Pashupatinath Temple
पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर
Nepal's holiest Hindu temple and one of the most sacred Shiva shrines in the world — the seat of Pashupati, the national deity, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India, especially at Maha Shivaratri.
Deity
Lord Shiva (Pashupati)
Location
Kathmandu
Bagmati
Tradition
Hindu
Main festival
Maha Shivaratri
Pashupatinath is the largest temple complex in Nepal, sprawling along both banks of the sacred Bagmati River on the eastern edge of Kathmandu. The pagoda-style main temple, with its gilded roof and silver doors, enshrines a four-faced Shiva lingam and is open only to Hindus, though the wider complex of shrines, ghats and ashrams is open to all.
The riverside ghats are Nepal's most important Hindu cremation site. Inscribed within the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage property, Pashupatinath is administered by the Pashupati Area Development Trust.
Highlights
Gilded pagoda temple with a four-faced Shiva lingam
Aarati (ritual lamp ceremony) on the Bagmati ghats each evening
Sadhus (holy men) in residence, especially at Shivaratri
Cremation ghats and ancient shrines across the complex
How to reach
About 5 km east of central Kathmandu (Gaushala/Tinkune); a short taxi or bus ride from Thamel or the airport.
Best time to visit
Maha Shivaratri (Feb–Mar) for the spectacle; early morning year-round for aarati and calm.
Pashupatinath Temple, answered
Which deity is worshipped at Pashupatinath Temple?+
Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva (Pashupati) (a Hindu site) in Banks of the Bagmati River, Kathmandu, Kathmandu, Bagmati Province.
How do I reach Pashupatinath Temple?+
About 5 km east of central Kathmandu (Gaushala/Tinkune); a short taxi or bus ride from Thamel or the airport.
What is the best time to visit Pashupatinath Temple?+
Maha Shivaratri (Feb–Mar) for the spectacle; early morning year-round for aarati and calm.
What is the main festival at Pashupatinath Temple?+
The main festival at Pashupatinath Temple is Maha Shivaratri.
Other temples & pilgrimage sites
Sources & data note
Temple histories, deities and festival associations are drawn from the Nepal Tourism Board, temple trusts and the Department of Archaeology. Altitudes and coordinates are approximate. Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. Several sites (Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Lumbini) are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List — see the heritage section for the formal listing.