Swargadwari
Swargadwari | |
---|---|
Name | |
Devanagari | स्वर्गद्वारी |
Geography | |
Coordinates | 28°7′17″N 84°40′28″E / 28.12139°N 84.67444°ECoordinates: 28°7′17″N 84°40′28″E / 28.12139°N 84.67444°E |
Country | Nepal |
State/province | Rapti Zone |
District | Pyuthan District |
Locale | Mahabharat Range |
Elevation | 2,100 m (6,890 ft) |
Culture | |
Primary deity | Indra |
Important festivals | Baisakh, Kartik Purnima |
History and governance | |
Date established | 1941 (1998 B.S.) |
Swargadwari (स्वर्गद्वारी) is a hilltop temple complex and pilgrimage site in Pyuthan District, Nepal commemorating the special role of cows in Hinduism. It is said to have been founded by one Guru Maharaj who spent most of his life in the vicinity herding and milking thousands of cows. According to traditional stories, some of his devotees followed him to see where he took the cows, but they never could find him.
Before he left physical body the Guru gave some of his powers to a few disciples. On the day he departed his physical body by his own wish, a number of people gathered around him at the place where he habitually meditated. The Guru left his body after bidding goodbye to his disciples and other followers. His favourite cow also died at the same instant, then the rest of the cows miraculously disappeared within a few days. There are also accounts of cows emptying their milk by themselves every day at the same time, at the place where the Guru died.
Swargadwari is counted among Nepal's top pilgrimage sites[1][2] and is listed in a national inventory of cultural and historic heritage sites.[3]
As of 2009, a cable car to the temple complex was under construction.[4] In the aftermath of the 1996-2006 Nepalese Civil War, donations of straw and hay had diminished to a point where resident cattle at Swargawari were in danger of starving.[5][6]
It is the one of the popular Hindu's religious place. It is located in southern part of pyuthan district. Main visitor of this religious area are Nepalese and Indians. swargadwari is also popular for the trekking. it takes two days to reach there by foot. The footfall in swargadwari increase dramatically on June-July. Anyone can reach there from two routes; from bhingri, and from ghorahi. It takes around 5 hours from bhingri to reach swargadwari, and around 8 hour from ghorahi,dang. but the routes are extremely breath taking. It lies on the top of the hill, surrounded by pine forest. There are vast number of Rhododendron trees on the way and in swargadwari itself.
References
- ↑ "Swargadwari Darshan". Kathmandu: Adventures Nepal. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ↑ "Pilgrimage Tour Nepal". Kathmandu: Angel Tours and Trekking Operator Nepal. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ↑ Bhandari, Bishnu, ed. (1997), Inventory of heritage sites in Nepal, Kathmandu: IUCN Nepal, Heritage and Biodiversity Conservation Programme., retrieved April 10, 2011
- ↑ "Nepalese Government is planning to construct six more cable cars". Everest Journal. February 20, 2009. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
- ↑ Bohara, Gajendra (January 4, 2010). "500 cows starving in Swargadwari". Republica. Nepal Republic Media, Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved April 7, 2011.
- ↑ Bohara (January 10, 2010). "Straw collection for starving cows". Republica, op. cit..
External links
Maps and Imagery
- Satellite Image of Temple Complex
- Terrain Swargadwari (temple icon), Dang Valley (D), Mahabharat Range (green line), Arun Khola (A), Madi Kh. (M), Jhimruk Kh. (J)