Kalinchowk is being Synonymous for Tourism

• 13 Feb, 2024

Kalinchowk Bhagwati hides behind a hidden path just as pearls found deep in the ocean. As precious things are difficult to obtain yet provide a satisfying outcome after the hard work, the efforts needed to reach kalinchowk are definitely worth it. Situated atop a steep hill (3842m) at the edge of kuri village, the beauty of kalinchowk bhagwati truly is a sight for sore eyes. "You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear" Abdul J. Kalam. So the trials and tribulations of going to see the temple is simply the test taken by God. It is a good idea to visit here during the end of the year, and especially around the beginning of December if you want a guaranteed snowy experience. It is quite a popular place with locals reporting an average of 700-1,000 people visiting every day, with the amount inflating to a couple thousand during special festivities.

Getting to Kalinchowk from Kathmandu is a multi-phasic journey unless you opt for an expensive helicopter charter(Rs. 23,000 approx). The general way of doing it, is to book a local express bus from a major bus park like Ratnapark, etc. This will take about 6 hours to get to Charikot. From there, you must book a private jeep that goes to Kuri village, which takes around 2 hours or so. The roads can be quite tough along with the cold weather so it is advised to be prepared. Finally you can then take the cable car that takes you to the temple, which is a comfortable 5 minute ride. Of course, there is also the option to trek during any of these phases too, where the trek from Charikot to Kuri takes about 8, 9 hours while from Kuri to the temple takes around 2 hours. The price per person with the vehicles will be a total of around 1,700 for a one way trip. There can be discounts available in different phases according to the number of people, etc.

Kalinchowk bhagwati has a very rich history. Legend says that this spot was a place for Kali devi to meditate. During such meditation for Shiva Parvati, The demons (Rakshash) from Shailiushar took interest in Kali and asked her to marry their king. She agrees to marry the one who can beat her. They try to force her which results in her killing all of them, causing their blood to pool in the village. So the village is called kuri village, from kurikuri meaning "shame shame". Finally the devi's singha(lion) drinks the blood of the demons and gets thirsty so Lord mahadev strikes an area with a trishul to produce water for the lion to drink. That water is thought to still be inside the "Jalkunda" which is the main attraction of the place.

Kalinchowk bhagwati is extremely important, especially for dolakha. There are two main things that occur here. Firstly, the process of fulpati begins here and is brought down to dolakha later on. Secondly, there is a special festival called "Hile jatra'' that happens here before Raksha Bandhan/Janai Purnima with lots of music and dance that celebrates the devi's promise to rid the village of demons. There are also various shilalekh, trishuls and bells(ghanta) that hold great historic and cultural importance. Of course, this place is considered a great sacred land, which is a destination for many religious pilgrims in general as well.

It is believed that any wish is fulfilled if asked with a pure heart, especially if trishuls and other offerings are given. Impure or evil monsters or humans cannot even climb the place because the devi is protecting the mountain. Also, the Gauri Shankar mountains nearby are considered holy and no one's allowed to climb them. The water in the Jalkunda never dries or freezes and is considered pure and holy. Animal sacrifice(Bali) is also done here, as food to the devi's lion.

The activities to do in Kalinchowk stack as high as the mountains themselves. The temple itself is the major attraction, to get the blessings of the Goddess. Along with that, the mountains are considered sacred, for Buddhists along with Hindus. Next, there is the chilly and calm environment coupled with the break-taking view of the snow-capped mountains. Viewing the sunrise and sunset is also an amazing activity. There's also options for skiing available. The path itself is an alluring idea for trekking enthusiasts. You can also taste various delicacies, including yak milk/cheese, etc.

Birds of a feather flock together, so there are many other beautiful places nearby Kalinchowk temple. Mainly, there is the Dolakha Bhimsen Temple that is a religious attraction. The area itself is under Gaurishankar conservation area which is a wonderful place to explore. It is also possible to visit Jiri which is about 4 hours away. Along the way, you can also stop by at Dhulikhel, Sanga Mahadev statue, etc for some sightseeing.

There are various types of hotels available in Kuri/Charikot. You can opt for expensive and premium hotels such as "The last resort", "Dhulikhel mountain resort" with around 7,000-10,000 per night prices or some more economic places like "Hotel at the end of the universe", "Sojourn Himalayan resort", offering one night for around 1,000-2,000. The cost for the trip can vary depending on discounts. It is safe to say that Rs. 5,000 per person would be an average price, with companies providing tour packages as well for Rs. 25,000 or so for a group of 5-7 people.

So, we can see that Kalinchowk Bhagwati is a truly appealing place to visit. It has a great amount of historic and religious significance along with awe-inspiring natural beauty. It offers various attractions and activities at quite an affordable range of prices. The way to reach there is also quite well defined, while it may hold some discomfort, there is no signs of danger with proper planning

Kalinchowk Bhagwati hides behind a hidden path just as pearls found deep in the ocean. As precious things are difficult to obtain yet provide a satisfying outcome after the hard work, the efforts needed to reach kalinchowk are definitely worth it. Situated atop a steep hill (3842m) at the edge of kuri village, the beauty of kalinchowk bhagwati truly is a sight for sore eyes. "You see, God helps only people who work hard. That principle is very clear" Abdul J. Kalam. So the trials and tribulations of going to see the temple is simply the test taken by God. It is a good idea to visit here during the end of the year, and especially around the beginning of December if you want a guaranteed snowy experience. It is quite a popular place with locals reporting an average of 700-1,000 people visiting every day, with the amount inflating to a couple thousand during special festivities.

Getting to Kalinchowk from Kathmandu is a multi-phasic journey unless you opt for an expensive helicopter charter(Rs. 23,000 approx). The general way of doing it, is to book a local express bus from a major bus park like Ratnapark, etc. This will take about 6 hours to get to Charikot. From there, you must book a private jeep that goes to Kuri village, which takes around 2 hours or so. The roads can be quite tough along with the cold weather so it is advised to be prepared. Finally you can then take the cable car that takes you to the temple, which is a comfortable 5 minute ride. Of course, there is also the option to trek during any of these phases too, where the trek from Charikot to Kuri takes about 8, 9 hours while from Kuri to the temple takes around 2 hours. The price per person with the vehicles will be a total of around 1,700 for a one way trip. There can be discounts available in different phases according to the number of people, etc.

Kalinchowk bhagwati has a very rich history. Legend says that this spot was a place for Kali devi to meditate. During such meditation for Shiva Parvati, The demons (Rakshash) from Shailiushar took interest in Kali and asked her to marry their king. She agrees to marry the one who can beat her. They try to force her which results in her killing all of them, causing their blood to pool in the village. So the village is called kuri village, from kurikuri meaning "shame shame". Finally the devi's singha(lion) drinks the blood of the demons and gets thirsty so Lord mahadev strikes an area with a trishul to produce water for the lion to drink. That water is thought to still be inside the "Jalkunda" which is the main attraction of the place.

Kalinchowk bhagwati is extremely important, especially for dolakha. There are two main things that occur here. Firstly, the process of fulpati begins here and is brought down to dolakha later on. Secondly, there is a special festival called "Hile jatra'' that happens here before Raksha Bandhan/Janai Purnima with lots of music and dance that celebrates the devi's promise to rid the village of demons. There are also various shilalekh, trishuls and bells(ghanta) that hold great historic and cultural importance. Of course, this place is considered a great sacred land, which is a destination for many religious pilgrims in general as well.

It is believed that any wish is fulfilled if asked with a pure heart, especially if trishuls and other offerings are given. Impure or evil monsters or humans cannot even climb the place because the devi is protecting the mountain. Also, the Gauri Shankar mountains nearby are considered holy and no one's allowed to climb them. The water in the Jalkunda never dries or freezes and is considered pure and holy. Animal sacrifice(Bali) is also done here, as food to the devi's lion.