Pathibhara Devi Temple

Pathibhara Devi
Pathibhara Devi
	Statue of Pathibhara Devi
Religion
Affiliation	Goddess
District	Taplejung
Deity	Pathibhara Devi
Location
Location	Taplejung
Country	Nepal
	Location in Nepal
Geographic coordinates	27°25′46″N 87°46′3.8″E / 27.42944°N 87.767722°E
Architecture
Type	Pagoda
Elevation	3,794 m (12,448 ft)

Pathibhara Devi (Nepali: पाथिभरा देवी मन्दिर, [ is one of the most significant temples in Nepal, located on the hill of Taplejung. It is also considered one of the holy places for the Nepalese people. Worshippers from different parts of Nepal and India visit the temple during special occasions, as it is believed that a pilgrimage to the temple ensures the fulfillment of the pilgrims' wishes.

The temple is located 19.4 North East from Phungling municipality at an elevation of 3,794 m (12,448 ft). It serves as a secondary route of Kanchenjunga trek. The list of devotees includes the ex-Royal family of Nepal. The pilgrims offer animal sacrifices, gold and silver to please the goddess.

Pathibhara Temple is also a side route to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek.

Legend

It is believed that local shepherds lost hundreds of their sheep while grazing at the same place where the temple stands today. The distressed shepherds had a dream in which the goddess ordered them to carry out ritualistic sacrifice of sheep and build a shrine in her honour. When the sacrifice was offered, the lost herd suddenly returned. The ritual of offering sacrifices inside the temple is believed to have started after the incident.

The hill goddess Pathibhara after which the place is named is believed by the devotees to be a fierce goddess who can be easily pleased with simple and selfless act of compassion, prayer and sacrificial offerings (sacrifice in Hinduism denotes sacrifice of one's ego and greed); while is unmerciful and severe to one who has malicious intentions beneath.

She answers prayers and is very important to all people residing in Nepal. The Goddess at Pathibhara is believed to fulfil the long-cherished dreams of her devotees, like sons for those without sons, and wealth for the poor.^[1]

Pathibhara is also one of the 'Shakti Peeths'. Shakti Peethas are the places where parts of Goddess Sati had fallen while Lord Shiva was carrying her dead body. Worshippers from different parts of Nepal and India visit the temple during special occasions, as it is believed that a pilgrimage to the temple ensures fulfilment of all that the pilgrim desires ^[2]

Attractions and activities

Pilgrims can also visit monasteries situated in Olangchung Gola and Lungchung. The waterfall at Sawa and the pond of Timbung, during autumn and spring are worth visiting every year. The forest ecosystem along the trial offers diversity of wildlife, birds, flowers and butterflies. The whole of the Kanchanjunga range can be seen in this trek.

Natural View Tower

From the Pathibhara hill, which is also being developed as a natural lookout tower, the view of the beautiful gorges formed by the silver-shining mountain range to the north is breathtaking. Mt. Kangchenjunga and Kumbhakarna can be interviewed right in front of the eyes, while the mountains like Mount Everest, Lhotse, Choyu, Makalu can be seen from a height of eight thousand meters. Similarly, most of Panchthar and Ilam, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha and Solu including Fungling Bazaar as well as various parts of Sikkim and West Bengal of India can be seen.^[3]

Trek

For tourists other than pilgrims, the Limbu Cultural Trek in the region is considered equally enthralling. A week-long trek passes through ethnic villages of Taplejung, such as; Phurunga (or Phurumbu), Limkhim, Khewang, Tellok, PhawaKhola and Mamankhe.

How to get there

Pathibhara lies in Yangwarak Rural Municipality. The journey to Pathibhara starts from Suketar, which is about a 20-minute drive from Phungling Bazaar, and then 1–2 hours' drive from Suketar to Kafle Pati. Pathibhara Devi is about 3–4 hours' walk from Kafle Pati.

Suketar Airport (2,840 m [9,320 ft]) at Suketar is the only STOL airport in Taplejung district, connecting Kathmandu and Biratnagar by scheduled flights.

Pathibhara trail passes through Deurali, Ramitedanda, Chhatedhunga, Bhalugaunda and Phedi before finally reaching the temple. Residents along the trail offer food and lodging facilities. Basic accommodation facilities are also available for pilgrims near the temple premises.

The best time to visit the temple is during pre-monsoon (March to June) and post-monsoon (September to November) seasons.

Temple Bells at Pathibhara

Huge bell inside Pathibhara Temple premises

Buddhist prayer flags fluttering inside Pathibhara Devi Temple premises

References

^ Asianheritagetreks. "Nepal - Pathivara Temple (7 Days)". asianheritagetreks. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
^ asianheritagetrek. "Nepal - Pathivara Temple (7 Days)". Asianheritagetrek.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
^ https://www.wondersofnepal.com/pathivara-temple/ Pathivara Temple

External links

"Pathibhara Devi Temple". Nepal Pilgrimage. 2010-04-23. Archived from the original on 2011-10-23. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
"Official website". Pathibhara.com.np. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
"History of Pathibhara Devi Temple". TopNepal. 2013-10-31. Archived from the original on 2018-11-11. Retrieved 2013-10-31.

[1] Asianheritagetreks. "Nepal - Pathivara Temple (7 Days)". asianheritagetreks. Retrieved 29 July 2020.

[2] sianheritagetrek. "Nepal - Pathivara Temple (7 Days)". Asianheritagetrek.com. Retrieved 29 July 2020.

[3] ttps://www.wondersofnepal.com/pathivara-temple/ Pathivara Temple

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v t e Hindu temples in Nepal
Notable temples	Bhaleshwor Mahadev Budha Subba Temple Budhanilkantha Temple Chandannath Temple Chandeshwari Temple Changu Narayan Temple Chhinnamasta Temple Dakneshwori Temple Dakshinkali Temple Dantakali Temple Dhaneshwor Temple Dhuleshwor Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple Dungeshwor Temple Gadhimai Temple Ganeshthan Temple Janaki Mandir Kageshwori Kaliaka Bhagawati Temple Kasthamandap Kamadhenu Mandir Kankalini Temple Kumbheshwar Temple Kushmanda Sarowar Triveni Dham Maula Kalika Manakamana Temple Nateshwori Temple Bajura Padukasthan Pashupatinath Temple Rajdevi Temple (Gaur) Rajdevi Temple Shambhunath Temple Siddha Baba Temple Siddhikali Temple Shashwat Dham Shobha Bhagawati Sheshnarayan Temple Swargadwari Tal Barahi Temple Nateshwori Temple
Shakta pithas	Ankuri Mahadev Badimalika Temple Bageshwori Temple Baglamukhi temple Bhadrakali Temple Bhadrakali Temple Bhagwati Temple Bhutandevi Mandir Guhyeshwari Temple Kalinchowk Bhagwati Shrine Muktinath Palanchok Bhagawati Temple Pathibhara Devi Temple Bajrayogini Temple
Ganesh temples	Ashok Binayak Temple Jal Binayak Temple Surya Binayak Temple

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Agni Ashvins Chandra Dattatreya Ganesha Hanuman Indra Kama Kartikeya Krishna Kubera Rama Shasta Surya Varuna Vayu Vishvakarma Yama more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Aditi Bhumi Chhaya Durga Ganga Shachi Kali Mahadevi Mahavidya Matangi Matrikas Radha Rati Rohini Rukmini Sanjna Sati Shakti Shashthi Sita more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Daitya Danava Devata Dikpāla Gandharvas Gana Kuladevatas Gramadevatas Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas / Yakshini
Texts (list)	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
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