Things to Do in Kathmandu, Nepal (2026)

Kathmandu · NP

Sankata Temple

Hidden within the bustling maze of Kathmandu’s Asan and New Road districts lies Sankata Temple, a site where the lines between Hindu and Buddhist traditions blur into a unique spiritual tapestry. This is not a grand palace-temple like those in Durbar Squares, but a compact, intensely atmospheric shrine located in Te Bahal, the city’s largest monastery courtyard. The primary reason to visit Sankata Temple is to witness one of Kathmandu Valley's most fascinating examples of syncretism. Here, the same deity is worshipped by Hindus as the goddess Sankata and by Buddhists as Bhairav. Devotees flock here, particularly on Saturdays, believing that worship at this shrine can ward off illness, bad luck, and astrological misfortunes (Graha-Dasha).

Hindu temple

Kathmandu · NP

Koteshwor Mahadevsthan

Koteshwor Mahadevsthan is one of Kathmandu's most revered Hindu temples, a sacred Shiva shrine tucked away in a leafy compound just off the bustling Ring Road. According to legend, the self-manifested Shiva lingam here is one of the 64 sacred Jyotirlingams, and the site itself is a Shakti Peeth — the spot where the left arm of the goddess Sati fell to earth as Lord Shiva roamed the world in inconsolable grief carrying her body. The temple complex goes far beyond its central pagoda-style Mahadev shrine. A sprawling walled compound shelters multiple smaller temples dedicated to various deities, all gathered under the canopy of a massive sacred Pipal tree. Worship here is believed to date back to at least the fifth century BC, though the present-day structures were built much later. The temple is open around the clock and draws particularly large crowds during Shivaratri, Teej, and the annual Shrawan Mela.

Buddhist temple

Kathmandu · NP

Kimdol Vihar

Tucked at the southern foot of Swayambhu hill, Kimdol Vihar (also known as Kindo Baha) is one of Kathmandu's most historically layered Buddhist monasteries. Founded in 1687, it served as a resting point for great Tibetan lamas and later became the epicenter of the Theravada Buddhist revival in Nepal during the 1920s and 1930s. Today it remains a working vihara where visitors can encounter sacred images spanning multiple Buddhist traditions.

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A little more
of Kathmandu.

Sankata Temple

Koteshwor Mahadevsthan

Kimdol Vihar

Finding your next place…

A little more
of Kathmandu.

Sankata Temple

Koteshwor Mahadevsthan

Kimdol Vihar