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Budhanilkantha
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Budhanilkantha

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Budhanilkantha
4.5
377 reviews
#7 of 201 things to do in Kathmandu
Religious Sites
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12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
30 within 3 miles
Hokkaido Ramen House
24
0.3 mi$$$$ • Japanese • Sushi • Asian
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101 ftCafe
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0.3 miPizza
Hotel Pabera Rooftop Restaurant
2
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Asian • Diner • Nepali
Café Mocha
3
0.5 miAmerican • Australian
Jambala Restaurant
2
0.9 mi$ • Asian • Tibetan • Nepali
Cafe Nirvana & Restaurant
3
1.8 mi$ • Dessert • Chinese • International
Fresh Farms Nepal
5
2.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Indian • International
Thakali Ghar Aangan
4
2.5 miJapanese
Odaan Restaurant & Lounge
3
2.6 mi
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Attractions
106 within 6 miles
Budhanilakantha Temple
130
19 ftReligious Sites
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
377 reviews
Excellent
215
Very good
113
Average
38
Poor
10
Terrible
1
Sneha Prakash M
Bengaluru, India32 contributions
A divine place
May 2022
Located on the outskirts of Katmandu city, this place is also known as Jal Narayan. The temple hosts Lord Vishnu in the sleeping posture inside a pond. The uniqueness of the statue is that Vishnu is resting on his back on the serpant Adishesha rather than on his palm and sleeping side ways. The place has a special aura and is very calm and peaceful.
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BholaBanstola
47 contributions
'Divine Presence on Earth'
Jul 2019
There is nothing on the surface of this earth that humans created better and perfect that this stone statue of Jalasayana Vishnu or Narayana. If you want to be entranced or transported, please be there at 07:15 AM. If you miss this you did not see Nepal.
Written January 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sivakumar V
Bengaluru, India1,509 contributions
Jal Sayana Narayana Temple
Aug 2019
About 10 km form the capital city of Kathmandu, the temple of Budhanilkanta temple can be found. There is nothing connected to Bhudhism here. Bhudha Nilkanta is said to mean the Old Bluethroated God. Again another confustion in the name. Usually the name Nilkanta is attributed to Lord Shiva - but is a temple of Lord Vishnu.
Nevertheless the Budhists also visit temple to offer prayers here. And the Saivaits claim that claim a reclining image of Shiva can be seen under the waters of the lake during the annual Shiva festival there in August.
These apart, the temple a beautiful one attracting thousands of pilgrims round the year. The 5m reclining Vishnu on the Athisesha in a pool of more than 10m is a great awesome site. People can offer worship from the padam side .
A must visit in Nepal.
Written June 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rajendra K
Kathmandu, Nepal30 contributions
Peace of ming
Oct 2022
One of the acient holy place in the bed of National park. It has National park in one side while you see whole kathmandu vally on the other side. If you are Hindu than this must be the place to be visited
Written October 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
VineNFigTree
Laos256 contributions
Vipassana meditation retreat at Buddhanilkantha
Apr 2018 • Solo
On a hill overlooking the Kathmandu suburb of Buddhanilkantha, with a view of the Kathmandu Valley, and right next to the gate of Shivapuri National Park, there is the International Vipassana Meditation centre called Dhamma Shringa. In operation since 1981, it attracts participants from all parts of the world. Retreats are free of charge, run solely on a donation basis. Free buses leave an office in Kantipath to take participants there and back.
The participants who attended with me were a mixture of about 75% Nepali people and 25% mostly young travelers from many countries. About 200 people came for the retreat.
A rigorous schedule is followed, with a wake-up bell at 4 am, followed by the first meditation period from 4.30 to 6.30. A minimal 'breakfast' is served at 7, with the main meal of the day at 11 am, and a tea break at 4 pm. Food is vegetarian, with more variety and tastier than the standard Nepali dhal bhaat. Lights are out at 9.30 pm.
In the evening, there is a one-hour taped lecture by S.N. Goenka, the Burmese-Indian businessman who, on instructions from his Burmese buddhist meditation teacher, developed the now-worldwide program starting in 1969. The lectures are informative as well as entertaining.
I have attended other Vipassana retreats (in Nepal, at Kirtipur and Begnas Lake), and this center is by far the largest, and with the biggest proportion of local people. As such, it seemed too large and a bit unwieldy (very little time for interviews), a long line for lunch, a limited and controlled number of cushions, and a rather institutional attitude on the part of some of the senior staff, who had a curt and officious mannerism, like Nepali civil servants (they probably had been!). I prefer the other locations, and will leave this one to the Nepalis.
Written May 9, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
rocking_pony
Poland3,478 contributions
Not that much interesting
Jan 2013 • Couples
It's a very important place from the religious point of view but not as much interesting for non-believers. The statue itself is surrounded with quite a big fence and if you are not Hindu you won't get the opportunity to approach it and take a photo. The surrounding area is also not that much interesting, with residential buildings and some market stalls offering religious items mostly. If you are in Kathmandu for a short visit only and you are not that much interested in Hindu religion then you can skip this place.
Written February 6, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Felicity S
Toronto, Canada21 contributions
Great history and architecture
Oct 2012 • Family
The original capital of Nepal before Kathmandu grew up around it. Lots of lovely old buildings and squares to see. The map you are given has enough information, or you can hire a guide. The cleanest public washroom in Nepal!
Written November 1, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tanja b
zagreb2 contributions
sleeping Vishnu
Dec 2011 • Friends
I lived in Budhanilkantha for 2 months!! its just under the Shiva Puri national park ,so u can easily walk in the park. In the entrance of park is Vipassana meditation centre which i would highly recomend for a 10 days meditation course, Its amazing!! and its on donation basis. In Budhanilkantha is also the sleeping Vishnu temple witch i still feel in my heart and can hear the people chant and sing prayers. The people around is very friendly and simple. There is also very nice hotel "Park Village"
Written June 13, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Dawa S
Kathmandu, Nepal63 contributions
Budhaneelkantha
Situated north of kathmandu, Budhaneelkantha showing Lord Vishnu sleeping on a coiled snake in the middle of the ocean, is one of the finest examples of Nepali art. Built by king Vishnugupta in the seventh century A.D., this is a sacred shrine of the Vashnavites in the valley. The pond, in whose centre the statue is located,symbolizes the ocean.
There is an interesting aside. King of Nepal cannot visit Budhaneelkantha as he is considered an incarnation of Vishnu. As such being equal to him or part of him he can not visit him.
Written March 3, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Rajesh S
Bengaluru, India71 contributions
Sleeping lord Vishnu in a small lake
Mar 2013 • Business
This is unique temple where you get see God Vishnu's idol in a sleeping position in the small water body, which is very rare. Though the maintenance is not very good the place is worth a visit once.
Written March 21, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu

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  • Sun - Sat 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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