Guji Bahal (Vaishravarna Mahavihar)
वैश्रवर्ण महाविहार·गुजि बहा:
One of the 18 principal mahavihars of Patan, named after Vaishravana (Kubera), the Buddhist guardian king of the north and deity of wealth.
Dedicated To
Vaishravana (Kubera)
Period
Medieval (part of the 18 Mahavihar network)
Hours
Open courtyard (accessible during daytime)
Entry Fee
Free
Neighborhood
Sundhara, central Patan
Location
Lalitpur, Bagmati
Visiting Etiquette
Remove shoes before entering shrines. Walk clockwise. Be respectful of residents in the surrounding neighborhood.
Guji Bahal, formally known as Vaishravarna Mahavihar, is one of the 18 principal mahavihars in Patan's ancient Acharya Guthi network. The name connects to Vaishravana (Kubera), the Buddhist guardian king of the north and deity of wealth — a figure revered in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Located in the historic Sundhara neighborhood, named after its beautiful stone water fountains (sun = gold, dhara = spout), the bahal is surrounded by some of Patan's finest examples of traditional Newari water infrastructure and urban design.
The monastery follows the traditional courtyard layout characteristic of Newar Buddhist architecture: a stone-paved central courtyard surrounded by two-story buildings with carved wooden windows, ornate roof struts, and metalwork decorations. The central shrine houses Buddhist images that receive daily worship from the local Bajracharya community.
Guji Bahal's Sundhara location makes it a rewarding stop on a walking tour that combines sacred architecture with the Valley's remarkable medieval water engineering.