Budhanilkantha Temple is an open-air shrine located in Kathmandu Valley, at the foot of Shivpuri Hill. This is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and houses an outstanding deity-presiding idol seen in a reclining pose in a water tank. It is Nepal’s largest stone statue that attracts not only devotees but also large numbers of tourists, especially on the occasion of Haribondhini Ekadashi Mela, held annually on the 11th day of the Hindus’ Kartik month (October/November).

The idol has been floating in a pool of water on Sheshnaag for years and is considered to be a miracle. A small sample of the idol was tested after the mid-1900s, and it was found to be silica-based stone of low density with similar properties to the lava rock. This has been a fascinating subject for scientists since that time, who have almost no recourse to further research. Devotees, however, will visit the temple and witness what is considered to be a miracle, which was an important part of Kathmandu’s religious belief system.