The south of Kathmandu’s old city was the heart of the ancient city in the Licchavi period (4th to 8th centuries) and its major temple was the tall, triple-roofed Jaisi Deval Temple. This landmark temple was destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. Nepal's department of archaeology plans to reconstruct the mandir on the same site, though this may take several years.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
3.78 MILES
The first stupa at Boudhanath was built sometime after AD 600, when the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, converted to Buddhism. In terms of grace and purity…
1.35 MILES
The Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the crowning glories of Kathmandu Valley architecture. This perfectly proportioned monument rises through a whitewashed…
0.3 MILES
Kathmandu's royal palace, known as the Hanuman Dhoka, was originally founded during the Licchavi period (4th to 8th centuries AD), but the compound was…
2.12 MILES
This unique Buddhist monastery is just north of Durbar Sq. It was allegedly founded in the 12th century, and it has existed in its current form since 1409…
7.82 MILES
The magnificent Golden Gate is a visual highlight of Durbar Sq. Set into a bright red gatehouse surrounded by white palace walls, the fabulous golden…
0.49 MILES
The long, rectangular courtyard of the Itum Bahal is the largest bahal (Buddhist monastery courtyard) in the old town and remains a haven of tranquillity…
7.88 MILES
You should be able to see the sky-high rooftop of the Nyatapola Temple long before you reach Taumadhi Tole. With five storeys towering 30m above the…
1.11 MILES
The beautifully restored Swapna Bagaicha (Garden of Dreams) remains one of the most serene and beautiful enclaves in Kathmandu. It's two minutes' walk and…
Nearby Kathmandu attractions
0.02 MILES
Reached through an innocuous entryway to the southwest of the ruined Jaisi Deval platform, this courtyard is named after Ram, an incarnation of Vishnu and…
0.14 MILES
The Newari deity Bhimsen is said to watch over traders and artisans, so it’s quite appropriate that the ground floor of this well-kept temple should be…
0.23 MILES
Originally built with wood left over from the Kasthamandap Temple, this squat building was called the Silengu Sattal (silengu means ‘left over wood’ and a…
0.24 MILES
This wooden temple, also known as the Dhansa Dega, is an ornate 17th-century performance pavilion that houses the god of music.
0.25 MILES
Kathmandu owes its name to this ancient building, which was sadly destroyed in the 2015 earthquake.
0.25 MILES
At the junction of Durbar and Basantapur squares, this red-brick, three-storey building is home to the Kumari, the girl who is selected to be the town’s…
7. Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple
0.25 MILES
This small five-roofed temple dating from 1680 was completely destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. All that remains is the fine Garuda kneeling before it,…
0.26 MILES
At the top of Maru Tole, surrounded by the rubble of the temples that used to surround it, this tiny golden shrine is one of the four most important…