Lake Phewa and the Tal Barahi Temple

Pokhara, the second largest city in Nepal, is known for its views of the surrounding mountains: Machhapuchhre and other mountain peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. The tourism capital is usually bustling, including around Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in Nepal.

 

Located on a small island in Lake Phewa, the Tal Barahi Temple is only accessible by water. Both Hindus and Buddhists frequent the two-story pagoda, first imagined by King Kulmandhan Shah in a dream, for worship. The temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga, protector of the gods, infuses the air with the sounds of “ghanta” (ritual bells). These bells surround the structure and the ringing by a devotee is thought to inform the deity of his/her arrival; the sound is considered auspicious as it welcomes gods and removes evil.

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