Betrawati, the Uttar Gaya

Not to be confused with Uttar Ganga of Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple.

Uttar Gaya of Betrawati is a Hindu pilgrimage that lies in Nuwakot District of Nepal. It is about 80 km north of Kathmandu.

Betrawati is the meeting place of three major rivers, the Betran Ganga, Rudra Ganga, and Trishul Ganga. Betrawati is near to the way to Lang tang Mountain and the Nepal/China border at Kerung.

Creation

Lord Shiva created a small river by using a stick of bamboo, which is called Beta. Because of use of the stick of Beta, for its creation, the river has been called Betran Ganga.

Importance

Gaya is famous for offering food like pinda (rice balls) to ancestors by the living sons and daughters along a spiritual performance called Shraddha. Gaya Shradhda is a responsibility of each generation towards their ancestors who are believed to be in the heavenly place, Pitrilok. Each child performs Gaya Shradhda at least once in their lifetime. Nepali Hindus believe that before visiting Gaya in Patna the devotee should have visited and performed Shradhda in Betrawati, the Uttar Gaya.

Holy places

The most important place is the Triveni, the meeting place of three rivers. Nilkantha Mahadev temple was found after a search according to a divine dream to a local resident Shanta Bahadur Tamang. Sugatmuni Bihar and Ram Temple are there.