12 of the Top Temples in the Kathmandu Valley

Nepal’s patron Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, is said to inhabit the Himalaya, but you don’t need to trek deep into the mountains to learn more about this god. Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath, on the banks of the Bagmati River, is one of the must-visit temples in Nepal. Pilgrims from around India and Nepal visit, especially during the Maha Shivaratri festival (February–March), and devout Hindus often come here shortly before their death. The complex is spread out over a hill, with the cremation ghats (steps upon which pyres are lit) beside the river. You are almost certain to see a cremation in process, so maintain a respectful distance.

Insider tip: Non-Hindus are welcome on the grounds of Pashupatinath, but not inside the temple building itself. Sonia Gandhi, Italian-born wife of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was famously refused entry to Pashupatinath when she visited in the 1980s, so mere tourists shouldn’t expect the rules to bend for them.

Just uphill from Pashupatinath—and therefore worth visiting on the same day—is Boudhanath, one of the holiest Tibetan Buddhist sites in the world. Streams of Tibetans flock to the enormous white stupa, which is adorned with thousands of colorful prayer flags, throughout the day. The Boudha neighborhood is the center of Kathmandu’s Tibetan Buddhist refugee community too, so you’ll find many Tibetan shops, restaurants, and guesthouses around the stupa. It even smells like Tibet, with its unique combination of butter lamps and incense.

Insider tip: Everyone is welcome at Buddhist sites of worship. If you’re not a Buddhist, feel free to circumambulate the stupa with the locals, and spin the prayer wheels—as long as you stay with the flow of human traffic and spin the wheels in a clockwise direction.

Don’t assume that once you’ve seen one Buddhist stupa, you’ve seen them all: UNESCO–listed Swayambhunath is very different from Boudhanath despite its white dome, prayer flags, gleaming pinnacle, and mysterious Buddha eyes. This ancient temple of Kathmandu is even older than Boudhanath, at around 2,000 years old, and is also sacred to Hindus. You can access the stupa via steep steps or a more circuitous road around the back. Swayambhunath is commonly nicknamed the Monkey Temple—not because these creatures are especially revered, but just because so many of them hang out here. Don’t feed them!

Hidden down a quiet side street on the road between Thamel and the Kathmandu Durbar Square (Basantapur), Kathesimbhu Stupa (also spelled Kathi Swayambhu) would be easy to miss if you didn’t know it was there, but it’s totally worth searching out. It’s a replica of Swayambhunath that dates from the 17th century, but is smaller and is frequented by more pigeons than monkeys. A peaceful monastery is located on one side, and there are a few arts and crafts shops around, but it’s rarely crowded.

As one of Kathmandu Valley’s cultural landmarks, the Kathmandu Durbar Square contains many temples, palaces, and museums, but the Kumari Bahal is one of its most noteworthy. This courtyard, traditional house, and temple complex is home to the Kumari of Kathmandu, the young girl belonging to a priestly Newar caste who is considered a sacred symbol of female power. Although the Kumari tradition—which is followed in other parts of the Kathmandu Valley too—has attracted criticism as a breach of the girl’s human rights, taking a look at the beautiful complex isn’t controversial, and provides insight into local culture.

The ornate gray stone Krishna Temple (Krishna Mandir) stands out among the red bricks and carved wood of the Patan Durbar Square. Hindu gods Krishna and Shiva, as well as Buddhist bodhisattva Lokeshwor, are here. Only Hindus are permitted inside, but it would be a bit of a tight squeeze anyway, and the building is best admired from outside. Don’t miss visiting the excellent Patan Museum, in the old palace building, while at the square. There are great views of the Krishna Temple and the whole scene of the square from the museum’s upper-floor windows.

Although the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar’s English name, the Golden Temple, is a misnomer because it’s neither a temple nor made of gold, it’s nevertheless one of the most beautiful spiritual sites in the Kathmandu Valley. The small Buddhist monastery within a hidden courtyard a short walk from the Patan Durbar Square is actually decorated with gleaming metal, which does look rather golden in the sun. The metal carvings here are especially lovely—look out for sculpted monkeys holding offerings in each of the four corners of the courtyard.

Although it’s just a short walk north of the Patan Durbar Square, many travelers miss the beautiful Bagalamukhi Temple. The 5-tier pagoda is an impressive sight, and the ornate carvings are spectacular. This temple is especially lively during Teej, a festival celebrated by Nepali women in August–September, as it’s dedicated to a Hindu goddess, Bagalamukhi. Find it by heading directly north up the street from the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar for a few minutes on foot.

A short walk southeast of the Patan Durbar Square, tucked down a side street, is the easy-to-miss Mahabuddha Temple. If you’ve been to North Indian Buddhist sites, such as Sarnath or Bodh Gaya, you’ll probably recognize the corn cob–like shikhara style of architecture. You may initially think there’s not much to see here, but look closely: The terracotta temple is made up of thousands of images of Buddha, ranging from small to tiny.

If you’ve been to Bangkok, you might be used to the sight of reclining Buddhas. But reclining Hindu deities are a much rarer sight. This is exactly what you’ll see at the Budhanilkantha Temple, on Kathmandu’s northern outskirts. A stone statue of a crowned Lord Vishnu reclines in a pool of water, surrounded by snakes (also carved, thankfully). It’s off the main tourist circuit but is certainly worth the detour, especially if you’re heading into the nearby Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to hike.

Present-day Kathmandu is composed of three main old kingdoms: Kathmandu, Patan (Lalitpur), and Bhaktapur. The other temples listed so far are all in Kathmandu and Patan, but Bhaktapur, in the valley’s east, is worth a day trip to explore. The old city was particularly badly hit in the 2015 earthquake, but the imposing multi-tiered pagoda of the Nyatapola Temple only suffered minor damage. It’s the tallest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, and one of the tallest in Nepal. As well as the five tiers reaching high into the sky, the stone steps add height to the structure.

The Kathmandu Valley’s other UNESCO World Heritage Sites are all frequently visited by tourists: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, and the durbar squares of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan. However, Changu Narayan Temple, on the outskirts of Bhaktapur and surrounded by rice fields, is more often overlooked. If you’re spending a day in Bhaktapur, don’t skip this Hindu temple in a quiet Newari village. Here you can find inscriptions from the 5th century, thought to be the oldest inscriptions in Nepal, although the structures are much newer. The small Living Traditions Museum beside the temple is also worth a peek.