Introduction: Gaya and Uttar Gaya are the famous places for Hindus. Gaya lies in Bihar state of India, whereas Uttar Gaya is in Nepal. Uttar Gaya, more popularly called as BETRAWATI which is in the Nuwakot District of Nepal. Betrawati is about 80 km north from Kathmandu.
Religious Belief on creation of BETRAWATI: Lord Shiva created a small river by using a stick of bamboo like mountainous product, which is called as ‘BETA’. Because of use of the stick of ‘BETA’, for its creation, the river has been called ‘BETRAN GANGA’. The BETRAWATI is the meeting places of three holy rivers, the BETRAN GANGA, RUDRA GANGA and the TRISHUL GANGA.
Religious Importance of the BETRAWATI: Gaya is famous for offering food (PINDA) to ancestors by the living sons and daughters along a spiritual performance called ‘SRADDHA’. Gaya Shradhda is a critical responsibility of the living generation towards their ancestors who are believed to be living in the heavenly place, PITRILOK. A son or daughter has to perform Gaya Shradhda at least once in his/her 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 in BETRAWATI: The most important place is the ‘Triveni’, the meeting place of three rivers, Ganges. There is temple of ‘Nilkantha Mahadev’ which has been found after the search according to a divinely dream to a local resident Shanta Bahadur Tamang. The other place is the Sugatmuni Bihar, Ram Temple etc.
Betrawati is near to the way to Lang tang Mountain peak and Nepal China boarder, Kerung. The visit to Betrawati may also be on the way to many natural places like Langtang wild life area and religious places like the Gosain Kunda etc.