Old　temples　built　in　ancient　time　in　Nepal　are　traditional　and　monumental　structures　with　historic　and　archaeological　importance.　It　is　now　an　essential　issue　to　evaluate　their　seismic　safety　for　future　earthquakes.　Seismic　evaluation　method　needs　the　fundamental　dynamic　properties　of　the　temples.　In　this　paper,　dynamic　properties　of　selected　10　typical　multi-tiered　temples　are　obtained　by　using　the　finite　element　method.　Three　of　those　temples　are　tested　by　ambient　vibration　methods　under　wind-induced　excitation　to　obtain　the　real　dynamic　properties　and　validate　the　finite　element　models.　Based　on　validated　finite　element　model　from　the　test,　an　empirical　formula　is　proposed　to　estimate　the　natural　period　of　vibration　of　Nepalese　temples.　Seismic　capacity　evaluation　is　then　performed　using　the　seismic　coefficient　method.　To　achieve　a　more　realistic　result,　3D　dynamic　analysis　is　carried　out　by　the　response　spectrum　method.　Results　show　that　the　masonry　temples　in　Nepal　have　fundamental　time　period　less　than　0.6　s.　Damping　ratio　lies　between　1%　and　6%.　The　most　crucial　parts　of　Nepalese　temples　are　the　piers　between　the　openings　at　the　base　level.　Most　of　the　failure　modes　are　associated　with　tensile　and　compressive　stresses.　©　2003　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.