Budhanilkantha Temple
बुढानीलकण्ठ मन्दिर
A 5-meter-long black stone sculpture of Vishnu reclining on a bed of serpents in an open-air pool on the northern edge of the valley. It is the largest stone statue of its kind in Nepal.
The statue is believed to have been carved in the 7th or 8th century, in the Licchavi period. Vishnu lies on a bed formed by the eleven-headed serpent deity Shesha, and devotees offer flowers and offerings every morning. Non-Hindus cannot enter the railing around the pool, but the statue can be seen clearly from outside. Entry is free. It is at the foot of Shivapuri hill on the northern outskirts of Kathmandu, about 10 km from Thamel, a 40-minute taxi ride. It can be combined with a hike in Shivapuri National Park.
Opening hours
All day (busiest for early-morning worship)
Nearby sights
- Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
- Kopan Monastery
- Boudhanath Stupa
- Pashupatinath Temple
- Narayanhiti Palace Museum
- Garden of Dreams
- Everest Mountain Flight
- Thamel