Pashupatinath Temple — Sacred Heart of Kathmandu

Trip Stops

1. 1
   Pashupatinath Main Temple

   The holiest Hindu temple in Nepal, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Pashupati — 'Lord of all Animals'. The stunning two-tiered pagoda features copper-and-gold roofs, silver-sheeted doors, and a sacred five-faced Shiva Lingam inside. Fun fact: only four specially selected Brahmin priests from Karnataka, India — not Nepal — are allowed to touch the sacred Lingam. The temple's existence is recorded as early as 400 CE, making it one of the oldest in South Asia. Entry to the inner sanctum is for Hindus only, but the breathtaking exterior and courtyard are open to all.

   📍 Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

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2. 2
   Pashupati Aryaghat (Cremation Ghats)

   The most sacred cremation site in Nepal, located on the western bank of the Bagmati River right beside the main temple. Open-air funeral pyres burn here around the clock, and Hindus believe being cremated at Pashupatinath guarantees moksha — liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Fun fact: Arya Ghat (early 1900s) is the only place where lustral holy water for the main temple rituals can be obtained, and it is traditionally reserved for cremating Nepal's royal family. Non-Hindu visitors may observe respectfully from the opposite riverbank. The evening Aarti ceremony here is especially moving.

   📍 Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

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3. 3
   Mrigasthali Deer Park & Forest

   A sacred forest on the eastern bank of the Bagmati River, directly across from the main temple. 'Mrigasthali' means 'Place of Deer' in Nepali — the name comes from the legend that Lord Shiva himself once hid here disguised as a golden deer to escape the other gods. When the gods finally caught him by his horn and forced him back to divine form, the broken horn became the sacred Shiva Lingam now worshipped in the main temple. Today the forest is a peaceful sanctuary where spotted deer, barking deer, and hundreds of rhesus monkeys roam freely. It also offers the best panoramic viewpoint over the main Pashupatinath temple complex — perfect for non-Hindu visitors who cannot enter.

   📍 Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

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4. 4
   Gorakhnath Temple

   An 11th-century hilltop temple perched above the Mrigasthali forest, dedicated to Gorakhnath — the legendary yogi credited with founding Hatha Yoga and spreading its practice across all of Asia. Reached by climbing stone stairs from the eastern riverbank, the shikhara-style (corn-cob spire) temple is surrounded by a spectacular sprawl of Shiva lingams and is considered the place where Gorakhnath first opened yogic teachings to people of all social backgrounds. Fun fact: yogis' meditation caves used since medieval times are located nearby, and the Pashupatinath complex is also sacred to Vajrayana Buddhists, who revere it as one of the eight great charnel grounds where Padmasambhava once meditated.

   📍 Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

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5. 5
   Guhyeshwari Temple

   One of Nepal's most important Shakti Peethas (sacred seats of the Divine Feminine), located about 1 km east of the main temple on the southern bank of the Bagmati. Built in the 17th century by King Pratap Malla, it is dedicated to Goddess Guhyeshwari — 'the Goddess of Secrets' — a fierce tantric form of Parvati. Fun fact: rather than a traditional idol, the deity is worshipped as a silver-and-gold-covered kalasha (auspicious water jar) at the temple's centre — believed to embody Sati's divine energy. Vajrayana Buddhists also consider this site sacred as the location of the mythical lotus root upon which the famous Swayambhunath Stupa rests. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside, but the Newari pagoda exterior and riverside setting are beautiful.

   📍 Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

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6. 6
   Pandra Shivalaya (Fifteen Shiva Shrines)

   A row of 15 identical votive Shiva shrines lining the eastern bank of the Bagmati River, directly across from the main Pashupatinath temple complex — making them the best spot for non-Hindu visitors to photograph the golden pagoda roofs. The shrines were built between 1859 and 1869, each enshrining a Shiva lingam in memory of a deceased person. Fun fact: the 15 shrines form a near-perfect mirror image when reflected in the Bagmati River at golden hour, and this is also where wandering sadhus (holy ascetics), painted in ash and adorned with rudraksha beads, gather daily and are happy to chat or pose for photos (tip expected). The spot is particularly atmospheric during the evening Aarti when lamps flicker across the water.

   📍 Kathmandu, Bagmati Province, Nepal

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