Matatirtha Temple

"Mata= mother Tirtha= holy place
A holy place created or dedicated in the name of mother. This is one of the holliest place in Kathmandu valley. As per Hindu calendar there is a mothers day in the month of Baishakh, lots of people come here to perform a ritual called Shraddha in the name of their late mother. That particular day in Baishakh month is called Matirtha Aushi.
This place is situated just bellow the mountain and jungle, and a great source of water passage through this several stone made tap and collected to a pond called Kund. People do holly bath in this natural water pond and to the pray called Puja remembering their mother. As per Hindu religion it is a great piece of work if you do Puja here.
This is a old temple and the area or village is being converted now into a part of city with all available convenience. Just above it is Chandragiri mountain and in the name of this mountain having a cable car facility has been formed a municipality called Chandragiri.
Great place for prayer, meditation, yoga, hiking everything for refreshments.
I love this place
Jay Mata!
Jay Tirtha"

Ramesh Bhurtel

"Mathatirtha Mandir is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal. It holds great religious significance, especially during Mathatirtha Aunsi, when people honor their deceased mothers. The temple is serene and peaceful, surrounded by natural beauty and traditional architecture. Pilgrims come here to bathe in the holy pond, believing it purifies the soul. Overall, it’s a spiritually enriching destination for both devotees and visitors."

Pradeep Khadka

"Matatirtha Temple is located at 27.67962°,85.23106°, Chandragiri Municipality-6 in Kathmandu, about 12 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu. The temple is easily accessible by local transportation. Not just a site of worship, the site is cultural heritage of no little significance and attracts both pilgrims and tourists alike throughout the year. The temple is culturally and religiously significant as one of the major festivals, Matatirtha Aunsi-a festival to honor mothers and motherhood-is observed here. It is also called "Aamako Mukh Herne Din" or Mother's Day, celebrated on the new moon day of Baishakh, which is the first month of the Nepali lunar calendar. According to legend, during ancient times, a farmer visited the pond within the temple premises to quench his thirst. While drinking from the pond, he saw the reflection of his late mother's face in the water. This miraculous event established the site's association with maternal reverence and spiritual significance. Since then, the temple and the pond have become a pilgrimage site for individuals seeking to honor their mothers, both living and deceased. Matatirtha Aunsi is celebrated as a whole day between the bond of mother and children. People on this day show their love and gratitude by offering sweet clothes and various gifts to mothers and take the blessings from them. For people whose mothers had died, the tradition is to go to the temple of Matatirtha. Devotees take a holy bath in the sacred pond called Matatirtha Kunda and offer "tarpan" to their departed mothers. It is believed that performing these rituals aids in attaining salvation for their mothers and brings prosperity to the family. On the eve of the new moon, the following morning rituals are preceded by the lighting of lamps in memory of one's mother, feasting, and keeping awake all night. As part of this festival, during which thousands throng the temple, devout men and women with pious hearts maintain that they behold in the reflection of the waters a vision of their mother's face who died some time ago. It attracts people from Kathmandu Valley as well as from adjoining districts. The Matatirtha Temple is the focal point of the Matatirtha Aunsi festival. Its architecture reflects traditional Nepali stone and wood craftsmanship. The temple grounds include the sacred pond, which holds immense spiritual importance as a place for performing rituals to connect with departed maternal ancestors. The temple also features a statue of a mother, where devotees offer flowers and other offerings. The various organizations representatives, along with the volunteers present, help the devotees to worship according to their rituals. This temple is one of the most important religious and cultural sites in the Chandragiri Municipality

Reference:
Kunwar, R. (2025). Assessment of geotourism potential of Matatirtha-Phakhel area, Central Nepal (Master’s thesis, Tribhuvan University). Central Department of Geology"

Rabindra Kunwar