Major Pashupatinath Attractions
The main pagoda, Vasuki shrine, Guhyeshwari, the 108 shivalinga rows, Mrigasthali deer park and the Pandra Shivalaya.
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Coordinates
27.7106° N · 85.3487° E
Where is Pashupatinath?
On the eastern bank of the Bagmati River
Pashupatinath rises in the Deopatan neighbourhood of Kathmandu, Nepal — about 5 km north‑east of the city centre. The complex prawls across 264 hectares of temples, ashrams, ghats and forest, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
City
Kathmandu Country
Nepal Altitude
1,400 m Heritage
UNESCO Site Itihasa
Temple History
Believed to have stood on the banks of the Bagmati for over a thousand years, Pashupatinath has been continuously rebuilt and revered. The present pagoda — gilded in copper and gold — was raised in the 17th century, but mentions of the shrine appear in the Skanda Purana and Lichhavi-era inscriptions, anchoring its sacred presence deep into the antiquity of the Kathmandu Valley.
It is told that Lord Shiva, weary of Kailash, took the form of a deer and roamed the forests of Mrigasthali along the Bagmati. When the gods came to take him back, his horn broke into four pieces — one becoming the sacred lingam at Pashupatinath, worshipped today with four faces gazing toward the four directions of the world.
Itihasa
Legends & Stories Behind
Mahatmya
Religious Significance
Pashupatinath is the holiest of all Shiva shrines in Nepal and one of the principal Jyotirlingas of the subcontinent. To die within sight of its spire is believed to release the soul from the cycle of rebirth — a belief that has shaped centuries of pilgrimage, cremation, and devotion along the Bagmati.
Daily Rituals
A Day at the Temple
4:00 AM
Temple Opens
Doors of the inner sanctum open for early darshan
08:30 AM
Morning Bhog
First viewing of the deity in serene morning light with fewer devotees
09:30 AM
Main Puja
Abhishekam with Bagmati water and bilva leaves
13:30 PM
Midday Closure
Sanctum closes briefly for noon rest
17:00 PM
Reopening
Evening darshan and preparation for aarti
18:15 PM
Bagmati Aarti
Lamps lit upon the river — the daily climax
20:00 PM
Shayan Aarti
Final rites; the deity is laid to rest
Pashupatinath Events
The Sacred Calendar
- Feb
Maha Shivaratri
The grandest night — over a million pilgrims, sadhus from all of India, fires that burn till dawn.
- Aug
Teej
Women in red sarees fast and dance in the temple courtyards for marital well-being.
- Aug
Bala Chaturdashi
Lamps are lit through the night and seven kinds of grain scattered along the forest paths.
- Nov
Haritalika Teej
Married women observe a strict day-long fast in honour of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
Pashupatinath Photos
Through the Lens
The Pilgrim's Practicalities
Plan Your Visit
Everything you need to know before you bow at the threshold.
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Entry Fees
- Nepali / Indian Free
- SAARC Nationals NPR 200
- Other Foreigners NPR 1,000
Non-Hindus may view the main shrine only from across the river.
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Pashupatinath Puja
- Rudrabhishek NPR 1,500
- Mahamrityunjaya NPR 2,500
- Special Sankalpa On request
Bookings open at 4:30 AM at the south office.
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Ghats at Pashupatinath
- Arya Ghat Royal cremations
- Bhasmeshwar Ghat Public cremations
- Surya Ghat Morning bathing
Photography forbidden at active cremation ghats.
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Pashupatinath Aarti
- Bagmati Aarti 6:15 PM daily
- Duration ~45 minutes
- Best Spot Western embankment
Arrive by 5:30 PM for a front‑row view.
Explore Guide
A Complete Pashupatinath Temple Guide
Wander every corner — the shrines, the people, the rites.
How to Reach Pashupatinath
Tribhuvan International is 4 km away — taxi in 15 minutes; local bus from Ratna Park to Gaushala then a 10‑minute walk..
Read MoreBest Time of the Year to Visit
October–March offers crisp Himalayan light. Maha Shivaratri (Feb/Mar) for the spectacle of the year.
Read MoreFestivals at Pashupatinath
Shivaratri, Teej, Bala Chaturdashi, Janai Purnima — each turning the temple into a sea of saffron and song.
Read MorePashupatinath Management
Administered by the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) under the Government of Nepal.
Read MorePashupatinath Bhatta
The Bhatta priests — traditionally drawn from South Indian Brahmin lineages — perform the inner sanctum rituals.
Read MorePashupatinath Cremation
Open‑air pyres on the Arya and Bhasmeshwar ghats — a centuries‑old rite of release into the Bagmati.
Read MoreSadhus at Pashupatinath
Naga, Aghori and Vaishnav sadhus reside year‑round in the Mrigasthali caves and ashrams across the river.
Read More Faqs
Pilgrim's Questions
Answers to what every first‑time visitor wonders before stepping into the sacred precinct.