Major Hindus attraction in Kathmandu

Location of all Major Hindu Attractions around Kathmandu 

Pashupatinath Temple: Kathmandu’s Sacred Soul

The Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and serves as the spiritual heart of Kathmandu and a sacred site for millions of Hindus throughout the world.

The temple sits on the sloping hills, adjacent to the sacred Bagmati River, and is immensely important historically and culturally. 

It is the most significant Hindu temple in Nepal. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and many practitioners, tourists and cultural explorers will pass through. 

History/Mythology related to Pashupatinath. 

Pashupatinath Temple is an important site of worship for Hindus on the banks of the Bagmati River. It is the temple of Lord Shiva and is believed to date to the 5th century CE. Some mythological stories state that Shiva and Parvati appeared to the world in the form of a deer, and when Shiva broke his antler off, that antler became the first ever Shiva Linga. 

In another story, a heavenly cow revealed a natural Linga. Pashupatinath Temple was built during the Licchavi dynasty period and has mythological connections based on the Mahabharata. The temple has been a node of worship for over 1600 years.

Religious Significance and Shiva Worship

• Pashupatinath is also simply one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are holy representations of Lord Shiva. 

• Worship here is said to fulfill every desire and grant liberation (moksha) to the devotee. 

• It is the primary pilgrimage site for Shaivites across the globe, and especially Indians and Nepalis.  

• It is believed to be a powerful site to perform all rites related to life, death, and rebirth. 

• The temple is home to a four-faced Shiva Linga that embodies different aspects of Shiva as Tatpurusha (the ultimate consciousness), Sadhyojata (creation - the first avatar), Vamadeva (protection), and Aghora (destruction). 

About the Main Shiva Lingam Shrine

The major pagoda-shaped shrine located at the temple site contains the Shiva Linga and is believed to be the form of Lord Shiva. The lingam has four faces and is the spiritual, sacred core of the temple. Here the hindu devotees pray and seek blessings.

Temple Architecture and Key Shrines Inside

Main Temple of Lord Shiva

The main temple is an excellent example of the pagoda style of the traditional Nepalese architecture, which is a tiered roof and the covering with gold and copper plates. The doors and the windows are fully carved wood and have carvings that are full of depictions of Hindu deities and mythological stories.

Guhyeshwari Temple

Guhyeshwari Temple, located inside the complex, is dedicated to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Shiva. It is a famous Shakti Peetha and is celebrated for its tantras and the power and energy of the site.

Panch Deval (Five Temples)

The Panch Deval complex consists of five small temples that are dedicated to different Hindu gods, with some to Vishnu and some to different avatars of Shiva. The additional temples help to enhance the beauty of the site, as well as the variety of possibilities for space for spiritual practices.

Morning and Evening Aarati on the Bagmati River

• Morning Aarati: As a pre-dawn or early morning ritual, the lighting of lamps, chanting of vedic mantras, are done for a new day.

• Evening Aarati: Evening Aarati occurs every evening on the ghats of the Bagmati River at 6 PM. Aarati is a large ceremony where Aarti (ritual worship with light) is offered to Lord Shiva, also with musical devotional songs in the name of Lord Shiva. The ceremony also included drumming.

• Aarati is the meeting place between the devotee and the divine. The energy created from the fiery offering, the mantra chanting, the sound of drumming, and musical songs electrifies the entire space.

• Aarati attracts hundreds of pilgrim visitors to the city so they could witness and partake in Aarati.

• It is recommended to arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior as this would give you a fair viewing opportunity.

What Are the Special Rituals for Life and Death?

Death serves as a sacred ritual at Pashupatinath's Arya Ghat. The body  is bathed simultaneously in the Bagmati River, passed to the male relatives that are known to the deceased, and gently and carefully corralled or wrapped in cloth. 

Priests will offer antyeshti (meaning last rites in Sanskrit), with Vedic mantras; they will also offer rites with rice balls (called pandas) and final arrangements, which will compete with cremation with the ignition of the pyre. 

 The ashes are ceremoniously washed away in the river. The whole process is believed to allow the soul to effortlessly transition to the afterlife as well as liberate the deceased soul from the cycle of rebirth (called moksha). 

Guhyeshwari Temple: The Power of the Divine Feminine

Guhyeshwari Temple adjacent to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal is known in worth and in use, as a place of spirituality and mysticism. Guhyeshwari Temple has greatly more power than the original center of the universe; it has more power in its style, the power in its subtlety, depth, and esotericism in the Šaktï path of Hinduism. Guhyeshwari is hardly noted and easily dismissed for other larger and better-known temples, whereas Guhyeshwari is an ever propelling source of spiritual power within the Šaktï path. It is revered as a powerful Šakti Peetha and thought to be the principal temple of tantric practice.

Shakti Peetha Legend and Feminine Power

Guhyeshwari Temple is a sacred place. According to Hindu tradition and mythology, the Guhyeshwari Temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas that mark the sites of the goddess Sati's dismembered body parts when Shiva finishes his universal mourning dance.

At this location specifically, the body part that is said to originate from is Sati's hips, or yoni, which represents feminine generative power. Thus, the Guhyeshwari temple rests on a great source of Shakti, or the power of our Divine Feminine Power.

Highlights:

• The temple is with the goddess Guhyeshwari, a ferocious and hidden manifestation of Shakti.

• "Guhya" means hidden or secret, and "Ishwari" means goddess. Therefore, it is meant to symbolize the divine femininity of determined divinity's hidden power ability deeper within beyond the daily.

• It also is the feminine counterpart to the masculinity of Pashupatinath, and thus is in representation of cosmic balance as a duality. 

What Is The Importance Of Temple During Navaratri and Tantric Worship?

During Navratri:

• Pilgrims will conduct special pujas, recite mantras, and light oil lamps to invoke blessings.

• Tantric rites definitely have grown, and most are performed behind closed doors as appropriate for a temple that operates on esoteric traditions.

• In addition to more traditional puja and sadhanas, sadhakas (spiritual seekers) will also perform practices in order to awaken kundalini

Tantric Worship Significance:

• The temple is a known destination for those who engage in tantric worship, where the rituals revolve around a platform of transformation, inner power, and the unification of dual energies. 

• Tantric practitioners. While the orthodox form of practice has strict dividing lines between spiritual existence and physical existence, those who practice Tantric puja possibly combine the aims of spirit and matter in the process of self-realization. 

• Tantric followers believe the energy of this temple will allow for transcendence of ego and transition into deeper states of conscious intonation.

Architecture and Spiritual Design

• The temple structure is located at a lower elevation from the rest of the ground, suggestive of humility and an inward journey. The rectangular sanctum is painted in strikingly bright red and has a gilded gold roof and a small gilded spire (gajur). Inside the sanctum is dark and intimate, emphasizing the spiritual and tantric identity of this temple. 

• The sanctum is peculiar, because unlike almost all temples it has a natural spring of water and this is contrasted by having a symbolic image of the goddess (yoni), as opposed to idolality. 

• The temple is reminiscent of a retreat due to the environment that has an impression of secrecy and simplicity, as opposed to the potential for worldly decadence of aesthetics or beauty. 

• Only Hindus are able to enter the sanctum, who practice their discipline in a diaphanous and with a universality of intent, respect for the sanctity of the discipline, purity of rituals and of the space.

Prayers and Offerings

The prayer and offering rituals that take place at Guhyeshwari Temple can have powerful meaning and spiritual significance. The devotees make a variety of offerings to the Goddess including pink hibiscus flowers, rice, vermillion, oil lamps, and sindoor. Tantric practitioners may make gifts of wine and meat. In the time leading to the 9-day festival of Navratri, the temple is thrilling with energy and full of the spirit of worship, with emphasis on prayer to, and the chanting of, mantras, along with other practices that are used to call in the energy of the goddess in deep meditation. 

How is the Temple Connected with The Pashupatinath?

• Guhyeshwari represents the Female Divine Shakti and Pashupatinath symbolizes Male Divine aspect of Shiva. 

• Together, they represent Shakti and Shiva as a cosmic duality. 

• As a tradition, most of the devotees will make an attempt to visit both of the temples.

Budhanilkantha Temple: The Sleeping Vishnu

Budhanilkantha Temple is only 8 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu at the base of Shivapuri Hills, and is among the most interesting and religiously significant sacred and pilgrimage sites in  Nepal. It is the home of the enigmatic reclining statue of Lord Vishnu, his long arms lying by his side. 

Also commonly referred to as the "Sleeping Vishnu", this enormous statue carved from black stone is the centerpiece of reverence for Hindus in Nepal, and is one of the most beautiful pieces of workmanship from ancient times. The statue itself is five meters long and lies in a recess of water that symbolizes the cosmic ocean.

Vishnu's uniqueness is the reclining position Lord Vishnu is shown resting on the coils of the cosmic serpent named Shesha Nag, while the head of Vishnu is resting on the many hoods of the serpent. Vishnu holds chakra (discus), shankha (conch), gada (mace), and padma (lotus), with two in each hand.

What Is the Mystery of the Reclining Statue?

The mystery surrounding the statue of Budhanilkantha is based on both its anonymous origin and unparalleled craftsmanship. The statue is generally dated to be from the Licchavi period (7th–8th century) yet historians and archaeologists are still unable to pin-point the correct time period or artist of its origin. Further, the statue appears to be carved from solid monolithic black basalt stone, a type of stone that yields no geological presence in the Kathmandu Valley revealing the possibility the statue was brought from quite a distance away, which may be difficult given its dimensions and weight. 

Some layers of mystery accompany the floating legend - some devotees actually believe the statue floats as it is apparently submerged in water. Additionally, it is said that when visiting the statue, no birds fly overhead and some have theorized it gives off some form of unearthly energy field. These beliefs have served to assist in turning Budhanilkantha to a religious shrine and a place of spiritual fascination.

Religious Beliefs and Restrictions

• Site for Vishnu Devotees: This is one of the most commonly visited pilgrimage sites in the world for devotees of Lord Vishnu.

• Royal Ban: The kings of the persecuted Nepalese Shah dynasty, claiming to be incarnations of Vishnu, have avoided this site for hundreds of years. Legend has it that a prophecy warned every king to visit Budhanilkantha would die soon after.

• Worship Only for Hindus: The temple allows  Hindu devotees to worship rituals at this holy site.

• Non-Hindus Can Observe: Non-Hindus in general cannot perform any rituals at this site, but many are allowed to observe from a distance.

The Legend of Lord Vishnu’s Appearance

Once upon a time, there was a farmer plowing the earth when he encountered something very solid in the soil. Surprisingly, that solid thing began to bleed.  When the villagers heard of the spectacle, they hurried to see it. After some digging, the villagers came across a grand statue of Lord Vishnu. The region believes this miracle was provided by Vishnu to bless the land and its people.

Budhanilkantha translates into "Old Blue Throat," in reference to a version of Vishnu who drank poison to save the earth, and has a connection between Vishnu and Shiva because of the syncretism of religions represented in Nepal.

What Rituals and Ceremonies Are Conducted in Budhanilkantha Temple?

• Regular Puja: Each morning and evening, two priests will come to conduct daily puja to present the deity with flower, incense and wick oil-lamp offerings.

• Haribodhini Ekadashi. The most important festival at Budhanilkantha marks the awakening of Lord Vishnu from his cosmic sleep.

• Ekadashi. Devotees fast and gather for prayers on day 11 of each lunar fortnight.

• Deity Offerings. Many pilgrims will bring milk, tulsi leaves and prasad for offering to the deity.

• Quiet Meditations and Prayers. Most of the visitors will sit around the pond, quietly meditating on the ambiance of the still water in a tranquil environment.

Dakshinkali Temple: The Fierce Form of Goddess Kali

The Dakshinkali Temple near Kathmandu, Nepal, is dedicated to this Goddess Kali, who is a fierce, blood-thirsty version of Goddess Parvati. The Dakshinkali Temple is considered a significant spiritual epicenter where people who have made the pilgrimage in hopes of getting blessed, protected and having all their wishes fulfilled sweat through their arrangements as madness, learn mad customs and slaughter animals or do other arduous rituals. The temple resides in a small wooded valley. It is at the confluence of several religious water heads, which provide worshippers with a spiritual experience now that they have been in communion with the declared ground.

The Ritual of Animal Sacrifice:

• Animal sacrifices happen twice a week, normally on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

• The types of animals that are typically sacrificed include cocks (male chickens) and non-castrated males, and goats.

• Devotees take the animal to the temple and may buy the animal from a stall near the entrance of the temple.

• A priest performs the sacrificial work by decapitation and then shows the head to the goddess statue.

• As part of the offering, the blood is shown and smeared on the Goddess' statue.

• After the animal is sacrificed, it is butchered there at the spot where it was sacrificed. The family takes the butchered animal home to cook and eat for some ritual family occasion.

• After the morning sacrifice, until the afternoon animal sacrifice, the temple floor is cleaned so that it is protected and maintained to remain sacred in the temple.

• Devotees who refuse the sacrifice of an animal may at least offer some vegetables, flowers and coconuts as a devotion, which can be viewed to the goddess as an alternative for the sacrifice of the animal.

Daksha Yagya and Goddess Kali’s Origin

The origins of the Goddess Kali date back to the Daksha Yagya in Hindu mythology. Daksha, a powerful king and father to Sati (the previous incarnation of Goddess Parvati), was conducting a great yajna (sacrificial ritual) and purposely did not invite Lord Shiva, Sati's husband. Even in the face of Daksha's insult, Sati decided to attend the yagna, and when Daksha insulted Lord Shiva, she entered the sacrificial fire in a rage. Angered by Sati's death and the insult of Shiva, Parvati manifested herself as the powerful, destructive Goddess Kali. Kali is often depicted in a very terrifying form to typify the destruction of evil and the protection of dharma. Devotees who worship at the Dakshinkali Temple acknowledge this fierce form of Kali; they seek blessings from her to remove the obstacles and evil forces that they face.

Festivals Like Dashain and Saturdays' Importance

At Dashain, the most significant Hindu feast throughout Nepal, the number of worshipers at Dakshinkali Temple increases significantly. The dashain period is characterized by increasing amounts of animal sacrifice, and the river of blood from animals sacrificed to placate to goddess's ferocious deity is an impressive one. In terms of ritual sacrifices and offerings, Saturdays are busy, followed by busy Tuesdays. However, Saturdays are busy Saturdays, and Tuesdays are busy Tuesdays. On most Saturdays and Tuesdays, beginning as early as 4 am, hundreds of worshipers line up waiting to perform their rituals and sacrifices in order to receive protection from the goddess, get prosperous in a business, or have a wish fulfilled.

The Forested Valley Experience

• The temple is located in a peaceful branch of valley and surrounded by trees inducing somewhat an esoteric spiritual atmosphere.

• The path to the temple passes through a lively religious bazaar with shops selling flowers, incense, fruits, and sacrificial animals.

• Chanting, the mixed scent of burning incense, and the flickering candlelight totally envelop the devotee in the devotion.

• After worship and sacrifice have been completed, worshippers typically gather in the shaded trees to share a meal. The wooded surroundings free the devotee's spirit from the confines of worldly life to better reconstruct their divided connection with the god or gods being praised.

Guidelines for Devotees

• The temple is only open to the Hindu divotees.

• For the best experience, visitors should try to plan a visit to the temple in the early morning hours on either a Tuesday or Saturday (sacrifice days) so that they can witness the traditions of the temple and the Bhog (meal) offering that is made with the flesh of the animal that was sacrificed.

• During the offering, visitors can bring items like flowers, incense, and fresh fruits or animals from the local market (if chosen).

• Visitors must also remember that they have a responsibility to respect the sacredness of the temple and whatever ritual they are experiencing in this holy space.

• Visitors can also choose not to partake in the animal sacrifices and may offer objects such as coconut and vegetables as vegetarian options.

• Visitors should ensure that any photos they take while within the temple courtyard (especially while animal sacrifices are happening and/or after) should be avoided, as this is part of respect and violence against the sanctified expression of that religion.

• Visitors will want to dress casually and prepare to walk through garden-like spaces.

Special Rituals, Pooja, and Aarti Timings

• On Tuesdays and Saturdays, temple doors open around 5 a.m.

• The ceremonial sacrifice of animals only occurs on those days - once in the morning and, likely, once in the afternoon.

• The temple is cleaned before and after the morning and before the afternoon sacrifice.

• There follows, after sacrifice, chanting of mantras, aarti (lighting of the lamp) and then dedicating flowers and incense to the goddess.

• Devotees perform sacrificial ceremonies for protection and blessings.

• On non-sacrificial days, and the temple is almost entirely quiet again, it is a very good day for prayer, meditation and worship.

Swayambhunath and the Hindu-Buddhist Harmony

Swayambhunath, located on a hill that overlooks the Kathmandu Valley, is one of Nepal's most significant religious sites and is an extraordinary example of Hinduism and Buddhism co-existing. 

Swayambhunath is usually referred to as the "Monkey Temple" because of the multitude of monkeys residing there. However, the Swayambhunath complex is a stupa and sacred site of worship for followers of both religions. 

Swayambhunath also contains a number of Hindu shrines and deities, including the Hindu goddess Harati Devi (Ajima) which is an embodiment of the activity and worship. 

This embodiment of co-existence, exemplifies the individual religious context for Nepal, of expressing and enjoying the multiple and different practices of both Hinduism and Buddhism.

The Role of Harati Devi (Ajima) for Hindu Devotees

• Harati Devi, also known as Ajima, is regarded as the goddess of protection and health for children, as well as the children themselves.  

• Believers in the goddess pray to her when discussing family health and safety. Some believe she protects family and friends from sickness and bad spirits.  

• Often practitioners may carry flowers, sweets, and incense; but, actual practices for worship vary. 

• Celebrations for Harati may have many different ceremonies or rituals.  

• Many Hindu believers have visited the Swayambhunath shrine of Harati Devi to pray before starting a family or as potential opportunity to establish a religious event.

Swayambhu as a Shared Sacred Space

Swayambhunath is one of the most prominent symbols of religious harmony. Hindus and Buddhists have a deep connection with the place and are often seen doing the same rituals alongside. The complex certainly is primarily a Buddhist space in terms of stupas, monasteries, and statues, but it is also quite a Hindu-friendly place with its temples and shrines. This shared sacred space not only gives a boost of new life to the concept of interfaith dialogue but also solidifies the commitment to the values of friendship and peace. Thus, people of both faiths perform kora around the stupa, turn prayer wheels, light butter lamps, and recite mantras, which become not only the most colourful festival of interfaith but also the most powerful manifestation of spirituality.

How Are Offerings and Rituals by Hindus Done Here?

• Hindus offer gifts of flowers, fruits, and incense at different shrines.

• Many Hindus offer oil lamps and butter lamps to invoke blessings from the divine being.

• Hindus pray or recite mantras before Hindu deities, including Harati Devi. 

• Hindus circumambulate (pradakshina) the stupa.

• There might be special pujas and ritual performances during Hindu festivals.

• Hindus generally make offerings of sweets and rice for wealth and protection.

Mythology and Origins from the Lotus Seed

According to folklore, Swayambhunath is said to have originated from a miraculous seed produced by a lotus that grew in the middle of a primaeval lake that once covered the Kathmandu Valley. There is also folklore that indicates that the valley was a huge lake filled with snakes until the bodhisattva Manjushri carved a gorge and drained the lake, leaving the land. In the midst of that lake, a lotus grew at its center, indicating purity and enlightenment. Out of that lotus grew the Swayambhu stupa, which means "self-existent" or "self-created", which refers to the sacred arising in an unprompted manner. The creation of the Swayambhu stupa, in contrast to the majority of other patterned religious styles, is mythological in origin in that mythology provides the depth of interpretation that gives it sanctity through both natural processes and divine origins. It is also a site that has history and historical relevance in that it has been honoured by Hindus and Buddhists.

Doleshwar Mahadev Temple: The Hidden Jewel of Bhaktapur

The Doleshwar Mahadev Temple is located in the serene outskirts of Bhaktapur, Nepal and serves as a central Shiva temple for many local people as well as for tourists/pilgrims. This temple is very old, has a high degree of spiritual significance and, most importantly, has a uniquely special connection with one of the holiest sites in India - Kedarnath.

What is the significance of Doleshwar Mahadev?

Doleshwar Mahadev is referred to as the head part of Lord Kedarnath (of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva). Legend states that when the Pandavas were seeking the forgiveness of Lord Shiva in the aftermath of the Kurukshetra war, Shiva changed himself into a bull in order to hide from the Pandavas. At some point during this hiding, the body of the bull split - the hump at Kedarnath and the head at Doleshwar. In fact, in 2009, the head priest of Kedarnath formally announced this idea, making Doleshwar part of the legend of Kedarnath.

Location and Accessibility

• Location: Sipadol, Bhaktapur District, Nepal

• Distance from Kathmandu: Approximately 20 km

• Best mode of transportation: private vehicle or community bus service

• Nearby noteworthy sights: Surya Binayak Temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The temple is on a beautiful hill with beautiful views of the valley. Not only is it a peaceful spiritual site, but a stunning place to visit.

Who Can Visit Doleshwar Mahadev Temple?

Anyone from any background can visit the Doleshwar Mahadev Temple. It welcomes:

Hindu Pilgrims, especially followers of Lord Shiva

Sightseers wishing to explore their spiritual and cultural traditions

Practitioners of yoga and meditation offered a peaceful scenery

The temple will be particularly busy during Shivaratri and Teej, when thousands of devotees visit to say their prayers and pay their respects.

Why is Doleshwar Mahadev Called the Head of Kedarnath?

In 2009, Shree 1008 Jagat Guru Bheemashankar Ling Shivacharya - the head priest of Kedarnath made the official attribution of Doleshwar Mahadev as the missing head of Lord Kedarnath. Hence, one was symbolically and spiritually one of the two important Shiva shrines in South Asia.   

Characteristics of the Temple:  

- Ancient Shiva Lingam, self-born (Swayambhu), object oriented. 

- Natural, quiet, peaceful surroundings (value for meditation and spiritual practice) 

- Traditional Newari temple-style architecture and detail. (traditional craftmanship, significance of building as a sacred act) 

- Bells and stone work for closing and creating a spiritual ambience. 

Rituals and Offerings:  

• Carried out aarti in the morning and evening.

• Offerings of milk, water and the leaves of bel.

• Monday morning in Shrawan month: Specific significance with a large contingent of pilgrims.

• Special puja packages are available for individuals or groups for worship.

What are the Prominent Shiva Temples in Kathmandu?

Shree Kaal Bhairav Temple

The Kal Bhairav Temple is located in Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, Katmandu and is dedicated to Kal Bhairav or Kaal Bhairav, which is a fierce incarnation of the Hindu god Shiv. The stone idol of Kal Bhairav is a demonic form which embodies the destruction of evil, also respecting truth and enforcing it.  People were used to the oaths in front of Kal Bhairav because it used to be known that if you lied under this divine form, the lying only did not end badly for you.  So, Kal Bhirav is thought to be God of Justice, so he was respected and celebrated by the local folk-world people and also tourists.

Kailashnath Mahadev Statue

The Kailashnath Mahadev statue is at a site called Sanga, on the border of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, and is one of the tallest Shiva Statues in the world at 143 ft tall, upon completion in 2011 it contained copper, zinc, concrete and steel, and represents Lord Shiva in a meditative pose. 

The Statue is situated on the landscaped garden site above a valley and is a meeting place for thousands of tourists and pilgrims, especially during important festivals on the Hindu Calendar.

The statue is a demonstration of Nepal's devotion to Lord Shiva and the cultural pride of Nepal.

Tukucha Mahadev Temple

Not very centrally placed in Kathmandu city, it does not draw as much attention but holds immense spiritual importance, being a Shiva Shrine as the alleged abode of the Lord of Destruction. Tiny in size and humble in construction, the temple is offered great reverence by locals, especially on Maha Shivaratri and Mondays in the Shrawan month. It’s, therefore, quiet for personal reflection and worship, not really attracting tourists; it reveals the lesser-seen side of spiritual life in Kathmandu, where the devotion of a century’s standing continues amid the everyday urban bustle. This just makes for a sort of shrine charm for hardly any great tourist hub is striding all around Tukucha Mahadev.

Bajrayogini Temple (Sankhu)

Bajrayogini Temple in Sankhu, northeast of Kathmandu, is a site with a powerful trans-spirituality that blends Hindu and Buddhist space. While it is primarily a Vajrayana Buddhist site dedicated to the goddess Bajrayogini, Hindu Tantrics and Shaivites are also comfortable practising here and recognize it as a sacred space. 

The temple is situated at the top of a forested, mountainous terrain above the village that is accessed only via a long outdoor staircase leading up to the apex, where the temple site has beautiful examples of Newari architecture, Newari sculptures, and sacred deities. 

For most Hindu practitioners, the goddess is associated with Kali or Durga; both are representative of divine feminine energy femininity. 

Vishnu-Related Shrines Around Kathmandu 

Changu Narayan Temple 

Changu Narayan is the oldest preserved Hindu temple in the Kathmandu Valley. The temple is located in  Bhaktapur. It was established in the 4th century and is indeed the oldest temple in the valley dedicated to the worship of LordVishnu in his incarnation as Narayan. It is a beautiful representation of Licchavi architectural and artistic traditions.

The temple contains a remarkable collection of inscriptions, including some of the oldest in Nepal (with the earliest dated to 464 CE), as well as impressive stone/carved, wood- and metal sculpture that represents the PEAK of artistry. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with significant religious significance for worshippers and historians alike. The temple itself is situated in a very peaceful village which has a distinctly spiritual feeling about it, which adds to the experience.

Ichangu Narayan Temple

Ichangu Narayan Temple is a tranquil temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the west of Swayambhunath. Although it is smaller and less elaborately decorated than Changu Narayan, it is an important place for locals to worship. The environment and construction style of the temple enables participants to pray, worship, and contemplate peacefully. Ichangu Narayan Temple is not as significant as Changu Narayan, but is likewise a smaller temple that many people do not visit, but, like many other Narayan temples nearby, it has some of the iconographies of Vishnu and contributes to the spiritual environment of Kathmandu Valley.

Patan Krishna Temple

Situated in Patan Durbar Square, the Patan Krishna Temple is built in the Shikhara style of architecture and was built by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla in the 17th century.

 The structure is entirely made of stone, is a shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna, and has carvings from different scenes of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

The Patan Krishna Temple is a popular temple during Krishna Janmashtami and attracts thousands of visitors on that day.

The stonework unique, as well as its historical and cultural importance, makes it one of the most famous and important temples in the Kathmandu Valley.

Major Temples Dedicated to Goddesses in Nepal

Kumari Ghar

Kumari Ghar is the home of the Living Goddess, the Kumari, in the Kathmandu Durbar Square. The Kumari is a prepubescent girl who goes through a somewhat arduous process to be selected, believed to be the living incarnation of the goddess, Taleju. In general terms the Kumari is seen as filled with divine power, worshiped by Hindus and Buddhists, Kumari Ghar is one of the finer examples of Newari architecture, noted for the excellent woodwork and the many carved windows and balconies. The innermost precincts of the Kumari's residence are generally off-limits; however, it is often the case that thousands of devotees spend their days waiting outside to catch even a fleeting glimpse of, and perhaps a blessing from, the Kumari.

Bajrayogini Temple (Sankhu)

The Bajrayogini Temple is located in the historic town of Sankhu and is a representation of a tantric form of the goddess. 

It is appreciated as an important pilgrimage site for Vajrayana Buddhists and Hindus, in which users conduct riotous festivals and do various tantric rituals, many with a view towards receiving the empowered protection, or empowerment. 

The style and iconography of the temple point to a prominent hybridization of Hindu and Buddhist references, and reveal the mixed characteristics of goddess worship in Nepal.

Naxal Bhagwati Temple

Naxal Bhagwati Temple in Kathmandu is especially notable as it is associated with animal sacrifices, particularly from throughout the world during the auspicious Dashain festival. Devotees are making their sacrifices at this temple to appease this fierce goddess Bhagwati (a form of Duarga) to receive blessings for protection and prosperity. This temple displays a variety of Newari architecture features combining stylized traditional Pilaster-style wood carvings and Pagoda roof structure. The temple is the center of action and religious devotion during Dashain as the number of devotees increases wanting to do their animal sacrifice.

Sankata Temple: 

The Sankata Temple serves as a location where followers believe it can protect them from misfortunes, disease, and evil forces. Followers who visit the temple are looking for divine assistance with their problems and security for their general health. The temple has resident priests who practice special ceremonies while using offerings, prayers, and, eventually, some tantricism. Most worshippers who visit the temples devote their worship to Sankata to receive protection, which the goddess provides every day. Festival-Centered or Community Worship Sites in Nepal.

Festival-Centric or Community Worship Sites in Nepal

Indreshwar Mahadev Temple (Panauti) 

The Indreshwar Mahadev Temple represents the main Shiva shrine of Panauti and attracts large crowds of people during local festivals. The combination of the oldest of all Hindu temples, along with its holy atmosphere, attracts large groups of devotees during important Hindu holidays such as Shivaratri and other special occasions. The Panauti Jatra festival brings together devotees from many areas of the surrounding region to take part in temple processions, cultural activities, and group community worship during this every-12-year festival.

Bhadrakali Temple

The Bhadrakali Temple is revered for its religious significance by local people and soldiers in Nepal. The temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali attracts a significant number of pilgrims annually for the Dashain festival. Soldiers use this temple before they go on deployments to gain protection and blessings. During Dashain the temple offers pujas and performs animal sacrifices as an example of the goddess's power to protect from evil.  

Maitidevi Temple

The Maitidevi Temple is a holy site for women to participate in the Teej festival activity to honor Goddess Parvati, as well as the happiness of women in marriage. The temple is a meeting place for women who assemble to fast and perform rituals to ask for divine help in protecting their husbands and homes. The temple creates a reverent space where women can perform worship for divine intervention, can create religious and social bonds during their feminine festivities.

Rakta Kali Temple 

The Rakta Kali Temple is one of the major stops during Dashain when many make offerings of sacrifices to the furious goddess, Kali. During Dashain, the temple bustles with activity as many visitors partake in religious and sacrificial activities for protection, luck, and direction during all of life's battles. You will find rights of animal sacrifice, fogs of offerings made throughout the festival, as well as chanting - all indicative of the great fervor of goddess worship in Nepal. 

Panauti Temples and Panauti Jatra 

In addition to Indreshwar Mahadev, many of the temples are a part of the Panauti and Spring Festival and are very much alive during this Panauti Jatra (temple chariot festival) celebration every 12 years. The Panauti Jatra could be a temporary exterior site for expressing Panauti's rich cultural and religious history. The temples serve as a site of communing prayer, community cultural events, and part of their regional heritage and personal identity.
 

Lesser-Known but Culturally Significant Hindu Sites in Nepal

Shova Bhagwati Temple

The Shova Bhagwati Temple is located in Balaju. This temple honours a potent counterpart of Goddess Durga and, admittedly, is less known than the other temples associated with Goddess Durga. That being said, Shova Bhagwati Temple comes back to relevance for many people in the area with the festivals of Navratri and Dashain. People from the area come to pray for protection, health, and wealth; they make flower and incense offerings and sacrifice animals. The temple space is intimate or small. This allows people to comfortably make an act of devotion in an intimate space, but the community also has a space to develop the relationships that have formed in generations of worship at this spot.

Taleju Bhawani Temple

The Taleju Bhawani Temple is sacred and historically important in Nepal. The temples are part of the Durbar Squares in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan. Taleju is the royal goddess of the Malla and Shah Dynasties. Taleju Bhawani is only opened once a year at the Dashain festival for worship by devotees and for sacred rituals and practices seen by the devotees exclusively. It is this limited access that ultimately adds to the legend and mystique behind Taleju Bhawani and is a symbol of divine protection employed over the nation's rulers.

Asan and Indra Chowk Temples

During your time in the crowded old marketplace in Kathmandu, notably in Asan and Indra Chowk, you may come across a few small shrines, many dedicated to separate deities but also include Annapurna, the goddess of nourishment, and Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. 

The temples are woven into the fabric of everyday life - merchants and locals are often seen standing idle while they pop into the shrine to offer a brief prayer, grab a flower, or sprinkle rice on the deity. 

The small shrines in the public space capture the balance of spiritual life and daily life of Nepalese culture, which has nourished traditional societies for many centuries.

Seto Machindranath Temple

Seto Machindranath, or Janabaha Dyo, is a one-of-a-kind god that has an equal number of followers among Hindus and Buddhists. Therefore, he represents the religious syncretism of Nepal. The temple in Kathmandu is the main place of the chariot festival that is held every year in spring. The god was seen as the rain god and the compassionate one, and the performed rituals were directed to the prosperous harvest as well as the harmony of the society. The joint worship of this deity is thus an illustrative example of the inclusive character of Nepali spirituality, which has managed to connect the traditionally separated parts.