Located in the Seepadole,Bhaktapur district of Nepal, Doleshwor Mahadev Temple is 20 km from the capital city of Kathmandu. Katmandu is about a 30 minute drive away. For all the Shiva devotees, it is believed that the trip to Kedarnath is incomplete without visiting Doleshwor Mahadev and Pashupatinath. It is believed that the visit to all these three holy places washes away all one’s lifetime sins and an opportunity to receive divine blessings from Lord Shiva.
On August 22, 2009, Shree 1008 Jagat Guru Bheemashaankarling Shivacharya, the Kedarnath chief priest, officially declared the Doleshwar Mahadev as the head of Kedarnath, one of the Char Dham Yatra. For the last 4,000 years the relationship between Kedarnath and Doleshwor has been unknown to the general public.
Looking back at Doleshwor Mahadev ‘s past, it is assumed that Pandav brothers, following Kurushetra’s Mahabharata, left for the Himalayas in search of Lord Shiva ‘s forgiveness for the killing of many during the war. But since Lord Shiva did not want to forgive them he disguised himself as a bull. Understanding of the disguise of Lord Shiva as the bull that was about to escape, Pandavas captured the bull’s tail and in this time the bull ‘s head was separated from the rest of the body. The remaining body is assumed to be in Kedarnath in India’s Uttharkhand and people have been looking for the head ever since.
In the year 2013, after the devastating flood hit Kedarnath Temple, located in Uttarkhand, daily disrupted prayers were performed at Doleshwar Temple. The Kedarnath Temple chief priest called for daily prayers that used to be offered in the Kedarnath Temple to be offered in the Mahadev Temple in Doleshwor.
HOW TO GO KEDARNATH THE DOLESHWOR MAHADEV TEMPLE?
Destination: Kathmandu to Seepadole, Bhaktapur
Distance: 19 km (One way)
Driving Time: Approx. 30min
Transportation: By Local Bus or Private Vehicle
Travel Route: Kathmandu – Bhaktapur – Seepadole