Temple, monastery or heritage site
Alamdevi Temple
A forest shrine in Syangja sacred to Magar communities and linked in tradition to the ancestors of the Shah kings.
Gandaki Provinceस्याङ्जा
Syangja District
Terraced hills between Pokhara and Palpa, known for the Sirubari homestay village, the Alamdevi temple and the Panchase ridge.
- Province
- Gandaki
- Headquarters
- Putalibazar
- Area
- about 1,042 km²
- Places on Firfirey
- 3
About Syangja
Syangja lies in the middle hills south-west of Pokhara, with Kaski to the north, Tanahun to the east, Palpa to the south and Parbat and Gulmi to the west. The Kali Gandaki runs along its southern and western edge, and the Andhi Khola drains its central valleys. Ridges of terraced farmland and forest rise towards Panchase in the north, with views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri on clear days.
Magar, Gurung, Brahmin-Chhetri and Newar communities live here, and the district has a strong tradition of Gurkha service. Putalibazar and Waling are the main bazaars on the highway. Syangja played an early part in Nepal's village tourism, with Gurung homestays at Sirubari, and travellers also come for the Alamdevi temple, sacred to Magar communities, and for walks on the Panchase ridge.
Places in Syangja
Town or village
Putalibazar
Syangja's district headquarters on the Siddhartha Highway, a base for Sirubari, Alamdevi and the southern Panchase hills.
Town or village · 1,700 m
Sirubari
A Gurung hill village in Syangja that pioneered village homestay tourism in Nepal, with views of the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri.
Getting there
The Siddhartha Highway between Pokhara and Butwal runs through the district, passing Putalibazar and Waling, which are a few hours by road from Pokhara. The nearest airports are Pokhara and Bhairahawa. Villages such as Sirubari are reached by side roads from the highway.
Best time to visit
Autumn and spring are best for views and walking; the monsoon brings heavy rain and landslides to the highway, and winter is pleasant with cool mornings and mist in the valleys.
Editorial draft: the district overview is being checked. Headquarters and Nepali names: nepal-places dataset (MIT). Area and map position computed from the district boundaries of the Government of Nepal, Survey Department, via OCHA.