Palanchok Bhagawati Temple, Hindu temple in Sathighar Bhagawati, Nepal
Palanchok Bhagawati Temple is a pagoda-style Hindu temple set on a hillside in Panchkhal, Nepal. At its center stands a black stone statue of the goddess Bhagawati, venerated as a form of Durga by those who come to worship here.
The temple is linked to King Manadeva, who according to tradition had a vision that led him to move the goddess statue from Buchhakot to this hilltop. The image has remained here ever since and the site has been a place of pilgrimage for many generations.
The temple sits on a hilltop and draws both Hindu and Buddhist worshippers who come to pray side by side. Visitors can observe rituals from both traditions taking place at the same stone statue without any separation between the two groups.
The temple is about 42 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu and is reached by taking the Arniko Highway and then local roads up the hill. Dry weather makes the journey considerably easier, as the roads leading to the top can get slippery after rain.
The black stone statue at the heart of the temple is worshipped by Buddhist pilgrims as a form of Durga, even though the site is formally a Hindu temple. This means the same statue receives offerings and prayers from two different faiths every day.
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