Town or village
Dailekh Bazaar
The hill bazaar headquarters of Dailekh district, close to the Shirsthan and Nabhisthan flame shrines.
Far Westपञ्चकोशी, दैलेख
Panchakoshi (Dailekh)
A circuit of five Hindu shrines in Dailekh where small natural gas flames burn from the ground.
This record covers the group of natural flame shrines in Dailekh district known as the Panchakoshi, not a single temple.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Temple, monastery or heritage site
- District
- Dailekh, Karnali
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep).
Why go
The Panchakoshi is a group of five Hindu shrines in Dailekh district, Karnali Province, each with small flames of natural gas burning from the ground or from water. The sites are usually listed as Shirsthan, Nabhisthan, Dhuleshwar, Kotila and Padukasthan. They are spread across the district, and visiting all of them takes several days of road travel and walking, but two of them lie close to Dailekh Bazaar and are easy to see.
At most of the shrines the flames are small, flickering from cracks in rock or bubbling up through a pool, and are enclosed within a simple temple or courtyard. Pilgrims offer ghee, flowers and coins, and priests tend the sites. The setting of each shrine is different, from the busy edge of the bazaar to quiet hillsides among terraced fields and forest.
For visitors the Panchakoshi is less a single sight than a reason to travel through Dailekh, one of the least visited hill districts of western Nepal. The circuit combines well with the history of Dullu, where one of the shrines is found, and with walks through the surrounding villages.
History and culture
In local tradition the five sites correspond to parts of a divine body, with Shirsthan linked to the head, Nabhisthan to the navel and Padukasthan to the feet, and the flames are worshipped as the goddess Jwala, a form of Durga. Similar flame shrines are found elsewhere in the Himalaya, and the Dailekh group has long drawn pilgrims from across western Nepal.
The shrines are busiest during major Hindu festivals, and fairs are held at several of them. The communities around them are mainly Chhetri, Thakuri, Brahmin and Dalit, and the priests and caretakers of the sites are local families who have served them for generations. Visitors are welcome but should remember that these are active places of worship.
Things to do in Panchakoshi (Dailekh)
Bazaar shrines
Visit Shirsthan and Nabhisthan from Dailekh Bazaar in a half day.
Dhuleshwar and Dullu
Combine the Dhuleshwar flame with the historic sites of Dullu.
Full circuit
With local transport and a guide, visit all five sites over several days.
Weather and the best time to visit Panchakoshi (Dailekh)
Weather in Panchakoshi (Dailekh)
Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are dry and clear, the best time for travel and for festivals at the Panchakoshi shrines.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cool and dry; nights are cold at the higher shrines and fog can sit in the valleys.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March and April are pleasant, with rhododendron on the higher ridges; May becomes warm and hazy.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to September brings heavy rain and frequent landslides on the hill roads from Surkhet.
Where to stay
HotelsGuesthousesHomestays
Base yourself in Dailekh Bazaar; elsewhere accommodation is very basic or arranged locally.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Use Dailekh Bazaar as a base, reached by road from Birendranagar, and visit the shrines by local jeep and on foot.
Nearest hub: Dailekh Bazaar
- roadBus or jeep from Birendranagar to Dailekh Bazaar, several hours on a hill road.
- jeepLocal jeeps reach the outlying shrines and Dullu; some sites need a walk from the road.
- walkShirsthan and Nabhisthan are a short walk or ride from the bazaar.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed to visit the Panchakoshi shrines.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Nepal Tourism Board.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Panchakoshi (Dailekh)
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon landslides affect the roads to Dailekh and the feeder roads to the outlying shrines.
Road blockagesmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Rural roads to Kotila and Padukasthan may be impassable after heavy rain.
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
- Ask before photographing the flames or rituals, and remove shoes where asked.
- A local guide or driver who knows the sites saves time, as signposting is minimal.
- Festival days are crowded; ordinary days are quieter for a visit.
Questions about Panchakoshi (Dailekh)
What are the five Panchakoshi sites?
They are usually listed as Shirsthan, Nabhisthan, Dhuleshwar, Kotila and Padukasthan, all in Dailekh district.
Why do flames burn at the shrines?
Natural gas seeps from the ground and burns as small flames, which are worshipped as the goddess Jwala.
Can I see the shrines in one day?
Shirsthan and Nabhisthan, near the bazaar, can be seen in a day; the full circuit takes several days.
Nearby
Temple, monastery or heritage site
Dullu
An old hill town in Dailekh with a Khas Malla era inscribed pillar and the Dhuleshwar flame shrine.
Town or village
Birendranagar
The capital of Karnali Province, a planned town in the broad Surkhet valley and the road gateway to the Karnali hills.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-08. Sources: Dailekh District, Wikipedia, Karnali Province, Wikipedia