Badimalika and Tribeni Patan are newly popular attractions in the far west region of Nepal. Badimalika Temple is a holy place at the top of a hilltop in Bajura District. While Tribenipatan is an open space of green landscapes and pasture lands in the hills.

Since it lies in the remotest area of Sudurpashchim in Nepal, exploring Badimalika and Tribenipatan will let you experience a real hiking adventure and a soothing place that is untouched by modernization.

Exploring Grassy Meadows in Tribeni Patan

Tribeni Patan is a grassland in the hills of Bajura at a height of around 3840 M. As the place lies above the tree line, it has green grasslands with small wetlands. Small shrubs, herbs, wildflowers, and grasses decorate the area that sprays the fragrance of nature. Not only that, but it also offers some magnificent views of the mountains like Api and Saipal.

As the place is pasture land, shepherds from Bajura, Achham, and Kalikot bring their sheep and cattle for grazing in Tribeni Patan. So, experiencing an escapade in the green hills of Sudurpashchim province of Nepal, with many sheep and horses grazing on the pasture of Tribeni Patan, will surely blow your mind.

From Tribenipatan, Badimalika hill looks like a hillock on the horizon that is between heaven and Nepal. During sunset, the sky looks painted in multiple colors. So, visiting Tribeni Patan will make you realize you are visiting a piece of heaven in the Himalayas of Nepal.

Madithala and Bhatejiula, Shepherds temporary home

Just below Tribenipatan is Madithala, which is at an altitude of 3600 M. Just like in Tribenipatan, you cannot find any trees. All you can find are abundant wildflowers and small bushes. At Madithala, sheepherders build temporary sheepfolds and graze their sheep in the hills during spring, autumn, and monsoon seasons. When winter starts, they descend to their village because it’s cold out there.

After Madithala, you enter the Bhatejiula area, which is at a height of 3800 M. The name Bhatejiula came from the plants that look like rice, which are found abundantly on the site. If you travel in the monsoon, most of the area over there looks like small wetlands. There will be a lot of water poodles, both small and large. If you are traveling to Madithala, make sure you visit Tribenipatan and Badimalika temple too.

Badimalika Temple

Badimalika is a newly emerging famous temple in Triveni Municipality, Bajura District, Seti Zone in Nepal. The main temple of Badimalika is at Mallagiri peak at a height of 4200 m and is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati. The holy place is also popular as a hill station in Nepal that offers magnificent views of the hills and mountains nearby.

Besides the main temple, there are clusters of bells offered by the devotees, statues, and small Hindu shrines. Apart from that, there are houses and a small temple in Kailashmandu, Municipality, Ward Number 03, where the priests of the popular shrine live.

Two priests work to perform pujas in the temple. Interestingly, one priest has to be from the Bajura district and the second from Kalikot. It is because some people believe the goddess Bhagwati of Badi Malika migrated from Dwaredhunge of Kalikot.

Although the major festival celebrated in Badimalika is Malika Chaturdashi, it receives thousands of followers every day of the year. Most of the pilgrims visit the shrine during Janai Purnima and Ganga Dashera. During these festivals, the locals there organize fairs and celebrate uniquely.

The temple and the goddess have many beliefs and myths behind them. One of the popular beliefs of the Badi Malika temple is that everyone’s wish gets fulfilled when you visit the holy place.

Hindu Myths Behind Badimalika Temple

There are two popular myths about the origin of Badimalika Temple in Bajura.

The myth of Shakti Peetha’s being Badi Malika later

According to Hindu myth, Badi Malika is one of the Shakti Peetha, which was formed from Sati Devi’s left shoulder, one of Lord Mahadev’s wives.

Back then, Sati Devi, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati, was the most beautiful goddess with all the 32 qualities of perfection. Every god would dream of marrying her. As her father was looking for her bridegroom, Lord Mahadev married Sati Devi unexpectedly and lived happily in Kailash Parbat. But Sati Devi’s father was not happy about the marriage.

One day, Daksha Prajapati organized a huge Yagya, a Hindu ceremony, and invited all the gods and goddesses. As he was not happy with Mahadev, he did not invite Sati Devi and her spouse to attend the ceremony.

Later, when Sati found out about it, she directly went to her father and asked why they were not invited to the ceremony. But, her father answered, Mahadev is not suitable to attend the Yagya. He also added that a person who drinks alcohol, smokes, sleeps in crematories, wraps a snake around his neck, and covers his body with ashes and tiger skin would not be a good fit to attend the function.

Satidevi, who couldn’t hear any more insults to her husband, soon jumped into the Yagya fire and gave her life.

As soon as Mahadev heard the news of her death, he was so angry and immediately ordered his army’s Birbhadra and Bhoot Gaana to kill Daksha Prajapati. After punishing Sati’s father, he grieved the death of his wife and began traveling the world, carrying Sati’s dead body on his shoulder.

As nobody could stop him, Lord Vishnu wounded Sati’s corpse with his Sudarsan Chakra so that her body would rot and fall. After being hurt, her body started decomposing and her parts fell. The place where her body parts fell became the place of worship. This way, her left shoulder fell on Mallagiri hill in Nepal. Later, Hindu devotees built a temple in the place and also referred to the hill as Malika. This is how the worship of the Badimalika started in ancient times.

Another myth behind Bhagwati in Malika Parbat.

According to the other fable, after Bhagwati killed a powerful monster, Mahisasur, she came to rest at Dwaredhunge in the Kalikot District of Nepal. She was so powerful that whatever her followers’ wishes, she would grant them all.

One day, a low-caste person visited the place to collect some firewood. He felt hungry, as the place was far from his residence. Upon seeing the goddess, he smiled and asked her for some meat and loaves of bread.

The Goddess provided him with the food in a large quantity, which he could not finish alone. So, he shouted out to call other locals, but none responded. This made him furious. Out of anger, he then ordered the goddess to kill everyone in the village. Sadly, the goddess fulfilled his second wish too. But, the person didn’t have any idea about it.

Then, the man traveled back to his village in excitement with lots of food. But, when he saw everyone dead, he became angry at the goddess. So, he walked back to Dwaredhunge in a rage. But before his arrival, Goddess Bhagwati flew from the place through Tribeni Patan, Panchpur, and Mallpuri Patan to Badi Malika. These days, most pilgrims use the same route for the trip to Tribenipatan and Badimalika.

And, when the man didn’t see the deity again, he began scolding her. Even today, there are imprints on the doors. And people believe it is because of the blow from that man. This is how divinity Bhagwati came to live in Badimalika.

• Origin of Gadhimai Temple
• Kumari (The Living Deity) Tradition in Nepal

Tribenipatan and Badimalika Hiking

The Badimalika trail is a fresh and virgin trekking route in the far west region of Nepal. As Badimalika is a newly popular tourist attraction, the trails are not well maintained. Likewise, as modern essence has hardly touched the location, you can’t find accommodations like lodges, teahouses, or homestays. However, it will provide you with some extreme adventures along the way. Also, for beginner hikers, the trek might be arduous, but the routes are treacherous.

When you reach Tribenipatan, the beautiful sight of grasslands and the blessings of Badimalika are sure to make you forget every hardship. Badimailka is not only a religious place, but it is also a hill station that offers some magnificent views of the green hills, grassy meadows, and icy peaks nearby.

The hiking trail passes through some remote villages of the far west, like Tribeni Badimalika, Natshwori, and Moura. Thus, you will have time to experience the townlet life of rural Nepal with a village trek. If your Badimalika visit collides with the festive time of the village, you will be a fan of some unique dance forms, such as Deuda, Hudkuli, Bhuwo, and Thadi.

Similarly, the pathway passes through national parks and forests. So, you will also get a glimpse of some rare flora and fauna, including different species of birds, musk deer, and leopards. There are many unique festivals in Nepal. Henceforth, if your Badimalika visit collides with the festive time of the village, you will be a fan of some unique dance forms, such as Deuda, Hudkuli, Bhuwo, and Thadi.

If you have time, be sure to include the Shukla Phata National Park trip on your Badimalika trek itinerary. Besides, if you can manage, spend a night in Tribenipatan to watch the stars at night and the beautiful sunrise views in the morning.

Hiking Itinerary to Tribeni Patan and beadlike Temple

Please find a short itinerary for the Badimalika Tour from Kathmandu.

1st Day: Flight to Dhangadhi (109m) and drive by jeep to Jadga. (2000 m) (You can also drive from Kathmandu to Dhangadi, but it takes time and you will have to add a day to the itinerary.)

2nd Day: From Jadga, begin the trek to Karala. (05–06 Hrs).

3rd Day: Karala to Tribeni Badimalika. (05–06 Hrs).

4th Day: Tribeni Badimalika to Natshwori. (05–06 Hrs).

5th Day: Natshwori to Mourya. (05–06 Hrs).

6th Day: Mourya to Dhangadi. (05–06 Hrs).

7th Day: Fly to Kathmandu.

Alternate Itinerary from Kathmandu to Tribenipatan and Badimalika temple, including Khaptad National park visit:

Day1: Flight to Dhangadhi (109m) and drive to Dadeldhura (2000 m)–1 hour & 4 hours

Day2: Drive to Jadanga (3828m) -6 hours

Day3: Trek to Budha Krodh (2263m) -6 hours

Day4: Trek to Bhitachhina (3667 m) -7 hours

Day5: Trek to Tribeni (3870 m) -4 hours.

Day6: Trek to Badimalika temple (4214 m) -5 hours

Day7: Trek to Dhalpuri Pokhari (2556 m) -6 hours

Day8: Trek to Bhansainkharka (2480 m) -7 hours

Day9: Trek to Laskechaur (2450 m) -5 hours

Day10: Trek to Khaptad National Park -5 hours

Day11: Excursions around Khaptad National Park

Day12: Fly to Kathmandu–1 hour 

In the end,

Tribenipatan and Badimalika are newly explored travel destinations in remote Nepal. Although the TAAN (Trekking Agencies Authority of Nepal) has already recognized the trekking trail, it is still underdeveloped and completely raw. The trail differs completely from other popular treks in Nepal and offers raw experiences of hiking in the hills.

So, if you are trekking to the area, make sure you have information about the trails, food, and places to stay. Further, if you are a group of raw and remote trail-longing hikers, Heaven Himalaya will arrange a trip to the area.