Kathmandu
King Prithvi Narayan Shah ordered the construction of the four red-coloured towers around Lohan Chowk. The towers represent the four ancient cities of the…
Must-see attractions in Nepal
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Built in 1515, this stately stupa crowns the hilltop. The harmika (square tower) above the dome was painted a rich blue, but it was removed for repairs…
Kathmandu
Little is known about this mysterious temple. Even the god to which it is dedicated is controversial – the lingam inside indicates that it is a Shiva…
Everest Base Camp Trek
Run by local photographer Lhakpa Sonam, this private museum in Chhorkung has an intriguing collection of Sherpa cultural objects, as well as photos and…
Kathmandu to Pokhara
A tiered pagoda basking in Himalayan views, the mountaintop Manakamana Temple dates back to the 17th century, but was heavily damaged by the 2015…
Bhaktapur
'Chyasilin' refers to the eight-cornered roof of this pavilion. It was rebuilt in 1990 using old photos and paintings and components from the original…
Kathmandu
This old building, jammed between gleaming brass shops just southwest of Asan Tole, looks decrepit at first glance. Look closer and you'll notice some…
Kathmandu
This temple, noted for the erotic carvings on its roof struts, is the oldest structure in this part of Durbar Sq. Pratap Malla claimed to have constructed…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
From the main square, head west through the village to a Ganesh shrine and a stone stairway that climbs to the triple-roofed Uma Maheshwar Temple. It’s…
Nepal
This prominent lhakhang (chapel) houses an impressive three-storey statue of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the 7th-century magician and holy man who…
Bhaktapur
Directly across from the Woodcarving Museum, in another old math (Hindu priest’s house) with similar lighting problems, this museum has some excellent…
Pokhara
Pokhara’s most famous Hindu temple, the two-tiered pagoda-style Varahi Mandir stands on a small island in Phewa Tal, near the former Ratna Mandir (Royal…
Patan
This temple is dedicated to Hari Shankar, a curious hybrid deity that has half the attributes of Vishnu and half the attributes of Shiva. Although it…
Kathmandu
Looking north from the plinth of the wrecked Maju Deval, a pair of much-photographed white images of Shiva and his consort look out from the upstairs…
Kathmandu
Hidden off the main road just north of Durbar Sq is a large open courtyard set around a central stupa that resembles a mini-Swayambhunath. Directly behind…
Bhaktapur
This museum has some fine examples of Bhaktapur woodcarving displayed in dark, creaky rooms. There isn’t enough light to justify paying the camera fee,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
