Kalikasthan Temple

Kalikasthan Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Durga situated on the upper storey of a house located in Dillibazar of Kathmandu valley. The temple is of two storey where the idol of Goddess Durga is kept on the upper floor and next floor houses family of the priest of the temple. The name of the area was also named after the name of this temple. This temple is considered to be one of the most respected and faithful Kali’s power centers. Every Saturday and during the Navaratri (ninth day of Dashain) is the special day for worshipping her and the temple receives the high number of devotees to visit the goddess. In addition, she is also worshipped every day but the number of worshippers might is less in comparison to some special days and occasions.

Moreover, Kalikasthan Temple is also a paid homage during the occasion of Hindu’s greatest festival, Dashain. Goddess Durga (Kali) loves the free sky as she likes to see everything and everywhere, so she lacks any roof over her head in the temple. It is said and believed that when Harka Bahadur came in this place in an earlier time, it was a forest and he was lying in one corner in the shade of a tree when a Rana Prime Minister passed by. Harka told the king about his dream and the conversation with the goddess and her wish to build a temple for her. As a devotee of Kali, the Rana ruler gifted him the land and the permission to build the temple.

However, the main priests of this temple are only the descendants of Harka Bahadur Shrestha’s family, who came from Thimi of Bhaktapur district. At present time, Kush Khadka and his wife Sabitri Khadka and their children Kishan and Kiran Khadka look after the temple.