Burned out on ancient sites? Here's a contemporary take on the temple compound, and it's very impressive. The centrepiece is a Shiva temple that resembles an enormous sandcastle, with every square centimetre intricately carved. In the basement is a religious museum with an interesting visual summary of the top Hindu sites in Nepal, signed in English. A gift shop and a veggie restaurant round out this 5-hectare site. Located on the Mahendra Hwy 23km west of Narayangarh, and unmissable.
© fotoember/Getty Images/iStock
Shashwat Dham
Top choice in The Terai & Mahabharat Range
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
21.43 MILES
The main reason to climb up to Thani Mai is for the spectacular sunrise views from Gurungche Hill. A clear morning offers some of the most memorable 360…
-
27.68 MILES
A tiered pagoda basking in Himalayan views, the mountaintop Manakamana Temple dates back to the 17th century, but was heavily damaged by the 2015…
11.54 MILES
A few hundred metres past the park headquarters in Kasara is a crocodile breeding project, where you can see both gharials and marsh muggers up close. The…
-
22.6 MILES
At 437m deep and 50m high, Siddha Gufa is said to be the largest cave in Nepal. Its cathedral-like interior is full of stalactites and stalagmites, not to…
-
21.82 MILES
In centuries past, traders would gather on this man-made plateau to haggle for goods from India and Tibet before starting the long trek to Lhasa or the…
-
21.6 MILES
At the northeast end of the bazaar (which is the main shopping strip) this ornate, two-tiered temple is dedicated to Durga. Its ancient walls are covered…
-
21.66 MILES
A wide flight of stone steps leads up the hillside to this barn-like temple, which enshrines the sword of Mukunda Sen, the 16th-century king of Palpa …
-
21.04 MILES
An offbeat choice, a visit to Silkworm Farm takes you through the fascinating process of how silk is produced. The farm comprises orchards of mulberry…
Nearby The Terai & Mahabharat Range attractions
11.54 MILES
A few hundred metres past the park headquarters in Kasara is a crocodile breeding project, where you can see both gharials and marsh muggers up close. The…
2. Wildlife Display & Information Centre
19 MILES
Aimed more at school groups than tourists, this educational centre has displays on wildlife, including a rather macabre display of animals in formaldehyde…
3. Tharu Cultural Museum & Research Centre
19.3 MILES
The informative Tharu Cultural Museum & Research Centre in Bachhauli, the nearest Tharu village to Sauraha, has colourful murals and exhibits on artefacts…
20.11 MILES
For those with a serious interest in Tharu culture, there’s a tiny Tharu Cultural Museum in Harnari. It has displays of ornaments and a rakshi distillery…
21.04 MILES
An offbeat choice, a visit to Silkworm Farm takes you through the fascinating process of how silk is produced. The farm comprises orchards of mulberry…
21.43 MILES
The main reason to climb up to Thani Mai is for the spectacular sunrise views from Gurungche Hill. A clear morning offers some of the most memorable 360…
21.58 MILES
There's a random collection of beaten-up books here, including a few English ones, but this small library is better known for its striking 18th-century…
21.6 MILES
At the northeast end of the bazaar (which is the main shopping strip) this ornate, two-tiered temple is dedicated to Durga. Its ancient walls are covered…