Badimalika Temple is located on a hillock at an elevation of 4,200 meters in the Bajura district. This sacred site hosts a grand fair every year in the month of Bhadra (August), attracting pilgrims from all over Nepal who believe their prayers will be answered. Official fairs are also held around Ganga Dashara and Janai Purnima. Because of the area’s recent development, trekkers are advised to hire local guides due to a lack of signposts and infrastructure along the trail.
According to Hindu mythology, Sati Devi and her father, Daksha Prajapati, were involved in a significant event that led to the establishment of this temple. Sati confronted her father, Daksha Prajapati, because he excluded her husband from the Yagya ceremony, which was attended by all gods except for Mahadev. Daksha Prajapati insulted Mahadev by mentioning several reasons why he was unworthy of an invitation. Sati, unable to bear the insult to her husband, committed suicide in the Yagya fire. In response, Mahadev sent Birbhadra and Bhoot Gana to avenge Sati’s death by killing Daksha Prajapati and destroying the yagya.
After completing his vengeance, Mahadev mourned the loss of his wife. He traveled around the world, carrying Sati’s lifeless body. During his journey, Vishnu activated his Sudarshan chakra, causing Sati’s body to rot and become infested with insects. As her body decayed, the locations where her body parts fell became Shakti peethas and holy sites. One such location was Mallagiri Mountain, where her left shoulder landed, earning her the name Malika.
According to another myth, after killing a demon named Mahisasur, Bhagwati rested in a place called “Dwaredhunge” in Kalikot. Later, when a low-caste person went to that location to gather firewood, he became so hungry that he asked the goddess for some meat and bread. The goddess granted his request. However, there was so much food that he couldn’t finish it all by himself. So he decided to yell out the message to everyone who was at home for the meal.
Because his house was so far away from his current location, his neighbors were unable to hear him yell, and no one joined him. This frustrated the person, so he requested that the goddess kill everyone in his home. The goddess also granted this deadly wish. When he returned home, carrying all of the food with him, he discovered all of his relatives had died. He got angry and returned to Dwaredhunge. The goddess closed the temple’s doors and escaped.
It is said that the imprint of the angry person’s blow on the temple door can still be seen. Because of this event, the goddess left the area forever, passing through Triveni, Panchpur Patan, Mallapuri Patan, and finally Badimalika. Pilgrims take this route to visit the temple.
The journey begins with a flight from Kathmandu to Dhangadhi, at an altitude of 800 meters. From Dhangadhi, a drive of around 4 hours via the Godavari will take you to Dadeldhura (2000 meters). Dadeldhura is known for its unique culture and tradition. The famous Ugratara temple and historical places like Amargadhi Fort and Alital are the major tourist attractions in Dadeldhura.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in an available local lodge at Dadeldhura.
After breakfast, you begin a four-hour drive to Sanfe of Achham. Sanfe is a beautiful town with good hotels and restaurants. Two roads start from here—one to Martdai of Bajura and the other to Mangalsen—the district headquarters of Achham. After lunch, you take the first road, which passes along the Budhi Gandaki River. A drive of around three hours will take you to Jadanga. Jadanga is a small village with a few teahouses and a health post.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in a local teahouse.
After breakfast, you start walking through beautiful landscapes. The walk is mostly uphill. A hike of around three hours will take you to a small village called Budha Krodh, a beautiful place with attractive landscapes, waterfalls, green forests, and murmuring streams. The place is home to different species of flora and fauna. Budha Krodh, our accommodation for the day, is the last settlement on the trek. You can only see buffalo sheds on this trail beyond Budha Krodh.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in a local teahouse.
After breakfast, you resume your walk through the dense forest. After lunch, the trail climbs up, reaching an altitude of 3,800 meters. Trekkers are prone to high-altitude sickness at this height. From here, the trail passes through big grasslands brightened with colorful flowers. A walk of around 3 hours after lunch will take you to a place named ‘Bhito’ for the night’s halt.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in a tent camp.
The uphill walk starts after breakfast. You can see big grasslands, waterfalls, and murmuring streams on the way. After a walk of around five hours, we reached our destination today, i.e., Triveni. Triveni is a place of great religious significance. This small place is cramped with around 1,500 tents during major festivals like Janai Poornima. People take a holy bath in the nearby rivers early in the morning and walk toward the Badimalika temple.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in a tent camp.
The morning in Triveni is spectacular, as you can catch breathtaking views of surrounding areas by climbing up nearby hills. As there are no tea houses in the area, you will have to carry a packed lunch. You can see beautiful plants and wildflowers along the trail to Badimalika. The temple of Lodibinayak falls on the way where pilgrims offer worship to Lord Ganesh. The place offers beautiful views of the Badimalika Temple as well as Triveni, far below.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in a tent camp.
Rise early if you want to enjoy the view of the Api and Saipal mountains glittering in the morning sun. The view of the sunrise and the widespread grasslands below cannot be described in words. Standing above the clouds atop the Badimalika hill, one feels like standing at the highest point on earth. Pilgrims have a strong belief that Goddess Badimalika fulfills all their wishes. After lunch, you start descending toward ‘Dhawalpur Lake’. As the trail is steep, it can be nerve-racking for some travelers. But once you reach Dhawalpur Lake, you feel rejuvenated. It is a beautiful place to spend your night.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in a tent camp.
Dhawalpur Lake is a very beautiful lake located amidst a dense forest. Situated at an altitude of 2556 meters, the lake is spread over 500 square meters. A walk of about three hours from Dhawalpur Lake will take you to the famous Natyashwori Temple. It is believed that one must visit the Natyashwori Temple after visiting Badimalika. A walk of about half an hour from Natyashwori will take you to our final destination for today, Lamagadh. One can enjoy beautiful views of different landmarks in Bajura from Lamagadh.
Accommodation: an overnight stay in Lamagadh.
In the morning, we begin our journey toward Mourya. On the way, you can see the convergence of the Budhiganga and Malagadh rivers. The place is a popular stopover for visitors due to its natural beauty. After lunch in Mourya, we head toward Silgadhi, the district headquarters of Doti.
Accommodation: an overnight stay at an available local lodge.
While in Silgadhi, travelers must visit the famous Shaileshwori Temple, which is highly revered by Hindus. After breakfast at Silgadhi, you head toward Dadeldhura for lunch and then to Mahendranagar for the night. Mahendranagar has quality hotels where one can unwind after an exhausting journey.
Accommodation: an overnight stay at an available local lodge.
After breakfast, you head toward Shuklaphanta National Park, where you can see the largest herd of swamp deer, locally known as Barasinga. You can also catch sight of black deer and other species of deer. Afterward, you will travel toward the Mahakali River to see the longest suspension bridge in Nepal. Now is the time to head toward Dhangadhi.
Accommodation: an overnight stay at an available local lodge.
Take a morning flight from Dhangadhi to Kathmandu and enjoy another opportunity to soak in the breathtaking mountain scenery.
