sanskrit’.

It is believed that the pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple is not complete without visiting Doleshwor Mahadev temple and Pashupatinath Temple. All these three sacred shrines are visited by Shiva devotees once in a lifespan to wash away their sins. During Mahadev Shiva’s festival, hundreds of Shiva devotees visit this temple.

As it hasn’t been extensively advertised, Doleshwor Mahadev temple is unvisited by 90% of Hindu tourists. Nowadays, few of the travelers who visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square combine logistical trips to this shrine.

Only three times a year, ordinary people are allowed to touch and praise inside Doleshwor Mahadev Temple. On other days, they have to worship from outside of the gate.

Devghat Dham

Devghat Dham is a Nepalese sacred shrine located in the town and village of Tanahu, Nepal. Having faith, Devghat is dedicated as the home of Hindu gods and goddesses including Sita Mata. 150 km southwest away from Kathmandu, Devghat stands at the squeezing point of the Kali and Seti Gandaki rivers.

Devghat Nepal is a significant Hindu sacred place which is strewn about 54.34 sq. km. This Dham is a residence to many Rishis, Gurukuls, and old-aged devotees who want to spend their remaining years praying and doing yoga. Historians claim that if someone dedicated your day to reciting Bhajan and Kirtan, you will meet a God after you pass away.

As the pilgrimage site of God and Goddess, Devghat Dham is mentioned in various sacred scriptures. During the Makar or Maghe Sankranti festival, thousands of worshippers from various countries come to visit this holy site to take showers in the Kali Gandaki River. Believing that after taking a holy dive in the river your sins will be removed.

Muktinath Temple

Situated at an elevation of 38000 m from sea level, Muktinath is a splendid pilgrimage shrine in Nepal. This highest elevated temple is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists which are the major religions of Nepal. Muktinath temple welcomes visitors with open arms, sitting in a lap of the Himalayas in the Mustang district.

Attracting many visitors with the name tag of the world’s highest altitude temple, allows you to savor the jaw-dropping vistas of mountains. Muktinath is known as Mukti Kshetra in Hinduism, which signifies a “shrine of salvation”.

Muktinath, a splendid pilgrimage place at the foot of the Thorong La pass, is one of Nepal’s Char Dhams. The gold-plated idol of Lord Bishnu is enshrined inside the temple, which is devoted to him.

At the temple’s exterior yard, water is poured via 108 bull faces and two pounds. Having faith in getting salvation from sins, devotees take a bath despite the freezing weather.

A well-known religious and tourist destination, Muktinath temple attracts a large number of devotees each year. Moreover, the famous Annapurna Circuit Trek Route takes you through the trail of Muktinath Valley.

Also, the journey to Muktinath is renowned for biking all year round. The majority of visitors to Muktinath Temple are Indians, and the proportion is growing every year. Some may travel to Muktinath by bus or jeep, or some of them will take a Helicopter tour.

Supa Deurali Temple

The pagoda-style Supa Deurali temple is one of the well-known Hindu pilgrimage sites of Nepal. Supa Deurali, located at an elevation of 1370 meters in Lumbini’s Arghakhanchi district is approximately 400 kilometres from Kathmandu.

This temple is dedicated to the goddess ‘Devi’ as a ‘wish-fulfilling’ goddess, who grants wishes to those devotees who pray with pure and crystal intention.

Inside Supa Deurali temple, the devotees can observe the images and statues of gods and goddesses such as Lord Shiva, Ganesh, Mahakali, and Mahalaxmi. This route is worth visiting for both pilgrimage and sightseeing because it is flanked by picturesque hills and abundant flora.

 Swargadwari

‘Gateway to heaven’, the other name of Swargadwari, is located at the hilltop of Pyuthan, Nepal. Listed as the Hindu pilgrimage site of Nepal, Swargadwari is famous among those devotees who have faith in gods and goddesses. It is stated that if you visit this religious shrine just once in your life, the entrance to heaven will open after you pass away.

Swargadwari temple, holding a stunning view of the Himalayan panorama has attracted hundreds of devotees every year. Mainly, Nepalese and Indian during Baisakh Purnima and at the feast of Laxmi Pooja (Diwali).

Thereafter, don’t miss to visit the Akhanda Yagya Shala temple where the holy fire has been blazing for centuries. Devotees have a belief that health problems like stomach and headaches will be cured by the ash of the holy fire hood. Also, take a stroll to visit the Gufa temple, where various rituals are presented.

If you are interested in a pilgrimage trek then the Swargadwari temple trek will be perfect for you. For those trekkers who are wondering, there are two ways to reach there. One from Bhingri which takes 4 hours to reach and another from Ghorahi which takes 8 hours to reach. You can get to see the fantastic view of the Annapurna to Machhapuchhre Himalayas from the uphill of the temple.

Dupcheswor Mahadev

Located in the basin of Shikarbesi, Dupcheswor Mahadev is a Hindu pilgrimage site. Popularly known as the temple of Mahadev is also known as the wish-fulfilling temple.

In the faith of having a baby with divine power, hundreds of childless married devotees visit this shrine to beg for a baby. Though it is untouched by international pilgrims, it is famous among the Nepalese people.

Dupcheswor Mahadev temple remains crowded during Mahashivaratri, Teej, and every Monday. A couple of devotees from all over the world who know about it come here to pledge and pay tribute to Mahadev when their wish is completed. Also, you can get to see a couple of devotees whose wish has been successful.

Manakamana Temple

Manakamana Temple is introduced as the Hindu temple of Goddess Durga Bhagawati. It is located at the summit of a hill in Nepal’s Gorkha district.

Manakamana Mai is also renowned as the “yearning-fulfilling goddess” and has faith that she honors the requests of devotees who visit the shrine. Believing these myths, a large number of national and international god devotees visit this temple.

Having a religious belief in Manakamana, ancient people used to stroll uphill to visit this shrine to make wishes. Manakamana integrates two Nepalese words i.e. Mana, which means heart, and Kamana, which means desires. However, since Nov 24, 1998, it has been easier for every devotee because of the cable car from Kurintar to Manakamana temple.

You can pay a fee for a cable car ticket to reach Manakamana temple. Within 10min you will reach the following side of the Manakamana temple without giving any stress to your body.

Aside from that, the jaw-dropping vistas of mountains such as Annapurna, Manaslu, and the fast-flowing Marshyangdi and Trishuli rivers make a trip to Manakamana even more worthwhile. This Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal attracts more than 50 thousand travelers every year.

Halesi Mahadev

You might have no idea where the Halesi Mahadev temple lies. Squeezed between Dudh Koshi and Sun Koshi occupying the eastern portion of Nepal, Halesi Mahadev is the Hindu pilgrimage site of Nepal. This temple is honoured to Lord Shiva who is also renowned as the eastern Pashupatinath of Nepal. Not only Hindus, but this temple is also a Buddhist and Kirant pilgrimage site.

Inside the picturesque caves, the Halesi Temple is perched at the summit of a tiny hill at an elevation of 1500m. Adding a flavour to the cave there is also a slew of other little caves. According to the Legend, Lord Shiva used to hide in this Halesi cave to shield himself from the demon Bhasmasur.

Halesi Mahadev is the great temple for Hindus and given the 6th rank of Buddhist pilgrims of Buddhist and origin place of Kirat. Halasi is revered as an ancestral divinity by the Kirat people. This hallowed place is revered as a wagon that leads from evil to virtuous, wrongdoing to right-doing, and from illusion to reality.

This temple remains covered with thousands of devotees during festivals like Ram Navami, Ganesh Chaturthi, and other Shiva-related fetes. Not for worshipping, Halesi may entice visitors with its natural beauty, surroundings, and landscape vistas.

Interesting myths, how this name was placed?

A bird named Halesho used to trill in the massive madane tree which was directly above the existing Halesi Mahadev. Moreover, Lord Mahadev used to conceal himself from demons. As a result, early people chose to place the name ‘Halesi Mahadev’.

Janaki Temple

Janaki temple is situated at the heart of the Dhanusha district of Nepal. It is a popular religious site in Nepal and is entirely made of dazzling white marble. 125km away from Kathmandu, Janakpur temple is a perfect example of art. The ancient culture, arts, and architecture of this site are well-known in different countries.

It is known as the most-visited holy temple that represents the palace of the deity Sita. Janakpur is the birthplace of goddess Sita and the place where she got married to God Ram. As Janaki temple is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has a great history of Ram and Janaki. Every year during Vivaha Panchami Ram Navami and many other festive seasons devotees from Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka come to visit this site.

Explaining Janakpur temple in sentences is not enough, you must visit this site once in your life to get lifetime unique memories.

Triveni Dham

Famous Triveni Dham is a religious site squeezed between the tri-rivers Narayani, Sona, and Tamasa. Located in the district of Nawalparasi, Nepal, this Dham offers visitors to visit two other temples: Daunne Devi and Maula Devi. Devotees visit this beautiful place to take a holy bath in the belief of getting salvation.

Mostly, Nepalese and Indian pilgrims visit this holy place to attend death-related rites works like Shraddha and Priti Darpan. Annually during Mahe Ausi, a mela is held here where thousands of people from different regions gather to take a bath and worship Triveni.

In 2019, a new temple with 500 deity idols was built which is why it is considered as a Hindu pilgrimage site. In addition, you can get to see the Valmiki Ashram which is related to the Ramayana, where Rama exiled Sita and her two sons Lava and Kusha.

Pathibhara Devi temple

Pathibhara temple represents the temple of the goddess Pathibhara which lies in the Taplejung district in Nepal. Enlisted as the Hindu pilgrimage site, Pathibhara is known as the fierce goddess. Despite her reputation as a fiery goddess, Phatibhara Devi is easily pleased by acts of compassion, sacrifice offerings, and requests.

Yearly, thousands of devotees from Nepal and India come to visit this shrine to make a wish and get blessings from the deity. This pilgrimage site of province no 1 is suited at the elevation of 3794m. Devotees should walk for around 3 hours to reach the uphill of the temple.

Nevertheless, most Hindus and Buddhist trekkers choose this religious trekking destination to explore the pilgrimage site and its natural beauty. Not only Pathibhara temple, but you can also get to see the mesmerizing view of the mountain panorama of Kanchenjunga. Along with cultural admiration, if you are an adventurer too, just extend the walk on the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trekking Trails.

Gosaikunda

Sacred Lake Gosaikunda is situated at an elevation of 4380m which is considered the residence of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. In Hindu mythology, the serene Lake Gosaikunda carries holy importance and thousands of pilgrims visit this site every year.

Devotees take a holy bath in Gosaikunda Lake to remove their sins even in a cool climate. During Janai Purnima, Ganga Darshan, the bulk of people from Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka ascend to dive in this lake.

Furthermore, the Hindu holy chants and texts, such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vishnu Purana, and Bhagavad Gita, link Gosaikunda’s existence to Samudra Manthan.

It is believed that Lord Shiva ingested poison produced by the churning of the oceans and stored it in his throat. Thereafter, he pierced the mountain with his Trishul to cool down his throat for drinking water.

In Nutshell

This blog is fully concerned with the most known Hindu Pilgrimage Sites in Nepal. You might be unaware of most of the sites in Nepal. However, after reading this blog you might have gained the information and importance of the respective sites. Moreover, if you have any queries related to the Hindu pilgrimage tour in Nepal or the Hindu Pilgrimage Site tour in Nepal you can drop an email at info@missionhimalayatreks.com or WhatsApp at +977-9841965533