About Sambid Bilas Pant

Experienced independent writer & photographer with a demonstrated history of working in the media industry.

Muktinath and the Muktikshetra in Mustang

The holy from Gandaki river gushing out of the 108 water spouts are said to cleanse the devotees of their sins and set them on a path to salvation. The waters are to as well and it’s called '' in language meaning "a hundred springs". The Muktinath pilgrimage The are believed to be terrestrial dwelling place of saints and the home of the . The Muktinath situated at an .

The Mysterious Goddess Taleju Bhawani, A Terrifying Demon and the Living Goddess

Taleju Bhawani is considered as the goddess who made . Legend has it that the great kings established their powerful dynasty because they were granted kingship by goddess Taleju. There are Taleju in the three royal palaces of Malla Kings in Basantapur, and . When King Naryan Shah conquered the three kingdoms of valley, he continued the tradition of worshipping the goddess Taleju and the living goddess , a .

The Ancient Town of Panauti and its Heritage

Panauti is one of the oldest towns in situated at the confluence of the two rivers Punyamata and Rosi. Legend has it that a third invisible river also meets with the two rivers, making it a Triveni (a scared place where three rivers meet). Many believe Panauti was named after the Punyamata river. Moreover, Panauti has been called by different names throughout like Punyawati, Punyamatinagar, Panchal desh, Punanti and Palaati. The Town The .

Gokarneshwar – A sacred site on the bank of the Bagmati River

The Bagmati River is a of to . A holy dip in the Bagmati river is said to free people from all the sins they have committed in this lifetime. There are numerous legends surrounding the of the river and the creation of on its banks. Along with the great , Gokarneshwar, also known as Gokarna is one of the holiest places located on the banks of river .

Buddhist monuments and the Kings of Patan

Long ago, Sarvananda of Dipavati invited sages around the country for distributing alms. , a Buddha who reached prior to , was also invited. However, instead of visiting the palace, Dipankara Buddha visited a nearby hut belonging to an old lady. In late 2021, a 1400-year-old stone inscription was discovered in front of the Bhimsen at Durbar. It was kept there by Lichhavi ruler Anshu Verma. The inscription .

Doleshwor Mahadev: The forgotten Head of Kedarnath

After a treacherous trip up the mountains, Bhimsen, one of the five Pandavas spotted a gigantic looking bull in a distance which he knew was in disguise. Bhimsen known for his brute strength, forcefully caught the bull. When the bull was caught, he tried to escape but unfortunately, the bull was torn into several parts because of Bhimsen’s strength. Mahabharata, the epic depicts the struggle for power and conflict between two groups of .

The Sheshnaryan Temple & Rigzin Drubte Ghatshal Monastery

In the same complex, close to the the Sheshnarayan is the oldest in , Rigzin Drubte Ghatshal Monastery. It is a great example of and cultural pluralism in . A , a and a prophetic vision Lord is one of the principal deities of . He is part of the holy that consists of three , the creator, , the god of destruction and Vishnu who is responsible .

Ram Mandir and the legend of Battisputali

There were 32 scupltures of fairies placed inside the inner walls of Ram Mandir which led to the place being called Battisputali (32 fairies with butterfly wings). There is an enthralling story behind the fairies installed here. The epic Ramayana written by Valmiki has captivated people from all over the world for centuries. is believed to be the seventh incarnation of Lord . He is worshipped by from all over .
Padmapani Paubha

The Tales of Padmapani Lokeshwar, Sankata and the Mahankal Bhairava

Narendra Deva along with the priest, Bandudatta and a local farmer, Lalit travelled all the way to Assam, to bring Lokeshwar to but since they faced a lot of "sankat" (dangers) along the way, the priest Bandudatta summoned Sankata, the "deity who removes dangers". In , stories about and have existed from the beginning of and they were an important part of everyday life. They elaborated everything from .
Itum Bahal temple

Itum Bahal and the Legend of the Demon Guru Mapa

There are innumerable in where are passed on from one generation to the next. The presence of many , , monasteries and Bahals ( courtyards) made as one of the centers of since the ancient . Some of the breathtaking and majestic sites are still fully functioning, while others are remnants of the ancient city’s glorious past. Itum Bahal (Shree Bhaskar Deva Sanskarit Kesh Krit .