Kakrebihar

Kakrebihar, set on a small forested hill near Birendranagar in Surkhet, is the reconstructed ruin of a 12th-century stone shrine that blended Buddhist and Hindu iconography. Its carved stone blocks, depicting the Buddha alongside Hindu deities, make it the foremost medieval monument of the Karnali region.

Built around the 12th century, probably under the Khasa Malla kingdom that ruled the Karnali and western Himalaya, the temple collapsed and lay as a scattered mound of carved stones for centuries. It has since been studied and partially reassembled, with many sculptures depicting scenes from the Buddha's life.

Kakrebihar is a rare surviving example of Khasa Malla-era stone architecture and of the Hindu–Buddhist synthesis of medieval western Nepal, central to understanding the region's history.

The monument is a stepped stone shikhara-type shrine reconstructed from intricately carved blocks, with images of the Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Hindu gods, set on a low hill amid sal forest and surrounding archaeological remains.

Current condition: Partially reconstructed archaeological monument

Conserved by the Department of Archaeology; reassembly of carved stones and protection of the forest setting are ongoing.