Last Updated: March 10, 2021
Budhanilkantha temple is a Hindu open-air temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Located at the foot of the Shivapuri Hill, in the northern part of Kathmandu, Budhanilkantha temple is certainly one of the most off-the-beaten-path places to visit in Kathmandu. You won’t see many (if any!) tourists there. As a result, Budhanilkantha offers a more intimate experience. It’s also the perfect opportunity to meet locals.
A Brief History of Budhanilkantha
With Brahma and Shiva, Vishnu is one of the 3 most important Gods of the Hindus; he’s the God of Goodness, known as the ‘Preserver’, protector of the universe.
The earliest evidence of Vishnu statue’s existence dates back to the Licchavi period around the 6th century. The legend says that a farmer and his wife were working on their field when their plough struck a boulder. Blood started flowing from the stone. After digging the ground, the farmers discovered the reclining statue of Vishnu. The statue was then brought to Kathmandu at its present location during the reign of Vishnu Gupta in the 6th century.
Did you know?
• Budhanilkantha statue of Sleeping Lord Vishnu is the largest stone sculpture in Nepal.
• Although the name of the temple is Budhanilkantha, it has nothing to do with the Buddha unlike what some people think. Budhanilkantha means “Old Blue Throat”, name intimately linked to Lord Shiva; in fact, the origin of the temple’s name comes from the water in the pond that is believed to have originated from Gosaikunda, a lake formed by Shiva’s trident to extract water after he swallowed poison and needed to quench his thirst.
• It is believed that the statue is floating on the pond. No studies were permitted to know if the statue is actually floating or not; however, a small piece of the statue was found and analyzed, and it was confirmed that the statue was silica-based which could explain its low density and hence its ability to float on water.
• After King Pratap Malla (1641-1674) had a vision that Kings of Nepal would die if they visited Budhanilkantha temple, no Nepali Kings have visited the temple since then. The reason is that the King himself is an incarnation of Vishnu and cannot meet himself without dying.
What to see and what to do at the Budhanilkantha temple?
The statue of Lord Vishnu
The impressive reclining statue of Lord Vishnu, sleeping on a bed of Nagas (snakes) is the main attraction of the site. The 5-meter long statue was carved from a single black basalt stone of unknown origin. This statue of Vishnu is depicted under the form of Narayan, the creator of life, and is floating in the middle of a 13-meter long pond (representing the cosmic sea).
The shrines and temples around Budhanilkantha temple
There are many small temples and shrines around the main temple. Among them, you’ll find Laxmi temple (Laxmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu), Radha Krishna temple, Ganesh temple, and Shiva temple.
Haribodhini Ekadashi festival
Haribodhini Ekadashi is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is the day when Vishnu awakens from his cosmic slumber. It usually falls in October – November. During the festival, thousands of pilgrims gather at Budhanilkantha temple.
Hike to Shivapuri Hill
If you have time, you can combine your visit with a day trip to the Shivapuri National Park located near the religious site. Starting at Budhanilkantha temple, the hike is very popular among locals.
How to visit the Budhanilkantha temple?
Located at the foot of the Shivapuri Hill, the Budhanilkantha temple is overlooked and ignored by tourists. As a result, Budhanikantha is way less crowded than other sites in Kathmandu, and way more enjoyable.
Budhanilkantha temple is a religious place of worship. There is no dress code to visit Budhanilkantha temple; however, try to wear respectful clothing.
If you plan to visit Budhanilkantha temple, it is well worth it to combine your visit with Boudhanath stupa and Kopan Monastery, or do a day hike up to Shivapuri Hill.
How to get to the Budhanilkantha temple?
You can get to Budhanilkantha temple:
- By taxi (around 600NPR from Thamel).
- By bus from Lainchaur or Jamal Bus Stand (around 25NPR). Ask the driver to stop at Budhanilkantha.
- By Tootle, a Nepali app that allows you to get an easy ride inside Kathmandu by matching you with bikers who are on your way.
- By Pathao, same kind of app as above but working with cars as well.
Price? FREE!
Where in Kathmandu?
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