Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square opened Taleju Temple on 20 October

Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square opened Taleju Bhawani Temple to the public in Kathmandu on 20 October 2026 for Mahanawami, the ninth day of Dashain. The annual religious opening was confirmed by the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Care Office and offered worshippers access to a part of the palace complex that is normally closed.

Taleju Bhawani Temple opened for Mahanawami

The temple opened for worship and prayers on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Nepal News reported that the decision was confirmed by Jayanti Shrestha Pradhan, chief of the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Care Office, after consultations with the relevant authorities. Nepal News reported the opening.

The public access was a one-day annual opening linked to Mahanawami. Khabarhub also placed the Taleju Bhawani Temple within Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square and confirmed that the temple was opened for devotees on 20 October. Khabarhub confirmed the date. The opening connected a current visitor opportunity with one of the most important ritual areas inside the historic royal complex.

How the opening relates to the palace complex

Taleju Bhawani Temple stands within the Hanuman Dhoka palace complex, where the goddess is associated with the religious traditions of the former royal city. The temple normally opens to the general public only during Mahanawami, making the 20 October access different from an ordinary visit to the surrounding square.

The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 as one property made up of seven monument zones. Hanuman Dhoka is the Kathmandu zone, alongside the palace squares of Patan and Bhaktapur and four religious ensembles. UNESCO describes the seven zones. Its surviving palaces, temples and public spaces reflect Newar craftsmanship in brick, stone, timber and bronze.

The annual opening therefore places a living ritual inside a protected historic setting. Visitors encountered the religious function of the complex rather than only its architecture, while the surrounding square remained the setting for the public movement of worshippers and the Dashain season.

Visiting Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The special access to Taleju Bhawani Temple took place on 20 October 2026 during Mahanawami at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu.
• The opening was for worship and prayers and was limited to the annual Mahanawami access arranged by the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Care Office.
• The site is in central Kathmandu and forms the citys Hanuman Dhoka monument zone within the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property.
• Visitors encounter palace courtyards, temples and public spaces, with carved brick, stone and timber architecture recorded by UNESCO across the World Heritage property.
• Nepals official language is Nepali and its national currency is the Nepalese rupee.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square

When did Taleju Bhawani Temple open at Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square?

The temple opened for public worship and prayers on 20 October 2026 during Mahanawami.

What is Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square?

It is the Kathmandu monument zone of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property, containing palace buildings, temples and public spaces.

Where is Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square and how do you get there?

The complex is in central Kathmandu, Nepal, within the historic urban area of the capital.