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Kathmandu Photo Gallery - Changu Narayan

I have been to Kathmandu many times over the years. Here are photos of Changu Narayan from April 2008

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 01 View From Entrance Changu Narayan Temple is a pagoda-style Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan. It was originally built around the 4C, but the present temple was rebuilt in 1702 after it was destroyed by fire. It is situated on a ridge at 1541m overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, about 22 km to the east of Kathmandu and 6 km north of Bhaktapur. Though the temple is quite beautiful, especially the doors and front facade, Changu Narayan is not known for its temple but for the stone statues, bas-relief carvings, and inscriptions that are scattered around the temple courtyard, created between the 5th and 13th century.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 01 View From Entrance

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 02 South Side Elephants The south side of the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley is guarded by a pair of stone elephants.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 02 South Side Elephants

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 03 Main Side The beautifully gilded door on the west side of the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley is guarded by stone lions and has intricate gilded windows on either side. Two of the traditional symbols of Vishnu are on the pillars to the left and right – the chakra wheel and conch shell.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 03 Main Side

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 04 Main Side Close Up Here is a close up view of the main entrance to the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley. The old stone inscription is at the centre bottom.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 04 Main Side Close Up

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 05 Vishnu Above Main Door Vishnu is engraved in the brass work of the torana above the main west door of the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 05 Vishnu Above Main Door

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 06 Oldest Stone Inscription In Kathmandu Valley On the west side of Changu Narayan Temple is the oldest stone inscription in the Kathmandu Valley, dating from 464AD. The inscription is in Sanskrit and tells how the king persuaded his mother not to commit ritual suicide after his father’s death.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 06 Oldest Stone Inscription In Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 07 Garuda Statue Facing the main entrance to the Changu Narayan Temple is a life size 5C statue of a kneeling Garuda, the carrier of Lord Vishnu, with a snake around his neck and his hands together saying Namaste.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 07 Garuda Statue

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 08 King Bhupatindra Malla And His Queen Kneeling In a Gilded Cage King Bhupatindra Malla, the ruler of Bhaktapur from 1696 to 1722, and his queen kneel in a gilded cage in front of the main entrance to Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 08 King Bhupatindra Malla And His Queen Kneeling In a Gilded Cage

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 09 Vishnu Riding Garuda In the northwest corner of the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley is a 7C statue of Vishnu riding on the back of Garuda. Vishnu holds a chakra wheel and a long mace club in his raised hands, while his lower hands hold a lotus and conch shell.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 09 Vishnu Riding Garuda

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 10 Vishnu With Boar Heads Riding Garuda Vishnu has what I count to be 12 arms and 7 heads, including two boar heads, as he rides on Garuda at the Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 10 Vishnu With Boar Heads Riding Garuda

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 11-1 10-Headed Vishnu Stone Statue A small black slab from 5C or 6C shows a 10-headed and 10-armed standing Vishnu, with another Vishnu reclining on a bed of snakes below. The scenes are divided into three sections – the heavens, the world of men, and the underworld below.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 11-1 10-Headed Vishnu Stone Statue

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 11-2 10-Headed Vishnu Stone Statue Close Up Here is a close up of the 10-headed Vishnu at Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 11-2 10-Headed Vishnu Stone Statue Close Up

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 12 Vishnu Standing On Pedestal Vishnu stands on a pedestal holding a chakra wheel and lotus in his right hands, and a small mace club and conch shell in his left hands at Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley This image dates from around the ninth century.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 12 Vishnu Standing On Pedestal

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 13 Vishnu Above East Door Here is another image of Vishnu, this one engraved in the brass on the torana above the east door of Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 13 Vishnu Above East Door

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 14 Roof Strut Multi-armed Tantric Deity The double-roofed Changu Narayan Temple in the Kathmandu Valley has intricate roof struts with multi-armed Tantric deities, masterpieces of Newari carving.

Kathmandu Changu Narayan 14 Roof Strut Multi-armed Tantric Deity