Bharatpur (भरतपुर) is a city in the central-southern part of Nepal. Located in Chitwan Valley, Bharatpur is the district headquarters of the Chitwan District, as well as a separate Municipal authority, and is the fifth largest city of Nepal. As per Vishnupuran, it is said that King Bharat ruled the entire world from here and hence this place received the name BHARATPUR. While as king, Bharat ruled here from this place for 60,000 years, later he moved to Pulahasram (Another place near Muktinath in Nepal) and then subsequently his next two lives as a deer and then Jada Bharat respectively were also spent in Nepal. Located within the municipality of Bharatpur is also the famous holy place Devghat.

On the mountainous road to Riddi kshetra from Palpa, one can see the beautiful yet barren valley said to be called as Mandukya rishi kshtera. This was the place where Manduka muni was doing penance and was wrongly caught by king’s guards. Later he went on to curse Yamraj for wrongly punishing him. As a result, Yamraj came down to earth and took birth as Vidura. After this incident, this place of muni also became barren on account of the curse.

The detailed story is mentioned by Srila Prabhupad in his Srimad Bhagavat 1.13.1 commentary and purport as follows: Once upon a time the state police caught some thieves who had concealed themselves in the hermitage of Maṇḍuka Muni. The police constables, as usual, arrested all the thieves and Maṇḍuka Muni along with them. The magistrate specifically punished the muni to death by being pierced with a lance. When he was just to be pierced, the news reached the king, and he at once stopped the act on consideration of his being a great muni. The king personally begged the muni’s pardon for the mistake of his men, and the saint at once went to Yamaraj, who prescribes the destiny of the living beings. Yamaraj, being questioned by the muni, replied that the muni in his childhood pierced an ant with a sharpened straw, and for that reason he was put into difficulty. The muni thought it unwise on the part of Yamaraj that he was punished for his childish innocence, and thus the muni cursed Yamaraj to become a sudra, and this sudra incarnation of Yamaraj was known as Vidura, the sudra brother of Dhṛitaraṣṭra and Maharaj Paṇḍu

Ridi is a suburb with population of about two thousand people. It lies at the confluence of a mountain stream called Ridi Khola and the river Kali Gandaki. At this place, Kali Gandaki changes its route from north west to east. A track of about 10km leads the travelers from Tansen to Ridi. It is situated in a deep narrow valley. There are many historic temples here. Most famous of them is the temple of Rishikesh established by Mukund Sen, the first king of Palpa. It is said that the king discovered the deity of God Rishikesh in the river kali Gandaki when he had a holy dip into it. This holy place is compared with the holy place of Varanasi.

There is a beautiful story about the sanctity of Ridi and origin of the deity Rishikesh. It is said that in ancient times there lived a Brahmin named Devdutta. He meditated for a long time, but Indra for some reason or the other wanted to break his meditation and accordingly sent for Kamdev, spring season, divine singers and angels and ordered them to go to Devdutt’s ashram. They were ordered by Indra to cast a spell on Devdutta and thus break his meditation. They came to Devdutta’s beautiful hut, and in their different ways tried to distract him. The beautiful Pramalocha with other beautiful singers from heaven burst into song, and Kamdev too began to cast his spell on him.

Suddenly, in the enchanting forest, Devdutta saw the bewitching Pramalocha, and was at once attracted towards her. He lost control of himself and fell madly in love with her. In this way, Devdutta fell prey to Indra’s schemes, and it was only after a long time that he came to his senses. He deeply repented for what he had done and ultimately decided to punish his sinful body in strict penance. He left his beautiful hut, crossed the Kali Gandaki river and once more sat in meditation at Bhrigutung, in strict devotion to the Lord Shiva. After many days the Lord Shiva appeared to him and said “ Since you distinguished between me and the Lord Vishnu, that is why your previous meditation was unfruitful. Actually there is no difference between us; we are both one and the same, only different names. So if you sincerely meditate, your meditation will be rewarded in the end. Many Shiva lingas will appear and this place will be called “Sangam”. Those who come here and bathe in the Gandaki and worship these lingas will be blessed”. Thus Devdutta meditated accordingly and in the end achieved salvation. This place of meditation still exists, and is today know as Bhrigutungeshwar.

On the other hand, Pramalocha became pregnant, and bore Devdutta a daughter, and immediately left for her heavenly abode. Without any parents, this girl child was suckled and brought up by a particular kin of deer called “Ruru” and so the child in turn was also named Ruru.

She grew up into beautiful maiden and rejecting offers of marriage, decided on strict meditation and worship of the Lord Vishnu. After a hundred years of meditation, she was so much in control of her senses that Lord Vishnu appeared before her. So Lord Vishnu asked her: “What wish do you want me to grant you:, and she replied “ My Lord if it pleases you, stay in this place (Ridi) as you appear before me now”. Lord agreed and manifested into a deity form of huge Shaligram shila. She then asked the Lord Vishnu to purify her and to name the place after her, so that it would become famous later on . This too was granted. From then on, the place became widely known as Ridi or Ruru. Thus, the Rishikesh Temple beside the Gandaki river is widely worshipped. Rishikesh means controller of the senses, and since the Lord Vishnu appeared on account of control of Ruru’s senses so that she could see him, he is known as Rishikesh”

 This is mentioned in Varah purana and happened long before in age of Satya yuga. This deity in due course of time got lost. Few hundred years back in Kaliyuga, King Maniman received a dream of Deity who told him to reinstall his worship after removing him from Gandaki river where he lies submerged. King then went and dipped in river and found the deity. Thus built a beautiful temple and established the worship.

In the Yatra khand of Anand Ramayan, this place find its mention. It is said that it was here in river Gandaki where Lord Ram came with Sita and Hanuman. As Lord Ram took bath here, this Gandaki river also got the name Ram nadi (Ram’s river) which in due course is locally now called as Ramdi.

Nearby is a big cave where Lord Kapila came for some time and did his penanace after instructing her mother Devahuti. (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.33.33)

After his Tapasya, Lord Kapila then left for Gangasagar in Bengal. Lord Ram on his visit also had met Kapila muni here in his cave. On the Right side of this river is called as Mahaling bhumi. Markandeya rishi got Lord Shiva’s darshan here as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavat 12th canto. Markandeya rsi was suppose to die at the age of 7 yrs. Markandeya was son of rishi Mrikandu. Once 4 kumaras came here and being pleased with service of child Markandeya, they blessed him having long life. Mrikandu informed these 4 souls about the short life of Markandeya. The 4 sages informed that if the child recites the Maha mrityunjay mantra, he will be able to overcome this early age death. Thereafter Lord Shiva being pleased on Markandeya made him immortal for 7 kalpas. Here at Ramdi, Gandaki has confluence sangam with 2 smaller rivers Angira river and Guru river. From here Gandaki which moves southwards takes a slight turn to north direction for a short distance and then finally travels southwards again.

This 6 km north flow is considered very auspicious and a bath here is considered more potent bath anywhere in Gandaki. Gandaki is also called here as Uttar Vahini Gandaki.