Sri Pasupatinath Mandir

At Lalita Ghat’s riverfront stands a notable wooden Nepali-style temple (house D 1/67), modeled after Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple. Initiated by Queen Maharani Rajyalakshmi in 1841 and completed in 1843 under King Rajendra Vikram Shah and Prince Surendra Vikram Shah, this temple is maintained by the Guthi Institute. Built on an octagonal platform, it exemplifies tantric sculpture, featuring four ornate entrance gates aligned with the cardinal directions and housing the serpent-adorned Narmadeshvara lingam inside. The northern wall displays an eighteen-handed Mahisasuramardini image, while elaborate carvings of snakes, human skull rosaries, and floral motifs reflect strong tantric influences. Alongside these, the temple also incorporates Vaishnava iconography, including Surya, Vishnu, Ganesha, and goddesses such as Vaishnavi, Varahi, Durga, Sarasvati, Maheshvari, Kaumari, and Indrani, symbolizing a rich cultural and religious assimilation.