Chitwan & Teraiसुपा देउराली मन्दिर

Supa Deurali Temple

A hilltop goddess temple that is the best-known pilgrimage site in Arghakhanchi.

Altitude: -*
Best months: Feb-Mar, Oct-Nov
Type: Temple, monastery or heritage site
District: Arghakhanchi, Lumbini
Permit: None needed

Why go

Supa Deurali is a temple to a local form of the mother goddess, standing on a forested ridge in the hills of Arghakhanchi district in Lumbini Province. It is the most widely known religious site in the district and draws devotees not only from Arghakhanchi but from neighbouring Gulmi, Palpa and the Terai towns to the south, as well as people from the district who have moved away and return to make offerings.

The setting is typical of the middle hills of western Nepal: terraced farmland on the lower slopes, forest towards the top and, on clear days, a long view over ridge after ridge of the Mahabharat range. The temple itself is a modest shrine rather than an architectural monument; its importance lies in the faith attached to it and in the crowds that gather on festival days.

For a traveller the visit is usually combined with time in Sandhikharka, the district headquarters, and with a slow road journey through the hills between Butwal, Arghakhanchi and Gulmi. It is a place to see living hill religion rather than a tourist sight, and facilities are those of a rural pilgrimage site.

History and culture

Deurali is a common name in the Nepali hills for a shrine on a pass or ridge, and many such hilltop goddesses are honoured by travellers and villagers alike. Supa Deurali has grown from a local shrine into a regional pilgrimage centre, and devotees come to make vows and return with offerings when they believe their wish has been granted.

The busiest times are the main Hindu festivals, especially Dashain in autumn and the spring Navaratri around Chaite Dashain, when families walk or drive up in large numbers, bells ring constantly and the approach fills with stalls selling offerings and food. Animal sacrifice has traditionally been part of worship at many goddess temples in the region; visitors who prefer not to see it should avoid the main festival mornings.

Things to do in Supa Deurali Temple

Visit the temple
Join local devotees at the shrine, ideally early in the morning when the light is soft and the crowds are smaller.
Walk the ridge
Follow local paths along the forested ridge for views across the surrounding hills and valleys.
Combine with Sandhikharka
Stay in the district headquarters and make the temple a half-day outing by local transport.

Weather and the best time to visit Supa Deurali Temple

Weather in Supa Deurali Temple

Conditions change fast in the mountains.

Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.

Best time to visit

Feb-Mar, Oct-Nov

Jan
Good month: Feb
Good month: Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Good month: Oct
Good month: Nov
Dec

Autumn (Sep-Nov): October and November are clear and dry, with the best chance of distant mountain views.
Winter (Dec-Feb): December to February is dry and sunny by day but cold in the early morning and at night, with some haze.
Spring (Mar-May): March to May is warm and green, with rhododendron in the higher forest and increasing haze later in the season.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug): June to September is wet and cloudy, and hill roads are prone to landslides.

Where to stay

HotelsGuesthouses

Simple hotels and guesthouses are available in Sandhikharka; facilities near the temple itself are basic.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Travel by road from Butwal into the hills to Sandhikharka, then continue by local road to the temple.

Nearest hub: Butwal

roadBuses and jeeps run from Butwal to Sandhikharka, a long hill drive on a winding road.
jeepFrom Sandhikharka, hire a jeep or take local transport on the hill road towards the temple; ask locally for the current route.

Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

None needed

No permit is needed to visit the temple. Offerings are voluntary.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Arghakhanchi District, Wikipedia.

Risks and conditions

Seasonal risks around Supa Deurali Temple

What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.

Landslidesmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Hill roads in Arghakhanchi are exposed to landslides and washouts during the monsoon, and journeys can take much longer than planned.
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal
Coldlow in a typical yearDec-Jan
Early mornings and nights on the ridge are cold in midwinter, and fog can linger in the valleys below.
Climate of Nepal, Wikipedia

Check current conditions before you travel

Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.

Practical tips

Remove shoes and leather items before entering the shrine area and ask before photographing worship.
Festival days are very crowded; for a quieter visit go outside Dashain and Chaite Dashain.
Carry cash, as card payment is rarely possible in the hill towns.

Questions about Supa Deurali Temple

Where is Supa Deurali Temple?

On a hilltop in Arghakhanchi district, Lumbini Province, reached by road via the district headquarters, Sandhikharka.

When is Supa Deurali busiest?

During Dashain in autumn and Chaite Dashain in spring, when large numbers of pilgrims arrive.

Do I need a ticket or permit?

No permit is required; offerings are voluntary.

Nearby

Town or village