3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
One hour from Kathmandu by bus
When to go
Between October and March, especially Tuesdays and Saturdays
Minimum stay
One day
Dakshinkali (Nepal)
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David Debrincat
Practical information on Dakshinkali
Reviews of Dakshinkali
Situated 20km South of Kathmandu, Dakshin Kali is a site of great importance to Hinduism in Nepal.
My suggestion:
The best days to visit Dakshin Kali are Tuesday, and above all Saturday. The other days of the week, there is nothing going on.
My review
Dakshin Kali is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Nepal. The roads surrounding the site are home to a real open-air market, with all sorts of trinkets on offer.
Every Tuesday, but it's even more impressive on a Saturday, when the Hindus descend upon the temple, where they offer sacrifices, which are supposed to appease the goddess Kali's wrath. I'd even suggest arriving on Friday - so you don't miss out on the morning ceremonies. Before you make the journey to Dakshin Kali, I should probably tell you exactly what happens there. Kali is known by Hindus for her wrath. To appease this and satisfy her thirst for blood, the faithful come by their thousands to sacrifice their chickens, goats and more... The animals are beheaded one by one; the priests-come-butchers literally wade in a pool of blood. To be honest, I personally found the whole show a bit grim and sickening. I much preferred the offerings of flowers which were made in the temple a little bit further up.
*After the powerful earthquakes which hit Nepal in April and May 2015, the country is slowly rebuilding itself. This article was written before the disaster.
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David Debrincat
A temple dedicated to Kali and an honoured place of pilgrimage in the Kathmandu Valley.
My suggestion:
The zone was seriously damaged in the wake of the 2015 earthquake (I was there the year before), so some temples may be destroyed... Information that you should confirm when you get there or when you're organising your trip.
My review
Dakshinkali is a lovely temple, known for its ceremonies and sacrifices. Sensitive souls should abstain from going there on a Saturday or Tuesday (celebration days) with the risk of witnessing a spectacle which will definitely appear unpleasant to you. However, these are also the days of interest to immerse yourself into a completely different culture to our own (at least those who are non Hindus). The offerings also take the form of flowers, spices and fruit. The atmosphere is consistently good in a zen way, all forming a rather nice ensemble.
The sacrifices were not my favourite moments of the day, particularly when the hibiscus juice resembling blood flows along the steps, in order to heighten the sensational effect... A detail which seemed a bit gory to me (but all a question of perception). Whatever it be, lovers of escapades beyond the beaten track will be delighted! An unexpected experience duringyour journey in Nepalese lands.
I must add that I visited Nepal before the 2015 earthquake, so it is possible that the places may have changed a lot since.
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Richard Mortel
157 travelers' photos
