Budhanilkantha Temple
बुढानिलकण्ठ मन्दिर
Home to Nepal's largest stone statue of the reclining Vishnu, floating in a recessed tank of water — the most important Vishnu shrine in the Kathmandu Valley.
Deity
Lord Vishnu (Jalakshayan Narayan)
Location
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Tradition
Hindu
Main festival
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Budhanilkantha enshrines a 5-metre black basalt image of Vishnu reclining on the coils of the serpent Shesha in a 13-metre pond, carved from a single stone around the 7th–8th century.
The site is busiest at Haribodhini Ekadashi, when Vishnu is believed to wake from his cosmic sleep. By tradition the reigning King of Nepal never visited, a custom tied to a royal prophecy.
Highlights
5 m monolithic reclining Vishnu in a water tank
Haribodhini Ekadashi mela (Oct–Nov)
Gateway to Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
One of Kathmandu's most revered Vishnu shrines
How to reach
About 10 km north of central Kathmandu at the base of Shivapuri; reachable by taxi or local bus.
Best time to visit
Haribodhini Ekadashi (Oct–Nov); mornings year-round.
Budhanilkantha Temple, answered
Which deity is worshipped at Budhanilkantha Temple?+
Budhanilkantha Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Jalakshayan Narayan) (a Hindu site) in Foot of the Shivapuri hills, north Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province.
How do I reach Budhanilkantha Temple?+
About 10 km north of central Kathmandu at the base of Shivapuri; reachable by taxi or local bus.
What is the best time to visit Budhanilkantha Temple?+
Haribodhini Ekadashi (Oct–Nov); mornings year-round.
Other temples & pilgrimage sites
Sources & data note
Temple histories, deities and festival associations are drawn from the Nepal Tourism Board, temple trusts and the Department of Archaeology. Altitudes and coordinates are approximate. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. Several sites (Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini) are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List — see the heritage section for the formal listing.