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.