The Changu Narayan temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bhaktapur, is an ancient Vishnu Temple surrounded by dense forest. It is located on a small hill among a hamlet of few Newari settlements. (A hill is called 'changu' in Newari, hence the name of the temple.) The original temple can be traced back to the 4th century, during the Licchavi era (450CE - 750CE). When the king ascended the throne in 464 CE, he chose the site of the temple to erect the pillar that bears the oldest dated inscription in the Kathmandu Valley. Over the years, the temple has been destroyed multiple times in earthquakes and fires but restored by the Licchavi and Malla kings. Many historians claim that the structure we see today could have been erected in the 16th or 17th century, and the older materials might have been reused during the restorations. 

 

The temple is a two-tiered pagoda with one of the most intricate stone and wood carvings in the valley. A stone tablet (shilapatra) found around the temple dates back to the 5th century, which makes it one of the oldest dated inscriptions. Many stone carvings of various Gods and Goddesses have been found here that are dated between the 5th and 12th centuries. These sculptures and carvings are mainly seen surrounding the square courtyard and on the pillars. The lower roof is covered with red tiles, while the upper roof is made with gilt copper with a pinnacle on the top, both supported by wooden struts. In the northwest corner of the temple lies the famous pillar of the first Licchavi king Manadeva. It was initially in front of the main entrance but later could have been shifted due to the damages caused by the earthquake. The capital of the pillar is a gilded lotus and a chakra which was added in 1860. 

 

The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is a sacred site, especially for the Vaishnavites. Hence we see a lot of sculptures of Vishnu and his ten avatars. The main pillars of the courtyard have the carvings of the four divine possessions of Vishnu -  the sankha (conch), the chakra (discus), the gadaa (mace), and the padma (lotus). There are also smaller temples and shrines dedicated to Shiva and Durga, along with idols of Goddess Chhinnamasta (goddess devoid of a head), Badeshwar Mahadev, Laxmi Narayan, and Kileshwar. Hence the temple becomes a significant site as it demonstrates a high degree of mutual respect and tolerance between the different sects of Hinduism.