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Religious Destinations
Kathmandu, Nepal

People visit religious places to attain peace and spirituality. Some may want to travel alone, while the majority like to travel with their family members when it comes to visiting temples and experiencing something pure and pristine. If you are also looking for a nice religious destination, you can visit the city full of historic sites and significant temples- Kathmandu.

About Kathmandu - An Overview

If you wish to explore only the religious sites such as Swayambhunath Temple (Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Durbar Square, along with a few museums, you can wrap up your trip within 2-3 days. However, if you want to explore some more and try out trekking in Kathmandu Valley or nearby areas, such as the Langtang Valley trek, you need to add some more days to your trip, probably 5-7 days. Short treks require around 4 days to be completed and for longer treks, you need to invest a couple of weeks if you have the luxury of time. For shopping as well as relaxation, Kathmandu offers you some of the amazing and vibrant markets where you will witness handicrafts, textiles, and souvenirs. To explore these areas, you need to add an additional day or two to your trip. Thus, the duration of the trip is entirely dependent on your interest and availability.

Religious places to visit in Kathmandu:
Swayambhunath Temple

Occupying the top of the Semgu Hill situated on the outskirts to the west of the Kathmandu Valley, Swayambhunath Temple is one of the most significant religious sites that has been glorifying the heart of Kathmandu since time immemorial. You can circumnavigate the temple in a clockwise direction which is considered to be a common practice among the pilgrims since it is believed to wash away all the sins. This temple is also called the “Monkey Temple” due to the presence of several monkeys on the premises. There are a total of 365 steps to reach the top of the temple and you can capture the picturesque, panoramic view of the capital city of Kathmandu with your camera.

According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire Kathmandu Valley including the temple used to be filled with a lake that ended up attracting large groups of masters and saints. The Buddha Vipassana was one such saint who happened to visit this lake and threw a lotus seed into the waters. A beautiful and large lotus emerged out of it in the center of which appeared a stupa that had risen by itself. Hence, the place acquired the name “Swayambhunath” which means “the self-existent one”.

Pashupatinath Temple

Considered to be one of the holiest religious sites in Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple is situated across both the banks of the beautiful and sacred Bagmati River on the eastern fringes of the capital city of Kathmandu. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and it tends to draw in thousands of devotees who come to offer their prayers and seek blessings as well. Locals believe that the Jyotirlinga inside the temple is the head of the body which is made up of the twelve Jyotirlinga in India. UNESCO declared this temple as a ‘UNESCO World Heritage Site’ in the year 1979.

According to locals, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once transformed themselves into antelopes and reached the side of the Bagmati River which was covered with thick and dense forest. Lord Shiva was so mesmerized by the beauty and divinity of this region that he decided to stay back there as a deer. Goddess Parvati soon found that out and pestered him to resume his divine form by gripping one of his horns, which broke in the process. Earlier, this horn was worshipped as a Shivalinga but was buried after a few years. Several centuries later, a herdsman happened to find that divine Shivalinga once again which is worshipped till today.

Boudhanath Stupa

This religious site is situated just at a distance of 11 km from Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Boudhanath Stupa has been glorifying the skyline of Kathmandu with its gargantuan spherical shape and is attracting thousands of devotees every year without fail. The devotees here perform a ritualistic circumnavigation called the “Kora”, of the colossal dome. According to popular belief, anyone who circumnavigates the stupa with no ill thoughts in their hearts receives good karma. Moreover, the gates of hell are known to be permanently closed for them.

UNESCO, in the year 1979 declared Boudhanath Stupa as a UNESCO Heritage Site. People call it by various names such as the Buddha Stupa, Chorten Chempo, Chaitya, Jarung Khashor, and the Khasti. The entire complex of the stupa houses 50 Tibetan convents, known as gompas (acting as shelters for Tibetan refugees since 1959). Besides, this stupa is believed to be the site where the remains of Kassapa Buddha lay at rest.

Durbar Square

This place has witnessed one after the other as they sat and ruled over Nepal a long time ago. Today, this place is considered to be very significant because it houses the most remarkable legacy of Kathmandu’s traditional architecture. In the year 2015, a massive earthquake took its toll on the building and around half a dozen places within the premises collapsed. Despite all, it has still retained its original glory. There are three squares- a former elephant stable Basantapur Square, main Durbar Square on the west, and another part of Durbar Square that houses the entrance to Hanuman Dhoka which are loosely connected, make up the Durbar Square area altogether. UNESCO, in the year 1979 declared Durbar Square as a UNESCO Heritage Site.

This place has seen many coronation ceremonies and holds a rich historical and cultural significance. Out of the several attractions housed within the square complex, the most attractive ones are Taleju Temple (shrine devoted to Taleju Bhawani), Jagannath Temple (the octagonal Krishna Temple), Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple, Kalbhairav Temple (shrine dedicated to fearful incarnation of Lord Shiva), Hanuman Dhoka, Kumari Bahal, Kabindrapaul Temple (dedicated to God of Music) and Ashok Binayak.

Best time to visit Kathmandu

The temperature remains its best in Kathmandu from September to December. Thus, if you are planning to visit Kathmandu and witness the religious sites, you can book your trip during this period.