Vatsala Durga Temple & Taleju Bell

The stone Vatsala Durga Temple ( M0460), which was built by King Jagat Prakash Malla in 1672 (some sources say 1727), sits beside King Bhupatindra Malla's statue and directly in front of the Royal Palace. The shikhara-style temple has some similarities to the Krishna Mandir in Patan. In front of the temple is the large Taleju Bell, which was erected by King Jaya Ranjit Malla in 1737 to mark morning and evening prayers at the Taleju Temple.

A second, smaller bell stands on the temple's plinth and is popularly known as 'the barking bell'. It was erected by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1721, supposedly to counteract a vision he had in a dream, and to this day dogs are said to bark and whine if the bell is rung.