Cultural
Kathmandu City Tour
Temples at dawn, Newar courtyards and old bazaars — the Kathmandu Valley's living heritage at an unhurried pace.
- Duration
- 4 nights / 5 days
- Group
- Private or small group
From $280per person
Details
Heritage site
Pashupatinath Temple travel guide
Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple, on the banks of the Bagmati River.
Photo: Bijay Chaurasia (opens Wikimedia Commons in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
About Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath, dedicated to Shiva, is Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple and part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple complex spreads along both banks of the holy Bagmati River, with shrines, ashrams, sadhus and the cremation ghats where Hindu funerals take place.
Only Hindus may enter the main temple courtyard. Visitors of other faiths can explore the wider complex, the riverbanks and the terraces on the eastern bank, which look across to the temple and the ghats.
Things to do in Pashupatinath
The eastern bank
Terraces and small shrines facing the temple across the Bagmati, with a view over the ghats.
Evening aarti
A ceremony of lamps, bells and chanting on the riverbank each evening.
Sadhus and ashrams
Holy men and ascetics live and gather around the complex.
Maha Shivaratri
The great festival of Shiva, usually in February or March, draws huge numbers of pilgrims and sadhus.
Getting to Pashupatinath
- About 35–45 minutes by car or taxi from Budhanilkantha.
- Our Kathmandu City Tour begins Day 2 at Pashupatinath with a guide.
Best time to visit
Year-round; early morning for daily worship, evening for the aarti. Expect very large crowds during Maha Shivaratri.
Local tips
- Cremations are private family rites — watch quietly and never photograph mourners.
- Dress modestly, and remove leather items and shoes where required.
- A guide makes the complex far easier to understand.
Visit Pashupatinath with us
Guided trips that include this destination, starting and ending at our homestay in Budhanilkantha.
SpiritualBest seller
The Sacred Triangle
Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, two jungle days and the birthplace of the Buddha in nine well-paced days.
- Duration
- 8 nights / 9 days
- Group
- Private or small group
From $800per person
Details
Cultural
Complete Nepal Journey
Kathmandu, Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara in eleven days — the best of Nepal for first-time visitors.
- Duration
- 10 nights / 11 days
- Group
- Private or small group
From $1,500per person
DetailsPashupatinath: frequently asked questions
Can non-Hindus enter Pashupatinath?
Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple courtyard, but can visit the surrounding complex, the riverbanks and the eastern terraces, and watch the evening aarti.
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Plan a trip to Pashupatinath
Staying with us in Budhanilkantha? We can arrange a driver, a guide or a full tour to Pashupatinath. Tell us your dates and what you'd like to see.
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