At the bottom of Asan Tole (the steep road running east from Sitalpati), the Amar Narayan Mandir is a classic three-tiered, pagoda-style wooden temple. The mandir was built in 1807 by Amar Singh Thapa, the first governor of Tansen, and it’s considered to be one of the most beautiful temples outside Kathmandu Valley. The carved wooden deities are exquisite; note the erotic scenes on the roof struts, and the alternating skulls and animal heads on the lintel.
Devotees come here every evening to light butter lamps in honour of the patron deity, Lord Vishnu.
At the start of the steps to the Amar Narayan Temple is the similar but smaller Mahadev Mandir, a Shiva temple.
