Temple · Hindu
Vatsala Durga Temple
वत्सला दुर्गा मन्दिर
Durga (Vatsala Devi, tantric form)·Built 1672–1674 AD by Kings Jagat Prakash and Jitmitra Malla·Bhaktapur
A striking white stone shikhara temple in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, famous for its 'barking bell' that is said to make dogs howl when rung.
Dedicated to
Durga (Vatsala Devi, tantric form)
Period
Built 1672–1674 AD by Kings Jagat Prakash and Jitmitra Malla
Hours
Dawn to dusk
Admission
Free
Neighborhood
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
The Vatsala Durga Temple is one of the most recognizable landmarks of Bhaktapur Durbar Square — a gleaming white stone shikhara that stands in elegant contrast to the surrounding red-brick pagodas. Resembling Patan's Krishna Mandir in its North Indian architectural style, the temple is dedicated to the tantric goddess Durga, represented in Sri Yantra form.
Construction was begun by King Jagat Prakash Malla in 1672 AD and completed by his son King Jitmitra Malla in 1674 AD. King Bhupatindra Malla later added embellishments during his reign, including the famous 'barking bell' in 1721 — legend holds that dogs in the vicinity start barking and whining whenever this bell is rung.
The temple features nine pinnacles, with smaller ones housing goddess images on the first floor. The entrance is guarded by a pair of lions and elephants, and the intricate stone carvings reward close inspection. A Kalash representation of Vatsala Durga, previously hidden behind locked doors, became visible to the public for the first time after the 2015 earthquake.
The temple was severely damaged in the 2015 earthquake but was meticulously reconstructed by Bhaktapur Municipality between 2017 and 2021 using traditional building methods, preserving its original character while ensuring structural integrity for future generations.
- Expanded during the reign of Bhupatindra MallaHis reign
The stone shikhara beside the palace, whose great bell of 1721 — the 'barking bell' — was hung in his last years.
Folio III
Nearby Sacred Sites
Places within a short walk that help turn this stop into a small sacred cluster.
Taleju Bhawani Temple
The holiest shrine of Bhaktapur's Malla kings, hidden within the Mul Chowk palace courtyard and accessible only to Hindus — guarded by the magnificent Golden Gate.
Yaksheshwor Mahadev Temple (Pashupatinath of Bhaktapur)
Bhaktapur's own Pashupatinath — a 15th-century two-tiered pagoda modelled after the famous Kathmandu temple, with erotic carvings and a four-faced Shivalinga.
Chatur Varna Mahavihar
Bhaktapur's most visited mahavihar near Durbar Square, built in 1492 with a fascinating mix of Buddhist and Hindu guardian figures.
Mangal Dharmadweep Mahavihar (Jhaur Bahi)
A 13th-century monastery in Bhaktapur's Golmadhi Tole featuring rare wall paintings of various Buddhas and a Dipankar Buddha dressed in distinctive blue garments.
Bhairavnath Temple
A three-tiered pagoda on the north side of Taumadhi Square — dedicated to **Akash Bhairav**, the fierce form of Shiva — whose chariot opens the nine-day **Bisket Jatra** that ushers in the Nepali New Year each April.
Coda
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Bhaktapur Durbar Square
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