Back Trails of Kathmandu: Explore
the ancient rural
villages & visit legendary temples with superb views of
the HimalayasIntroduction: A
pleasant scenic ride takes us through the hidden roads of the old city of Kathmandu,
from here we head towards the villages of Khokna and Bungmati, which date back
to the 14th century. The temple of Macchindranath (worshipped by both Hindus and
Buddhist as the giver of golden harvests) is situated in the main square of Bungmati.
Our journey
continues through the hills on a jeep track through the village of Champa Devi
to reach Chapagaon village situated on the southern tip of the Kathmandu Valley.
Although a rural
village at present, Chapagaon, is growing slowly as modernization creeps in. Chapagaon
is famed for its temple of Vajravarahi, one of the many reincarnations of Lord
Vishnu in the form of a Boar. The temple is surrounded by an age-old forest which
is protected by the local belief that to cut even a single tree would anger the
deity. Villagers still worship the wrathful Vishnu by offering a weekly blood
sacrifice of chicken, goat and buffaloes. |