Nepali Temple

The story of the Nepali temple located in Varanasi is very interesting and takes you straight back to the 19th century. As you know from the name itself, this Nepali temple is built in Nepali architecture. Interestingly, it is one of the oldest Shiva temples in Varanasi. Long ago King of Nepal Rana Bahadur Shah took exile in Varanasi. He decided that he would build a Shiva temple here, just like the Pashupatinath temple established in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Although the construction of the temple started during his exile, it took 30 years to complete. During the construction of the temple itself, King Rana Bahadur Shah returned to Nepal, where he was stabbed to death by his half-brother Sher Bahadur Shah. After his death, the temple was completed by his son Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah Dev 20 years after the deadline. As this temple is made of wood, hence it is also called Kanthawala Temple, Kantha means wood. This temple is built in Nepali architecture using terracotta, wood, and stone. This composition reflects the exquisite craftsmanship of Nepali artisans. Hence it is one of the few special temples of Varanasi.