Nepal is mostly a Hindu country, so there are many temples, shrines, stupas, and statues dedicated to gods and goddesses. People worship these places and statues, each one built for a specific god, goddess, or their different forms.
Many of these temples were built long ago by kings who wanted to show their respect for the gods. Most of Kathmandu’s temples were built or fixed up after the 15th century, but a few of them are over 1,000 years old!
5 Temples that are over 1,000 years old in Kathmandu
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Pashupatinath Temple
A Hindu architectural masterpiece, Pashupatinath, one of the most popular religious sites, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and his various forms. It is also the home of numerous Hindu gods and goddesses.
The two-storied pagoda-style temple has a gilded roof, four sides covered in silver, and wood carvings of the finest quality. The inner temple has a black granite statue of Lord Pashupatinath and outside sits a large statue of Nandi, Shiva’s bull.
Only Hindus are allowed to enter the Pashupatinath Temple premises. The Pashupatinath Temple is believed to have been built in the Licchavi period by Prachanda Deva.
However, the current structure is thought to date from the 17th century AD.
Changunarayan Temple
Changunarayan Temple is one of Nepal’s oldest structures. According to an inscription found in the temple premises, it was built in 464 AD during the reign of King Manadeva of the Lichhavi dynasty.
It honors Lord Vishnu (also known as Purusha/Narayan). This temple is located at Bhaktapur. It is a two-tiered pagoda-style temple with four stone lions guarding the entrances.
Swayambhu Mahachaitya
Swayambhu Maha Chaitya, commonly known as the Swayambhunath or Monkey Temple, is a sacred site for both Hindu and Buddhist people in Nepal.
It is situated on a hilltop in the Kathmandu Valley, west of the city. This stupa is also recognized as the crowning glory of Nepalese architecture. Swayambhu was established in 460 AD by King Manadeva and is one of Nepal’s oldest religious landmarks. You can Visit Our Swayambhunath Travel Guide for further information.
Boudhanath Stupa
For the Buddhist community, Bouddhanath is one of the holiest sites in Kathmandu. It is also the most important Buddhist temple in Kathmandu.
This stupa was established in 600 AD and later repaired in the 8th century by the Licchavi dynasty. It is regarded as the centerpiece of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Also, read our Boudhanath Travel Guide for more information.
Bajrabarahi Temple
Bajrabarahi is a tantric goddess temple located south of Patan. The temple’s structure is beautiful since it was created in Nepalese style with two roofs (one made of tiles and the other of metal plates).
Although the current temple construction was built in the 17th century. According to history, the original temple was built in 784 BS by Shrinewas Malla, and it is claimed that the goddess Bajrabarahi was incarnated from the pond where the current temple is located.