10 Must Visit Temples and Sacred Sites in Kathmandu

What if one valley held the soul of two ancient religions?

Picture a place where temple bells ring, incense drifts and lingers, and Buddhists meditate with prayer beads in prayerful harmony.

The Kathmandu Valley is a vibrant melting pot of Hindu and Buddhist traditions as well as other religions and cultures, Hinduism being the majority at 81.19%, and Buddhism at 8.21% according to the census of 2021.

Despite this demographic gap, you wouldn’t necessarily notice it as the stupas and monasteries are nearly as numerous as temples here. Here are 10 must-visit temples and sacred sites in Kathmandu Valley.

10. Changu Narayan Temple, Bhaktapur

Changu Narayan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, crowns a small hill east of Kathmandu in Bhaktapur District. It’s considered Nepal’s oldest temple, steeped in history. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple was built in the 4th century AD and is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Nepal. If you’re spending some time in Bhaktapur, you should definitely consider visiting this beautiful temple near a small Newar village.

9. Budhanilkantha Temple

Budhanilkantha Temple is an open-air Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu situated at the foot of the Shivpuri hills in the northernmost part of the Kathmandu Valley. Often known as Sleeping Vishnu or Jalakshayan Narayan, the murti depicts Lord Vishnu reclining on the coils of the cosmic serpent Shesha. You can visit this temple especially if you’re heading to the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park for hiking.

8. Nyatapola, Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Nyātāpola temple is a five-tiered temple located in the central part of Bhaktapur city. It is the tallest monument of the city and is also the tallest temple of Nepal. There is a belief among locals that those five tiers of Nyātāpola symbolize the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and the sky respectively. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Siddhi Laxmi, a tantric form of Goddess.

7. Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, Patan

Hiranya Varna Mahavihar or Golden Temple is located at a junction only a five-minute walk from Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur. Built in the 12th century in a classic Newar courtyard style, also known as “baha,” the premises of the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar are adorned by elaborate sattals and ornate prayer wheels. The temple is often visited by Buddhists for prayer and other religious purposes.

6. Kaal Bhairav Statue, Basantapur Durbar Square

The Kaal Bhairav statue is located in Hanuman Dhoka at the Basantapur Durbar Square, one of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed palace squares of Nepal. The open-air temple is dedicated to a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva known as Bhairav. The statue is believed to have been sculpted from a single stone. If you’re in the square’s premises, don’t miss this awesome attraction.

5. Krishna Temple, Patan Durbar Square

The Krishna Temple is located on the west side of Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. The 17th-century Shikhara-style temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Krishna was apparently inspired by a dream. It was damaged by a massive earthquake in 2015 and was later restored in 2018. If you’re planning a trip to Patan, you can visit both the Golden Temple and Krishna Temple on the same trip.

4. Swayambhunath Temple

Situated on the little hillock of in swayambhunath, the northwest of Kathmandu Valley, the temple is also known as “Monkey Temple.” For centuries, this stupa has symbolized faith and unity, blending Buddhist roots with Hindu temples and deities. Legend has it that the stupa evolved spontaneously when the valley was created out of a primordial lake more than 2,000 years ago.

Exceedingly steep stone steps that lead up to the shrine from the east side are quite a challenge, but a motor road climbs nearly to the top, leaving just a brief stroll.

3. Kumari Ghar, Basantapur Durbar Square

Tucked just past the south gate of Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, Kumari Ghar houses the Kumari, a young girl revered as a ‘virgin’ deity. Hindus see her as the reborn warrior goddess Taleju, a fierce form of Durga, while Buddhists honor her as the tantric Vajradevi. Her divine role ends with her first menstruation or injury, triggering the search for her successor.

She graces her balcony daily for brief moments, drawing eager crowds below. Visit between 9-11 a.m. or 4-6 p.m. for the best chance to spot her—no photos or videos allowed.

While Durbar Square has a small entry fee, stepping into Kumari Ghar costs nothing extra.

2. Boudhanath Temple

Nestled approximately 11 kilometers to the northeast of the city center, Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world. Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the stupa dates from 600 AD and was built by a Tibetan king. The eyes adorning all four sides of the stupa are said to be mysterious, calm, caring, and sharp. They peer across the cardinal directions, watching over the world with deep wisdom and kindness.

You will have to pay a small entry fee to visit the stupa, though that’s a small price for the stunning monument and spiritual vibe awaiting you.

1. Pashupatinath Temple

Nestled along the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, the Pashupatinath Temple stands as Nepal’s holiest and oldest Hindu temple complex and the revered home of the nation’s guardian deity, Lord Pashupatinath. The temple grounds double as an open-air museum, earning this national gem a spot as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Spanning the sacred Bagmati River’s banks, it boasts a vast array of 518 temples, ashrams, statues, and inscriptions built across centuries.

Although only Hindus are allowed inside the inner temple premises, tourists can visit the overall temple complex along with the numerous platforms for funeral pyres built along the right bank of the Bagmati River. The cremations on these platforms are very common. Tourists usually have the chance to see at least one cremation on the river side.

To wrap up our journey through the ‘10 Must-Visit Temples and Sacred Sites in Kathmandu,’ we’ve highlighted some of the valley’s most awe-inspiring temples and holy spots. Honestly, though, that’s just the start—Kathmandu Valley’s vibrant mix of traditions and cultural riches makes it one of the planet’s most amazing destinations, with countless wonders still waiting to be explored.