Town or village · 1,400 m
Kirtipur
An old Newar hill town on Kathmandu's south-western edge, with temples, valley views and a dramatic history of resistance.
Kathmanduदक्षिणकाली मन्दिर
Dakshinkali Temple
A Hindu temple to the goddess Kali in a forested gorge south of Pharping, known for its Tuesday and Saturday animal sacrifices.
- Altitude
- 1,480 m*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Type
- Temple, monastery or heritage site
- District
- Kathmandu, Bagmati
- Permit
- None needed
Why go
Dakshinkali is one of the most important Hindu temples in the Kathmandu Valley, dedicated to Kali, the fierce form of the mother goddess. It lies in a narrow, forested gorge at the meeting of two streams, about 1 km south of Pharping and roughly 22-25 km from central Kathmandu. A paved path leads down from the road past rows of stalls selling flowers, coconuts, sweets and offerings to the open-air shrine, where the black stone image of the goddess stands under a gilded canopy.
The temple is busiest on Tuesdays and especially Saturdays, when families come to make offerings and sacrifice animals, usually cockerels and male goats, to the goddess. The sacrifices are carried out by butchers at the shrine, and the meat is then taken home or cooked for a family picnic in the grounds. It is an intense scene that some visitors find difficult. On other days the temple is much quieter.
Dakshinkali is usually visited with Pharping and its Buddhist caves, a few minutes up the road, and the two together make a half-day or full-day trip from Kathmandu. During Dashain in October the temple draws very large crowds.
History and culture
The name means 'Kali of the south', reflecting the temple's position on the southern edge of the valley. One explanation links it to Yama, god of death, who dwells in the south and fears Kali, so that her worshippers are believed to overcome death; another associates dakshina, the gift given to a priest, with the goddess's right hands raised in blessing. These are traditional interpretations. A popular story says a Malla king built the shrine after the goddess appeared to him in a dream, though the date of its founding is not firmly established.
Dakshinkali is shown with her right foot on the chest of Shiva, which distinguishes her from the more fearsome Vamakali. Worship at the temple combines the offerings of flowers and food common to Hindu temples with blood sacrifice, a practice shared with other goddess temples of the valley. The eighth day of Dashain, when sacrifices are offered to the goddess Durga, is the busiest of the year.
Things to do in Dakshinkali Temple
Visit on a weekday
Come on a day other than Tuesday or Saturday to see the shrine without the crowds and sacrifices.
Watch from above
If you visit on a sacrifice day, view the shrine from the path above rather than entering the enclosure, which is for Hindu worshippers.
Combine with Pharping
Walk or drive about 1 km to Pharping's caves and monasteries.
Weather and the best time to visit Dakshinkali Temple
Weather in Dakshinkali Temple
Forecast for 1,480 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are clear; Dashain in October brings very large crowds, especially on the eighth day.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is dry and cool, with mist in the gorge in the early morning.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April are pleasant, with the forest around the gorge in leaf.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings heavy rain; the steps down to the shrine can be slippery and the road slow.
Where to stay
GuesthousesMonastery guesthouses
Pharping, 1 km away, has simple lodges and monastery guesthouses; most visitors return to Kathmandu the same day.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Dakshinkali is about 22-25 km south of central Kathmandu, at the end of the road through Chobhar and Pharping.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- roadTaxi from Thamel, about 50-80 minutes depending on traffic.
- roadLocal buses from the Ratna Park area run to Pharping and Dakshinkali, around 1-1.5 hours.
- walkFrom Pharping, about 1 km south, 15-20 minutes on foot.
Getting to Dakshinkali Temple, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom Kathmanduabout 1-1.5 hLocal buses
Local buses run from the Ratna Park area to Pharping and on to Dakshinkali, ending near the temple gate.
When to set off: Saturdays and Tuesdays are the main sacrifice days and buses fill early, so leave by 07:00
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 0.8-1.4 h
About 22 to 25 km south of the centre at the end of the Chobhar and Pharping road; parking is at the top of the steps.
Road: Sealed but narrow and winding beyond Chobhar, with rough patches on the final descent.
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 0.7-1.2 hEasy riding
A straightforward hill run on sealed road, slippery in the monsoon.
Road: Sealed, narrow and winding with patchy sections south of Chobhar.
On footfrom Pharpingabout 0.25-0.4 h15-20 minutes from Pharping, about 1 km, downhill
A short walk south from Pharping along the road to the temple gate.
Where people go next
- Pharpingon foot, about 0.25-0.4 hThe monastery and cave village just north.
- Kathmanduby bus, about 1-1.5 hBack to the city by local bus.
- Kulekhani (Indra Sarowar)by car or jeep, about 1-1.8 hOn south-west to the reservoir and Markhu.
Permits and fees
None needed
There is no entry fee for the temple; offerings and donations are voluntary.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Dakshinkali Temple, Wikipedia.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Dakshinkali Temple
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Othermoderate in a typical yearDec-Apr
Dry-season dust and haze are a normal feature of the Kathmandu valley, where measured PM2.5 has run several times the WHO guideline level. Visitors prone to asthma usually do better on early mornings and after rain.
Landslideslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
The road south through Chobhar and Pharping runs along the valley rim and sees small slips and slumped edges in the June to September rains.
Road blockageslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
Heavy monsoon rain typically slows the Dakshinkali road, and the stone steps down to the shrine become slippery.
Floodinglow in a typical yearJun-Sep
The shrine sits in a stream gorge that runs hard after heavy rain between June and September.
Coldlow in a typical yearDec-Feb
Valley nights from December to February typically fall to around freezing, with morning fog burning off by mid-morning, and few buildings have heating.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- The inner shrine enclosure is for Hindu worshippers; non-Hindus usually watch from outside.
- Do not photograph sacrifices or worshippers without permission, and keep a respectful distance.
- Expect heavy traffic and crowds on Saturdays and during Dashain.
- Remove leather items and shoes where required near the shrine.
- The temple has been reported to close for rituals around late morning on some days; check locally.
Questions about Dakshinkali Temple
When are animal sacrifices held at Dakshinkali?
Mainly on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and in large numbers during Dashain in October.
Can tourists enter Dakshinkali Temple?
Visitors can walk down to the temple area, but the inner shrine enclosure is for Hindu worshippers and is best viewed from outside.
How far is Dakshinkali from Kathmandu?
About 22-25 km, 50-80 minutes by taxi or 1-1.5 hours by local bus.
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Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Dakshinkali Temple, Wikipedia, Pharping, Wikipedia, Dakshinkali Temple, OpenStreetMap