The Bhimeswor temple is not a new name to the god-fearing throughout the nation. People pour in every week from the capital and from various other districts to offer prayers to the God. During their visit, they donŠ½t forget to ask one famous question, “Is the God sweating?” For they all have heard that if Bhimeswor sweats, that means something big is to happen. And that may be good or bad. Legend has it that the despairing Lord Shiva traveled though this area, carrying the corpse of His beloved Sati Devi. The corpse of the goddess had decayed so badly that a piece of her flesh detached and fell down the gorges immediately north of Dolakha. Thus sprang up the temple of Tripura Sundari. Talk to the priest and he will confide that a certain golden icon was stolen from this beautiful temple years ago. Hence, the misfortune that has befallen the country ever since.
About the Area
The region is bordered by the Sun Kosi River on the west and the Khimti Khola River on the eastem edge. It is divided unequally by the River Tama Kosi, proportionately two thirds to the west of the river and one third to the east.
To the north east lies the impressive Rolwaling Himal to the western edge of which are such peaks as Gauri Shanker and Melungtse. Gauri Shanker is synonymous with the god Shiva and his consort Parvati.
It is thus named because the Nepalese believe that the closeness of its two mounds are like the closeness of husband and wife. Since Shiva is the god who inhabits the Himalayas the mountain people have a special affiliation for him.
To the north-west the mountains slope gently downwards towards the ancient pass of Kuti that starts above the Tibetan town of Khasa and follows the waters of the Bhote Kosi from Tibet. The river flows past Kodari and Tatopani (Hot Springs) on the Nepalese side and gradually rushes down into an ever- widening stream of water that becomes the Sun Kosi. The Khimti Khola drains down from a region of five lakes called Panch Pokhari.They have a specifc placein legend and go by the names of Mohi (buttermilk), Jata (hair), Dudh (milk), Bahula (insane) and Bhut (ghost). People believe that if one bathes in Bahula Pokhari one will become insane, whereas the Ghost Lake cannot bear the smell of human perspiration and will pull one inside its murky waters to a certain death if you as much as venture near it. The Khimti Khola joins the Tama Kosi, as do the Khare Khola and Rolwaling Khola to the north-east and the Sangawati, Dolti and Charnewati Kholas to the west.
It is a beautiful region in which the riverine valleys open out into massive volcanic folds. Sub-tropical settlements on the banks of rivers boast banana trees, guava and an abundance of fish. Above the banks hover the terraced fields of paddy, make, wheat and millet.
