Kalika Bhagawati Temple, Hindu temple near Kali Gandaki River, Baglung, Nepal
Kalika Bhagawati Temple is a Hindu temple in Baglung, Nepal, set near the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. The complex has four entrances facing the cardinal directions, and its grounds hold several smaller shrines dedicated to deities such as Shiva, Radha Krishna, and Lakshmi Narayan.
The temple traces its origin to a moment when King Pratap Narayan Singh Malla, carrying a Kalika idol received as dowry, found the statue could not be moved further during his return journey. The spot where it stopped was considered sacred, and a temple was built there.
The temple is a place where Hindu devotees and tantric practitioners come to honor goddess Kali through rituals and offerings. Small stalls near the entrance sell flowers, vermilion, and other items used during worship, making the area around the temple feel like a living part of the practice itself.
The grounds include spaces set aside for wedding ceremonies and stalls where visitors can buy materials for religious offerings. Going in the morning gives a better chance to see daily rituals and to walk along the riverside without heavy foot traffic.
Since 2016, the temple has replaced the sacrifice of pigeons with a ceremonial release of the birds. This shift was decided by the local community, making it a rare case of an active temple formally rethinking one of its own rituals.
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