Budhanilkantha Temple

Getting there

• By air

  You can fly directly into Tribhuvan International Airport for the Kathmandu Valley; the temple is about 10 km from it.

• By road

  The temple is about 9 km from Thamel. Government-run green Sajha buses run along the main north-south and east-west roads of the valley.

Why devotees come here

Budhanilkantha Temple lies below Shivapuri Hill at the northern end of the Kathmandu valley. It houses a reclining Vishnu carved from one block of black basalt, set in a pool of water. Local people also call it the Narayanthan Temple.

Budhanilkantha is a Hindu open-air temple dedicated to Vishnu, and Buddhists also venerate it. Local legend says the statue lay underground for centuries. According to the legend, farmers ploughing struck stone and uncovered it. In a dream, Jalasayana Narayana appeared to a Raja and told him to uncover him. The Raja made a tank for the Narayana, named him Budhanilkantha, and built a temple for him. The name is Sanskrit for Old Blue Throat, a title of Shiva, given after he drank poison to save the world.

The temple is open air, so the statue sits under the sky. It is believed to be more than 1400 years old. It is carved from a single block of black basalt. It stands 5 metres tall and rests in a recessed pool 13 metres long. Vishnu's four hands hold the Sudarshana Chakra, a club, a conch shell and a gem.

Later kings, starting after Pratap Malla, stayed away from the temple. Legend says they feared a prophecy. The temple lies in Budhanilkantha municipality of Kathmandu District. The municipality's website calls Budhanilkantha a tourism town. The temple remains sacred to Hindus, and Buddhists venerate it too.

Festivals

• 11th day of KartikaHaribodhini Ekadashi Mela

  Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple for this fair.

• Ekadashis and other auspicious occasions, such as Harishayani and HaribodhiniEkadashi fair

  A big fair is held in the temple area every year on auspicious occasions.

Tips for your visit

• Metered and prepaid taxis are available at both airport terminals at all hours.
• Valley taxis carry a sign on top and a black license plate, so look for both when you hail one.

Questions people ask