Gaindakot - 02

Nawalparasi, Nepal

Search

Points of Interest

Sunset View at Narayani

The surrounding of Hotel River Crown consists of so many boons given by the nature. Along the Hotel, there flows the River Narayani which looks awesome with the bridge over it. The sunset view over the Narayani Riverbank is really very heart-touching. Many of the people from the nearby city come every evening to refresh themselves with a cool breeze.

Chitwan National Park

The name ‘Chitwan’ has several possible meanings, but the most literal translation of the two NEPALI words that make it up: chit or chita (heart) and wan or ban (jungle). Chitwan is thus ‘the heart of the jungle’.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, cultivation in the valley was deliberately prohibited by the government of Nepal in order to maintain a barrier of disease-ridden forests as a defense against the invasion of diseases from the south. Then for the century between 1846 and 1950, when the Rana prime ministers were de facto rulers of Nepal, Chitwan was declared a private hunting reserve, maintained exclusively for the privileged classes. Penalties for poaching were severe – capital punishment for killing rhino – and the wildlife in the area thus received a measure of protection.

From time to time great hunts for rhino were held during the cool, mosquito-free winter months from December to February. The Ranas invited royalty from Europe and the Princely States of India, as well as other foreign dignitaries, to take part in these grand maneuvers, which were organized on a magnificent scale, often with several hundred leopards.

At the time of its establishment the park covered 210 square miles. After an extension in 1980, it now covers 620 square miles, and another enlargement, now proposed, and contains a wide variety of habitats, from the grassland and riverine forests of the valleys to the sal forest on the hills and the chir pine that grows along the ridges.

FEATURES
The Park consists of a diversity of ecosystems-including the Churia hills, Ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of the Rapti, Reu and Narayani Rivers. The Churia hills rise slowly towards the East from 150 m. to more than 800 m. The western portion of the Park is comprised of the lower but more rugged, Someshwor hill. The Park shares its eastern boundary with the Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

FLORA AND FAUNA
The Chitwan valley consists of tropical and subtropical forests. Sal forests cover 70 percent of the park. Sal leaves are used locally for plates in festivals and religious offerings.

Grasslands cover 20 percent of the Park. There are more than 50 different types of grasses, including the elephant grass (Saccharum spp), renowned for its immense height. It can grow up to 8m in height. The park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles. The endangered fauna found in the Park are: One-horned rhinoceros, Gaur. Royal Bengal tiger. Wild elephant, Four horned antelope, Pangolin, Golden monitor lizard, Python, etc. Bengal florican. Lesser florican, Giant hornbill, Black stork, White stork, etc.

FACILITIES
The Park offers interesting sites and activities. The display at the visitor centre at Sauraha provides fascinating information on wildlife and conservation program. The women’s user groups’ souvenir shop offers a variety of handicrafts and other local products for gifts and souvenirs.

Elephant safari provides opportunity to get a closer view of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. One may also get a glimpse of the exlusive Bengal tiger. The Elephant Breeding Center at Khorsor, Sauraha gives you information on captive elephant and the calves born there.

The museum at Kasara, the Park headquarters, has informative displays- near the HQ visitors can see Bikram Baba, a Hindu religious site of archival value. A short walk (1km) from the Park HQ will take you to the Gharial Breeding Center, which is also a home to the Marsh mugger, gharial crocodiles and other turtles.

How to Get There
Chitwan is linked by public buses, tourist coaches, and air service. There are eight entrance gates to the park.

Valmiki Ashram

Balmiki Ashram is located in an island in Narayani River near Triveni, 20 km south of Kusunde, which siyuated in between Narayanghat and Butawal in Mahendra Highway. According to Hindu holy book Ramayana Goddess Sita was exiled from the royal palace and stayed here. She gave born twin sons Lava and Kusha. This Ashram was used by the great Rishi Balmiki who wrote Hindu epic Ramayana.

Maulakalika Temple

MaulaKalika is a famous Hindu temple of Goddess Kalika in Gaindakot town of Nawalparasi district in Lumbini zone of Nepal. MaulaKalika is a very famous and growing tourist destination located in Gaindakot town of Nepal. Located on the top of the Maula hill on the north of Narayani River (also called Gandaki River) in Gaindakot, MaulaKalika temple is situated 561 meter above the sea level. History Historically, it is said that in 16th century the King of Palpa created a symbolic offering site (“Maula”) in the name of goddess Kalika after which the name of the mountain (Maula hill) was derived. It is believed, in Hindu mythology that the Goddess Kali or Kalika also called Durga is the symbol of energy, power and new beginning. Popularity Local people in Gaindakot have been worshiping at the MaulaKalika for many centuries before it got wide spread popularity quite recently. The current temple was built in the early 1990s. Hundreds of thousands of people visit MaulaKalika every year from Nepal and neighboring countries. Dasain or Dusserafestival in September–October and in March–April are peak seasons when goddess Kalika (also called NavDurga, the 9 different incarnation of Goddess Kalika) is worshiped during these festive season.

Devghat Dham

The holiest place in Hindu mythology situated on the banks of saptagandaki & Kaligandaki junction in Center Nepal. Devghat is not only devotees but also the holiest place for the Hindu gods too. Because of the beautiful natural features devotees has felt real paradise of the world. The pilgrimage site has located about 150 KM shouthest from Kathmandu the capital of Nepal. The Hindu religious site, Devghat Dham has surrounded with various temple & Cave of Hindu God, Goddess & Santas. Goddess sita cave, Bashistha Cave, Radha Krishna temple, Galeshor Temple, Sita Ram Temple, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Shankaracharya temple, Bageshori Temple, Laxmi Narayan Divya Dham, Maula Kalika Mandir, Bishwa Shanti Dharmashala, etc are the most notable religious institutions. Mahesh sanyas Ashram, Harihar Ashram, Sharana Gati Ashram, Galeshwor ashram, Rada sarbeshwor Bhaanashram, Yogi Narahari Nath ashram are the ashrams where various religious activities has performed all over the year. In maker sankranti, huge mela has observed each year, which is one of the largest religious Mela in Nepal. Hindu pilgrims take dip at the junction of the two rivers. Kali Gandaki River is famous for rare SHALIGRAM SHEELA, Hindu devotees worshiped as lord Vishnu.