Khaptad Baba Ashram

Swami Sachchidananda, widely known as Khapad Baba, was a spiritual saint born in Kashmir, was a medical doctor by academic qualification. He became a Sanyasi under the discipleship of Reserved Gurudev Shree 1008 Swami Gyanasramaji, his hermitage, in India. After spending some years in various places of India, Khaptad Baba traveled along the high mountainside of Nepal and settled temporarily in various places of Nepal too including Kalinchowk, Swarga Dwari, Chandannath, Ilam, Musikot and Khapad. It is said that, in 1940, he traveled Khaptad valley to meditate and worship and lived there more 50 years and also overlooked the establishment of Khaptad National Park in 1984. Respected as Hindu Saint, he is mainly known for his contribution in disseminating Vedic knowledge regarding medicinal herbs, yoga, meditation and science of thought.

Khaptad Baba Ashram (खष्तड बाबा अाश्रम) dedicated to Swami Sachidananda Saraswati is located at the altitude of 2,923 meters from sea level inside Khaptad in Bajhang district of Nepal. Khaptad National Park, where Swami spent most of his lifetime, was named after him. The Ashram offers gorgeous natural sceneries & vast wilderness, which also houses various species of animals and also rare variety of aromatic and medicinal plants. There are also other religiously important places within the park which attracts many tourists visiting this area including Tribeni, Khaptad Daha, Kedardhunga, Mai than, SahashraLinga, Buki Daha and also Sajhghat. Khaptad Daha is a famous religious site near this area where Hindu pilgrims come to worship Lord Shiva on the full moon of July-August.

However, this area can be reached from Dipayal, which requires the trek of about 9 hours from Dipayal. Also can be reached from the flight from Nepalgunj to Sanphe Bagar and still requires a day trek to reach Khaptad National Park. Fall and spring seasons are considered as the best time to visit this area since the weather is good at this time.