Haribodhini Ekadashi in Kathmandu, Nepal - Indian Roadie Festival

Haribodhini Ekadashi, on the eleventh day of the lunar cycle usually at the end of Kartik, is believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu awakens from his cosmic slumber. It is celebrated by Hindus by performing rituals and Puja to Lord Vishnu, the preserver among the Hindu holy trinity. Tulasi, the plant of holy basil, believed to be one of the earthly manifestations of Vishnu and considered sacred by the Hindus, which is planted in the north eastern part of Hindu courtyards during the month of Ashar in July, is wed on this day.

Four Narayan temples around the Kathmandu Valley called Char Narayan: Changu Narayan in Bhaktapur, Sesh Narayan in Dakshinkali, Ichhangu Narayan in Nagarjun, and Bishankhu Narayan in Godavari, are popular among devotees and pilgrims on Haribodhini Ekadashi.

An annual fair takes place on this day at Budhanilkantha Temple, on the foothills of Shivapuri National Park on the northern suburb of Kathmandu. Budhanilkantha literally means “Old Blue Throat”. The open-air temple is a single basalt stone sculpture of reclining Vishnu on a coil of the cosmic Sesha in a pool of water. The sculpture is believed to have been built and brought to Kathmandu during the reign of Lichchhavi king Bhimarjuna Dev in the 7th century.

It is believed that a farmer couple was ploughing the field in the area when blood oozed out of the scathed earth. On further excavation, it is believed that the sculpture of the Vishnu emerged. According to another legend King Pratap Malla (1641–1674) had a vision when he was warned from visiting the temple of Budhanilkantha and from henceforth kings of Nepal refrained from visiting Budhanilkantha. Thousands of pilgrims visit Budhanilkantha on Haribodhini Ekadashi.

Photo courtesy: Wim van Passel, The Netherlands

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Road trip to Nepal from Kolkata via Birganj and back in 12 days in November 2017

An IndianRoadie follower with wife and another couple drove to Nepal from Kolkata and back for a relaxed 12 days trip in their Maruti Swift Dzire Petrol in early November 2017.

Day 1: Kolkata (5.30am Dankuni toll plaza) - Muzaffarpur (6.30pm) via Asansol, Topchanchi, Barhi, Nawada, Biharsharief, Patna, Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Hajipur.

Day 2 : Muzaffarpur (6.30am) - Motihari - Raxaul border - Birganj - Chitwan (2.30pm).

Day 3 : Elephant safari + Jeep safari.

Day 4 : Chitwan (7.00am) - Pokhara (3.00pm).

Day 5: Pokhara sightseeing.

Day 6: Pokhara local.

Day 7: Pokhara (7.30am) - Kathmandu (3.00pm).

Day 8: Kathmandu and surroundings, viz. Bhaktapur, Patan, Sunset point.

Day 9: Kathmandu local sightseeing.

Day 10: Kathmandu (6.00am) - Birganj - Raxaul - Motihari - Muzaffarpur - Patna (7.00pm).

Day 11: Patna (6.30am) - Bodh Gaya (12 noon) .

Day 12: Bodh Gaya (9.30am) - lunch at Topchanchi - Asansol - Durgapur - Kolkata (7.30pm). 

Note:
NH19 is in excellent shape all along. 
NH31 after the Tilaiya Dam upto Biharsharief is in very bad shape with huge craters. They found atleast 6 - 8 trucks with broken axles in that stretch.
Bakhtiyarpur to Patna is toll road and a great pleasure to drive on.

Drive to Boudhanath Stupa, 11 kms from Kathmandu, Nepal

Boudhanath Stupa (or Bodnath Stupa) is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, 11 km from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu.

Bodnath was probably built in the 14th century after the Mughal invasions; various interesting legends are told regarding the reasons for its construction. After the arrival of thousands of Tibetans following the 1959 Chinese invasion, the temple has become one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism. Today it remains an important place of pilgrimage and meditation for Tibetan Buddhists and local Nepalis, as well as a popular tourist site.

From above, Bodnath Stupa looks like a giant mandala, or diagram of the Buddhist cosmos. And as in all Tibetan mandalas, four of the Dhyani Buddhas mark the cardinal points, with the fifth, Vairocana, enshrined in the center (in the white hemisphere of the stupa). The five Buddhas also personify the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ether), which are represented in the stupa's architecture.

There are other symbolic numbers here as well: the nine levels of Boudhanath Stupa represent the mythical Mt. Meru, center of the cosmos; and the 13 rings from the base to the pinnacle symbolize the path to enlightenment, or "Bodhi" — hence the stupa's name.

At the bottom, the stupa is surrounded by an irregular 16-sided wall, with frescoes in the niches. In addition to the Five Dhyani Buddhas, Boudhanath Stupa is closely associated with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Padmapani), whose 108 forms are depicted in sculptures around the base. The mantra of Avalokiteshvara - Om Mani Padme Hum - is carved on the prayer wheels beside the images of Avalokiteshvara around the base of the stupa.

The base of the stupa consists of three large platforms, decreasing in size. These platforms symbolize Earth, and here you can look out at the mountains while listening to the chants of the devout doing kora, walking around the stupa praying.

Next come two circular plinths supporting the hemisphere of the stupa, symbolizing water. As at Swayabunath, Bodnath is topped with a square tower bearing the omnipresent Buddha eyes on all four sides.

Instead of a nose is a question-mark-type symbol that is actually the Nepali character for the number 1, symbolizing unity and the one way to reach enlightenment—through the Buddha's teachings. Above this is the third eye, symbolizing the wisdom of the Buddha.

The square tower is topped by a pyramid with 13 steps, representing the ladder to enlightenment. The triangular shape is the abstract form for the element of fire. At the top of the tower is a gilded canopy, the embodiment of air, with above it a gilded spire, symbolic of ether and the Buddha Vairocana. Prayer flags tied to the stupa flutter in the wind, carrying mantras and prayers heavenward.

The main entrance to the upper platform of Bodnath Stupa is on the north side. Here Amoghasiddhi, progenitor of the future Buddha, presides. Below Amoghasiddhi is the Buddha Maitreya, the future Buddha.

Surrounding Boudhanath Stupa are streets and narrow alleys lined with colorful homes, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and street vendors.

During the festival of Losar (Tibetan New Year) in February or March, Boudhanath hosts the largest celebration in Nepal.

(Text source: www.sacred-destinations.com; Photos by: Michael Foley, Sara Schwittek @shysiren)