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.

 Damauli is located in the Tanahun district and is situated on the road from Kathmandu to Pokhra. It is a small hustling bustling town located on the confluence of small rivers Sati and Mahendi (Mahendri).

The most important location here is the birth place of Sage Vyasadeva. This vyasadev belongs to a different kalpa and is not the current Vyasa known as Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa. There is a beautiful cave where Sage Vyasa compiled all Puranas and nearby on the confluence of two rivers is the place of ashram of Parasara muni where he along with Satyavati gave birth to Vyasa. The cave of Vyasa also has next to it a small temple with 28 deities of all different Vyasadevas with their names who have appeared so far. It is said that while Vyasa took his birth here, he later moved to Badrikasharam for his penance.

The city lies about 14 kilometres East of Kathmandu and can be reached by public transport and by trolley buses. Situated at an altitude of 1,401 metre, Bhaktapur covers an area of 4 square miles. Shaped like a conch-shell. Bhaktapur means the city of devotees. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries.

Bhaktapur is filled with many old and historic temples. Around 500 years back, a great devoted king Mallaraj used to rule this place. He would daily visit Pashupatinath temple to worship. As he grew old, he could no longer go there, so the Lord appeared in his dream and told him to make a replica deity of Pashupatinath in his own kingdom and worshiping them will be non different than worshipping direct Pashupatinath. King then built a small but beautiful temple of Pashupatinath in his kingdom. The devoted king on the same lines also made char dham temples also. i.e he constructed small yet replica deities of Rameshwaram, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri and Badrinath.

There is also an ancient Narsingha temple in the vicinity and 300 year old small but beautiful deities of Lord Jagannath Baldev and Subhadra devi sits in a small shed which is currently being worshipped by congregation devotees of ISKCON Bhaktapur.

This temple is located in a place where few centuries ago stood Markandeya sarovar. The place where Markandeya muni once performed penance. Glory of this former sarovar was that if anyone would see his face in the reflection of the water, he would be able to mystically see his last life’s face in it and thus know about who exactly was he in his last life. This sarovar was covered over by mud by one cruel king who when saw his face in reflection. This made him angry and on the false pretext of this sarovar being a false one, he got it covered over.

Also closeby is the famous temple of Changu Narayan.

Changu Narayana

Changu Narayana is one of the most ancient places of pilgrimage in Kathmandu valley where Lord Almighty (Narayana- bearer of universe with all terrestrial and celestial things) resides at the pray of gods and goddesses. Narayana is another name of Lord Vishnu and this temple dates back around 2 millennia from now. It is said to bear the testimony that the state religion of ancient Nepal was Vaishnavism. The Garuda dhwaja, a tall column of stone inscription, erected by Manadeva, the famous Lichchhavi King of ancient Nepal, in 464 A.D. reads:

The greatest god, Lord Vishnu, resides in Dolashikhar (the swing like hill, called Changu in local tongue) at the pray of other gods handling the movement of all three worlds: celestial, terrestrial and sub-terrestrial; so beautifully adorned by conch shell and Sudarshan wheel in his hands which are emerging from lotus coloured broad chest sprinkling bliss and heavenly ecstasy on humans on earth.

It is believed that every Wednesday, Badri Narayana from Badrinath visits this place. So milk pudding (Sweet rice or payasam) is offered on this day. Besides, the hill top area of the temple commands the whole view of Kathmandu valley. There is an unfinished stone carving of elephant which sweats occasionally when uncalled upheavals and disasters are going to happen in the valley.