Ashok Binayak

Kathmandu


At the top of Maru Tole, surrounded by the rubble of the temples that used to surround it, this tiny golden shrine is one of the four most important Ganesh shrines in the valley. A constant stream of visitors help themselves to the self-serve tika (sandalwood paste) dispenser and then ring the bells at the back. An offering at this shrine is thought to ensure safety on a forthcoming journey, so come here if you are headed on a trek.

It’s uncertain how old the temple is, although its gilded roof was added in the 19th century. Look for the golden shrew (Ganesh’s vehicle) opposite the temple.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kathmandu attractions

1. Kasthamandap

0.01 MILES

Kathmandu owes its name to this ancient building, which was sadly destroyed in the 2015 earthquake.

2. Maju Deval

0.02 MILES

This 17th-century temple was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. All that remains is the temple's nine-stage ochre platform.

3. Durbar Square

0.02 MILES

Kathmandu’s Durbar Sq was where the city’s kings were once crowned and legitimised, and from where they ruled (durbar means palace). As such, the square…

4. Kabindrapur Temple

0.02 MILES

This wooden temple, also known as the Dhansa Dega, is an ornate 17th-century performance pavilion that houses the god of music.

5. Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple

0.03 MILES

This small five-roofed temple dating from 1680 was completely destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. All that remains is the fine Garuda kneeling before it,…

6. Singh Sattal

0.03 MILES

Originally built with wood left over from the Kasthamandap Temple, this squat building was called the Silengu Sattal (silengu means ‘left over wood’ and a…

7. Krishna Narayan Temple

0.04 MILES

This three-tiered Narayan (Vishnu) temple to the west of the Shiva-Parvati Temple was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. A pile of bricks sits unattended…

8. Kumari Bahal

0.04 MILES

At the junction of Durbar and Basantapur squares, this red-brick, three-storey building is home to the Kumari, the girl who is selected to be the town’s…