Swayambhunath
If you follow either path leading west from the main stupa, you will reach a smaller stupa near the tourist parking. Just behind is a gompa surrounded by…
Must-see attractions in Nepal
Patan
The highlight of Sundari Chowk is the superbly carved sunken water tank known as the Tusha Hiti. Built in 1647, the renovated tank has 72 carved stone…
Bhaktapur
Behind the Vatsala Durga Temple, the Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to Shiva as Pashupati and is a replica of the main shrine at Pashupatinath…
Pokhara
Located just north of Mahendra Pul, near the KI Singh Bridge, the Gurkha Museum celebrates the achievements of the renowned Gurkha regiments. Accompanied…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
About 7km northwest of Godavari, on the main road, Harisiddhi is notable for the towering, four-tiered Harisiddhi Bhagwan Temple on its brick-paved market…
Kathmandu
On the outside of the white palace wall, opposite the Vishnu Temple, is a long, low stone inscription to the goddess Kalika written in 15 languages,…
Bhaktapur
At the western end of Tachupal Tole, this two-storey, 17th-century temple is sacred to Bhimsen, the god of commerce. The squat rectangular structure has…
Panauti
Dating from the 17th century, the three-tiered Brahmayani Temple was built to honour Brahmayani, the chief goddess of the village. The image from the…
Bhaktapur
Outside the main Durbar Sq entrance gate is this little piece of architectural whimsy on the roof of the small Shiva Parvati Temple. Giving graphic…
Patan
Fronted by a pair of barrel-chested lions, dedicated to Vishnu as Narayan, the creator of the universe, and dating from 1565, this was the oldest temple…
Kathmandu
At the extreme northern end of Durbar Sq, this popular temple dates from 1561, during the reign of Mahendra Malla, and is always bustling with pilgrims…
Kathmandu
Also known as the Keshar Library, this place is definitely worth a visit. The main reading room has antique globes, stuffed tiger's heads and suits of…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Lording it over the small village of Sanga, on the main road between Bhaktapur and Dhulikhel, is Kailashnath Mahadev, a 43.5m-high Shiva statue said to be…
Nepal
The handsome ‘white gompa’ is home to 225 monks and features ornamental gardens and a richly decorated interior with some fine murals. The main prayer…
Patan
Facing the Royal Palace is a huge, ancient bell, hanging between two stout pillars, erected by King Vishnu Malla in 1736. Petitioners could ring the bell…
Pokhara
Balanced on a narrow ridge high above Phewa Tal, the brilliant-white World Peace Pagoda was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan…
Pashupatinath
This hilltop spot offers bird's eye views over the otherwise off-limits Pashupatinath Temple. Look for the enormous golden trident on the northern side of…
Patan
On the south side of Mul Chowk is the Taleju Bhawani Temple, flanked by statues of the river goddesses Ganga, on a tortoise, and Jamuna, on a makara. The…
Pokhara
The roaring Seti River passes right through Pokhara, but you won’t see it unless you go looking. The river has carved a deep, narrow chasm through the…
Bhaktapur
Inside Bhaktapur's Royal Palace grounds, this 17th-century water tank is used for the ritual immersion of the idol of Taleju. The pool is encircled by a…
Kathmandu
The three-storey Annapurna Temple in the southeast corner of Asan Tole is dedicated to the goddess of abundance; Annapurna is represented by a purana …
Bhaktapur
About 200m west of Potters' Sq, the red-brick Jaya Varahi is dedicated to Parvati as the boar-headed Varahi. Look for two very different depictions of the…
Patan
This attractive, octagonal stone temple completes the ‘front line’ of temples in Durbar Sq. It has strong architectural similarities to the Krishna temple…
Kathmandu
This triple-roofed temple is actually part of the darker, red-brick Hanuman Dhoka, surmounting the buildings below it, but it is most easily seen from…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Halfway between Bungamati and Khokana, this temple is dedicated to Ganesh. Local pilgrims flock here on Saturdays for a bhoj (feast) and some bhajan …
Patan
Just a one-minute walk south of Durbar Sq, a large doorway flanked by black lions with Cheshire-cat grins leads to a quiet bahal containing the I Baha…
Bhaktapur
Signposted next to a hairdresser, look for the tiny, tunnel-like entrance to this small Buddhist temple dedicated to Maitreya Buddha, the future Buddha…
Pharping
Adjacent to the Drölma Lhakhang is the Rigzu Phodrang Gompa, worth visiting for its impressive frieze of statues, with Guru Rinpoche surrounded by his…
Bhaktapur
This square just northwest of Potters' Sq lost its temples in the 1934 quake, but it still has a large Garuda statue praying to a vanished Vishnu shrine…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
In a courtyard off the north side of the main square, the imposing Bhairab Temple features an incredible armoury of tulwars (swords) and shields belonging…
Patan
West of the Royal Palace, behind the statue of King Yoganarendra Malla are three smaller Vishnu temples, including a brick-and-plaster shikhara temple,…
Nagarkot
If you like climbing Mayan pyramids you will enjoy the steep climb up the stone steps to the garden atop this shrine. The central attraction is a massive…
Pashupatinath
Between the two groups of ghats on the west bank of the Bagmati is this small, 6th-century temple, decorated with Tantric figures, skeletons and erotic…
Pokhara
Across the road from Devi’s Falls, this venerated cave contains a huge stalagmite worshipped as a Shiva lingam. The ticket allows you to clamber through a…
Pokhara
The ancient Bindhya Basini Temple sits atop a small hill in Old Pokhara. Founded in the 17th century, the temple is sacred to Durga, the warlike…
Patan
This large pond is a hidden gem centred around a charming lakeshore pavilion. On the north side is three-tiered Chandeswari Temple built in 1663. Walk…
Patan
Overlooking the Manga Hiti tank, the two wooden pavilions known as the Mani Mandap were built in 1700 for use in the elaborate ceremonies at royal…
Bhaktapur
Dedicated to Shiva, Kedarnath Temple was destroyed in the 1934 earthquake, rebuilt by a German team in 1990 using original materials, shaken to the ground…
Bhaktapur
This temple, built in 1553 is one of the most sacred temples in Bhaktapur. It is inside the Royal Palace grounds, accessed via Mul Chowk. Only Hindus can…
Pharping
This monastery features an enormous and brightly painted chörten – step inside to see hundreds of miniature chörten and statues of Guru Rinpoche set into…
