Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan Temple: A Heavenly Haven for Spiritual Seekers!

Perched majestically atop a serene hill east of Kathmandu in Nepal's Bhaktapur district, the Changu Narayan Temple beckons with its timeless allure. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this sacred haven is a cherished sanctuary for devotees, drawing throngs especially during the revered Harishayani Ekadashi and Haribodhini Ekadashi festivals.

At the temple's forefront stands a breathtaking 5th-century Garuda statue, a unique marvel embodying human-like features with majestic wings—a symbol of Lord Vishnu's celestial carrier. Amidst its ornate architecture, the temple boasts intricate wood and stone carvings dating back centuries, showcasing Nepal's rich artistic heritage.

Step into the temple's hallowed grounds to encounter a treasure trove of ancient artistry, with stone idols and temples dating from the 5th to 12th centuries—a testament to Nepal's cultural tapestry. Adorned with a gilded copper roof and adorned with divine relics, including the conch, discus, mace, and lotus, the temple exudes an aura of spiritual magnificence.

Marvel at the divine Vishnu Vishwarup idol, hailed as one of Nepal's most exquisite creations, and pay homage to smaller shrines dedicated to deities like Goddess Chhinnamasta and Lord Shiva. Delight in the intricacies of bas-reliefs depicting Vishnu atop Garuda, a revered image gracing Nepal's 10-rupee banknote.

Beyond its Vaishnavite roots, Changu Narayan embodies inclusivity, with shrines honoring Shiva, Durga, and others, fostering a spirit of mutual respect among Hindu sects. Journey to this sacred site, just 12 km from Kathmandu, accessible via microbuses from Bhaktapur or a scenic trek from Nagarkot—a pilgrimage that promises spiritual enlightenment amidst Nepal's cultural splendor.

Changunarayan Temple, located near Kathmandu in Nepal, is a cultural jewel steeped in history and artistry. This ancient Hindu temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases exquisite stone carvings, intricate woodwork, and impressive architecture dating back to the 4th century. Devotees and tourists are captivated by the temple's serene atmosphere and the spiritual aura that permeates its surroundings. The temple premises are adorned with sculptures depicting various deities, mythological beings, and scenes from Hindu epics, providing a glimpse into Nepal's rich cultural heritage. The temple's strategic hilltop location offers stunning views of the Kathmandu Valley, enhancing the overall experience. Changunarayan Temple stands as a testament to Nepal's artistic heritage and religious significance, making it a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and spiritual seekers alike.

Changunarayan Temple is a Hindu temple located near Bhaktapur in Nepal. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples in the Kathmandu Valley and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is renowned for its intricate wood and stone carvings, showcasing exemplary craftsmanship from ancient times. The site holds historical significance and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting visitors with its cultural and architectural richness.

Of the seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu, this is the farthest out from the city and what a scenic drive it was up the mountain. There’s far fewer people here compared to the other religious sites in Kathmandu and it’s also a lot smaller.

Can anyone enlighten me on why the temple carvings are painted in rainbow?

The windows architecture was magnificent, lack of good restaurants around. Great view of the valley.

It is considered to be the oldest temple in Nepal which is also listed in world heritage site. It is also believed that it is the oldest remaining temple in the world which is Built in Pagoda style.
It's very beautiful place with spiritual vibes. You can enjoy beautiful scenery of hills from here. Every Nepali should visit this place at least once in order to know about our history, historical arts and architecture. You can reach here by bus as well as with bikes. Road condition is also good.

Changu Narayan is an ancient Hindu temple, located on a high hilltop that is also known as Changu or Dolagiri in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District, Nepal. The hill is about 7 miles (12 km) east of Kathmandu and a few miles north of Bhaktapur. The Manohara River flows beside the hill. The temple, considered to be one of the oldest in Nepal, is dedicated to Vishnu and is revered by Hindus.The temple was surrounded by champak tree forest and a small village known as Changu. A Kashmiri king is said to have given his daughter, Champak, in marriage to the prince of Bhaktapur. The temple is considered to be named after her.
In ancient times a Gwala or cow herder, had brought a cow from a Brahmin named Sudarshan. The cow was known for producing large quantities of milk. The cow herder used to take the cow to Changu for grazing. At that time Changu was a forest of Champak trees. While grazing, the cow always went to the shade of a particular tree and a boy used to come there and drink the cow's milk. In the evening, when the cow herder took the cow home and started milking her, he got only a very small amount of milk. This continued for several days. He grew very sad, so he called on the Brahmin saying the cow was not giving enough milk. After observing this with his own eyes, Sudarshan agreed with the cow herder. The next day they observed the cow's daytime activity while she was grazing in the forest.

The Brahmin and the cow herder both hid behind the tree. To their surprise, a small black boy came out of the tree and started drinking the cow milk. The two men were furious because they thought the boy must be the devil and tree must be its home. So the Brahmin cut down the champak tree. When he was cutting it down, fresh human blood came out of the tree. Both Brahmin and cow herder got worried, believing they had committed a great crime and began to cry. Lord Vishnu emerged from the tree and told the Brahmin and Cowherd it was not their fault. Vishnu told the story of how he had committed a heinous crime by unwittingly killing Sudarshan's father while hunting in the forest. After that, cursed for the crime, he wandered the earth on his mount, ‘Garuda’, eventually descending on the hill at Changu. There he lived in anonymity, surviving on milk stolen from a cow. When Brahmin cut down the tree, Vishnu was beheaded, which freed Lord Vishnu from his sins. After hearing these words from Vishnu, Brahmin and cow herder resolved to worship the place and established a small temple in the name of Lord Vishnu. Ever since the site has been sacred. Even today,we find Sudarshan's descendant as a priest of the temple and the cow herder's descendants as Ghutiyars (conservators).

Changu Narayan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple in Nepal. It's located on a hilltop in Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur District, about 7 miles east of Kathmandu.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the most elaborate in the Kathmandu Valley.
It's a two-story pagoda-style structure with an intricate roof that features carvings of Tantric deities.
The main shrine is guarded by pairs of real and mythical beasts, including elephants, lions, winged lions, and ram-horned griffons.
The temple complex also includes idols of Garuda, Vaikuntha, Narasimha, Vishwarupa, Sridhar Vishnu, and Trivikram.  The temple was originally built in the 2nd century during the Lichhavi Dynasty and rebuilt in 1702 after a fire. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

This temple of Lord Vishnu is really unique and beautiful. You can see Bhaktapur and Kathmandu valley from this location. One of tourist attractions for sure.

Parking is available don't worry about parking, the road is good but it is narrow only one vehicle can pass at a time, the temple has wifi, there are a lot of shops and restaurants as well as eateries nearby so don't worry about anything, enough space so that you can stay, there are stairs if you are someone who has problem walking you might find it hard but not impossible, just 2-3 min of walk to temple that's it, no on disturbs you here and you can enjoy your visit.

Wonderful world heritage site of Nepal. And it's really beautiful and amazing place for hiking.

Changu Narayan is an ancient Hindu temple, located on a high hilltop that is also known as Changu or Dolagiri in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District, Nepal. This hill is about 7 miles (or 12 km) east of Kathmandu and a few miles north of Bhaktapur. The Manohara River flows beside the hill. The temple is considered to be one of the oldest temples in Nepal. The temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu and is held in special reverence by the Hindu people.
There is an information centre at the entrance to Changu Village. They issue tickets to the tourists. The information centre has a public toilet for tourists. Also, there are drinking water facilities for the tourists. But the drinking water facilities have not been managed properly. Only direct tap water is available there. According to Binaya Raj Shrestha, owner of Chagu Museum and the member of the temple management committee, on an average 150 foreigners visit Changu.

This temple is said to be the oldest Hindu temple still in use in the Kathmandu Valley. Built in the two-tiered pagoda style, the main shrine here is guarded on all sides by pairs of real and mythical beasts – elephants, lions, winged lions, and ram-horned griffons.
In life we need to visit once in a life . <3

Historic monument
3rd century build
UNESCO world heritage site
Hiking trail from bhaktapur
Hike to Nagarkot
Great view of Bhaktapur areas

Originally built in the 2nd century during Lichhavi Dynasty. Rebuilt in 1702 after a major fire occured.

UNESCO world heritage temple including nepals oldest inscription. Good visit.

Changu Narayan Bikash Samiti should be fined due to the disastrous paint job they did on the main temple.

Beautiful Vishnu temple in Bhaktapur. Definitely worth the visit.

From the stairs we can reached Changunarayan Temple and View is from near the way to Temple of kathmandu Valley Lovely place for peace ✌

This temple of Lord Vishnu is really unique and beautiful. You can see Bhaktapur and Kathmandu valley from this location. One of tourist attractions for sure.