Kumari Living Goddess Tour Kathmandu

Duration

Half Day

Group Size

Small group tour

Languages

English, Nepali

Location

Basantapur, Kathmandu

Max Trekking Altitude

1,350 m

Start point - End point

Kathmandu

Cancellation:

Full refund for cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance

Overview

The Kumari Living Goddess Tour provides an insight into one of Nepal’s most sacred cultural and spiritual traditions. Begin the journey with a hotel pickup and then head on a guided visit to the Kumari Ghar-a historic building in Kathmandu Durbar Square, where resides the Living Goddess—Kumari. The richly carved wood structure is the hallowed residence of a young girl worshipped as an embodiment of divine energy.

Learn about the selection process of the Kumari, a tradition wherein a young girl is chosen in accordance with strict spiritual criteria to be a goddess in the Newari culture. Learn how she is worshipped in ceremonies, festivals, and daily rituals, and understand how she lives a life in seclusion, yet sacred. You will be able to see her during the visit if possible and get her blessing, which is an auspicious moment for the devotees.

Highlights:

Visit the historic Kumari Ghar, a residence of Nepal’s Living Goddess.
Marvel at the brilliant architecture of Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Learn about Kumari, its history, and spiritual connotation in Nepali culture.
Observe the stringent selection process and rare style of living of the Living Goddess.
Have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive an auspicious blessing from Kumari.
Immerse yourself in the rich Newari art, culture, and traditions.

Itinerary

Your day starters with a hotel pickup by your guide accompanying you on the tour. Driving to Kathmandu Durbar Square, your guide will give a short briefing on the tradition of the Living Goddess as an introduction to the rich cultural and religious heritage of Nepal.

Arrive at Kathmandu’s historic Durbar Square, enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site and the cultural heart of Kathmandu. Take a stroll through this magnificent complex of palaces, courtyards, and temples that served as a royal residence for centuries. Your guide will highlight the history of the square, including iconic landmarks such as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, Taleju Temple, and the statue of Kal Bhairav that adds to the spiritual essence of the area.

Head to Kumari Ghar, which is a fantastically carved three-story building featuring intricately carved wooden windows and balconies. This sacred enclosure is the residence of the Living Goddess Kumari-the embodiment of divine energy through a young virgin girl. The guide will discuss the history, architectural beauty of Kumari Ghar, and its importance within Nepal’s religious and cultural mindset.

Inside the courtyard of Kumari Ghar, your guide will narrate an interesting story of the Kumari tradition. Learn about the rigorous selection process, where young girls are chosen based on specific spiritual, physical, and astrological criteria. The Kumari is revered as a symbol of divine protection and is a central figure in many religious festivals, including Indra Jatra. Learn about her reclusive life, her significance in Nepali culture, and her re-entry into normal life after serving time as the Kumari.

You will catch a rare glimpse of the Kumari if she is available and you can have a chance to receive her blessing, considered very auspicious by the devotees. This is a spiritual and unique experience as Kumari appears only at some unobjectionable moments in time to bless the visitors. Your guide will explain the importance of this moment and how reverently Nepali people regard this Living Goddess.

Finally, after this ever-remembering cultural and spiritual experience, you will be driven back to your hotel. Your guide will be very happy to enlighten you further about the Kumari tradition, apart from the several other places visited, for an enlightened acquaintance with this unique cultural heritage of Nepal.

Cost

Included:

- Hotel pick-up and drop-off (within Kathmandu city)
- Private vehicle for transportation during the tour
- Entrance fees to Kathmandu Durbar Square and Kumari Ghar
- Guided tour by an experienced, English-speaking cultural expert
- Assistance with receiving blessings from the Kumari (if available)
- Bottled drinking water during the tour

Excluded:

Meals, snacks, and beverages
Personal expenses (e.g., souvenirs, donations, or offerings)
Photography charges at heritage sites, if applicable
Tips and gratuities for the guide and driver
Travel insurance

FAQ

The Kumari is a very young prepubescent girl selected to be the divine image of goddess Taleju, a highly venerated deity in Nepalese Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. For this being the case, applicants are chosen under very strict criteria, such as physical beauty and astrological comparison. After selecting, the Kumari lives in the Kumari Ghar, and there she acts as a spiritual role player and is worshipped by devotees. The power she holds rests in her power to give good fortune and to be a living deity until she attains puberty (at which time a new Kumari is selected).

Yes, for example, visitors may watch the Kumari during her official visits, which are most often in a courtyard of Kumari Ghar. Although actual contact is restricted, the indirect contact to obtain her blessing is considered a very auspicious matter. Her presence is, however, dependent on her schedule and religious observance. Your itinerary will help make the visit easier to plan and allow it to be carried out while upholding all cultural and spiritual protocols.

To have the blessing of the Kumari is a privilege and is thought to impart good fortune, protection, and divine favor. A large number of devotees are in the habit of praying that the blessing can break up various hindrances and give spiritual direction. The Kumari’s blessing consists in her keeping an enigmatic look onto the beneficiary, since even her gaze is supposed to be extremely penetrating.

Photography is not allowed inside Kumari Ghar or of the Kumari herself during durbar due to disrespect. Images of the extraordinary architecture and the otherworldly Kathmandu Durbar Square (a UNESCO World Heritage site) are allowed to be captured by the tourists. Your guide will then tell you whether there are any special rules about photography throughout the tour.

Yes, the Kumari Living Goddess Tour is child and family friendly. It offers a very special cultural and educational one that will stimulate interest in Nepalese culture, spirituality and history. Yet, parents are requested to explain to the children about how to behave respectfully when visiting the site, as Kumari Ghar is a religious place.

The tour usually lasts for about 3 Hours, including hotel pickup and return. A split day of exploration includes a visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square, visit to Kumari Ghar, and Kumari tradition learning, culminating in Kumari blessing. The arrangement of the itinerary may be individually adapted in case of choice or direness.

Special permission is not needed for non-Hindus/Buddhists for admission in the tour. The Kumari tradition is available to anyone who wants to experience Nepal’s vibrant rich cultural heritage. However, all visitors are expected to adhere to cultural etiquette, such as dressing modestly and behaving respectfully while in the Kumari Ghar and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

It is recommended that visitors dress modestly covering shoulders and knees as Kumari Ghar is a religious ground. Comfortable shoes are also suggested, as you will be on foot in Kathmandu Durbar Square. Your guide will tell you about any extra dress codes or needs prior to your visit.

Kumari Living Goddess Tour Kathmandu

Cancellation:

Overview

Highlights:

Itinerary

Cost

Included:

Excluded:

FAQ

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