Why Taplejung ‘Pathivara’ is so special?

 

Taplejung is the beautiful mountainous district located in eastern part of Nepal. This district shares boarder with Tibet (China) in North, Sikkim (India) in East and other districts in west and south. It is mountainous district which has world’s third highest peak Kanchenjunga. Different ethnic people like Brahamin, Tamang, Gurung, Limbu, Sunuwar lives in this place.The natural beauty of Tamor river, cultivated lands, mountains, forest, glacier, wildlife makes this district special. Even for trekkers, this district has a lot of opportunities. Pathivara Devi Temple, located at the hill of Taplejung is the main pilgrimage centre for followers of Hindu religion. 

Two years back, I had an opportunity to visit this district and I managed to take blessings from Pathivara Devi. I stayed in Phugling Bazar which is the administrative capital of Taplejung. Phugling Bazar is linked with both roadway and airway. One can get direct flight from Kathmandu & Biratnagar to Suketar airport located nearby Phugling, but there are limited flights. Even, sometimes flight may be cancelled due to bad weather. Taplejung is connected through Mechi highway (268 km) which joins East-West highway at Kechana Jhapa. Many people use airways from Kathmandu to Jhapa and roadway from Jhapa to Taplejung. The use of roadway from Jhapa to Phugling makes travel more interesting as the hill road passes through Kanyam (Illam) with tea farm area, forest, Tamor river, hills, trees, village etc. On the way, traveller can notice the change in weather frequently. Some places are very cold, and some have moderate climate. The local hotels and local shop add some pleasure in travel. 

Pathivara Temple is located towards North East side direction from Phugling Bazar at an elevation around 3800 m. Pilgrims from the different part of Country and from India visits holy temple mostly during pre-monsoon and post monsoon period. Some devotees offer animal sacrifice to please the goddess. In fact, they demand some favour with goddess and after the fulfilment of request, they offer animal sacrifice. Pagoda type architecture can be seen in Pathivara Temple. 

From Phugling Bazar, it takes about 20 minutes ride to Suketar and from Suketar, it takes about 2 hr ride on earthen road to reach Kaflepati, also known as ‘Tallo-Fedi’. After Tallo Fedi, it takes around 4 hr climbing on narrow trail passing through Deurali, Chhatodhunga, Bhalugauda and Mathilo-Fedi to reach temple. Amid, there are some hotels, restaurants and shops where people can get lodging and accommodation facilities. Some people like to stay for one night at that place. There are many local shops to buy things to offer goddess like flowers, garlands, posters, tika, agarbatti etc. For those people who can’t walk in steep trail, local people provide carries them on their back to temple on exchange of some money. They take about $100 per kg weight of people for carrying them to temple and bringing them back. Some people feel altitude sickness while climbing the hills. On the way, there is forest with myriad species of rhododendron trees. Local people believe that, scent from rhododendron flower is more responsible to cause altitude sickness while climbing to the temple. Due to climatic reason and condition of road, pre-monsoon period (march to June) and post monsoon period (September to November) is the best time to visit Pathivara temple. During autumn and spring season, trekkers can find the forest, wildlife, rivers more fascinating than other time. Along with this, pilgrims can visit monasteries located in Olanchulanghola and waterfall at Sawa while trekking to Pathivara area. However, some people might suffer from altitude sickness while climbing the steep slope. 

There is some religious story about the origin of Pathivara temple. One day local shepherds lost their sheep while grazing them in a mountain. The poor shepherds had a dream of goddess ordering them to carry out ritualistic sacrifice of sheep and build shrine on honour. The distressed shepherds then offered sacrifice of sheep to goddess and the lost sheep returned to them. After that, local people built a shrine and this place got a religious value. 

Nowadays, many people from Nepal, India visit this religious pilgrimage to seek spiritual fulfilment and get blessing from the goddess. Similarly, trekkers from foreign country climbs to have magnificent view of Kanchenjunga and surrounding mountains. The pathway to the sacred temple is strung with the hundreds of bells.

I strongly recommend readers to visit Pathivara temple in Taplejung Temple.