Buddha Nilkantha Temple, Kathmandu, Bagmati

Budhanilkantha temple is one of the famous Hindu pilgrimages of Nepal. Budhanilkantha means “old blue throat” and Nepal TourismAnanta has 11 hooded heads. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. In this temple a deity of Lord Vishnu who is also known as Narayan is located on Jalasayana which means sitting on an Ananta Sea. It is said that deity of Lord Vishnu which is situated in the temple is about 1000 years old.

Lord Vishnu is about five meter (Seventeen fits) long and lying in a thirteen meter (forty three fits) long tank, as if floating with his legs crossed with his sleeping body resting on the coils of Ananta and his 11 hooded head.His four hands hold the four symbols of Vishnu, the Shankha as conch shell, Chakra as disc,Gadha as club and Padma as lotus flower. It is believe that the deity was carved in the seventh or eighth century during the Licchavi period.

Hindus can walk down the steps and touch his feet, but foreigners cannot walk and touch. It is with the sacredness of this particular god that a deep seated belief was created by King Pratap Malla through a prophetic dream. It was his strong belief and fear that should the King of Nepal visit the Budhanilkantha temple, death would be threatening immediately to fall upon his departure. The two other images of the deity which were carved during the same time lie at two particular destinationa, the Balaju Garden were public viewing can take place and the beautiful Royal Palace in Kathmandu.It is here at Budhanilkantha temple, however that public is not permitted.