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The tiered temples of Patan Durbar Square in the afternoon sun, a large bell hung between stone pillars on the right and visitors in the square below

Kathmandu Vaishnav DarshanNarayan, Vishnu and Krishna in the Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan is a 3-day private pilgrimage by road through the Vaishnav heritage of the Kathmandu Valley. It joins the four Char Narayan temples with Budhanilkantha, where Vishnu lies on the serpent Shesha in a pool of water, and Krishna Mandir in Patan, with a private vehicle, an English-speaking pilgrimage guide, a Kathmandu hotel and vegetarian meals arranged for your group.

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Journey at a Glance

Duration
3 Days2 nights in Kathmandu
Altitude
About 1,400 mKathmandu Valley
Difficulty
EasyBy road, steps at two temples
Best Season
Oct to Nov, Mar to MayRuns year round on request
Group Size
2 to 25Larger groups on request
Start and End
KathmanduAirport or hotel, private vehicle

Package Cost

USD170

per person

(Group of 21 or more)

2 to 11 travellers
$250
12 to 20 travellers
$200
21 and above
$170

Last updated

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The Vaishnav Circuit

What is the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan?

The Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan is a 3-day pilgrimage to six temples of Narayan, Vishnu and Krishna in the Kathmandu Valley. It is the expanded version of the Char Narayan Pilgrimage, and adds the two most visited Vaishnav temples of the valley: Budhanilkantha and Krishna Mandir in Patan. It is designed for devotees, families, Vaishnav communities and spiritual groups who want time at each temple for darshan and prayer.

Budhanilkantha stands below Shivapuri hill at the northern end of the valley, about 9 km from Thamel. Its black stone image of Vishnu, about 5 metres long, lies on the coils of the serpent Shesha in the middle of a pool about 13 metres long, and is believed to be more than 1,400 years old. By a long tradition the kings of Nepal never visited it, because of a prophecy that the king who saw it would die. The great day here is Haribodhini Ekadashi, in the month of Kartik (October or November), when Vishnu is woken from his four-month sleep and thousands of pilgrims come.

Krishna Mandir stands in Patan Durbar Square. King Siddhi Narasimha Malla built it in the 17th century, in stone and in the shikhara style of north India, which sets it apart from the tiered pagodas around it. It is dedicated to Krishna, and on Krishna Janmashtami, in the month of Bhadra (August or September), devotees fill the square through the night to celebrate his birth.

The four Char Narayan temples frame the journey. Changu Narayan, the eastern Narayan on its hilltop about 12 km east of Kathmandu, is widely regarded as the oldest Hindu temple still in use in the valley, and holds Nepal’s oldest dated inscription, of 464 CE. Ichangu Narayan, the western Narayan, stands about 3 km north-west of Swayambhu. Bishankhu Narayan is a rock shrine in Godawari, reached by steep steps, and the visit to Shesh Narayan at Pharping completes the Char Narayan pilgrimage.

A carved stone shikhara temple in Patan, its tapering tower and corner pavilions rising above a pillared base against an evening sky

“Two days for the four Narayans, and one for Vishnu at Budhanilkantha and Krishna at Patan.”

Before You Book

Who the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan Is For

The Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan is a private group pilgrimage. It suits Vaishnav pilgrimage groups, temple organisations, Hindu spiritual organisations, families, senior pilgrims, Krishna devotees and international Hindu groups, including pilgrims from India, Malaysia and Singapore. The pace is two temples a day, with a vegetarian lunch between them and the evenings free for prayer or bhajan.

Every temple is reached by private vehicle, and the whole route lies in the Kathmandu Valley at about 1,400 metres, so altitude is not a concern. There are stone steps at Changu Narayan and steep steps at Bishankhu Narayan. Rules on who may enter a shrine differ from temple to temple. Non-Hindus usually view Krishna Mandir from outside, and at Budhanilkantha they may be asked to stay outside the enclosure round the pool, so your guide will tell you what is open to you at each one.

The pilgrimage runs on any date your group asks for. October and November are clear and dry, and March to May is mild. About 80% of Nepal’s rain falls in the monsoon from June to September, which does not stop the programme but can slow the roads. Haribodhini Ekadashi at Budhanilkantha and Krishna Janmashtami at Patan bring the largest crowds of the year to those two temples. If your group lands late on day one, Changu Narayan and Ichangu Narayan move to another day of the three.

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, and everyone else pays USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days, as of September 2026. Entry fees are confirmed in your quotation. As of September 2026 the Nepal Tourism Board lists NPR 1,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 250 for SAARC nationals at Patan Durbar Square, including the Patan Museum, and NPR 300 and NPR 100 at Changu Narayan, where Indians enter free.

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 are quoted at a reduced rate that depends on their age and whether they need their own bed and meals. Indian pilgrims can be quoted in rupees. For groups, Sama Yatra can arrange a special Vishnu or Krishna puja, abhishek, sankalpa, priest assistance, flower offerings, group bhajan and kirtan, and a Hindi-speaking guide, each quoted separately.

Journey Highlights

  • Budhanilkantha’s Vishnu in his pool
  • Krishna Mandir, Patan
  • All four Char Narayan temples
  • Evening bhajan and kirtan
  • Hotel, vegetarian meals and transfers

Detailed Itinerary

3 DaysThe Vaishnav circuit of the Kathmandu Valley

The 3 days at a glance
DayRouteOvernightTravel
Day 01Char Narayan east and west: Changu Narayan and Ichangu NarayanKathmandu, about 1,400 mBy road, about 12 km east to Changu Narayan
Day 02Budhanilkantha and Krishna Mandir, PatanKathmandu, about 1,400 mBy road, Budhanilkantha and Patan
Day 03Bishankhu Narayan and Shesh Narayan, then departureTour endsBy road, then transfer to the airport or hotel
  1. Day 01Char Narayan east and west: Changu Narayan and Ichangu Narayan

    The pilgrimage begins with a pickup from Kathmandu airport or your hotel and the drive of about 12 km east to Changu Narayan on its hilltop, the eastern Narayan shrine and one of Nepal’s important Vishnu temples. There is time for darshan, prayer, a spiritual orientation, personal worship and an introduction to the shrine’s history, including King Manadeva’s inscription of 464 CE. After a vegetarian lunch, the afternoon drive across the valley to Ichangu Narayan, about 3 km north-west of Swayambhu, traditionally regarded as the western Narayan of the Char Narayan circuit, for darshan and prayer. Back in Kathmandu you check into your 3-star hotel, with a chance for evening prayer or bhajan before a vegetarian dinner. If your flight lands late, these two temples move to another day of the three. Overnight in Kathmandu, at about 1,400 metres. Lunch and dinner included.

  2. Day 02Budhanilkantha and Krishna Mandir, Patan

    After breakfast, the drive north to Budhanilkantha, about 9 km from Thamel below Shivapuri hill, for darshan of the reclining Vishnu in his pool, with prayer, a spiritual orientation and time for personal worship. Then south across the city to Patan for a vegetarian lunch, and in the afternoon Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square, one of the Kathmandu Valley’s most important Krishna temples, for darshan, prayer, an orientation to the temple and a walk through the historic streets of Patan around it. An evening bhajan or prayer session can be arranged for groups on request. Overnight in Kathmandu, at about 1,400 metres. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

  3. Day 03Bishankhu Narayan and Shesh Narayan, then departure

    After breakfast the Char Narayan pilgrimage continues at Bishankhu Narayan in Godawari, climbing the steep steps to the rock shrine for darshan and prayer. After a vegetarian lunch, on to Shesh Narayan near Pharping, about 20 km south-west of Kathmandu, for darshan, prayer, meditation, personal worship and time by the pools below the temple, and the Char Narayan pilgrimage is complete. If time permits, a visit to a Radha-Krishna or Vaishnav temple in the valley, chosen with your group, can be added. The tour ends with a transfer to Kathmandu airport or your Kathmandu hotel. Breakfast and lunch included.

What's Included

  • Private tourist vehicle with a private driver for all transport on the itinerary, including airport or hotel pickup and drop-off, fuel, parking and road costs
  • 2 nights in a comfortable 3-star Kathmandu hotel, twin or double sharing, with an upgrade available on request. Hotel names are confirmed before arrival
  • English-speaking pilgrimage guide, with temple orientation, darshan assistance, local pilgrimage coordination and group assistance throughout. A Hindi-speaking guide on request
  • Breakfast, vegetarian lunch and vegetarian dinner as listed in the itinerary, and drinking water during the journey
  • Tour coordination, basic local assistance and applicable government and service taxes

What's Not Included

  • International airfare
  • Nepal tourist visa
  • Travel insurance
  • Heritage-site entry fees, confirmed in your quotation
  • Temple donations
  • Special puja, abhishek, sankalpa and homa charges, and priest fees, quoted separately
  • 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
  • Any service not specifically listed as included

Before you book

Questions Travellers Ask

Which temples does the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan visit?

The Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan visits six temples: Changu Narayan and Ichangu Narayan on day one, Budhanilkantha and Krishna Mandir in Patan on day two, and Bishankhu Narayan and Shesh Narayan on day three.

How much does the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan cost?

The Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan costs USD 250 per person for 2 to 11 pilgrims, USD 200 for 12 to 20 and USD 170 for 21 or more, with twin sharing in a 3-star Kathmandu hotel. A single pilgrim is quoted on request.

What is the difference between the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan and the Char Narayan Pilgrimage?

The Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan is the expanded version of the Char Narayan Pilgrimage. It visits the same four Char Narayan temples and adds Budhanilkantha and Krishna Mandir in Patan, over three days instead of two.

What is Budhanilkantha famous for?

Budhanilkantha is famous for its black stone image of Vishnu, about 5 metres long, lying on the coils of the serpent Shesha in a pool of water. It is believed to be more than 1,400 years old, and it is most crowded on Haribodhini Ekadashi in October or November.

Can non-Hindus enter Budhanilkantha and Krishna Mandir?

Not always. At Krishna Mandir in Patan non-Hindus usually view the temple from outside, and at Budhanilkantha they may be asked to stay outside the enclosure round the pool. Your guide will tell you what is open to you at each temple.

Is the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan suitable for senior pilgrims?

Yes. On the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan every temple is reached by private vehicle and the valley sits at about 1,400 metres. There are stone steps at Changu Narayan and steep steps at Bishankhu Narayan.

What is the best time for the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan?

October to November and March to May bring the best weather for the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan. The pilgrimage runs year round on any date a group asks for, and the June to September monsoon can slow the roads.

What are the entry fees on the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan?

Entry fees for the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan are confirmed in your quotation. As of September 2026 the Nepal Tourism Board lists NPR 1,000 for foreign nationals and NPR 250 for SAARC nationals at Patan Durbar Square, and NPR 300 and NPR 100 at Changu Narayan, where Indians enter free.

Are the meals vegetarian on the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan?

Yes. Every lunch and dinner on the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan is vegetarian, and breakfast is included on days two and three.

Can we arrange a puja or bhajan on the Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan?

Yes. Sama Yatra can arrange a special Vishnu or Krishna puja, abhishek, sankalpa, priest assistance, group bhajan and kirtan, subject to temple and priest availability, each quoted separately.

Do Indians need a visa for the Kathmandu Vaishnav 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.

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

Sama Yatra takes a 30% deposit to confirm a Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan 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.

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.

Narayan, Vishnu and Krishna in the Kathmandu Valley in 3 Days.Plan your Kathmandu Vaishnav Darshan.

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