Pilgrims in Nepal

Hindu Pilgrims in Nepal: There are three kinds of Hindu Pilgrimages in Nepal for 1. Lord Shiva 2. Lord Vishnu, and 3. Ma Shakti.
According to Purans Himalaya is home of Lord Shiva and Parbati. Hence there are many Pilgrimage sites related to Lord Shiva in Nepal. Pashupatinath Temple is the Holiest
pilgrimage of Lord Shiva. Mt. Kailash is the mountain of Lord Shiva and it is considered holiest of all holy mountains. Mt. Kailash is in Tibet near Nepal Tibet border. A m

ountain with a Temple on its top is also considered Holy Mountain. There are several Shakti-peeths related to Durga Ma through out Nepal. Dakhinakli and Guheswori are most famous Shakti-peeths of Kathmandu valley. Other important Shakti-peeths are Pathibhara, Shaileswori, Vindyavashini, Mankamana, Jogeshwori, etc. Such Shakti-peeths are usually situated on the top of a mountain. The confluence of rivers, particularly when they are major tributaries of the Ganges, is always regarded as religiously significant by Hindus, as it is believed a third spiritual river also joins. Such confluence is called Tribeni.






Pashupatinath:






Lord Shiva is worshipped as Pashupati, which means Lord of all living creatures. The temple of Pashupatinath is 6 Km east of Kathmandu. Pasupat-Chhetra (site of Pashupatinath) is one of the holiest places in Hindu Kingdom of Nepal. Many Hindu Pilgrims come Pashupatinath round the year. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu 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 near Pashupatinath temple is very popular among non-Hindu tourists. Pashupatinath Temple area is UNESCO World Heritage site.







Gosaikunda:






Gosaikunda is a glacier lake in Langtang. It is 2 to 3 days trekking from Dhunche. According to Puran lake Gosaikunda was created by Lord Shiva by his Trident. He had to drink water after intake of Halahal or Kalkut poison. He has to digest the Kalkut poison which was the product obtained from Samundramanthan by Gods and Ashurs. The most auspicious day for the Pilgrimage is Full moon day (Shrawan Purnima) in July. Many pilgrims from Nepal and India take a bath in the Lake.







Shaligrams and Shalgrams:






The Shaligrams are specifically described as fossil-stones which have taken shape in the Gandaki-river, and as characterized by the presence of discus marks . The legend, related at length tells us that Gandaki, the lady-devotee, performed penances for long years, and that she got a boon from Vishnu, which made Vishnu reside in her womb (in her depths) as her own offspring; the Shaligram-stones are thus the forms of Vishnu. Like the worship of Siva in the form of a lingam, the worship of Vishnu in the shape of a Shaligram is an iconic in character. Shaligrams are always naturally found in the river Gandaki. The region where Shaligrams are found is also called Shalgrams. The Shaligrams region is in Mustang and River Gandaki basin. These also include the famous Kali-Gandaki river, Muktinath, Damodar Himal, Damodar Kunda, Devghat, etc.







Damodarkund:






Damodarkund is a glacier lake at the slope of Damodar Himal in Mustang. The Damodar lakes are located three days walk north east of the main Mustang trekking route and very close to the border with Tibet. Damodar Kunda is the source of River Kaligandaki. The site is in the region of Shaligram and hence it is also called Shalgrams. Other names of River Gandaki are Kaligandaki, Sptagandaki, and Narayani.Ridighat: 50 km from Tansen at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Ridi Khola. In this small place, here is a temple of Rishikeshwara (Vishnu) 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 Bazaar.







Muktinath:






This is one of the 106th sacred Muktichhetra (assured of salvation) of 108 sacred place of Vaishnavs, where Lord Vishnu got free from the curse of Sati. Here is a largest Shaligram. Here is also a Jwaladevi, a divine flame is continuously burning since thousands of year. This pagoda –shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu situated at an altitude of 3800 m. Set into the wall around 108 water spouts from which pour holy water.
Devghat: Devghat is a confluence of river Trishuli and river Kaligandaki and is very significant religious Tribeni. It is 6 Km north of Narayanghat. Here all 7 holy Gandaki Rivers meet together to form a Narayani River. Like Tribeni 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 to immerse themselves in the river. Makar Shankranti is also popularly known as Maghe Shankranti. It is 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.







Janakpur:






Janakpur is in 375 Km south east of Kathmandu and is famous Hindu pilgrimage site. Janakpur is a birthplace of Janaki Sita. Janaki Sita was married to Lord Ram the 7th incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Places of interest are: Janaki Temple, Biwah Mandap, and numerous beautiful ponds. The most auspicious day for the Pilgrimage is Bibaha Panchami (November). It is day of celebration of the wedding of the Goddess Sita and the God Ram with mock wedding processions. Many pilgrims from Nepal and India attend the celebration. A holy saint Sri Shurkiswor Das discover the ruins of the ancient capital Mithila King and the birth place of Sita. The present temple was built by Queen Brishabhanu of Tikramgarh of India.
Barhachhetra: Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the Universe, has incarnated as Baraha (Boar) in this region and hence it is called Baraha chhetra. It is one of the four holy places in Nepal. According to Puran that Lord Vishnu came down to earth in the form of a boar and destroyed Hiranyakashyapu, an evil demon, at this very spot. It is on the bank of Sapta koshi. This pilgrimage is accessed through Dharan. Since the site is related to Lord Vishnu it is assumed as sacred as Gaya for Shraddha (Offering to ancestors). The Pilgrimage is at a confluence of tributaries of river Koshi and hence many pilgrims around Nepal and India come here for dip at the day of Makar Shankranti.







Balmiki Ashram:






It is an island in Narayani River near Tribeni, 20 km south of Kusunde, which lies between Narayanghat and Butwal in Mahendra Highway. Goddess Sita was exiled from the royal palace and stayed here. She gave born twin sons Lava and Kusha. This Ashram was a retreat used by the great sage Balmiki, who wrote complete epic of Ramayan.
Buddhist Pilgrims in Nepal: Shiddartha Gautam led the world on the path to enlightenment and became Lord Buddha two thousand five hundred years ago. There are four most holy places associated with the Lord Buddha and are Buddhist pilgrimage.
Lumbini: Where Buddha was born as the Prince Shiddhartha Gautam. The site is in now in a beautiful Garden. Lumbini is about 20 minute drive from Shiddarthnagar, a town in mid western Nepal. Ashoka Pillar, Maya Devi Temple, Archeological excavation sites, various Buddhist temples and monasteries from Buddhist countries from all over worlds are in the Lumbini Garden. Bodh gaya: Where Buddha enlightened under a Holy Banyan tree. Sarnath : Sarnath where Siddhartha Gautam who came to be known as the Buddha, the 'Awakened One', delivered his first sermon, after attaining enlightenment. Kushinagar: is revered as the site of the Buddha's Mahaparinirvana, his death and cremation, that marked his final liberation from the cycles of death and rebirth.







Namobuddha:






Namobuddha is the place where Lord Buddha, in an earlier life, offered his body to a starving tigress so she could feed her cubs. It is said that his hair, bones and so forth were made into a Stupa, the Stupa now known as Namobuddha. It is in east of Kathmandu valley near Panauti. Important Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu valley are Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath, four Stupa built by Ashoka Emperor in Patan and one Chabhil, etc. There are several Tibetan monasteries around Kathmandu valley. Some of the monasteries are recently built. Thengboche Monastery is the highest altitude monastery in Nepal.

culture and history

Pre 20th Century History

The Newars are regarded as the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley, but their origins are shrouded in mystery. They speak a Tibeto-Burmese language, but their physical features range from distinctively Mongoloid to Indo-Aryan. It seems most likely that the Kathmandu Valley has long been a cultural and racial melting pot, with people coming from both east and west. This fusion has resulted in the unique Newari culture that is responsible for the valley's superb art and architecture.

The Newari golden age peaked in the 17th century when the valley consisted of small city-states, and Nepal was a vitally important trading link between Tibet and the north Indian plains. The valley's visible history is inextricably entangled with the Malla kings. It was during their reign, particularly in the 1600s and 1700s, that many of the valley's finest temples and palaces were built. Competition between the cities was intense and an architectural innovation in one place would inevitably be copied throughout the valley.

The unification of Nepal in 1768 by Gorkha's King Prithvi Narayan Shah signalled the end of the Kathmandu Valley's fragmentation. Nepali, an Indo-European language spoken by the Khas of western Nepal, replaced Newari as the country's language of administration. In 1816 the Shahs closed the borders of Nepal and kept the country isolated until the mid 20th century. In 1846 a bloody massacre of Kathmandu's 100 most powerful men, held in the very public forum of Durbar Square, ended the Shah dynasty and installed the Ranas.

Modern History

While the Ranas maintained tight controls on Nepal's borders, they weren't averse to a little tourism themselves. The first Rana maharaja set off for Europe with a huge entourage, visiting Queen Victoria and causing quite a stir in stuffy old England. The Ranas were so impressed with European architecture that they began introducing neo-classical buildings into Nepal, including the 1904 Singha Durbar in Kathmandu. The Ranas began dressing like European royalty, and imported all the latest inventions. During this period of royal extravagance, the majority of people in Kathmandu became much poorer and the Hindu caste system became much more rigid - on the other hand, the archaic customs of human sacrifice, slavery and sati (the practice of burning widows on their husband's funeral pyre) were abolished.On 15 January 1934 a huge earthquake struck the Kathmandu Valley, killing 4296 people and destroying many of Kathmandu's temples and palaces. Inspired by the independence movement in India, Nepalis began a political upheaval - an alliance was formed between the ousted Shahs, the army's Gurkha regiments and the dissatisfied poorer extended families of the Rana clan. In November 1950 they revolted. King Tribhuvan, a Shah, was anointed ruler in 1951 and struck up a government comprised of Ranas and members of the newly formed Nepali Congress Party. Power, of course, remained with only one party - the king's. The same year, the first European visitors in more than a century were allowed to enter Nepal, spearheaded by the Swiss explorer Toni Hagen.In 1956, the first motorable road in Nepal was constructed, linking Kathmandu with India. Ten years later another highway opened, and in 1974 international air services began. Foreign aid began pouring in from the 1960s, bringing with it foreign aid workers and new prosperity for the city. Kathmandu's population tripled in 20 years, and the city sprawled as modern houses sprang up to meet the needs of ex-pats and immigrants pouring in from the country. In the 60s, the tourists also started arriving in droves, looking for cheap living and eastern answers to the questions of life, as well as a more permissive attitudes towards drugs and draft dodging than those found in Europe, Australia and America. Freak St became the centre of the action, as the hippies set up a huge market for every type of drug, every hybrid philosophy and any kind of pie you could imagine. Kathmandu was transformed into a tourist mecca, and the jumping-off point for the new trekking industry.More recently, Kathmandu's Shangri-la image has taken a bit of a knock owing to the ongoing wrangles over the status of Nepali democracy. Parliamentary democracy was officially introduced in 1989, after years of uprisings against the self-serving system of panchayat, where politicians were directly appointed by the king. Just over a decade later, Nepali democracy was in crisis and the man who introduced it - King Birendra - was dead, massacred along with most of the royal family by an errant prince. Riots erupted across Kathmandu and even Thamel was placed under curfew.

Recent History

Birendra's successor, King Gyanendra, has succeeded in alienating almost every possible facet of Nepali society, cracking down on students and opposition politicians, repeatedly dissolving parliament and comprehensively failing to resolve the deadly Maoist uprising that has killed tens of thousands of Nepalis since 1996. Pro-democracy rallies and strikes and heavy-handed responses by the police and army are now commonplace and Kathmandu is frequently cut off entirely from the rest of the country by Maoist blockades. At times, most of Nepal has been under Maoist control apart from the Kathmandu Valley. With Republican feeling growing and conflict erupting on the streets of Kathmandu, the country is in a state of turmoil; travellers should monitor the situation carefully.

Chapagaoun

This is a very old Newar Village in southern Patan. The main attraction of this village is the Bajra Barahi Shrine. Barahi is the name of one of the Mother Goddesses Ajima. It lies in the center of a thick grove, three hundreds meter from the center of the village. The temple was built 500 years ago.

Bungmati and Khokana:

About 6km. South of Patan lies the two medieval village of Bungmati and Khokana. To reach these villages one has to follow the straight road from the Tibetan refugee Camp on Jawalakhel. About 5000 people live in Bungmati and 3000 inhabitants in Khonkana. Most of the people are Newars. From Khokana, Bungmati is 15 minutes walk. In these villages on can see typical Newari houses. Also these villages are popular for chilly and mustard oil. The best time to visit Bungmati and Khokana is in October and November because at that time the whole village looks colorful. They hand red chilly garland from the top floor to the ground floor in the whole village. Most of the farmers in these villages are either involved in spinning or oil pressing business. The mustard oil of Khokana is still popular in Kathmandu valley

Kirtipur

The Kirtipur situated on the top of hillock 6 km southwest of Kathmandu. The ancient township is a natural fortress and has a proud and courageous history. It was founded by Shiva Deva between 1099 and 1126. It was apart of kingdom of Patan after the division of Kathmandu valley in 1482. Historically, this city is famous for its resistance against the invasion of Gorkhas. The King of Gorkha, Prithivi Narayan Shah attacked there time to conquer this city. The city is historically and artistically important. There are many small and big temples and stupas scattered around the city. The Chilamchu Stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairav are major sights here. Kirtipur offers quaint streets lined with artistic houses and temple squares. The people are known for their skill in building and weaving.

Sankhu + Bajra Yogini

Sanku is a very old Newar city and lies 23 km from Kathmandu. It derives its name from Sankhapura, which means Conch City. It lies on the famous route to Tibet. The traders used this route from 7th to 9th centuries AD. This legendary city is worth a visit, because of its old houses, beautiful wood- carved temples and old stone water taps. The famous temple of Goddess Ugratara Bajrayogini is situated at a 45 minute walking distance from here.The Goddess Bajrayogini is the Hindu – Buddhist parallel manifestation of Goddess Kali. The temple complex is supposed to be as old as Changunarayan (467 AD). It is mentioned in Gopal Vamsabali, a research manuscript, which states Manadev, performed penance at this place. The present three- tier structure or the temple is the contribution of King Pratap Malla.

Nepal Safari :Chitwan National Park

The Chitwan National Park (932 sq. km.) 200 Km south west of Kathmandu is most most popular Wild Life Safari Park in Nepal. Wild Life in the National Park: Chitwan National Park is the largest habitat for one horned Rhinos, and is also second largest habitat for Royal Bengal Tigers in Nepal. Other wild animals are: wild elephants, four species of Deer, Sloth bear, Gaur (bovine), wild Boar, Striped Hyena, Jackals, Crocodiles (Ghariyal and Magars), Leopards, Langoor (monkey), and many more. Endangered Birds like giant Hornbill, Bengal florican, black Stork, white Stork, etc. are among 450 species of birds found in the park. Village Sauraha and Eco-tourism: Village Sauraha is an old settlement of ethnic Tharu people. The village Sauraha is in buffer zone jungle of Chitwan National Park. The Chitwan National Park is best known for Conservation of wild life and Eco-tourism in the world. Where as Sauraha is a best example of a jungle village, adjacent to the park, where Men and wild animals support each other for their living.Rapti river beach: The beach of River Rapti is a very popular spot in Sauraha. You can enjoy the best sunset view in a hot evening with a chilled beer.Safari in the Park:Elephant ride: You climb on an Elephant back, ride into the grassland which is as tall as an elephant and virgin forest of the Park to see Rhinos, tigers, and other wild animals.Safari activities: Elephant ride, Jungle walks, Bird watching, Canoeing in a dug-out canoe, Visit to Elephant breeding center, etc.Cultural activities: Tours in and around Tharu village and cultural programs performed by the ethnic Tharu communities. The Cultural variety includes famous stick dance and dance with guests.Additional activities: Jungle drive by Jeep (seasonal), Devghat tour, and visit to the exotic Bis Hazari Taal (Twenty Thousand Lakes).Itinerary: Safari at Chitwan National Park 2 night/3 days Day 01Lunch upon arrival; Village Tour and Sunset view from beach Rapti river; DinnerDay 02Jungle walk after early morning Tea/Coffee. After breakfast: Canoeing and Trip to Elephant breeding center; After lunch, Elephant ride Evening: Cultural program and Dinner around the camp firing.Day 03Bird Watching (or extra elephant ride at extra cost) after early morning tea/coffee.8.00 AM: Breakfast 9.00 AM: drive to next destinationExtra dayJeep drive to Kasara; Gharial Hatchery Farm; visit to Bis Hazari Lake (wetland).How to go there? By Air: Daily flights from Kathmandu to Bharatpur Airport duration about 25 minute; US$ 73.00 per person and hotel transfer from the Bharatpur airport costs US$ 12.00 per jeep. By Private vehicle: 4 Hours drive and you can enjoy en-route Cable Car ride to Mankamana Temple; from US$ 24.00 per person for a group of three; from Kathmandu or Pokhara. By Tourist bus: 5-6 hours cost US$ 6.00 to 12.00 per person; from Kathmandu or Pokhara By white water river rafting: You can make journey to Chitwan National Park more adventurous by white water river rafting. You can enjoy river rafting in Trishuli river (grade 2-3). The rafting trip in river Trishuli can be a trip of 1 to 3 days from Kathmandu. Or you can enjoy 2 days river rafting in Sheti river (grade 2-3) if you are going from Pokhara. Costs: from US$ 25.00 per person per day.

Places to see in Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon)

As the Name 'Bhaktapur' would suggest, it's the city of devotees. Infact, everywhere in Nepal one witnesses a fine blend of history, culture and religion entwined together. Covering an area of 4 Square miles. The city lies about 14 km east of Kathmandu. It is at a height of about 1400m and motor transport is available for the visitors.

Temple at Bhaktapur

Durbar Square:


Seekers of Solace and inner harmony find the place absolutely insatiating. The awful art and architecture abounding here is amazing. Innumerable temples and other architectural show pieces. viz., The Lion Gate, the statue of king Bhupatindra Malla, the picture Gallery, the Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows and Bell of Barking Dogs dots the landscape here. Of the many statues one finds in Nepal, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, placed on a column facing the palace is inarguably the most magnificent. The national Art Gallery is also housed inside.Entrance to the main courtyard of the Palace of 55 Windows (Built in 15th century) is the Golden Gate. Built by King Ranjit Malla, the Gate is a masterpiece in repose art and one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind in the entire world.King Bhupindra Malla built the palace of 55 windows in the 17th century, Infact, its a balcony of 55 window with some gracious setting and sculptural design - a masterpiece of wood carving.Also located in the Durbar Square is the stone temple of Batsala Devi, full of intricate carvings. A beautiful example of Bronze bell on its terrace, which is also known as the "Bell of Barking Dogs". This colossal bell was placed in 1737 A.D. and was to sound curfew in those days.

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath is one of the holiest pilgrimage destinations for all the Hindus of the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the trinity and the guardian (patron) deity of Nepal. This is one of the oldest temples, situated on the banks of the Holy Bagmati River. It is double – roofed golden temple with four triple silver doorways. Pashupatinath covers and area of 281 hectares, which is one of the biggest temple complexes in Nepal.Pashupati is one of the many names of Lord Shiva, which means "Lord of Animals” or “Lord of the living beings”. Everyday thousands of Hindus go to the temple. It is situated 7km. From the old city of Kathmandu. The date of construction of this temple is unknown. However, it is believed to be built by the Licchavi King Supuspadeva in the 6th Century. It was renovated by King Jyoti Malla in 1416 A.D. King Bhupatindra Malla reconstructed it in 1697. All the Shah kings have splendor. Non – Hindus are not allowed inside the main temple. They can have a good view of the temple complex from the other side of the Basmati River. There are many Ghats on the bank of River Bagmati, which are rectangular or round ones for ritual bat. There are many small houses behind the Ghats; there are dying near the complex is almost a guarantee for betterment in the next life. After the death ritual of cremation is started immediately, all the ritual can be observed from the other side of the river.People other than family members are requested not to go very near and disturb the cremation activity. Photos from far are possible
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 Kathmandu . Non- Hindus are not allowed into this temple. It is believed that this temple was built long before the Christian era begin. 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. Thousands of Hindus come each year on Shivaratri.

naturally nepal

Ancient temples, Buddhist stupas, Durbar Squares, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, (ie : Patan, Bhaktapur & Kathmandu Durbar Squares


For history and culture junkies, Kathmandu is where the action is. The sight seeing is excellent as the city hosts 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites within a 20 km radius. Carry your camera at all times, especially as you stroll around the city and explore the maze of courtyards and narrow alleys that epitomise ancient Nepali cities. Temples, shrines and prayer wheels are everywhere giving you a feeling of calm. The art, the colours, the people, the music fill your senses. The snow capped mountain ranges that dominate the background will blow your mind. And a visit to the temples and stupas will soothe your soul. And then you will come across a world heritage sight. Your jaw will drop. Your eyes will light up. Click. Click. Click. A few more for the photo album. Last word - Do not miss out on the warmth, simplicity and knowledge of the Nepli people wherever you go. Ask for stories and they will tell. Nepal is a country rich in history, culture and heritage. Don’t miss it. Experience it.

World Heritage Committee session discusses three Nepali sites

The 30th annual session of the World Heritage Committee held in Vilnius, Lithuania from July 8-16 discussed about three Nepal sites.

The session discussed about the Kathmandu Valley, Lumbini and Sagarmatha National Park.

A press release issued by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said the session discussed the Kathmandu Valley, which has been put on the World Heritage 'In Danger' List in 2003.

“The newly proposed boundaries for the 7 monument zones were discussed and approved. Additionally, the ongoing efforts for the preparation of an Integrated Management Plan (IMP) were evaluated,” the statement said.

The committee appreciated the high level of commitment and motivation of all stakeholders.

Depending on the efforts made during the coming year, the committee will consider the removal of the site from the 'In Danger' List at its next session in June/July 2007.

Sagarmatha National Park was discussed as part of a larger item on global warming. As global warming is affecting a large number of the world’s most valuable natural sites, the Committee deemed it necessary to discuss the issue.

Since no individual State Party can be held responsible for global warming, 'In Danger' listing of these sites, including Sagarmatha, is not possible.

Factors deteriorating cultural heritage

The culture of our country is deteriorating day by day at a very high rate. The following can be some of the possible causes for its deterioration:
1. Carelessness of the people towards its bad effects.
2. Ignorance of the people
3. Out of reach of concerned department
4. Various foreign languages especially English has influenced the Nepali language
5. The influence of foreign culture among the youngsters
6. Selfishness of the people, which leads them to steal our valuable cultural assets of the country like idols, artistic things etc. They then sell it for high price in foreign country. This makes the future generation unknown about our culture and they will be forced to visit foreign museums for the knowledge of our culture.

situation

2001 has not been an easy year for Nepal. The country has witnessed much turmoil, suffering from a royal tragedy and also from enormous political problems. It seems not only the Nepalese people but also the country’s cultural heritage is suffering in these times. The monuments and the ancient sites naturally remain silent - but if they could speak the valleys and hillsides would be full of their lamentations. Every year Nepal is losing a significant portion of its incredibly rich and diverse cultural heritage. The alarming condition of the most important sites - and countless equally precious sites that are afforded far less protection - give cause for serious concern. The dismantling and scarring of historic buildings is regrettably common. Several important buildings and monuments that were not under the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage list have been dismantled, or collapsed through lack of maintenance. In their place the desire to build quickly and above all cheaply is producing a modern architecture that is ad hoc and chaotic, characterized by the poorly constructed concrete pillar buildings that are so detrimental to the fabric of the historic areas - and an increasing blot upon the beautiful Nepalese landscape.

Although these threats to the country’s cultural heritage are largely confined to private property, many of the more prestigious national sites and monuments are also in danger. Uncontrolled new buildings and roads at many historic sites - even in the midst of some of the most important ancient sites - are springing up quickly. Nor are some UNESCO listed sites left untouched by such developments.
There are a few notable examples of communities beginning to take an active part in the conservation of their heritage. This cultural awareness is most obvious where particular sites are used directly to generate income. But even the financial incentives of tourism cannot totally relieve the pressures on a great many monuments. Ironically these are sometimes threatened by the very attempts to save them. Many of the so-called conservation and restoration projects in Nepal are, in reality, often large-scale renovations, or complete reconstructions. These can damage or obliterate the original fabric that they set out to preserve. Perhaps this is due in part to wider international uncertainties over definitions of conservation. But greater sensitivity is undoubtedly called for. Even if the most sophisticated and cutting edge conservation techniques, pioneered in Europe and elsewhere, might not always be transferable to Nepal, a minimum care of authenticity should be expected after all the national and international efforts in the country.

While we should acknowledge that there would always be conflicting pressures between preserving the ancient and yet creating an environment suitable for modern life, greater efforts need to be made to avoid the many wrong turnings. In Katmandu, for instance, the proliferation of slavish modern copies of ancient design in new buildings, such as hotels and shopping malls - yet in a totally different context, use and scale - is not conducive to a living, vibrant architecture. There are young architects of vision and talent in Nepal, but they are not being given the opportunity to express themselves. Instead, there is a very real danger that new urban development will come to resemble an idealized, sterile Disneyland that fails to reflect the society that surrounds it. This is scarcely in harmony with the officially adopted slogan: ‘Nepal, a land with living cultural heritage’. It is a tragic irony that this should be happening just as many ‘genuine’ examples of remaining architectural heritage are collapsing into rubble.

Why is it that the responsible departments and organizations are not able to change this depressing situation? A lack of financial resources and investments? This can hardly be deemed the case, given the huge amount of aid pumped into Nepal on a yearly basis. The necessary skills can still be found, labor costs remain (by Western standards) low and materials are available at a reasonable price. Under these conditions, conservation and preservation work should not be difficult to undertake. So why is this not happening on a more significant scale, and in a more sympathetic way? Consider the various strategies that have thus far sought to defend a fragile and fast-shrinking heritage. Workshops, symposiums, training initiatives, awareness campaigns - Nepal has seen many of these. But an honest evaluation of their results would have to conclude that talking has not always led to action. Rules and regulations, government legislation - there is no shortage of these. It is the implementation that is lacking. The enforcement of necessary conservation measures, often unpopular with owners, seldom takes place. At present it seems there are many higher priorities than heritage conservation.

Among the wider population, the prevailing indifference and disregard for the country’s physical heritage suggests that only a minority is interested in its preservation. This can be attributed, in part, to a lack of popular awareness concerning the importance of many aspects of the country’s heritage. This, in turn, stems from a failure to provide education on this subject for school children and students. Although there are some welcome education initiatives now taking place, the official support for them remains fragmented and weak. At present there is a clear shortage of ‘home-grown’ skills in the field of cultural heritage in Nepal - whether in teachers, lecturers or technical experts. At an academic level, there is an obvious dearth of scientific studies, inventories and documentation. Where these have been carried out, it has often been at the instigation of foreign organizations. The responsible government departments have not created a public documentation center, or developed user-friendly systems that might enable municipalities to support the urgent tasks of surveying and documentation at a non-academic level. Rectifying this will need to be a dedicated and long-term strategy. But the time for commencing these actions must be now. Traditional buildings, temples and monuments are disappearing daily. The living witnesses of the country’s past heritage are also dying out. And the absence of documentation makes it almost impossible to help preserve the immeasurable value of both - for the next generation of Nepalese, as well as the world at large.

introduction

Culture is a factor that influences a man right from his/her childhood. It does not matter in whichever family, community or even country he/she is born. The cultural life of a person depends on his/her family background. A country’s prestige depends on its cultural and cultural heritage. They resemble the past and the present of a country. The culture and the cultural heritages are the precious property of a country. The culture of any country can bring many about positive change in the country.
Culture is our life-related practice. It is in practice from a long period as a human culture. Culture in-fact is a broad term. It is also interrelated to the various human activities. Based on the past experiences people develop their own belief value system, attitude, opinion etc. They indicate steps and process of human civilization. Culture influences people of each locality. This makes difference in their behavior, thinking, opinion and social customs. On the basis of cultural influence, people develop their own life-system. It means human civilization is also a part of culture. Culture includes a number of things like traditional practices, religious activities, festivals, folk songs, dresses, dances, cultural activities, means of entertainment etc.
Since ancient time our ancestors have preserved our religion and culture that is called religious and cultural heritage. Knowledge, spiritual experience, aspiration, values and other culture related things develop our culture. So culture reflects special aspects of individual, society, ethnic group and nation as a whole. We can learn different aspects and phenomena of our society. Gradual development of cultural aspects is the basis of cultural development.

cultural heritages of nepal

Nepal is a land-locked country surrounded by natural beauties all around. The scenic beauty and snow-capped mountains attracts all the people to get shocked and stare at its wonderful beauty and in spite of it it has got its religious,cultural and historical importance.
Cultural heritages are those which reflects our ancient civilization.It also shows about their living standard and their way of life.