Kathmandu valley is the place of the many historical monuments and temples. The place itself carries a great historical and religious significance in the country. Place to hundreds of cultures, festivals and jatras, it has its own unique identity among the world. The city itself is the beauty of the art surrounded by hills and beautiful landscapes, the city has a beautiful and amazing history. Many historical temples and palaces are built here. The valley was ruled by the many kings and queens . It is the place where brave soldiers sacrifice their lives to end the ruthless Rana regime. The home of the 130 important monuments including several pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists. The seven UNESCO world heritage sites are also within the valley. Many important temples of the deities are situated at the different parts of the valley.

Major Temples around Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu valley has many temples that carry great religious and traditional values. Each deities represent some power that has bound the city or protected the city from evils. The home of the temples, monuments and monasteries never miss a chance to impress the single visitors visiting our country. More than that, the uniqueness and the history of each heritage site always leave a great impression on visitors.

1. Sankata Temple

Sankata Temple is located in the Te Bahal of the Kathmandu valley. It is a very famous Hindu temple in the area. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Sankata ( Goddess who helps people to combat Graha Dasha). Graha Dasha means planetary periods which affect the well being of the Human Kind. During the ancient period, it is believed that Goddess Sankata used to solve the problems of the Malla king. This incident made common people believe in the Goddess. Today also many people come here with the hope that their Graha Dasha will be gone if they please the god.

The temple is mostly crowded with devotees during Saturdays. They come here to offer their devotion and pray to the Goddess. Sankata is known to be the most popular goddess among the Vajracharya Newars of Kathmandu. The Goddess is also worshipped by the Hindus as well as Buddhists devotees. During the festival of Navratri, it is packed with the thousands of pilgrims who offer different types of food to the goddess. Outside the temple premises, the devotees can buy the holy items needed to remove the Graha Dasha from their life. Every 12 years, the priest of the temple, worship the goddess in a holy pitcher for Yoghini at Chobar.

2. Bhadrakali Temple

Bhadrakali Temple is a Hindu temple located next to the Tudikhel in Kathmandu Valley. The temple is dedicated to the Goddess Bhadrakali. This temple is also known as Shree Lumadhi Bhadrakali. It is one of the most renowned ”Shaktipith” of Nepal. The goddess is known as the gentle form of the Devi Kali. According to folklore, the temple was built in the year 1817 and was previously known as  ” Mudule Thumpko”. The temple is believed to be built after Goddess Bhadrakali told the priest to dig the hill where they found her statue. The temple is built in the exact position where they found the idol of the god.

The main idol of the Bhadrakali temple is a shiny black stone statue of Devi and is believed to be enshrined by the Lichchhavi Kings. The temple is mostly packed with the devotees during the Navaratri according to the Nepali calendar.

3. Mahankal Temple

Mahankal Temple is one of the oldest religious sites of Nepal situated just opposite to an army hospital in Newroad, Kathmandu. The temple is built in a three storied pagoda style with the pinnacle on top. The main shrine of the temple contains the idol of Lord Mahankal ( Kaal Bhairav), considered as one of the forms of Lord Shiva. It is mostly visited by the devotees who have sufferings and bad times in life.

According to legends and folk stories, Tantric Guvaju witnessed Lord Mahankaal flying across the sky, witnessing God with his bare eyes. He went to the king of Kantipur and decided to build a temple for Mahankaal so they can place the god permanently in this temple. But lord Mahankal refused their request but promised to visit the temple every saturday. So the devotees from all over the country visit this temple especially on Saturday to take blessings from the god.

Thousands of devotees visit this temple to heal their sickness caused by bad karmas and get blessings for their upcoming days of their life. Worshippers usually visit this temple during Saturday and Tuesday after their visit to the Sankata. The temple is also visited by the Buddhists devotees. The temple has a great role to enhance the history of Religious significance in Nepal.

4. Shesh NarayanTemple

Shesh Narayan temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in the Pharping of the Kathmandu valley. The temple is dedicated to the one form of the Lord Vishnu. It is one of the four Narayan Temples of the Kathmandu Valley. The other three are Changu Narayan, Icchangu Narayan and Bishanku Narayan. It is believed to be built in the Lichhavi period by the King Vishnugupta. The locations of these four temples stand in the four cardinals directions. This was made to guard the Kathmandu Valley.

The temple is a highly revered Vishnu Shrine surrounded by ponds and statues, tucked beneath a rocky cliff wall and a Tibetan monastery.  It was built in the 17th century, but it’s believed that the cave to the right ( now dedicated to Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche) has been a place of pilgrimage for far longer. There are some artfully carved Licchavi era statues in the courtyard, including lively depictions of Garuda and hanuman.

5. Shobha Bhagwati

Shobha Bhagwati is another holy place of the Hindus located on the bank of the Bishnumati River in Kathmandu Valley. The shrine of the temple is dedicated to the goddess Bhagwati . It is one of the holy places where devotees come to worship goddess Durga which they think brings happiness and joy in their life. The actual name of the temple was Shovagaya Bhagwati, which meant luck, ‘especially luck in married life’ but it was later changed into Shova Bhagwati and the temple is famous with this name and also the place is known by the name of the temple.

According to Purans, it is believed that Goddess Durga said whoever worships her during Chaite Dashain  and Navaratri will get her grace and fortune shall shallow them. The temple is built on the basis of the Ying of the female form of energy principle and has special significance in the lives of the people. The temple is visited by a large number of devotees each year and especially wives worship the goddess for good health and long lives of their husbands. And not only the wives, but also other males and females worship the goddess for the happiness and success in their personal and professional lives.

Kathmandu is the home to the many powerful gods and goddesses who have great traditional and cultural values in the religion of the people. It is the place where the ethnicity of different people live in peace and harmony without any hatred and dispute. The city with the historical culture to the modern era of the youngsters, it all exists in one place.