Budhanilkantha is a municipality in Kathmandu District of Bagmati province of Nepal that was established on 2 December 2014 by merging the former Village development committees Hattigauda, Khadka Bhadrakali, Chapali Bhadrakali, Mahankal, Bishnu, Chunikhel and Kapan. The city is situated at the foot of Shivapuri hill. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, it had a population of 15,421.

Eight kilometers north of Kathmandu is a remarkable, colossal statue of the god Vishnu reclining on a bed of snakes. The fifth-century statue lies in middle of a small pond Budhanikantha is a place of pilgrimage for all Hindus and is the scene of great activity at such festivals as HaribodhiniEkadasi and Kartikpoornima. An interesting feature of this shrine is that the reigning King of Nepal may not visit spot according to an old tradition.

A legend states that King Pratap Malla (1641–1674) had a prophetic vision. This vision resulted in him believing that the kings of Nepal would die if they visited the Budhanilkantha Temple. Nepali monarchs after King Pratap Malla have never visited the Temple in fear of the prophecy.