Did You Know Kathmandu Has a God of Toothaches?

Why Are Thousands of Coins Nailed to This Tree in Kathmandu?

Hidden in the winding alleys of old Kathmandu is a shrine unlike any other, a tree covered in coins where people have been leaving their toothaches behind for centuries.

The Most Unusual Thing You'll Find in Old Kathmandu

Kathmandu is full of surprises. One moment you're walking past ancient temples, spice shops, and centuries-old courtyards. The next, you find yourself standing in front of what looks like a giant lump of metal.

At first glance, it doesn't even resemble a tree. Thousands of coins completely cover its surface. Some are old and tarnished. Others are shiny and new. Every inch seems packed with metal hammered into wood over generations.

Locals stop to touch it. Some offer prayers. Others quietly press a coin against the shrine before walking away. This is Wasya Dya, better known as Kathmandu's famous Toothache Tree.

The Shrine That Relieved Toothaches Before Dentists Existed

Long before modern dental clinics appeared in Kathmandu, people had another place they turned to when a tooth began to throb. They came here.

Wasya Dya is a beloved Newar shrine dedicated to a deity believed to ease tooth pain and dental problems. For generations, residents have visited this small shrine hoping for relief from an aching jaw or stubborn toothache.

The ritual is simple. Make a prayer, offer a coin, and ask the deity for healing. Whether through faith, tradition, or hope, people have continued the practice for centuries.

Why Is the Tree Covered in Coins?

What makes Wasya Dya so fascinating is the way offerings are made.

Instead of placing coins in a donation box, devotees hammer them directly into the shrine itself. One coin becomes ten. Ten become hundreds. Hundreds become thousands.

Over the centuries, layer upon layer of coins have buried the original wood beneath a metallic shell. Each coin tells a story. Some represent prayers for relief. Others are expressions of gratitude from people who believe their pain disappeared after visiting. Together, they have transformed an ordinary tree stump into one of Kathmandu's most unusual landmarks.

The Tree You Can Barely See

Ironically, the famous Toothache Tree is almost impossible to recognize as a tree today.

Local tradition connects the shrine to a sacred tree that once stood in the historic Bangemudha neighborhood. Over time, so many coins were driven into its surface that the wood virtually disappeared from sight.

Visitors often spend several minutes trying to figure out what they're actually looking at.

A sculpture?

A shrine?

A giant metal object?

Only after hearing the story do they realize there's a tree hidden underneath it all.

The Lost Golden Secret

Like many ancient places in Kathmandu, Wasya Dya comes with its own legends.

One story tells of a small golden idol hidden inside the hollow center of the shrine. According to local belief, the idol represented the deity worshipped there.

At some point in history, the idol disappeared. Some say it was stolen. Others believe it was removed long ago. No one knows for certain.

Yet despite its disappearance, the shrine never lost its importance. The prayers continued, the coins kept arriving, and the tradition survived.

A Thousand Years of Faith

Some historians believe the shrine may date back to Nepal's ancient Lichchhavi era, making it more than a thousand years old.

Think about that for a moment.

When kingdoms rose and fell across the Himalayas, when dynasties changed and cities expanded, people were still coming to this very spot with the same wish:

"Please make my tooth stop hurting."

Few places in Kathmandu offer such a direct connection to everyday life from centuries ago.

The Ironic Twist

Perhaps the most amusing part of the story is what happened around the shrine.

Because so many people with dental problems visited the area, dentists gradually began opening clinics nearby.

Today, Bangemudha is known not only for the Toothache Tree but also for its concentration of dental practices.

It's one of Kathmandu's greatest ironies.

If divine intervention doesn't solve the problem, a professional dentist is usually just a short walk away.

Kathmandu's Most Overlooked Curiosity

While tourists flock to famous temples and palace squares, many never notice this tiny shrine hidden in the old city. And that's a shame.

Because Wasya Dya tells a uniquely Kathmandu story, one where faith, folklore, history, and daily life all meet in a single place.

Thousands of coins.

Countless prayers.

And a tree that has quietly listened to people's wishes for centuries.

The next time you find yourself wandering through the ancient lanes of Kathmandu, keep an eye out.

You may just discover the city's strangest—and most fascinating—shrine.

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