One of the holiest Hindu temples on the Indian subcontinent, Pashupatinath is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva as his manifestation Pashupati, the Lord of Animals. Pashupatinath stands by the sacred (but badly polluted) Bagmati river in the eastern part of Kathmandu. While Kathmandu’s Buddhist sites Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are world-famous, the majority of Nepal’s residents are Hindus, and Pashupatinath is an important Hindu pilgrim destination.

Facts About the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu

The exact origins of Pashupatinath are shrouded in legend and myths. There has apparently been an ancient Shaivite temple on the site (a temple devoted to Shiva) long before the present temple structure, which is said to date back to the era of King Bhupalendra Malla in the 17th century. Following a centuries-old tradition, priests in this temple come from South India, and used to be recruited with the consent of the King of Nepal. After the abolition of monarchy in Nepal there have been protests demanding appointment of Nepali priests.The centerpiece of the temple is a beautiful pagoda-style structure with golden roofs and silver-coated doors. The pagoda is decorated with woodcarvings representing Shiva’s wife Parvati, their son Ganesha and other Hindu gods. Inside the temple is a shivalingam, Shiva’s phallic symbol. The lingam in this temple is chaturmukha, or four-faced statue. On the entrance to the temple stands a statue of Shiva’s bull, Nandi.

Non-Hindus are not allowed into the main temple. In June 2009 new areas of the temple complex were opened to tourists, and the entrance free to foreign tourists was doubled to Rs500 (approximately US$6.50).

Tips for Visiting the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu

The fascinating and colourful temple area provides the visitor a very different experience than Kathmandu’s Buddhist sites. The temple is always busy with orange-robed saddhus, who travel to Pashupatinath from around Nepal and the Indian subcontinent. During the Maha Shivaratri festival in February Pashupatinath stays open all night for its famous Shivaratri celebrations that attract large crowds of saddhus, pilgrims, devotees and tourists.

Bathing in the Bagmati river is considered auspicious, and there are ghats on the banks of the river for bathing as well as for cremation of bodies; Pashupatinath is also a popular cremation place. Visitors should be discrete and considerate when taking photographs here, especially during cremations. Morning and sunset are the busiest time in Pashupatinath and good for observing activities in the temple and the ghats.

Non-Hindus can try to get a view of the main temple from across the river, and there are several other interesting temples and shrines around the area on both sides of the river.

The easiest way to get to Pashupatinath is by taxi, but there is also a tempo stop nearby. Tempos connect Pashupati to central Kathmandu as well as to Boudhanath, which is just two kilometers away, and also easily reached from Pashupatinath by walking.