Changu Narayan
In Nepali: चाँगुनारायण
Changu Narayan stands on a ridge above the Manohara river north of Bhaktapur. A stone pillar in front of the temple carries an inscription of King Manadeva I dated 464 CE, the oldest dated inscription in Nepal. The two-roofed temple itself was rebuilt around 1702.
The courtyard is an open-air gallery of Licchavi and Malla sculpture: Vishnu Vikranta striding across the universe, Narasimha, the kneeling Garuda and Vishwarupa. The site is one of the seven monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, and a trail leads on to Nagarkot.
What to see and do
Walk around the temple to see its carved struts and the sculptures in the courtyard, including the kneeling Garuda facing the door and the 464 CE pillar. The small village street leading up to the temple has traditional houses and a private museum of everyday Newar life. From the ridge, trails lead to Nagarkot (3–4 hours) and down to Telkot and Bhaktapur.
Good to know
Foreigners pay an entry fee. The temple was damaged in 2015 and has been restored. Combine it with Bhaktapur on the same day, or walk from Nagarkot in the morning.
Quick answers
- Where is Changu Narayan?
- Changu Narayan is in Bhaktapur district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.
- What is the altitude of Changu Narayan?
- About 1,541 m (5,056 ft) above sea level.
- How much does it cost to visit Changu Narayan?
- Changu Narayan is in or right next to Kathmandu, so it is an easy day visit. Budget for the entry ticket (about NPR 300 / US$2 for foreign visitors), a taxi there and back (about NPR 600–1,500, US$5–11) and meals (NPR 1,000–2,500, US$8–19 per person). If you stay in Kathmandu, rooms cost about NPR 1,500 / US$11–NPR 4,500 / US$33 a night.
- How many days do I need for Changu Narayan?
- Half a day to a full day is enough; it is a short ride from central Kathmandu.
- Do I need a permit or ticket for Changu Narayan?
- There is an entry ticket of about NPR 300 / US$2 for foreign visitors; SAARC visitors pay less and Nepali citizens little or nothing.
- When is the best time to visit Changu Narayan?
- Year-round
- How do I get to Changu Narayan?
- About 30 minutes by road north of Bhaktapur. It is about 10 km (straight line) from Kathmandu.
- What is Changu Narayan called in Nepali?
- चाँगुनारायण
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