Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple is located just 10 km from Lamidanda, Panchkhal, in the Kavrepalnchowk district.
I visited this sacred site on my way back from Shailung, Dolakha. But don’t worry—I’ll be sharing all the details as if you’re traveling from Kathmandu!
If you’re a devotee of Devi, this Bhagwati temple deserves a spot on your travel bucket list. Let’s dive into the blog!
Key Facts About Palanchowk Bhagwati
| Location | Palanchowk, Panchkhal, Kavrepalanchowk, Bagmati Province |
| Altitude | 1,562 m (source) |
| Distance (from Kathmandu) | 50 – 55 km approx. |
| Distance (from Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur) | 40 km approx. |
| Distance (from Panauti, Kavre) | 30 – 35 km approx. |
| Mode of Transportation | Private or Public |
| Ride/Drive Duration | 2 – 2.5 hours (from Kathmandu) |
| Hike Duration (from Panchkhal) | 3 -5 hours (source) |
| Hike Duration (from Dolalghat) | 3 hours approx. (source) |
| Best Time to Visit | All seasons (prime time: Dashain/Chaite Dashain) |
Religious Significance of Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple
As the name suggests, Palanchowk Bhagwati is home to Tridevi. The temple, built during the Licchavi period by King Mandev, houses a magnificent 3-foot-tall idol of the goddess within its three-tiered pagoda-style structure.
You might be surprised to learn that the artisan who crafted this idol was amputated to prevent any reproduction or duplication of the masterpiece.
Interestingly, the district Kavrepalanchowk is named after Palanchowk Bhagwati, otherwise many simply refer to it as Kavre. I prefer the former.
A common belief suggests that before worshiping at Palanchowk Bhagwati, devotees should first visit Kalika Bhagwati, her elder sister, located just 500 meters away. However, the choice is entirely yours!
Even the powerful 1990 earthquake and the April 2015 one couldn’t cause significant damage to this sacred temple. When I recently visited, I found the reconstruction work already completed.
Now, let’s dive into its history. Legend has it that Goddess Palanchok Bhagwati appeared in King Mandev’s dream, asking for her idol to be moved from Buchhakot to a location further north.
In an effort to fulfill this divine request, the king, accompanied by his queen and porters, set off on a journey carrying the idol.
They stopped for the night at Jagpankpur, but by morning, the porters found themselves unable to lift the idol. Taking this as a divine sign, they built the temple at that very spot. And today, Jagpankpur is known as Palanchowk Bhagwati.
At present, a Chyamma Pooja is held on every full moon day of Baisakh and Jestha. And, of course, during Dashain’s Nawami, the temple is filled with devotees seeking blessings.
Each morning, a nitya pooja is performed, while in the evenings, the temple resonates with arati.
There’s a street market on your way to the temple too where the group of women sell vegetables, fruits, and other essential items!
If you truly want to experience its divine aura, I highly recommend visiting this holy temple at least once. And if you believe in ‘vakal’, then there’s no turning back now!
How to Reach Palanchowk Bhagwati?
Now, let’s move on to the travel guide for Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple.
For those traveling by bike or car:
- Start early from Kathmandu and head towards Dhulikhel via Bhaktapur.
- Continue to Lamidanda, Panchkhal, and take a right—you’ll see a gate marked “Palanchowk Bhagwati Prabesh Dwar – 10 km“.
- Follow the road, and in about 20 minutes, you’ll reach the temple.
- There’s ample parking space, and based on my experience, they should’t charge you any fee.
For those taking a public bus:
You can catch a bus from Banepa to Palanchowk Bhagwati.
I’m currently unsure about the exact fare, so if you take this route, do share it in the comments to help other readers!
For those who love hiking:
You can hike to Palanchowk Bhagwati either from Panchkhal or Dolalghat for a more adventurous journey.
Road Condition to Palanchowk Bhagwati
I’m not entirely sure about the hiking trail, but let’s be honest—when there’s a well-paved road, is hiking really necessary? I’m sure many would agree with me on that!
That’s why Palanchowk Bhagwati makes for a perfect one-day ride or drive from Kathmandu.
While I did mention a paved road, it’s worth noting that the stretch from Dhulikhel to halfway through Panchkhal is a bit off-road. Hopefully, once the construction is completed, the journey will be even smoother.
But don’t worry! Once you hit the paved section, the road remains excellent all the way up to Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple.
Expected Budget
The main expenses for your Palanchowk Bhagwati trip will be fuel and worship essentials.
After completing your worship, you’ll find plenty of restaurants around where you can enjoy lunch or snacks.
A budget of around Rs. 1,000 per person should be more than enough for the trip.
And if you have some extra time, consider making a stop at Dolalghat to try its famous fish—though, to be honest, I’m not a big fan!
Final Words
And that wraps up another one of our short trip stories!
I truly hope you enjoyed learning about the history and now feel eager to visit Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple.
So, what are you waiting for? Share this article with your friends or family and mark your calendars!
If it’s a Saturday or any other Devi-special day, make sure to leave Kathmandu early as the queue can get quite long.
Happy traveling to Kavrepalanchowk!
About The Author
I love the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great blog posts.
Thank you for your kind words, Ed!