Spiritual · Dullu
The eternal flame of Shirasthan
Visit Shirasthan in Rawatkot, where a natural gas flame burns inside the shrine and a Nath ascetic keeps the fire, the best known of Dullu's sacred flames.
Shirasthan, the place of the head, is in Rawatkot within Dullu municipality, near the Shirasthan stream. Inside the shrine a small flame burns where gas escapes from the ground, and it has been kept and worshipped for generations. The priest is a Nath ascetic, part of a tradition of yogi priests linked with the site since at least the Khasa period.
Visitors remove their shoes, bow at the shrine and make a small offering of flowers, rice or coins. The priest may show you the flame and explain its meaning. It is a quiet, intimate place, not a grand temple, and the sight of a fire burning out of the earth is striking.
Combine Shirasthan with Nabhisthan and the Prithvi Malla pillar in a day. Morning is the calmest time. Ask your guide to translate; most local people speak Nepali in a Dailekh accent, and few speak English.
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Questions
Is the flame at Shirasthan really natural?
Yes. It burns on natural gas seeping from the ground, as at several sites around Dullu, which is why the area is called Jwala Tirtha, the pilgrimage of flame. Researchers have reported gas reserves in Dailekh. The priests keep the flame protected inside the shrine.
Who looks after the Shirasthan shrine?
A priest from the Nath sect of Hindu ascetics tends the shrine and its flame. The Nath link to Dullu's flames is old and studied by historians. The priest receives pilgrims and may explain the rituals; a small offering is customary.
Can I photograph the flame?
Ask the priest first. Many allow photos of the flame without flash when no ritual is under way. Do not photograph pilgrims at prayer without their permission, and never step over offerings or the flame to get a better angle.
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