Pathivara Temple
It is also considered as one of the holy places for Limbu people (Kirat religious groups) that the Pathibhara Devi Temple or Mukkumlung is located in the hill of Taplejung, Nepal. As this temple is believed to fulfill pilgrim’s wishes, pilgrims from all over Nepal as well as other countries come here on special occasions. It is believed that the goddess in Pathivara fulfills the dreams of her devotees, such as providing sons for those without sons, providing wealth for the poor, and countless other things. In order to please the goddess, the pilgrim offers animal sacrifices, gold or silver, and money.
In addition to serving as the secondary route for Kanchenjunga treks, this temple is located 19.4 miles north east of Phungling municipality at an elevation of 3,794 meters (12,444 feet).
It is situated at the junction of three VDCs: Tapethok, Limkhim and PhawaKhola.
From Suketar, which is approximately 20 minutes from Phungling Bazaar, Pathivara is a 1–2 hour drive away from Sano Phedi. From Sano Phedi, you need to walk approximately three to four hours to reach Pathibhara Hindu deity. In Taplejung district, the only STOL flying field is at Suketar 2,840 metres (9,318 feet), connecting Katmandu with Biratnagar regularly.
The path leading to Pathibhara passes through Deurali, Ramitedanda, Chhatedhunga, Bhalugaunda, and Phedi before arriving at the temple. Accommodations and food are provided by residents along the path. For pilgrims near the temple premises, basic accommodation facilities are also available.
Taking the Pathivara Helicopter Tour from Kathmandu takes about 45 minutes and taking the bus from Kathmandu takes about 24 hours. You can reach there by bus in 18 hours if you live in Chitwan, and in 1 day if you live in Pokhara. In the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season (March to June) are the best times to visit the temple.
History of Pathivara Temple
Pathibhara Goddess/Pathibhara Devi is the subject of many festivals and genres. Pathibhara used to be the home of shepherds who kept their flocks in ancient times. A sudden unexpected event caused the herds to disappear. Shepherds were stunned and bewildered when the goddess appeared, telling them to worship sheep without sacrificing their origins.
Shepherds worshipped the goddess-shaped site by offering devotional sacrifices to the most noble lamb. Hundreds of lost sheep had been sacrificed in the same place before, their blood lost to the slaughter like water in the sand, but not as much as the sacrificial lambs.
The shepherds were delighted to see this and shouted proudly to the goddess. A large number of sheep, goats, and herds are sacrificed to Pathivara Goddess every day. Visitors who have lost blood in the sacristy, however, can observe and experience directly. There would have been a pool of blood here if so many sacrifices were offered to the goddess. Accordingly, devotees offer affectionate sacrifices to the blood-goddess Pathibhara.
The glory, faith, and belief in Goddess Pathibhara have spread beyond the borders of villages, districts, and countries. This has made the deity a popular destination for thousands of devotees throughout the country and abroad.