Spiritual · Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath with a guide who explains the rites
A guided visit to the Pashupati complex: the main temple seen from outside, the ghats, the east-bank shrines and Mrigasthali. Your guide explains Hindu death rites, the role of sadhus, and why this river matters so much to Nepalis.
We begin at the main gate, where Hindus enter the temple courtyard and visitors look in at the great golden bull, Nandi, facing the shrine. Your guide explains the four-faced linga inside, the daily rituals, the Bhatta priests from South India and the role the temple played for Nepal's kings.
Then we cross to the east bank. From the terraces we watch the ghats: a body wrapped in orange, carried round the pyre, the eldest son with shaved head lighting the fire at the mouth. Your guide explains each step quietly, and how the ashes are given to the river. Arya Ghat, upstream, was used for royalty and important figures.
We continue up through the rows of small stone shrines to Shiva, past sadhus in saffron and ash, into the Mrigasthali woods. We visit the Gorakhnath shrine and the deer enclosure, and talk about the legend of Shiva as a deer. If you have time, we end at the evening aarti or walk on to Guhyeshwari.
Good for
Questions
Can non-Hindus enter Pashupatinath temple?
No. Only Hindus may enter the main temple courtyard; guards at the gates check visitors. Non-Hindus can see the main temple from the east bank of the Bagmati, watch rituals at the ghats, and visit Mrigasthali and the smaller shrines. A guide explains what is happening inside.
Is it respectful to watch cremations at Pashupatinath?
Watching quietly from the east bank is accepted, and families know visitors are present. Keep a distance, do not walk among mourners, do not photograph faces or bodies, and do not laugh or talk loudly. If a family indicates they want privacy, move away.
How much is the Pashupatinath entry fee?
Foreign visitors have paid about NPR 1,000, collected at entry points around the complex; Nepali citizens enter free and SAARC nationals pay less. The ticket covers the east bank and Mrigasthali. Fees change, so check current status before you travel.
Also in Pashupatinath
More ways to spend the day
SpiritualEvening aarti on the Bagmati at Pashupati
Join the crowds on the riverbank as priests perform the evening aarti with lamps, bells, conch shells and hymns to …
HeritageMrigasthali woods to Guhyeshwari on foot
A quieter walk away from the ghats: up into the Mrigasthali forest, past the Gorakhnath shrine and the deer park, …
SpiritualMaha Shivaratri at Pashupatinath
On the great night of Shiva, Pashupati fills with sadhus from Nepal and India, fires burn on the riverbank, and …