Changunarayan Temple

Perched on a ridge above the Manohara valley near Bhaktapur, Changunarayan is dedicated to Vishnu (Narayan) and is regarded as the oldest standing temple in Nepal. Its courtyard is effectively an open-air museum of Lichhavi-era stone art.

A stone pillar inscription here, dated to 464 CE in the reign of King Manadeva, is the oldest known dated inscription in Nepal. The temple has been rebuilt several times after fires; the present two-tiered pagoda dates largely to the late 17th century.

The site is a treasury of early Nepali iconography, including the famous images of Vishnu Vishwarupa, Vishnu Trivikrama and Garuda. It is central to the study of Lichhavi history and art.

A double-roofed pagoda stands on a stone plinth, its gilded doorway and torana richly worked in repoussé metal. The surrounding courtyard holds dozens of stone and metal masterpieces spanning the 5th to 12th centuries.

Current condition: Restored after 2015 earthquake; sculptures conserved on site

Restoration led with support from heritage trusts; loose sculptures inventoried to deter the antiquities theft that has affected the valley.