Top 5 Temples in the Kathmandu Valley

By Viator, January 2013

The sheer number of temples located in Kathmandu and the surrounding valley has given it the nickname "City of Temples." You could easily spend your entire trip hopping from one temple to the next, but here are five you definitely shouldn't miss.

1. Bodhnath Stupa

Bodhnath Stupa, besides being one of the largest stupas in the world, is the most important and holiest Tibetan Buddhist site outside of Tibet. The white 14th century structure is said to house a bone once carried by the Buddha. Worshippers come here to circumambulate the stupa while spinning prayer wheels and praying to the 108 small images of the Buddha surrounding the structure.

2. Swayambhunath

Even if you're not big on temple visits, making your way southwest of Kathmandu to Swayambhunath Temple is worth it for the stunning views of the city below. This Buddhist temple, nicknamed Monkey Temple by locals due to the large population of monkeys that call the complex home, is instantly recognizable by its golden spires with ominous-looking eyes painted on them.

3. Pashupatinath

Located just east of Kathmandu on the banks of the Bagmati River, the Pashupatinath temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is best known for its magnificent architecture. The two-story pagoda structure houses a sacred phallic symbol, or linga, of Shiva, making it one of the most important Hindu temples in Nepal and the most important Shaivite temple in the subcontinent. Pashupatinath is also the site of the most-used cremation spot in the Kathmandu Valley.

4. Changu Narayan

Changu Narayan, perhaps the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, is a feast for the eyes. The ancient structure has origins reaching back as far as the fourth century and houses one of the best collections of ancient stone sculptures in Nepal in its surrounding gardens. The carved wooden roof struts of this temple dedicated to Vishnu depict many important and lesser-known tantric deities.

5. Dakshinkali

For a truly unique cultural experience, those with a strong stomach should visit Dakshinkali Temple on a Tuesday or Saturday, when Nepalese Hindus come to sacrifice animals to the bloodthirsty goddess Kali. You can't enter the temple proper if you're not Hindu, but you can enjoy the market stalls along the path leading to the temple or take in the festive atmosphere as families picnic on the grounds surrounding the temple.

List of Hindu temples in Nepal

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This is a list of Hindu temples in Nepal, alphabeticall sorted by district.

Bhaktapur District[edit]

Changunarayan Temple (चांगुनारायण मन्दिर)
Suryabinayak Temple (सूर्यविनायक मन्दिर)
Jalbinayak Temple (जलविनायक मन्दिर)
Thalbinayak Temple (थलविनायक मन्दिर)
Siddhibinayak Temple (सिद्धिविनायक मन्दिर)
Nyatapola (न्यातपोल)
Taleju Temple (तलेजु)
Brahmayani Dyochhen (बम्ह्रायणी धोँ छेँ )
Maheshowri Dyochhen (महेश्वरी धोँ छेँ )
Kumari Dyochhen (कुमारी धोँ छेँ )
Bhadrakali Dyochhen (भद्रकाली धोँ छेँ )
Barahi Dyochhen (बाराही धोँ छेँ )
Indrayani Dyochhen (इन्द्रायणी धोँ छेँ )
Mahakali Dyochhen (महाकाली धोँ छेँ )
Mahalaxmi Dyochhen (महालश्र्मी धोँ छेँ )
Bhairav Temple (भैरव मन्दिर )
Tripura Sundari Dyochhen (त्रिपुरासुन्दरी धोँ छेँ )
Balkumari Dyochhen (बालकुमारी धोँ छेँ )
Dattatraya Temple (दत्तात्रय मन्दिर )
Yaksheshwor Mahadeva Temple (यश्रश्वर महादेव मन्दिर )
Vatsala Durga Temple (वत्सला दुर्गा मन्दिर )
WakuPati Narayan Temple (वाकुपति नारायण मन्दिर )
Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple (डोलेश्वर महादेव मन्दिर )
Phashi Temple ( फसी देग् मन्दिर )
Aananta lingeshwor Mahadev
Suwarneshwor Manadev
Chhuma Ganesh
Balakhu Ganesh
Matshya Narayan
Shiddi Laxmi
Kamal Binayak
Chhonga Ganesh

Bharatpur, Nepal[edit]

Devghat Mandir (देवघाट मन्दिर)
Bageshwari Mandir (बागेस्वरी मन्दिर)
Gansehthan Mandir (गणेशथान मन्दिर)
Zakhadi Mai Mandir (जखडी माइ मन्दिर)
Kalika Mandir (कालीका मन्दिर)
Pasupatinath Mandir (पसुपतीनाथ मन्दिर)
Rameshwar Mandir (रामेश्वर मन्दिर)

Birendranagar[edit]

Deutibajy Mandir (देउती बज्यै मन्दिर)
Kakrebihar Mandir (काक्रेविहार मन्दिर)
Ugratara Mandir
Gathal Mandhir

Birgunj[edit]

Mahavir Mandir (Birgunj)
Maisthan Mandir (Birgunj)
Gita Mandir (Birgunj)
Surya Mandir (Birgunj)

Dhanusha District[edit]

Janaki Mandir (जानकी मन्दिर)
Ram Mandir (राम मन्दिर)
Janak Mandir (जनक मन्दिर)
Sankat Mochan Mandir (संकट मोचन मन्दिर)
Shiva Mandir (शिव मन्दिर)
Mahabir jhanda mandir(माहाबिर झणडा मन्दिर) (In Bhathihan Bazar)
Bhola Baba Mandir (in Kushmaha Satoshar)
Dhanusha Dham Mandir (in Dhanusha Dham)

Dharan[edit]

Budha Subba Temple-(Dharan, Nepal)
Dantakali
Bishnupaduka
Pindeshwor
panchakanya
Barahachhetra

Darchula District[edit]

Malikarjun Temple, Mad

Gorkha District[edit]

Manakamana
Gorkha Kalika (Gorkaha Bazar)
Akala Temple(Naharkee mains)

Kaski District[edit]

Bhimkali Mandir (भिमकाली मन्दिर)
Bindhabasini Mandir (विन्धबासीनी मन्दिर)
Talbarahi Mandir (तालबाराही मन्दिर)
Dhodbarahi Mandir (Tanhu) (ढोडवाराही मन्दिर)
Kalika Mandir' Kalikasthan,Kalika V.D.C.-4 (कालीका मन्दिर)
Bhadrakali Mandir भद्रकाली मन्दिर
Sitaladevi Mandir
Akala Temple
Mudula Karki Kulayan Mandir
Kedareshwor Mahadev Temple
Kumari Temple
Kalika temple Mattikhan 15 km south from Pokhara

Kathmandu District[edit]

Pashupatinath Temple (पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर the patron deity of Nepal)
Swayambhunath temple (स्वयम्भूनाथ मन्दिर worshipped by Buddhists and Hindus)
Kasthamandap (काष्ठमण्डप the temple after which Kathmandu was named)
Ashok Binayak Temple (अशोक विनायक)
Karyabinayak Temple (कार्यविनायक मन्दिर)
Mahadev Parwati Temple (महादेव पार्वती मन्दिर), Kathmandu
Degutaleju (देगुतलेजु), Kathmandu
Kumari Chhen (कुमारी छें the temple of living Goddess)
Majipa Lakhey Chhen (मजिपाः लाखे छें the residence of Shanta Bhairab Majipa Lakhey)
Jaishidewal (जैसीदेवल), Kathmandu
Sapana Tirtha Temple Tokha, Kathmandu
Chandeshwori Temple Tokha, Kathmandu
Indreni Temple Bhutkhel, Tokha, Kathmandu
Naradevi Temple (नरदेवी मन्दिर Swetakaali temple)
Raktakali Temple (रक्तकाली मन्दिर)
Pachali Bhairabh (पचली भैरव)
Taleju Bhawani Temple (Kathmandu) (तलेजु भवानी)
Shobha Bhagwati Mandir (शोभा भगवती मन्दिर)
Bhadrakali Temple (Kathmandu) (भद्रकाली मन्दिर)
Maitidevi Temple (मैतिदेवी मन्दिर)
Bhairava Kal Bhairab (कालभैरव)
Batuk Bhairab Temple (बटुक भैरव मन्दिर)
Guhyeshwari Temple (गुह्येश्वरी मन्दिर)
Bhagwatibahal Temple (भगवतीबहाल मन्दिर)
Gyaneshwor Mahadev & Bhairavsthan (ज्ञानेश्वर महादेव र भैरवस्थान)
Sankata (संकटा, पाःलाःद्यः), Tebahal, Kathmandu (Worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus)
Mahankal (महाकाल the deity is common in Hinduism and Buddhism)
Chabahil Ganesh Temple (चाबहिल गणेश मन्दिर)
Chamunda Devi Temple,Jorpati
Akash Bhairab Temple (आकाश भैरव मन्दिर)
Budhanilkantha Temple (बुद्धनीलकण्ठ मन्दिर)
Sohrakhutte Ganesh (सोह्रखुट्टे गणेश)
Sohrahate Ganesh (सोह्रहाते गणेश)
Nil Barahi Temple (नीलबाराही मन्दिर)
Bhimsensthan (भीमसेनस्थान)
Swet Bhairab Temple (श्वेत भैरव मन्दिर)
Ganesh Temple (New Road) (गणेश मन्दिर)
Ranamukteshwar Temple (रणमुक्तेश्वर मन्दिर), Pako Pukhuldhyang, New Road
Ram Temple (Battisputali) (राम मन्दिर), Battisputali
Pulukishi Chhen (पुलुकिसि छें the house of Airawat elephant, the Bahan of Indra, Klilagal
Palanchowk Bhagwati (Hyumat) (पलांचोक भगवती)
Bagbhairaw Temple (बाघभैरव मन्दिर)
Asthanarayan Temple (अष्टनारायण मन्दिर)
Dakshinkali Temple (दक्षिणकाली मन्दिर)
Budanilkintha Temple (बुढानिलकण्ठ, भुइजःसि)((Budanilkintha narayan mandir ))
Aadi nath temple (आदिनाथ लोकेश्वर, चोभाःद्यः) ((Chovar ))
Bishnu Davi Tempel ((Bhajangal), Kirtipur
Uma mahashwor Temple (उमामहेश्वर, नासः द्यः) ((Kirtipur))
Ses Narayan temple (( Farping near Dakshinkali Temple))
Taudaha nagraja (( Chovar ))
Jal Binayak Temple ((Chovar))
Jwala Mai Temple ((Tyouda, Ason)), Kathmandu
Narayan Temple ((Narayan Hiti Palace)), Kathmandu
Naxal Bhagawati ((Bhagawati Bahal, Naxal)) Kathmandu
Shri Radha Madhava Temple (श्रीराधामाधव मन्दिर), Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu

Kavrepalanchowk District[edit]

Chandeshwari Temple (चण्डेश्वरी मन्दिर)
Dhaneshwor Temple (धनेश्वर)
Bhagwati Temple (भगवती मन्दिर)
Narayan Temple (नारायण मन्दिर)
Mahadev Mandir (महादेव मन्दिर)
Palanchok Bhagwati (पलान्चोक भगवती)

Lalitpur District[edit]

Krishna Mandir (Patan) (कृष्ण मन्दिर)
Bangalamukhee Mandir (बंगलामुखी मन्दिर)
Kumbeshwar Mandir (कुम्भेश्वर मन्दिर)
Taleju Mandir (Patan) (तलेजु मन्दिर)
Jal Binayak (जल विनायक)
Kumari Chhen (Patan) (कुमारी छें)
Batuk Bhairab (Lagankhel) (वटुक भैरव)
Tika Bhairab (Lele) (टीका भैरव)
Siddhi Laxmi (Purnachandi) (सिदि लक्षमी)
Tamak Dhyo (Jawalakhel) (तमकः ध्येा)
Karya Binayak (कार्य विनायक)
Rato Machhindra Nath Temple (Bungamati) (बुंग ध्येा)
Rato Machhindra Nath Temple (Tangal) (बुंग ध्येा)
Min Nath (Tangal) (चाकुवा ध्येा)
Chinnamasta (Mangal Bazar) (छिन्नमस्ता)
Matangi (Mangal Bazar) (मातंगी)
Bishwokarma (Ikhalukhu) (विश्वकर्मा)
Kopeshwor Mahadev (Mangal Bazar) (केापेश्वर महादेव)
Bimsen Temple (Mangal Bazar) (भिमसेन)
Manakamana (Patan) (मनकामना)
Chamunda Temple (Patan) (चामुन्डा, सिगविलि)
Mani Keshav Narayan Temple (Swotha) (मणिकेशव नारायण)
Bhubaneswori Temple (Nakabahil) (भुवनेश्वरी)
Mahabouddha Temple (Sundhara) (महावैाध्द)
Bajra Barahi Temple (Bajra Barahi) (बज्र बाराहि)
Santaneshwor Mahadev Temple (Bajra Barahi) (सन्तानेश्वर महादेव)
Bishankhu Narayan Temple (Sundhara) (बिशंखु नारायण)
Dhanawantari Barahi Temple (Jwagal) (धन्वन्तरी बाराहि)
Govrateshwor Mahadev Temple (Luvu) (गेाभ्राट्रश्वर महादेव)
Phulchowki Temple (Phulchowki) (फुलचेाकि)
Shwet Barahi Temple (Bandegaun) (श्वेतबाराहि)
Mahalaxmi Temple (Lagankhel) (महालक्षमी)
Chapat Ganesh Temple (Chapat) (चपट गणेश)
Hayagriva Bhairava Temple (Bungamati)

Makawanpur[edit]

Bhutandevi Temple
Pashupatinath Temple (Hetaunda)
Manakamana Temple (Hetaunda)
Churiyamai Temple (Hetaunda)
Banaskhandi Devi Temple (Hetaunda)
Bansagopal Temple (Makwanpur Gadhi Hetauda)
Bartaula Kulguthi Durga Temple, Hetauda-11, Nawalpur

Nepalgunj[edit]

Bageshwori Temple (Nepalgunj)

Nawalparasi, Nepal[edit]

Daunne Devi Mandir (दाउन्ने देबी मन्दिर)
Maula kalika Mandir (मौला कालिका मन्दिर)
Sri Laxmi-Narasimha Divya Dham (Only Divya Desham in Nepal along with Muktinath Temple)
Sri Laxmi-Hari Mandir
Sri Radha-Krishna Madir(Nimbarka Kendra - Vrindawan Pratik)
Sri Laxmi Venkatesh Mandir(Ved Vidya Ashram)