The temple of Badimalika is situated on top of a hillock (4,200 meters) that lies in the Bajura district. Every year there is a fair at this temple during the month of Bhadra (August). Pilgrims come from all over Nepal thinking that their wishes will be fulfilled if they pray at the temple. There are two official fairs during Ganga Dashara and Janai Purnima. As the area is relatively new, trekkers are suggested to hire local guides as the trail lacks signposts and other infrastructures.
According to Hindu myths, when Sati Devi’s father Daksha Prajapati was performing a Yagya, he invited all the gods except for Mahadev to the ceremony. So Sati went to his father’s Yagya ceremony and asked him why he had not invited her husband. Daksha Prajapati answered that Mahadev drank alcohol, smoked ganja, slept in cemeteries, wore a serpent around his neck, had dreadlocks, covered his body with ash, and wore tiger hide, hence he was not a suitable person to invite for such an important Yagya. Unable to withstand such an insult to her husband, Sati jumped into the Yagya fire and gave up her life. Mahadev was so angered by the news of her death that he sent Birbhadra and Bhoot Gana to kill DakshaPrajapati and destroy the Yagya.
After completing his vengeance, Mahadev started to mourn the death of his wife. Mahadev traveled all over the world carrying Sati’s dead body. During this time, Vishnu released his Sudarshan chakra and wounded Sati’s body so that it could be infested by insects and rot. As Sati’s body started to rot and its parts fall off, the ground where her body parts fell became Shakti peethas and places of worship. In this process, her left shoulder fell into Mallagiri Mountain. This Mallagiri was then referred to as Malika.
According to another myth, after Bhagwati had killed a demon named Mahisasur, she rested in a place called “Dwaredhunge” of Kalikot. Later when one low-caste person had gone to that spot to collect firewood, he felt so hungry that he asked the goddess for some meat and bread. The goddess gave him what he asked for. However, there was so much food that he could not finish everything by himself. So he decided to call all the people at home for the meal by yelling the message. Since his house happened to be far away from the spot, the people at his house could not hear his yelling and nobody joined him. This angered the person and thus he blurted a request to the goddess to kill everyone in his house. The goddess granted this deadly wish too. When he arrived home carrying all the food with him, he found all his relatives dead. He got angry and went back to Dwaredhunge. The goddess closed the doors of the temple and escaped.
It is said that the imprint of the blow that the angry person had given to the door of the temple can still be seen. Because of this event, the goddess forever left the place, passing through Triveni, PanchpurPatan, MallapuriPatan, and finally settling in Badimalika. The pilgrims take this route while going to visit the temple.
The journey begins with a flight to Dhangadhi (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: Overnight in the 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 BudhiGandaki River. A drive of around three hours will take you to Jadanga. Jadanga is a small village with few teahouses and a health post.
Accommodation: Overnight in a 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 BudhaKrodh – a beautiful place with attractive landscapes, waterfalls, green forests, and murmuring streams. The place is home to different species of flora and fauna. BudhaKrodh, our accommodation for the day, is the last settlement in the trek. You can only see buffalo sheds on this trail beyond BudhaKrodh.
Accommodation: Overnight in a 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: Overnight in a tented 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 reach our today destination 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 JanaiPoornima. People take a holy bath in the nearby rivers early in the morning and walk toward the Badimalika temple.
Accommodation: Overnight in a tented camp.
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: Overnight in a tented camp.
Rise early if you want to enjoy the view of the Api and Saipal mountains glittering in the morning sun. The view of 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 DhawalpurLake, you feel rejuvenated. It is a beautiful place to spend your night.
Accommodation: Overnight in a tented 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 sq 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: Overnight on the homestay.
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: Overnight in 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: Overnight in available local lodge.
After breakfast, you head toward the Shuklaphanta National Park where you can see the largest herd of swamp deer locally known as Barasinga. You can also catch the 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: Overnight in available local lodge.
In the morning, you will take a flight from Dhangadhi to Kathmandu. Once again, you can enjoy the mountain view.
