Bindhyabasini Temple in Pokhara

The temple is of high religious importance to the locals of Pokhara and has even become a famous pilgrimage for Hindus from all over the world. It is dedicated to goddess Durga and more specifically Bhagwati, a bloodthirsty manifestation of the Goddess.

Bindhyabasini is a form of Bhagawati which is believed to be the replacement of the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudeva (Lord Krishna). When Kansa tried to kill their eighth child, she, who had been exchanged, appeared as Devi Bindhyabasini. In the temple, the goddess dwells as a Shaligram, an auspicious stone.

The legend of the Bindhyabasini temple begins when the king of Kaski, Siddhi Narayan Malla or the king of Parbat, Khadgaman Malla dreamt about establishing a temple for the goddess. So, he ordered some of his men to bring back a statue of the goddess from present Uttar Pradesh of India.

During their journey, the men set up camps at the current temple location. However, the next morning they could not move on their journey because the deity could not be lifted from the camps. So, eventually, the temple was established in Mohariya Tole of Pokhara.

Since then this place has been a hub for worshippers. The meaning of ‘Bindhya” means incarnation of the goddess and “Basini” means the dweller of a place.

This temple is in Shikhara style. It is a white pagoda temple and built in the middle of a park-like landscape. There is a golden carved metal gate in the temple that gives us a peek inside and breaks the monotony of white.

Two golden metal lions stand erect beside the temple gate and metal gong-bells eerie in the background frequently. The Bindhyabasini temple at a glance is a simple yet striking monument. The local “Dharmik Chetra Bikas Samiti” regulates the temple.

The pilgrims can visit the temple and worship there with their offerings. Just on the opposite side of Bindhyabasini temple, there is a Krishna Mandir where people celebrate his annual birthday, Krishna Janmashtami. Along with this, they can also go to other temples of Saraswati, Hanuman, Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesh, and Jogi Paati that are located nearby the main temple.

It can be a very spiritual and religious experience. A park-like setting surrounds the temple where people can enjoy their picnics with friends and family.

There are essential shops for worship items in the place if you miss out on anything. Especially on Saturdays, the pilgrims will have a chance to rejoice in the hymns and prayer songs on the premises with Nepali musical instruments. It makes the ambience very devotional.

Apart from that, the exotic balcony at the periphery of the temple setting overlooks the city of Pokhara and allows the tourists to take spectacular glimpses of panoramic Annapurna and Machapuchare ranges.

The breath-taking view of the snow-clad mountains along with the wafting fragrance of incense sticks coming from the temple makes the moment extremely relaxing. There is Bindhyabasini Sanskrit Vidhyalaya and a bookstore also to look around.

You can visit the religious site at any time of the year. The local people and the visitors worship Bhagwati on a daily basis, so it is mostly open throughout the year.

Animal sacrifices are generally offered on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The temple observes a lot of pilgrims in the 9 days of the big Hindu festival of Dashain. Visitors have to pull themselves together to wait in long lines during this time. Visitors usually spend around an hour at the temple premises.

Here, the snowy mountain-tops look best in September-November which is autumn in Pokhara. It is the most favourable time to come if you yearn for the best sightseeing experience as a priority.

You can take a visit to the temple along with a stroll to Old Bazaar or after enjoying the spectacular sunrise in Sarangkot. The roadway to Sarangkot lies at the end of the hill where the temple stands. Pokhara’s famous Phewa Lake is also nearby the temple. So, you can club together with a visit to Phewa Lake with one to the Bindhyabasini temple.

Entrance fees – Not applicable.

You do not need to book in advance to visit the temple.

It’s easy to get there, especially from Lakeside, the tourist residence area of Pokhara. Find out the various ways to reach Bindhyabasini temple:

By Local Bus

You can take a local bus from your hotel to Hari Chowk bus stop, the nearest one to the temple and walk your way up the small hill. It is a short walk. There are two main stone staircases on the East and Northeast of the temple.

Recently, in 2019, a lift that can carry a maximum of 12 people has been inaugurated. It is specially designed for differently-abled pilgrims and senior citizens and for those with conditions, there are not any applicable charges. But for others, they charge a certain amount for maintenance purposes.

By Private Vehicles

You can also take your private cars, vans to reach the place. The private vehicles from different travel companies also accompany the tourists to the setting. From Sarangkot, it is a 10-minute ride while from the lakeside it is a 20 minute one.

For a tranquilizer episode in the slice of heaven, Pokhara is the best place to look forward. Finally, Bindhyabasini temple is one of those attractions that should be on your to-visit list. It is worth a visit and offers a splendid view of the mountains amidst the tranquil lakes.