Kailashnath Mahadev, Sanga

Driving east from Sanothimi along the Araniko Highway, past Bhaktapur and Suryabinayak, you will see a huge copper-coloured figure on the hilltop ahead. This is the statue of Kailashnath Mahadev at Sanga, on the border of Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts.

One of the tallest Shiva statues

At about 44 metres (143 feet), the statue is often described as one of the tallest statues of Shiva in the world. It was built from copper, zinc, concrete and steel between 2003 and 2010 by Kamal Jain and the Hilltake Group, and opened on 21 June 2011. Its foundation reaches about 100 feet into the hill. Shiva is shown standing, holding his trident, with the crescent moon and the river Ganga in his hair and a snake around his neck.

The complex

The statue stands within a larger complex with temples, gardens, a meditation area and facilities for visitors. It is privately developed and run, and there is an entry fee. On clear days the hilltop gives a wide view over the Kathmandu Valley to the west and the hills of Kavre to the east, with the Himalaya sometimes visible to the north.

Festivals

The site is especially busy on Maha Shivaratri and on Mondays in the month of Shrawan, when devotees of Shiva visit in large numbers. On these days expect crowds and traffic on the approach road.

Combining your visit

Kailashnath Mahadev is easily combined with a trip further east to Banepa and Dhulikhel, or with Nagarkot. It is about thirty to forty-five minutes from Sanothimi by bus or car, depending on traffic.