Kankeshwari Temple (Chamundadevi Temple) – Kathmandu
The temple was built in 1644 CE with the three gilt copper roofs outside are matched in beauty by the carved roof struts of the era . The outside are a plethora of bronze flags, guardian lions and bells. The grandeur is restored and maintained where the complex is considered as a treasure of shrines, chaitya, statues and pillars It is situated in the Kathmandu Durbar square area and compared to Gokarna Temple (because of the Unique statues) . Inside the temple there is no statue nd we find tantric stones representing Chamunda ,a symbol fearsome incarnation of Devi. During the eighth day of the Dashain festival popular in Nepal before Diwali local folklore visit the temple to celebrate Kankeshwari (Chamunda/Devi).
The Highlights of Kankeshwari
The most famous and intricate is the first statue i.e., Manjushri in the courtyard of the temple (The founder of Kathmandu Valley who cut the mountains and trained a lake to create a valley) .
Next to Manjushri is Dhartimata who we can also discover in Kritipur. We also find God rama and sita with Hanumana Another two rare statues on the other side are a colorful pillar showcasing several Hindu gods and a rare statue of a worshiper pouring milk over the Shiva Lingam. Around the temple you will see two cremation areas. It is a rare site to find cremation sites close to the temple and not in vicinity of the river although the river is flowing near the temple, but this makes it different from the accepted concept .
In 2016 Kankeshwari became part of UNESCO Heritage walk linked with Kathmandu Durbar square to Swayambhu . There is no traffic in this area & you can meet local community and enjoy the peaceful ambiance & it is free to be in the area with no restriction.
