About the Taleju Temple


Kathmandu Durbar Squares largest and most important temple sits behind a large walled enclosure in the northern section. The three-storey temple sits on top of twelth brick plinths or pflatforms which towers over the area.

The tallest building in Kathamandu Durbar Square: the Taleju Temple
The tallest building in Kathamandu Durbar Square: the Taleju Temple

The temple itself is behind a locked gate which is only opened up for one day every year during the Dashain festival (ninth day). All visitors in between can only gaze upon it from outside the walls.

The temple suffered some roof damage in the 2015 earthquake but has since been completely repaired.

The Taleju goddess originally came from South India but was adopted by the Malla kings who built temples to her.

Did you know?

A little known fact is that there are acutally three Taleju temples in Kathmandu. One in Bhaktapur Durbar Square and one in Patan Durbar square.

History of the Taleju Temple


The Taleju temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square is not the oldest Taleju temple in Kathmandu! It is the most important, the oldest is the Taleju temple in Bhaktapur which was built in the 14th century. The Kathmandu Taleju temple was built in 1564 by King Mahendra Malla.

As you may know, the Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley had an artistic and physical rivalry, so all three cities have a Taleju temple.

The goddess Taleju inside the Taleju

The Taleju temple that you see today is mainly the result of additional work carried by King Pratap Mall who is known as the most artistic of all the Malla kings.

The Kathmandu Taleju temple was modeled on the shape of a yantra, a form of mandala or a mystical diagram with magical powers. This idea came from the Hindu Goddess Taleju Bhawani herself. When the temple was opened, Taleju Bhawani made a special appearance, one of the few gods ever to be noted for doing so. That aid, Goddess Taleju showed up disguised as a bee!

It is forbidden for any building to be constructed that is taller than the Taleju building. A point that creates a lot of contention in Kathmandu city today.

In 2015, the temple roof was slightly damaged in the earthquake. However, repairs were carried out and completed in 2016 along with some renovation.


Visiting the Taleju Temple


The Taleju temple can only be visited once a year by Hindus on the ninth day of the Dashain festival. For everyone else, you can only look at it from outside the walls and gates that surround it. If you do visit it on this day, do be warned that there are often animal sacrifices around the area then.

Inside, there are 12 miniature versions of the temple that surround the main building. There are four more temples higher up just below the main temple. The four main decorative gates are guarded by stone lions.

Inside the main Taleju temple itself are golden statues depicting the ten-armed Goddess along with shrines to both Taleju Bhawani and the Kumari, Nepal’s Living Goddess.

The Hindu Goddess Taleju Bhawani was also the clan Goddess of the Malla kings who ruled Nepal from the 12th to the 18th century.


Taleju Temple Entrance fee


There is no entrance fee to visit the Taleju temple as it comes under the general fee for Kathmandu Durbar Square.


Directions to the Taleju Temple


The Taleju Temple in Kathmandu is located on the northern part of Kathmandu Durbar Square near Hamuman Doka.

By walking: Kathmandu Durbar Square is an easy is 20 minute walk from Thamel. Do take care along the streets along the way as they are broken and often very busy. Motorbikes zoom around at speed.


Heritage walk guide:

» Kathmandu Heritage Walks
  - Thamel Heritage Walk
  - Thahiti Chowk
  - Ason Chowk
  - Jana Bahal / Seto Machchhendranath
  -
Indra Chowk
  - Kathmandu Durbar Square


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