July 28, 2025

Sankhu, located northeast of Kathmandu, is an ancient Newar settlement with a mythic past and a deeply spiritual present. Once a bustling stop on the old trade route to Tibet, the town is now most renowned for its sacred connection to the tantric goddess Vajrayogini. Pilgrims, both Buddhist and Hindu, come to climb the forested trail that leads to her sanctuary above the town.

The Vajrayogini Temple, set into the hillside, is one of the most important tantric shrines in the Kathmandu Valley. The deity is depicted in her wrathful form, a fierce symbol of wisdom and transformation. Devotees ascend hundreds of steps, passing small shrines, mani walls, and butter lamp offerings, eventually reaching the temple’s quiet, wooded plateau. The temple is especially busy during Sankhu’s Vajrayogini Jatra, an annual festival of fire, music, and ritual.

The old town of Sankhu itself retains a medieval character, with brick-paved alleys, traditional courtyards, and a network of old rest houses and ponds. Though damaged in the 2015 earthquake, Sankhu’s spirit of resilience remains strong, and locals are gradually restoring its cultural fabric.

Whether you come for the hike, the legend, or the living heritage, Sankhu and its Vajrayogini temple offer a layered day-trip destination rich in history and sacred meaning.