Where is Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

Sankhu and Vajrayogini is in Kathmandu district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.

What is the altitude of Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

About 1,450 m (4,757 ft) above sea level.

How much does it cost to visit Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

Sankhu and Vajrayogini is in or right next to Kathmandu, so it is an easy day visit. Budget for 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 Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

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 Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

No special permit or ticket is normally needed.

When is the best time to visit Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

October–March; Salinadi Mela (Magh)

How do I get to Sankhu and Vajrayogini?

About 45 minutes by road north-east of Kathmandu. It is about 12 km (straight line) from Kathmandu.

Sankhu and Vajrayogini

Name: Sankhu and Vajrayogini
Address: Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, NP

Village & culture PahadHidden gem1 min readUpdated: October 2026

In Nepali: साँखु र वज्रयोगिनी

Sankhu and Vajrayogini, Kathmandu — Photo: Wikimedia Commons

An old Newar trading town on the route to Tibet, with a forest temple of Vajrayogini on the hill above.

Sankhu lies in the north-east corner of the valley on the old trade route to Tibet via Helambu. Its brick houses and squares were badly damaged in the 2015 earthquake and are being rebuilt in traditional style.

A stone stairway climbs through the forest to the Vajrayogini temple complex, one of the most sacred sites of Newar Buddhism, with pagoda temples and meditation caves. The Salinadi festival in January, when women bathe and recite the Swasthani story, is special here.

What to see and do

Walk through the old town gate and squares, then climb the stone steps through the forest to the Vajrayogini temple complex, with its pagodas, carved struts and meditation caves. During Salinadi in Magh, the riverbanks fill with women fasting and reading the Swasthani story.

Good to know

Sankhu is on the way to Nagarkot and Helambu by back roads. Reconstruction after the 2015 earthquake continues; some areas may still be under work.

Quick answers

Where is Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: Sankhu and Vajrayogini is in Kathmandu district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.
What is the altitude of Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: About 1,450 m (4,757 ft) above sea level.
How much does it cost to visit Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: Sankhu and Vajrayogini is in or right next to Kathmandu, so it is an easy day visit. Budget for 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 Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: 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 Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: No special permit or ticket is normally needed.
When is the best time to visit Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: October–March; Salinadi Mela (Magh)
How do I get to Sankhu and Vajrayogini?: About 45 minutes by road north-east of Kathmandu. It is about 12 km (straight line) from Kathmandu.
What is Sankhu and Vajrayogini called in Nepali?: साँखु र वज्रयोगिनी