Taleju Temple

The Taleju Temple is the tallest structure in Durbar Square, a three-storey pagoda built in 1564 by King Mahendra Malla and rising to 35 metres. It is dedicated to the royal goddess Taleju, who was imported from South India and became the tutelary deity of the Malla kings. The top tier carries the golden roof that catches the light in the afternoons and is visible from across the square.

Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the temple at any time; the general public can enter only on the day of Dashain. The exterior and the temple compound can be seen from within Durbar Square. The Taleju temple complex includes several smaller shrines, and the main tower sustained damage in the 2015 earthquake from which it has since been restored.

things to do sight temple
A story
The Taleju Temple is opened to the public only once a year, during the great Dashain festival in September–October. On that single day, thousands of Nepalis queue for hours to enter. The rest of the year, the temple's gilded roofs are visible from throughout Durbar Square but the gates remain firmly shut. The goddess Taleju is the royal protective deity of the Malla dynasty — powerful enough to require such limits on access.

Other places in Things to Do