Changu Museum

Around the Kathmandu Valley


The single brick-paved street in Changu village climbs from the car park and bus stand past the privately owned Changu Museum, which offers a quirky introduction to traditional village life. The owner will give you a whistle-stop tour of such oddities as a rhino-skin shield, a raincoat made of leaves, a 500-year-old dishwashing rack and some 225-year-old rice. Not to mention a cow's gallstone and the navel of a musk deer.

There’s also a fascinating coin collection, including the world's smallest coin, leather coins from the 2nd century and one that equates to one-eighth of a paise – meaning 800 of these are needed to make one rupee!


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Around the Kathmandu Valley attractions

1. Living Traditions Museum

0.07 MILES

This well-curated museum, housed in a restored building south of Changu Narayan Temple, features over 400 exhibits covering artefacts and displays on…

2. Changu Narayan Temple

0.08 MILES

This temple is said to be the oldest Hindu temple still in use in the Kathmandu Valley. Built in the two-tiered pagoda style, the main shrine here is…

3. Salan Ganesh Temple

2.95 MILES

On the north side of Tachupal Tole is an open area with a small temple dating from 1654. Backed by a large tank, Ganesh Pokhari, the open temple is…

4. Indrayani Temple

2.96 MILES

Just outside Durbar Sq, head down the path near the hiti that leads down the stairs to this atmospheric Kali temple that was built around a gnarled pipal…

5. Brass & Bronze Museum

2.97 MILES

Directly across from the Woodcarving Museum, in another old math (Hindu priest’s house) with similar lighting problems, this museum has some excellent…

6. Gokarna Mahadev Temple

2.98 MILES

Dedicated to Shiva as Mahadeva (Great God), this handsome three-tiered temple is a fine example of Newari pagoda style. The main reason to come is to see…

7. Bhimsen Temple

2.98 MILES

At the western end of Tachupal Tole, this two-storey, 17th-century temple is sacred to Bhimsen, the god of commerce. The squat rectangular structure has…

8. Dattatreya Temple

2.98 MILES

At the east end of Tachupal Tole, the eye-catching Dattatreya Temple was originally built in 1427, supposedly using the timber from a single tree. The…

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