Shiva Dhara, a must-go place in MBC trek

Trekkers taking the MBC route take an extra day to get to Shiva Dhara. Due to safety concerns and the fact that they are not eager Hindu devotees, foreigners do not visit Shiva Dhara.

According to religious customs, Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) is the ideal month to visit Sankhuwasabha’s Shiva Dhara shrine. Due to its recent emergence as the must-visit location along the Makalu Base Camp trek route, this trend has changed. Shiva Dhara shrine, which is situated on the terrifying cliff at an elevation of 4310 meters, has its base camp at Yangle Kharka, which is at a height of 3600 meters.

There are mainly three points to Shiva Dhara shrine, which includes Shiva cave, Parvati cave, and Ganesh abode. In Shiva cave, a constant waterfall emerges from the middle of the cave; the cave is situated just below the snow-capped Himalayan range. In Parvati cave, there is a tiny cave. The cliff route from Shiva cave to Parvati cave goes through Ganesh's abode. Hindu, Buddhist, and Kirat devotees have a religious attachment to Shiva Dhara shrine, says Eaku Ghimire, a poet who has written an epic of his pilgrimage to Shiva Dhara in his recent volume titled 'Dharani'.

From Yangle Kharka, it takes around a day to be returned from making a pilgrimage to Shiva Dhara, which lies in Makalu Rural Municipality-2 of Sankhuwasabha district of Province 1. It takes around two to three days to return from making the Makalu Base Camp journey. From Num to Shiva Dhara, it takes around a weeklong uphill trek. For descending from Shiva Dhara to Num, it takes just half of the ascent time, say trekkers.

''These days, trekkers for the MBC route spend an extra day to reach Shiva Dhara. One Chinese had successfully run in the cliff way to Shiva Dhara which is supported by iron rods,” said local teahouse operators of Yangle Kharka

''Foreigners do not go for Shiva Dhara as they have safety issues and they are not Hindu devotees eager to do so'', said Dawa Chhiring Sherpa, a local of the Makalu region who runs a teahouse at Dobato

“I was inspired to climb Shiva Dhara while returning from the MBC trek. I had seen many exciting and adventurous videos online. This inspired me to do the same. It was scary and exciting journey.'' said Migur Sherpa, a recent MBC trekker from Dhankuta district._Rss

(Photo credit:Nabin Poudel)

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