This is a Shiva temple in Panauti.
There is a place to sit and meditate. You can go into meditative states here effortlessly.
How to Get there
This temple is next to Tribeni Ghat in Panauti.
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kqbwV3cgeKUH23oi9
Indreshwor Mahadev Temple
Nepali Hindu legend suggests that the king of the heavens, Indra seduced Ahalya, the wife of the sage Gautama. It is said that Ahalya was converted into a stone, which is now at the north eastern corner of the temple’s platform. The temple whose history could date back to the early Kirata age in the 6th century became the shrine for Indra, the Rain God in Hinduism in the 13th century when a princess from Banepa named Viramadevi established the Indrakuta. This has been mentioned in the Gopalarajavamshali, a 16th-century chronicle. The temple stands at the south eastern portion of the town of Panauti. This spot is also situated at the confluence of the Rosi and Punyamati rivers.[2]
INDRESWOR MAHADEV TEMPLE is close to the TRIBENIGHAT (three rivers junction) and is an impressive landmark and one of the main attractions of PANAUTI.
It is one of the oldest and the best example of traditional multi-roofed Pagoda style architecture in Nepal.
Built on a square plinth, the highest roof and the Pinnacles are entirely made of hand beaten Copper that has been covered with thick Gold leaf.
The rest of the roofs are covered in traditional small terracotta tiles called “JHINGATI”.
Mentioned in the 14th Century GOPALRAJVANSAVALI chronicle, the building of the Temple was commissioned and started under Princess BIRAMADEVI of PANAUTI in 1294 AD and after nearly nine decades of construction, the Golden Pinnacle was offered by King JAYASINGH RAMVARDHAN in 1383 AD.
In 1816 AD the temple was again renovated and a Gold plated Copper roof was gifted by King SURENDRA BIKRAM SHAH.
The most recent renovations date from 1992-1996 AD and were conducted by KAVRE INTEGRATED PROJECT run by the Department of Archeology of Nepal with the financial support of the French Government.
There are many outstanding wood carvings typical of the medieval period remarkable by their elegance and size.
The roof supports are particularly impressive and are bigger that anywhere else in Nepal.
The supporting struts of the Northern elevation have beautiful carvings of MATRIKAS, the Mother Goddesses. Those of the East have images of SALABHANJIKAS related to the cult of Fertility.
The Southern supporting struts have intricate carving relating episodes of great Hindu Epic MAHABHARATA and the Western elevation has carvings relating stories from the other great Hindu Epic RAMAYANA.
A SHIVALINGA is in the Inner Sanctum and is the main object of worship of the INDRESWOR MAHADEV Temple and many devotees come to pay homage to it during the MAKARA MELLA occurring every twelve years.
Source
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indreswor
https://panautimuseum.org.np/indreshwor-mahadev-temple/
