Bagmati River

Bagmati
Bagmati River at Pashupatinath Temple
Native name	बागमती खुसी (Newar) बागमती नदी (Nepali)
Location
Country	Nepal
State	Bagmati, Madhesh
Cities	Kathmandu, Patan
Physical characteristics
Source	Bāghdwār Falls, Bāghdwār (Nepali: बाघद्वार, "Tiger Gate")
• location	Shivapuri, Sundarijal, Kathmandu, Nepal
• coordinates	27°46′16″N 85°25′38″E / 27.77111°N 85.42722°E / 27.77111; 85.42722
• elevation	2,740 m (8,990 ft)
Mouth	Confluence with Kamala River
• location	Jagmohra, Bihar, India
• coordinates	25°43′56.1″N 86°21′53.0″E / 25.732250°N 86.364722°E / 25.732250; 86.364722
Length	586.3 kilometres (364.3 mi)
Discharge
• location	Pandhera Dovan, Makawanpur
• maximum	16,000 m3/s (570,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Manohara, Marin Khola, Lakhandei, Adhwara, Kamala
• right	Lalbakaiya, Bishnumati

The Bagmati River^{[n 1]} flows through the Kathmandu valley of Nepal, separating the cities of Kathmandu and Patan, before flowing through Madesh Province of southern Nepal and joining the Kamla River in the Indian state of Bihar. It is considered holy by both Hindus and Buddhists. A number of Hindu temples are located on its banks.

The importance of the Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on the banks of this holy river, and Kirants are buried in the hills by its side. According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati before cremation, so that the reincarnation cycle may be ended. The chief mourner (usually the first son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take a bath in the river or sprinkle holy water on their bodies at the end of the cremation. It is believed that the Bagmati River purifies people spiritually.

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