Hiranya Varna Mahavihar (Golden Temple)
हिरण्यवर्ण महाविहार
A stunning 12th-century Newar Buddhist monastery in Patan with a golden facade, one of the finest bahals in the Kathmandu Valley.
Dedicated To
Shakyamuni Buddha
Period
12th century CE
Hours
6:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Entry Fee
NPR 50 / USD 1
Neighborhood
Patan Durbar Square area
Location
Lalitpur, Bagmati
Visiting Etiquette
No leather items allowed inside (belts, bags, shoes). Remove shoes. Walk clockwise. Photography allowed in courtyard, not inside main shrine.
Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, popularly known as the Golden Temple, is one of the most beautiful and important Buddhist bahals (monastery courtyards) in Patan. Founded in the 12th century, the three-story structure is covered in gilded copper plates that gleam golden in sunlight.
The monastery follows the classic Newar bahal layout — a rectangular courtyard enclosed by residential wings. The main shrine houses a beautiful golden statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. The metalwork throughout is extraordinary: gilded facades, intricate repousse work, and rows of prayer wheels along the courtyard walls.
A unique tradition requires that a young boy from the local Shakya clan serves as the temple's caretaker-priest for 30 days, after which another boy takes over. This rotating priesthood has continued unbroken for centuries. No leather items are allowed inside the temple.