Temples in Nepal
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Kathmandu Valley Shrines, Lumbini and Pokhara
Here is the list of 18 Temples in Nepal
1. Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu
One of the holiest Hindu shrines in Nepal, the Pashupatinath Temple is stretched across both the banks of the beautiful and sacred Bagmati River on the eastern fringes of the capital city of Kathmandu. The sanctum devoted to Lord Shiva draws in thousands of devotees.
2. Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini
One of the most ancient Buddhist Temples in Lumbini, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Maya Devi Temple is one of the most well-known temples in Nepal, which is also known as the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The temple is situated in the middle of the park grounds called Lumbini Development Zone, its continuous developments making it an attraction worth visiting.
3. Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu
Perched on top of Semgu Hill located in the outskirts to the west of the Kathmandu Valley, Swayambhu Temple is one of the most important religious shrines in the city of Kathmandu. With a white dome stupa and an array of shrines, this place draws people to it daily.
4. Dakshinkali Temple, Kathmandu
Dakshinkali sits about 22 km south of Kathmandu, a kilometre beyond the village of Pharping, in a wooded gorge where two streams meet. It is one of the most important Kali temples in Nepal and one of the busiest, with queues of families stretching down the steps on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Those are also the days when animals are sacrificed here as offerings, an old and openly practised part of the ritual that visitors should know about in advance, since many find it distressing. Going on any other day gives you the setting and the architecture without it.
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5. Changu Narayan Temple
Changu Narayan is a synonymous word with both the old Nepalese temple and the village that surrounds it. Located in the Bhaktapur district some 12 km east of Kathmandu, the existence of this temple is more or less the only reason the village called Changu Narayan is known to the outside world. Changu Narayan has an authentic Newari style architecture very true to its roots.
6. Budhanilkantha Temple
Famous for its enigmatic stone carved statue of Lord Vishnu in a resting position, the open-air Budhanilkantha Temple is definitely an architectural marvel of Nepal. The statue, which is over 1000 years old, is carved out of a single block of black stone and lies in a recessed pool of water.
7. Shashwat Dham, Nepal
Shashwat Dham is unique among the temples in Nepal, both in terms of ambience and philosophy practised in the establishment. In the calm and composed premises of this temple, spirituality finds a new home and an evolved meaning altogether. Where the rest of this list is centuries old, this is a modern temple and ashram complex, built as a centre for spiritual learning rather than ritual.
8. Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu
Situated at a distance of about 11 kilometres from the city centre of Kathmandu, Boudhanath Stupa dominates the Kathmandu skyline with its gargantuan spherical shape. Thousands of pilgrims from different religions gather here daily. They perform a ritualistic circumnavigation, known as the 'kora', of the colossal dome.
9. Dantakali Temple, Dharan
Dantakali Temple was built in the honour of Goddess Parvati. It is located in Bijayapur Village located about 3 kilometres away from the centre of Dharan city in Nepal. The attraction is also considered to be a significant Shakti Peeth. This temple mainly attracts devotees on the occasion of Dashain, which is an auspicious Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
10. Janaki Mandir, Janakpur
Dedicated to Goddess Sita, Janaki Mandir is the biggest of all the temples in Nepal. This dominant tourist attraction of Janakpur is constructed at the place where Goddess Sita was born. The attraction is now considered a religiously important monument and a heritage site but is still an active temple for devotees.
11. Jagannath (Krishna) Temple
Jagannath Temple is the oldest structure in the Durbar Square area, claimed to have been constructed by Pratap Malla, but historical evidence suggests that it was built by Mahendra Malla, back in 1563. The two-storeyed temple is built on a three-tiered platform and is famous for the erotic carvings on its roof.
12. Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple
Situated on the west branch of Bagmati River, between Pashupatinath and Gujeshwori Temples, Kirateshwar Mahadev is one of the many temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is a legacy of the Kirant Dynasty of Nepal Valley. According to the gurus present here, Kirantis prayed and buried the dead at Kirateshwar.
13. Kasthamandapa
This architectural marvel of Nepal, locally known as Maru Sattal, built-in pagoda-style architecture and believed to be made out of a single tree, collapsed during the 2015 earthquake. The initial attempts at its reconstruction were put off due to protests from the public and conservationists demanding originality.
14. Guhyeshwari Temple
Located on the embarkments of Bagmati River near Pashupatinath Mandir, Guhyeshwari Temple is one of the many Shakti Peeths which holds immense significance among many Hindus and Tantric practitioners. King Mala built this temple in the 17th century. It is believed that after the self-immolation of Sati, Shiva wandered, carrying the corpse on his shoulder.
15. Vajrayogini Temple, Kathmandu
Located on a hilltop, the Vajrayogini or Bajrayogini Temple is a Tantrik Temple dedicated to the Buddhist Tantric Goddess in Nepal. It is also known as Bodhisattva's Temple and is situated in Sankhu, a small place in the Kathmandu Valley. A stone stairway climbs to the complex. The 2015 earthquake hit it hard and parts are still propped with wooden planks, so much of it is viewed from outside.
16. Seto Machindranath Temple, Kathmandu
Seto Machindranath Temple is special among the temples in Nepal as it is both a Hindu and Buddhist temple, located in Jana Bahal. The temple is believed to be built around the 10th century and houses the idol of Seto Machindranath, also known as Janabaha Dyo. During the month of Chaitra, a three days long chariot procession festival of the Lord is held here.
17. Bindhya Basini Temple, Pokhara
The ancient Bindhyabasini Temple in Pokhara stands on top of a small hill. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga, an incarnation of Devi Parvati. The Goddess worshipped is in the form of a Shaligram. According to a local legend, King Siddhi Narayan Shah bought the idol from Bindhyachal in India.
18. Tal Barahi Temple, Pokhara
Tal Barahi Temple, also known as Lake Temple or Varahi Temple is a two-storey pagoda temple located on a small island on Phewa Lake in Pokhara. Dedicated to Goddess Varahi, who is an incarnation of Goddess Durga, both Hindu and Buddhist followers visit here for worship. It is believed that the temple was built by King Kulmandhan Shah because of a dream that he saw.
Nepal is the one country where Hindu and Buddhist practice sit on top of each other rather than side by side, and its temples show it. Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are Buddhist stupas circled by Hindu shrines, and at Pashupatinath, the largest Shiva temple in the country, the cremation ghats on the Bagmati are part of the site rather than hidden from it. Most of this list is inside the Kathmandu Valley and can be covered over two or three days. Beyond it, Lumbini has the Maya Devi Temple at the Buddha's birthplace, Janakpur has the Janaki Mandir tied to the Ramayana, and Pokhara has Tal Barahi on its island in Phewa Lake. These are working temples, so dress covered, remove shoes where asked, and expect parts of some complexes to be closed to non-Hindus, Pashupatinath's inner courtyard among them. See also monasteries in Nepal, temples in Lumbini and cities in Nepal.
This post was published by Joysurjya Hagjer
FAQs on Temples in Nepal
Which is the most important temple in Nepal?
Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, the country's largest Shiva temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the centre of Maha Shivaratri each year, when hundreds of thousands arrive, and its riverside ghats are Nepal's main Hindu cremation site.
Can non-Hindus enter Nepal's temples?
It varies. Most are open to everyone, but the inner courtyard at Pashupatinath is restricted to Hindus, and non-Hindus view it from the terraces across the river. Guhyeshwari has similar restrictions. Buddhist sites such as Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are open to all.
How many of these are in the Kathmandu Valley?
Most of them. Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Budhanilkantha, Guhyeshwari, Changu Narayan, Kasthamandap, Seto Machindranath, Vajrayogini and Dakshinkali are all within an hour of central Kathmandu, so two or three days covers the bulk of this list.
Is animal sacrifice still practised at Nepali temples?
At some, yes. Dakshinkali is the best known and does it on Saturdays and Tuesdays, and it also happens at other Kali shrines during Dashain. It is openly done rather than hidden. If you would rather not see it, visit on other days and avoid the Dashain festival week.
What should you wear to visit a temple in Nepal?
Cover shoulders and knees, and take shoes off before entering shrine buildings and often before crossing a temple courtyard. Leather belts and bags are not allowed in some Hindu temples. Ask before photographing people at worship, and never photograph cremations at Pashupatinath.
When is the best time to see the temples at their liveliest?
Dashain and Tihar in September and October, and Maha Shivaratri in February or March, when Pashupatinath fills with pilgrims and sadhus. Buddha Jayanti in May is the day for Lumbini, Swayambhunath and Boudhanath. Expect crowds and restricted access on all of these.
