Unplanned visit to Western Nepal continue…

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. BUDDHA

An ancient hill town Tansen, 1350 meters above sea level, is the administrative headquarter of the Palpa district and lies in the Lumbini zone of west Nepal. Tansen is the best and nearest hill station in southwest Nepal. This hill station is famous for various kinds of handicrafts, textiles,s and organic coffee. Karuwa, a water jug made of bronze, a typical Nepali cap & shawl made of Dhaka textiles are legendary souvenirs from Tansen, Palpa.  This place is renowned for its mild climate.  Though there are many historical places and things to see due to limited time  I roamed for one hour only.

Batasae Dada also known as Windy Hills is one of the most beautiful places where mild wind keeps blowing every time.

“Batasae Dada” means windy hills

People use organic compost as fertilizer which is also good for vegetable farming. We can see these types of compost in most of the villages of Nepal. Organic compost is made up of cow manure and hay.

organic compost

view from the windy hill

sunset  from the windy hill

beautiful forest

A typical Nepali cap is also known as ” Nepali Dhaka Topi”  m Dhaka textile. Shawls, Nepali bags, west coats, etc are very good souvenirs for any visitors to take back their home.

Dhaka Shawl and cap

Typical Nepali Cap

sunset

In the Vedic language ‘Sanskrit’, Lumbini means ‘The lovely’. It is a holy Buddhist pilgrimage situated in the Kapilvastu district of the western Terai region of Nepal. Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha.  It is nearly 300 kilometers from Kathmandu and 190 kilometers south of Pokhara.  This place is listed as a world heritage site. There are many Buddhist Stupas and temples to see.  This place is full of peace.

Royal Thai Monastery

outside view of Royal Thai Monastery

Garden

Buddha’s statue inside Royal Thai Monastery

The Myanmar Temple ( Lokamani Cula Pagoda ) is the most fascinating temple in Lumbini. It is a gleaming gold and white structure gracefully soaring into the sky in the Shwe-dagon in Yangon

The Myanmar Temple ( Lokamani Cula Pagoda)

Replica of the Swayambhu stupa

Shanti Buddha Vihara

Chinese Monastry

Shanti Deep is a never-ending flame that symbolizes peace.

Shanti Deep

As soon as Buddha was born he walked seven steps northwards on lotus petals raised his right-hand forefinger and spoke.

little buddha

The pond where Mayadevi, mother of Buddha take bath after Buddha was born.

Pond

There are more monasteries and temples to visit. All you need is you should have enough time to visit all these sacred sites and know their meaning. I can’t post more pictures because this is my unplanned trip due to my limited time schedule.

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Majestic Monastery in Pokhara

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. BUDDHA

Last week  I attended a workshop in investigative journalism in Pokhara.  Travel has always been my passion so despite my busy schedule I made an unplanned trip to the eastern part of Nepal. The places I visited include Pokhara, Palpa, Bhairawa, and Lumbini.  Though the trip is short it energizes me to the fullest.

Pokhara is one of my favorite places. I have visited numerous times. This time  I fulfilled my dream by visiting  Pema Ts’al Sakya Monastic Institute in Pokhara. This is a unique and beautiful place, situated on a quiet hilltop near Nepal’s famous Fewa Lake and in front of Fishtail Mountain. This monastic institute provides a comprehensive educational program for all our young monks that have been fully sanctioned by the Nepali government where they are educated in Tibetan, English, Nepali, Science, Social Studies, and Maths.

There are several ways that a person can HELP the monastery. You can sponsor a Pema Ts’al Monk for only 35 USD/month (420 USD/year). As a sponsor of a child, your student will write to you several times throughout the year and the monastery will send email correspondence updating you not only on the progress of your child but life at the institute as well.

I lit a lamp praying for the happiness and peace of all sentient beings. I will update another place to visit in my next blog. 

Photographs of farm visit at Nagarkot

A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” ― Albert Einstein

Sherpa Alpine cottage is the best place to stay in Nagarkot.  They serve good food, and warm hospitality except for no hot shower. A few days’ stays at this cottage won’t make you bored.

It was my long-time dream to stay in the cottage. After fulfilling my dream I move ahead to visit the farm in Nagarkot.  It is difficult to express in words the beauty of nature on the way.  Look at these pictures. 

Why not gaze at the beauty for a while resting? 

Agriculture remains the key sector for the economic development of developing countries like Nepal.   Farming ( animals and agriculture) is very appropriate to raise the living standard of Nepali people. Maybe you are more curious to see more pictures. The farmhouse is situated in Rohini VDC of Nagarkot. Here go the awesome pictures. 

More pictures

Amazing tomato farm. 

more than happy 🙂 

The eye of Wisdom

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. ” BUDDHA

 Photographs of my Bouddhanath visit yesterday. 

Nature’s Path to Inner Peace

 In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.  Aristotle

Bhimdhunga is a few kilometers away from Kathmandu. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu visit this place once.  Last Saturday on the 9th of March I visited this place to embrace nature.   I was so stunned to see such a beautiful place nearby KTM. 

Nature is the best erudite master to teach us the fundamental laws of nature and the basics of living in life.

Nature is beautiful, and you are in her bosom you will forget everything. 

Powerless to leave her and powerless to enter her more deeply. 

She dance and dances on until we fall exhausted in her arms. 

 She brings forth ever-new forms: what is there never was; what was, never will return. 

We live within her. 

She is an open book the more you read the more you learn.

  

She is the answer you are looking for. At the same time, she is the best to question too. 

Her path is endless.

She gives you the best of the best yet she didn’t ask for anything in return. 

Oh!  mother nature you are simply unbelievable 

Why not try this Nepali-style restaurant?

 

Bar  🙂

View from the restaurant balcony

  village on the way. 

My photoshoot

Your duty is to be and not to be this or that. ‘I am that I sum up the whole truth. The method is summed up in the words ‘Be still. What does stillness mean? It means destroy yourself. Because any form or shape is the cause for trouble. Give up the notion that ‘I am so and so’. All that is required to realize the Self is to be still. What can be easier than that?”  – Ramana Maharshi

Visit Osho Tapoban for spiritual growth

DROP THE IDEA OF BECOMING SOMEONE, BECAUSE YOU ARE ALREADY A MASTERPIECE. YOU CANNOT BE IMPROVE. YOU HAVE ONLY COME TO IT, KNOW IT, TO REALIZE IT. OSHO 

Osho was born in Kuchwada, Madya Prades, India on December 11, 1931. From his earliest childhood, he was a rebellious and independent spirit, insisting on experiencing the truth for himself rather than acquiring the knowledge and beliefs given by others.  He attained enlightenment at the age of 21. Osho is also known as Acharya Rajneesh.During Osho’s  visit in Nepal he directed Swami Anand Arun, an intimate disciple of Osho  to build a commune.  Swami Arun established Osho Tapoban  . In sanskrit Taboban means place of Sadhana (meditation) established in the foothills of Nagarjuna forest, where Buddhist saint Nagarjuna had mediated and attained ultimate enlightenment.  Tapoban is an international commune and forest retreat center where one can get inner peace and explore you in a meditative environment.

Osho’s Statue in Tapoban garden
Photo source: Tapoban Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swami Anand Arun with Iranian Musician
Photo Source: Tapoban Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osho Tapoban lies in the western side of Kathmandu.  It is about twelve kilometers from Tribhuwan International Airport, about 10 kilometers from Kathmandu city center and six kilometers from Balaju NewBus Park.  It is one of my best spiritual place. I have been visiting these places for the past years. To escape from hustle and bustle of Kathmandu Osho Tapoban is the best place to visit. This place has been breathing space for renowned celebrities also.    I was so happy to see popular actress Manisha Koirala  at Tapoban few years back. This  proves everyone is looking for inner peace. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

panoramic view on the way to Tapoban

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actress Manisha Koirala in black Shawal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautifully designed in a form of Shiva Linga  is a meditation hall.  It accommodates 200 people for meditation and 500 for discourses.

Photo Source: Tapoban Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Source: Tapoban Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Source: Tapoban Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osho Samadhi : Osho Samadhi  is the place where the holy remains of Osho are buried. This is one of the reason it is attracting more visitors and Osho lovers from Nepal and abroad.

Photo Source: Tapoban Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statues of Buddha, Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva etc leaves remarkable impression of the respective deities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lord Shiva

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flora and fauna : variety of flowers, native , trees and wild life. This place is popular among the bird watchers and nature lovers.  Waterfall and Springs are beautiful treasure of Tapoban.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shivapuri baba silence temple :   This place is available for silent sitting meditations. Shivapuri Baba is a  Hindu saint and a traveler hermit who taught the world swadharma, the ancient system of living

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Osho Tapoban is the place for inner exploration,  the place where one can get inner peace, explore yourself in a meditative environment . 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After roaming around the Tapoban if you are hungry you can get delicious vegetarian food in the restaurant.  Smoking and alcohol are prohibited.  Once you try the food, there is no doubt you will have a lasting impression on your mind.

restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little glimpse of paradise-Patalaeban Vineyard Resort

Pataleban Vineyard resort  16km North of Kathmandu at an attitude of 1600 m above the sea level.   It lies in North west of Chisapani village, Baadbhanjyan VDC 5, Kathmandu Nepal. It is named as “ Patalaeban” because is surrounded by community forest known as Pataleban. Similarly, it is the main attraction for grape farming of different varieties.  We can see the Himalayan range of Langtang, Ganesh, Manaslu, Annapurna and the valley of  Dhading.  But due to gloomy weather I am unable to take the pictures of majestic mountain range. Here are some pictures I want to share.

 vineyard

 vineyard

 vineyard

 vineyard

village on the way to Paalaeban Vineyard Resort

gazing at the vineyard and beautiful scenary

Resort main bulding

garden area

beautiful tree

garden

perfect place for forest walk and bath

clouds hovering in the sky

resort building

can’t stop myself 🙂