Nepali Temple

The Nepali Temple, or Kanthwala Mandir, stands out in the dense maze of Varanasi because it is built entirely of wood, carved in the distinct pagoda style common in Kathmandu. King Rana Bahadur Shah of Nepal commissioned this structure in the early nineteenth century after his exile in the city. It remains a rare sight against the stone masonry of the surrounding ghats. Local craftsmen from Nepal worked on the intricate, erotic wood carvings that decorate the eaves, keeping their mountain architectural heritage alive.