World’s tallest statue of Hindu God Shiva will be inaugurated in Nepal on June 21, 2010. The 143-feet tall idol of Shiva is located at Sanga, Bhaktapur, which is on the way from Kathmandu to Banepa.

Janakpur has become a great piligrimage site for Hindus today. The most sacred sites are the Janaki Mandir, dedicated to goddess Sita, the Ram Sita bibaha(marriage) mandir, built over the spot where Ram and Sita were said to be married, Ram Mandir, dedicated to god Ram and the holy pond Dhanush Sagar. Hundreds of Indian devotees come here every year to pay their respect to the goddess at this temple.

Besides the religious importance, Janakpur is also the center for the revival of the ancient Mithila art and craft. As a tradition, Mithila women have always been decorating the walls of their houses with paintings depicting figures from Hindu mythology in abstract forms, sometimes resembling a mandala.

Janki Mandir also known as Naulakha Mandir is dedicated to Sita who is also known by the name Janaki. A rare blend of Mughal and Rajput architecture, the temple is the first and only example of its kind in Nepal. The temple has a beautiful garden and an adorned Vivah Mandap or wedding courtyard dedicated to Ram and Sita. The temple is in Janakpur city, the headquarters of Dhanusha district.

Major Tourism Sites

Kathmandu

Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is one of the world's oldest cities. The old part of the city, with narrow medieval streets and lovely little shrines, centers on the Durbar Square. Here one can find distinctive pagoda-roofed temples, stone sculptures, old monasteries and historic monuments.

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur or also known as Bhadgaon, is a museum of medieval art and architecture with many fine examples of sculpture, woodcarving and colossal pagoda temples consecrated to different gods and goddesses. The city is shaped like a conch shell-one of the emblems of the god Vishnu and was founded by King Ananda Deva in A.D. 889. The city is 1,402 meters above sea level. Pottery and weaving are its major traditional industries. The city lies fifteen Kilometers to the east of Kathmandu.

Patan

The ancient name of Patan is Lalitpur meaning, city of beauty. It is indeed a city of beauty and grace and is planned on a circular format with Buddhist stupas at each of the four points of the compass. The city is three Kilometers south-east of Kathmandu across the river Bagmati. Like Kathmandu, its center of attraction is its Durbar Square complex, situated right in the middle of the market place. The city is full of Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples with fine bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Noted for its craftsmen and metal workers, it is also know as the city of artists. The city is believed to have been built during the reign of Vira Dev in A.D. 299.

Pokhara

Pokhara, an enchanting city nestled in the tranquil valley (827m), is the starting point for many of Nepal’s most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fish-trail summit of Machachhapuchhre (6,977m) rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic. The valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, clear lakes and the world famous views of the Himalaya. Situated 200 km west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is connected by air as well as by road from Kathmandu and Bhairawa, a border town near India. Pokhara offers magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machchhapuchhre, five peaks of Annapurna and others.

Lumbini

Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam. The Shakya prince and the ultimate Buddha, the Enlightened One, is the pilgrimage destination of the world’s millions of people faithful to all schools of Buddhism. UNESCO lists this nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka’s commemorative pillar as a World Heritage Site. The main attraction of Lumbini remains the Sacred Garden which spread over 8sq km, possessing all the treasures of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeologists alike. Here we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, Lord Buddha’s mother giving birth to him. Standing west to the Mayadevi shrine is the oldest monument of Nepal, the Ashoka Pillar. Emperor Ashoka erected the pillar in 249 BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site. To the south of the pillar, we find the sacred pond, {Puskarni} where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to Lord Buddha. Places of various interest surrounds the area There are other places of interest too nearby. It is accessible by air from Kathmandu to Bhairawa. From Kathmandu it takes about eight hours by bus or car.

Chitwan

Chitwan is one of the finest national parks in Asia, renowned for its concentration of wildlife and top class tourist lodges, which provide the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat. Chitwan which means the ‘heart of the jungle’ is among the last surviving example of the continuous band of forests and grasslands, which once extended from the Indus River in Pakistan to the Burmese border. The main attraction here is the Chitwan National Park, One of the largest forests regions in Asia teeming with wildlife such as the rare great one-horned rhinoceros, several species of dear, sloth bear, leopard, wild boar, fresh water, dolphin, crocodile, more than 350 species of birds and the elusive Bengal tiger. Chitwan National Park is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site (natural) list. Visitors to Chitwan may enjoy elephant back excursions, nature walks, canoe trips and jungle treks. There are several authorized agencies to organize such safaris. Visitors may also take a river raft. First driving from Kathmandu to the river Trishuli or Seti Khola. The five-hour drive to Chitwan (165km overland) from Kathmandu is filled with thrilling views of the hills, rivers and plains with jungles on either side.

Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is scenic and town situated 30 kilometers east of Kathmandu on the Arniko Rajmarg (Kathmandu Kodari Highway). From here one can have a panoramic view of the Himalayan range. From the main town, a short visit to Namobuddha, with stupa and Buddhist Monastery is highly recommended site to visit. Panauti, a village noted for its numerous temples with magnificent woodcarving, is a short distance from Dhulikhel.

Muktinath & Jomsom

It is believed that all miseries / sorrows are relieved once you visit this temple (Mukti=Nirvana, Nath=God). The famous temple of Lord Muktinath lies in the district of Mustang and is situated about 18km northeast of Jomsom at an altitude of about 3,749m. The main shrine is a pagoda shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Set into the wall around it is 108 waterspouts from which pour holy water. The temple is situated on a high mountain range and is visited during fair weather. There are two ways to get to Muktinath from Kathmandu. Either take a direct flight from Kathmandu via Pokhara to jomsom and hike for 7-8 hours via Kagbeni or trek all the way from Pokhara which takes 7-8 days. It is believed that one should visit this temple after competing pilgrimages of four Dhams in India. This temple is held sacred by Hindus as well as Buddhists. The Jwala Mai temple nearby contains a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural gas underground. Jomsom is a major center in the Annapurna region. There is a world-class accommodation facility in Jomsom from where one can enjoy remarkable natural beauty.

Gorkha

Gorkha is the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great, the founder of modern Nepal. Situated on a hill overlooking the snowy peaks of the Himalaya is a beautiful old palace known as Gorkha Durbar. There are two attractive temples of Gorakhanth and Kali inside the place precinct. Gorkha can be reached in about six hours by road from Kathmandu and four hours from Pokhara. A side trip to Manakamana temple, on the way to Gorkha is very enjoyable and interesting. The Nepalese believe that MANAKAMANA Goddess fulfills the wishes of all people and that's one reason why the temple is visited by the tourist and the locals all through the year.