Nuwakot Bhagawati: Ancestral deity of Nepal’s unification era (photos)
Perched on a hill above the Trishuli River, the powerful shrine is worshipped as a form of Navadurga and has long been regarded as a significant Shakti Peeth outside the Kathmandu Valley.
KATHMANDU: After conquering Nuwakot in 1801 B.S., King Prithvi Narayan Shah adopted the revered Bhagawati Devi of this region as the ancestral deity of the Shah dynasty.
Perched on a hill above the Trishuli River, the powerful shrine is worshipped as a form of Navadurga and has long been regarded as a significant Shakti Peeth outside the Kathmandu Valley.
Historical accounts note that before major battles, Shah would offer animal sacrifices here and seek blessings for victory — a tradition that cemented the temple’s symbolic connection to the rise of the Gorkhali kingdom.
The pagoda-style temple houses the main idol of Bhagawati alongside smaller shrines dedicated to Bhairav, Ganesh, and Kumar.
Located 75 kilometers from Kathmandu, the site attracts visitors with its historic seven-storey palace, panoramic Trishuli landscape, and deep cultural significance.
According to the temple management committee, it remains the most renowned Shakti Peeth outside the Valley, preserving a vibrant memory of Nepal’s unification era and its traditions of divine power worship.
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