Changunarayan lies in Bhaktapur District, bringing together the Changu Narayan temple area, Nagarkot and the settlements between them. Its current nine-ward municipality combines the former Changunarayan and Nagarkot municipalities. The administrative centre is at Kharipati.
Changu Narayan and Nagarkot
Changu Narayan in Ward 4 is the starting point for the temple precinct. UNESCO includes this temple complex and traditional settlement among the seven monument zones of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property. That designation applies to the monument zone, not to the whole municipality.
For Nagarkot and its hill settlements, choose Ward 6. The local guide includes Gairi Gaun, Lama Gaun and Lamidanda references. Use a specific viewpoint, hotel or village when planning an approach through the wider Nagarkot area.
Match a place name to its ward
- Saraswatikhel and Duwakot, Ward 1: the part formed from former Duwakot Wards 4–9.
- Duwakot and Jhaukhel, Ward 2: former Duwakot Wards 1–3 plus former Jhaukhel Ward 8.
- Jhaukhel, Ward 3: the rest of the former Jhaukhel area, including Jyotilingeshwor Mahadev.
- Chhaling, Ward 5: Trishul Danda, Telkot, Pikhel and village temples.
- Bageshwori, Ward 7: Kharipati, Kalyaneshwor and Simdol references.
- Sudal, Ward 8: the Brahmayani temples, Simachaur and Jhapro.
- Tathali, Ward 9: Charghare, Ithacha and local temple references.
Former village ward numbers still appear in addresses and municipal records. They do not match the current Changunarayan numbering. The map above and the individual guides use the current wards.
For nearby towns and municipalities, continue to Bhaktapur, Suryabinayak or Madhyapur Thimi.