Bhaleshwor Mahadev
{{short description|Hindu temple in Nepal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple
| image = File:Bhaleshwor Mahadev, Chandragiri Hill.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| map_type = Kathmandu#Nepal Bagmati Province #Nepal
| map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|27.6661|85.2054|type:adm2nd_region:NP_source:unmaps-enwiki|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| native_name =भालेश्वर महादेव
| country = Nepal
| district = Kathmandu
| location = Chandragiri Hill
| elevation_m = 2551
| deity =Shiva
| festivals=
| architecture = Pagoda
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website =
|native_name_lang=ne|religious_affiliation=Hinduism|province=Bagmati|architect=Shankar Nath Rimal|festival=Shivaratri, Mondays during the month of Shrawan}}
Bhaleshwor Mahadev ({{Langx|ne|भालेश्वर महादेव}}) is a Hindu temple located in Chandragiri hill in south-west side of Kathmandu Valley.{{Cite web |title=घुमफिर : हिँउ खेल्न चन्द्रागिरिको भालेश्वर |url=https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2020/12/915839 |access-date=1 March 2022 |website=Online Khabar |language=en-US}} It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located at the altitude of 2551 meters above sea level. The temple was built by Chandragiri Hills on the historic and religious site.{{Cite web |title=चन्द्रागिरी केबलकार सञ्चालनमा, भाडा ७ सय रुपैयाँ तोकियो |url=https://www.onlinekhabar.com/2016/08/464214 |access-date=1 March 2022 |website=Online Khabar |language=en-US}} The temple was designed by the architect Shankar Nath Rimal. The temple is connected to the Kathmandu valley by a cable car.
Mythological significance
It is believed that Sati Devi, first consort of Shiva, sacrificed her own life at Daksha Prajapati’s yagna after Daksha insulted Shiva in front of other deities. Shiva, enraged with Sati Devi's death, carried her dead body on his back and walked across the world in rage. Shiva, blinded by rage, did not realize that Sati Devi’s decaying body was falling apart. Sati Devi's body parts fell down to different parts of the world. Pilgrimages were later established at these sites. Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple is believed to have been built at one of these sites, where Sati Devi's forehead ('Bhala') had fallen.{{Cite web |title=दर्शन गरौं भालेश्वर महादेव |url=https://www.khasokhas.com/9948 |access-date=1 March 2022 |website=Khasokhas |language=en}}
In Nepal Bhasa the hill is known as Gon:ga Danda (it is converted its name from Gon:ga means bhalay (Nepali) and Danda means hills). It is also known as Ichheshwor Mahadev.{{cite web |title=Bangladeshi State Minister visits Chandragiri Hills |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/bangladeshi-state-minister-visits-chandragiri-hills/?categoryId=81 |access-date=6 January 2022 |website=myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com |publisher=My Republica}}{{cite web |title=We are safe: Chandragiri Hills |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/we-are-safe-chandragiri-hills |access-date=6 January 2022 |website=thehimalayantimes.com |publisher=the Himalayan Times}}
Historical significance
The hill on which the temple is situated is related to the unification of Nepal campaign. On his way back to Gorkha from his in-laws in Makwanpur, Prithvi Narayan Shah had planned to make Kathmandu Valley the capital of a unified Nepal for the first time from Chandragiri hill.{{Cite web |title=चर्चामा चन्द्रागिरि |url=https://annapurnapost.com/news/56154-56154 |access-date=1 March 2022 |website=चर्चामा चन्द्रागिरि |language=en}}
Temple complex
Gallery
File:Baleshwor Mahadev Temple at Chandragiri Hill, Nepal 06.jpg|Devotees around the temple
File:Panorama view of Chandragiri 01.jpg|Panoramic view of the temple area
File:Some Part of the capital city Kathmandu seen from the cable car to Chandragiri hills. (By Saroj Pandey).jpg|Cable car from the valley to the hill
File:The Great King Prithivi Narayan Shah.jpg|Statue of Prithvi Narayan Shah located behind the temple
File:Chandragiri Temple.jpg|Front view of the temple
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Hindu temples in Nepal|state=collapsed}}