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Kathmandu Devi DarshanSix Goddesses of the Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu Devi Darshan is a 3-day pilgrimage by private vehicle to six Devi temples of the Kathmandu Valley, from Guhyeshwari beside the Bagmati to Bajrayogini on its hill above Sankhu, with Dakshinkali and the old Newar town of Kirtipur in between. You stay two nights in one Kathmandu hotel and spend time at every temple in darshan and prayer, with a pilgrimage guide beside you.

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Journey at a Glance

Duration
3 Days2 nights in Kathmandu
Difficulty
EasyBy road, stone steps at Bajrayogini
Altitude
About 1,400 mKathmandu Valley
Departures
Year roundOn any date a group asks for
Group Size
2 to 25
Start and End
Kathmandu airportPrivate vehicle

Package Cost

USD196

per person

(Group of 21 or more)

2 to 11 travellers
$288
12 to 20 travellers
$230
21 and above
$196

Last updated

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The Devi Circuit

What is the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

The Kathmandu Devi Darshan is a 3-day pilgrimage to six temples of the goddess in the Kathmandu Valley. Pilgrims make it to take darshan of the Devi in her different forms, to pray, and to make offerings at shrines that have been worshipped for centuries.

Guhyeshwari stands on the Bagmati near Pashupatinath. The Nepal Tourism Board calls it the most important Shakti Peeth in Nepal and records the belief that it marks the place where the hips or yoni of the goddess Sati fell. Traditionally only Hindus enter the main courtyard. Maitidevi takes its name from maiti, the Nepali word for a woman’s parental home, and is crowded during Dashain and Navaratri. Sankata, in Te Bahal in the old city, is worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike, above all on Saturdays, by people seeking to ward off misfortune and illness.

Dakshinkali, whose name means Kali of the south, stands about 22 km from Kathmandu on the southern rim of the valley. The Nepal Tourism Board describes it as one of the most famous Shakti Peeths of Kathmandu, and it is at its busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when animal sacrifices are made. Shobha Bhagwati is a pagoda shrine to the goddess Bhagwati on the bank of the Bishnumati.

Bajrayogini stands on a hill above Sankhu, about 20 km north-east of Kathmandu, and is reached by a long stone stairway. Its main temple was built under King Pratap Malla, and it is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists as a centre of Tantric worship. In Kirtipur, an old Newar town on a ridge south-west of the city, the group visits the Bagh Bhairab temple, known for the historic weapons on its walls, and the Buddhist Chilamchu Stupa.

“Six forms of the goddess, and time at each one to pray.”

Before You Book

Who the Kathmandu Devi Darshan Is For

This is the broader of the two Kathmandu Devi journeys: six goddess temples, the heritage of Kirtipur and the Newar towns, at an easy pace with two nights in the same Kathmandu hotel. It suits Devi and Shakti devotees, Hindu families, temple organisations, senior pilgrims and first-time visitors to Nepal. Every stop is reached by private vehicle, and the only climb is the stone stairway to Bajrayogini. Kathmandu sits at about 1,400 metres, so altitude is not a concern.

Sama Yatra is the pilgrimage arm of Trek Mania Nepal, based in Kathmandu. It runs Devi journeys to bring local knowledge and proper planning to shrines spread from the Bagmati to the southern rim of the valley and the hills above Sankhu. The vehicle, hotel, meals and order of temples are fixed before you land, and the guide explains each shrine as you reach it. Sama Yatra gives 11% of the revenue from every journey to education, healthcare and community projects in the regions it travels through.

The journey runs on any date your group asks for. Dashain and Navaratri, in September or October, bring the largest crowds and adjusted temple timings. The monsoon, from June to September, does not stop the programme, though heavy rain can slow the roads. The order of temple visits may change with your flight time, temple timings, traffic and local conditions. Nobody is rushed to keep to the printed plan.

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Other SAARC citizens receive a free tourist visa of up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year. Everyone else buys a tourist visa, which cost USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days and USD 125 for 90 days as of September 2026. Traditionally only Hindus enter the main courtyard at Guhyeshwari, and rules differ from temple to temple, so the guide will tell you what is open to you at each one.

Booking works the same way on every Devi yatra. A single pilgrim is quoted on request. A 30% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due before arrival. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost. Children under 5 who share a room with their parents generally pay only for food and permits, and children aged 5 and over pay the adult price, with the exact child price confirmed on booking. Prices are published in US dollars; Indian pilgrims can receive the price in rupees at the exchange rate on the day of quotation, with any lower Indian rates applied. A single room and hotel upgrades are quoted on request.

Journey Highlights

  • Six Devi temples in three days
  • Bajrayogini, Hindu and Buddhist
  • Kirtipur heritage walk
  • Evening bhajan and kirtan
  • Puja and havan arranged on request

Detailed Itinerary

3 DaysThe Kathmandu Valley Devi circuit

The 3 days at a glance
DayRouteOvernightTravel
Day 01Arrival, Guhyeshwari, Maitidevi and SankataKathmandu, about 1,400 mAirport pickup, private vehicle
Day 02Dakshinkali, Kirtipur and Shobha BhagwatiKathmanduAbout 22 km by road to Dakshinkali
Day 03Bajrayogini at Sankhu, then departureDepartureAbout 20 km to Sankhu, then airport transfer
  1. Day 01Arrival, Guhyeshwari, Maitidevi and Sankata

    Our representative meets you at Kathmandu International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Kathmandu, at about 1,400 metres. After check-in and a rest, the pilgrimage begins at Guhyeshwari on the Bagmati, with darshan, prayer, personal worship, an orientation to the temple and time for meditation. Then Maitidevi for darshan and prayer, a vegetarian lunch, and Sankata in Te Bahal for prayer and devotional worship. If your flight lands late, the temples that cannot be reached today move to the next day. In the evening, a pilgrimage briefing, group prayer and optional bhajan or kirtan before a vegetarian dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu. Lunch and dinner included.

  2. Day 02Dakshinkali, Kirtipur and Shobha Bhagwati

    After an early breakfast, the drive of about 22 km to Dakshinkali on the southern rim of the valley, for Kali darshan, prayer, the chance to offer puja and time of your own. The weekday is your group’s choice: Tuesdays and Saturdays are the busiest, with animal sacrifices, and other days are quieter. On the way back, the historic area of Kirtipur, an old Newar town on a ridge south-west of Kathmandu, for a Newari lunch with vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, the Bagh Bhairab temple, the Chilamchu Stupa and a short walk through its brick-paved streets. Then Shobha Bhagwati on the Bishnumati for darshan, prayer and personal worship, and back to the hotel. The evening is free, or join the optional bhajan, kirtan, satsang and group prayer. Overnight in Kathmandu. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

  3. Day 03Bajrayogini at Sankhu, then departure

    After breakfast, the drive of about 20 km north-east to Sankhu and the long stone stairway up to the Bajrayogini temple complex, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists, for darshan, prayer, an orientation to the site and free devotional time. Back to Kathmandu for a vegetarian lunch. Depending on your flight there may be time for another temple, shopping, personal prayer or rest at the hotel before the transfer to Kathmandu International Airport. Breakfast and lunch included.

What's Included

  • Kathmandu airport pickup and drop-off
  • Private tourist vehicle with a professional driver for every transfer on the itinerary, including fuel, parking and road costs
  • 2 nights in a tourist-standard 3-star Kathmandu hotel, twin or double sharing, with breakfast. Hotels are not fixed in advance, and you stay in one of a similar standard
  • English-speaking pilgrimage guide, with temple orientation, darshan assistance and group assistance throughout
  • Lunch and dinner as listed in the itinerary, all vegetarian except the Newari lunch in Kirtipur, which offers vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and drinking water on road journeys
  • Temple visit coordination, with puja and local priest coordination on request

What's Not Included

  • Nepal tourist visa
  • International airfare
  • Travel insurance
  • Special puja, abhishek, homa, havan, prasad and priest fees, arranged on request and charged separately
  • Temple donations and personal offerings
  • Animal sacrifice, which is not part of the programme
  • Single-room supplement and hotel upgrades, quoted on request
  • Laundry, alcoholic drinks, personal shopping and other personal expenses
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Camera and video fees where charged
  • Medical expenses and emergency evacuation
  • Any service not specifically listed as included

Before you book

Questions Travellers Ask

Which temples does the Kathmandu Devi Darshan visit?

The Kathmandu Devi Darshan visits six goddess temples: Guhyeshwari, Maitidevi and Sankata on day one, Dakshinkali and Shobha Bhagwati on day two, and Bajrayogini at Sankhu on day three. Day two also stops in Kirtipur for Bagh Bhairab and the Chilamchu Stupa.

How much does the Kathmandu Devi Darshan cost?

The Kathmandu Devi Darshan costs USD 288 per person for 2 to 11 pilgrims, USD 230 for 12 to 20 and USD 196 for 21 or more, with twin sharing in a 3-star hotel. A single pilgrim is quoted on request.

What are the dates and best time for the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

The Kathmandu Devi Darshan runs year round on any date a group asks for. Dashain and Navaratri bring larger crowds and adjusted temple timings.

Is the Kathmandu Devi Darshan suitable for older pilgrims?

Yes. Every temple is reached by private vehicle and Kathmandu sits at about 1,400 metres. The one real climb is the long stone stairway up to Bajrayogini at Sankhu.

Can non-Hindus enter Guhyeshwari and the other Devi temples?

Not all of them. Traditionally only Hindus enter the main courtyard at Guhyeshwari, and non-Hindus see it from outside. Rules differ at the other temples, and the guide will tell you what is open to you at each one.

Is animal sacrifice part of the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

No. Animal sacrifice is not part of the programme. Dakshinkali is busiest on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when sacrifices are made, so your group can choose that day or a quieter one.

Do I need a visa for the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Other SAARC citizens receive a free visa of up to 30 days on a first visit in a visa year, and everyone else pays USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days, as of September 2026.

Are puja and priest fees included in the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

No. Sama Yatra can arrange a special puja, abhishek, homa or havan, sankalp, prasad and priest-led worship, subject to temple rules and priest availability, and these are charged separately.

Do children pay less on the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

Children under 5 who share a room with their parents generally pay only for food and permits. Children aged 5 and over pay the adult price. The exact child price is confirmed with each booking.

What is the booking and cancellation policy for the Kathmandu Devi Darshan?

A 30% deposit confirms the booking, and the balance is due before arrival. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost.

Can Indian pilgrims pay for the Kathmandu Devi Darshan in rupees?

Yes. Prices are published in US dollars, and Indian pilgrims can receive the price in rupees at the exchange rate on the day of quotation, with any lower Indian rates applied.

Traveller Reflections

The first reflections are still being written.

We publish what travellers tell us in their own words, once they have travelled. Nothing here is borrowed or invented.

Six Goddess Temples of the Kathmandu Valley in 3 Days.Plan your Kathmandu Devi Darshan.

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