Overview
In a forested gorge at the confluence of the Bagmati and Nakhu rivers near Pharping, southwest of Kathmandu. One of Nepal's most important Kali shrines and its best known living site of ritual animal sacrifice.
History
The founding legend attributes the shrine to King Pratap Malla, who reigned 1641 to 1674, after a dream in which Kali commanded it. Note a common error: two tourism sources place Pratap Malla in the fourteenth century, which is wrong by some three hundred years and has not been followed here. An open-air shrine rather than an enclosed temple, in Newari idiom with a multi-tiered pagoda canopy.
Spiritual Significance
Dakshinkali is where a form of worship that has receded elsewhere continues openly and at scale. Visitors should know that before going: the sacrifices, chiefly of goats and cockerels, are performed in the open, most heavily on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Prayers at Dakshinkali Temple
अम्बे तू है जगदम्बे काली
जय काली जगदम्ब जय,हरनि ओघ अघ पुंज। वास करहु निज दास के,निशदिन हृदय निकुंज॥
जय जय सीताराम के,मध्यवासिनी अम्ब। देहु दर्श जगदम्ब,अब करो न मातु विलम्ब॥
Pilgrimage Information
Access. Disputed in the sources. One states that non-Hindus are barred from the inner sanctum; another says they are welcome. The question is left open rather than guessed at, so check locally. Nepal restricts entry to several major temples, sometimes only to the inner sanctum and sometimes to the whole compound. Where this page records a restriction it is what sources state; where sources conflict it says so. Confirm locally before travelling a long way.
Sources
- Dakshinkali Temple other
About this page
Researched and written by YatraBeyond from published sources, and not yet confirmed by the temple. Facts here are cross-checked against at least two independent sources, never written from memory, and every source is listed above.
Last reviewed by us: 2026-09-17. Timings, entry rules and access can change without notice; treat anything time-sensitive as a starting point and confirm before you travel.
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