Kaski
बिन्ध्यवासिनी
Pokhara's guardian goddess on a hill above the old bazaar — a white pagoda temple dating to around 1760 and still the city's foremost Hindu shrine.
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Bindhyabasini Temple crowns a hill above old Pokhara — one of the city's oldest and most prominent Hindu shrines, dedicated to Goddess Bindhyabasini and dating to around 1760.
Bindhyabasini Devi shrine, white pagoda, Dashain sacrifices, old Pokhara bazaar approach.
Established c. 1760; guardian deity shrine for Pokhara Valley settlers.
Walk from old Pokhara bazaar → temple darshan → viewpoint terrace. Combine with Phewa Lakeside the same afternoon.
Welcome to Bindhyabasini. Before paragliders filled the sky, this hill was where Pokhara prayed. The goddess still watches the lake.
At a Glance
Location
Old Pokhara, Kaski
Deity
Goddess Bindhyabasini
Founded
c. 1760
Major festival
Dashain
Views
Annapurna on clear days
Best time
Morning darshan
Heritage
Bindhyabasini Temple served hill settlers and Newar traders who made Pokhara a lakeside market town. The white shikhara-style pagoda stands amid bells, tridents, and sacrificial posts. It remains the spiritual anchor for Pokhara's Hindu majority before tourists ever reached Fewa Lake.
Visual Journey
Sacred Calendar
Seasonal observances and local celebrations.
Suggested Schedule
One to two hours for darshan and old bazaar stroll.
Morning
Quiet morning puja.
Walk down through market lanes.
Practical Information
Dress
Modest
Cover shoulders
Photography
Courtyard OK
Ask inside sanctum
Dashain
Busy season
Expect crowds in October
Access
Short uphill walk
From Bagar or old bazaar
10–15 min taxi to old Pokhara foot of hill.
Pokhara airport 15 min away.
Extend Your Journey
Sacred and scenic sites around Pokhara's lakes.
From the Community
Temple visits and Pokhara hill shrine walks.
These videos are shared by devotees and travelers. They are not official productions of the heritage programme.
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