Located in the eastern Kathmandu Valley, Pashupatinath Temple is the largest and oldest Hindu temple in Nepal. This temple is dedicated to Lord Pashupatinath, a form of Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath means the “God of Animals”. It is the national deity of Nepal. Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are small temples of other Hindu Gods and Buddhist temples that surround the Pashupatinath Temple. This makes it a top attraction and a must-visit place during the Nepal tour.
Dating back to the 5th century, Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest and largest temple in Nepal. It is built in the Newari style of architecture by King Shupusha of the Lichhavi dynasty. The temple is a cubic structure with four main doors, adorned with silver sheets. While the main sanctum includes a Shivalinga, there are other Hindu god temples and Buddhist temples that surround the Pashupatinath Temple. Within the large complex of the temple, there is a Garbhagriha, and a Shivalinga is housed. This is Pashupatinath Shivalinga, which is a unique sacred Mukhalinga, meaning a lingam with faces. The lingam has five faces, showing the five aspects of lord Shiva but only four faces are visible. The faces are on all the sides and one is on the top: Sadyojata (west), Vamadeva (north), Tatpurusha (east), Aghora (south), and the unseen Ishana (zenith).
Apart from the Shivalinga, the centre of attraction of the temple complex is the huge statue of Nandi Bull, the protector or guard of Lord Shiva, in front of the temple. Nandi is the Vahan (vehicle) of Lord Shiva and remains everywhere with lord Shiva, like a gatekeeper.
No one can enter the main sanctum (Garbhagriha) of the temple and touch the deity. Devotees can stand outside the Garbhagriha for darshan. People or tourists from other religions are not allowed in the temple. However, there are still many things to see and experience around the temple. Most people have a view of the temple from the opposite side of the Baghmati River. Rituals of cremation occur daily along the riverside. Tourists can see the rituals if they have never seen Hindu cremations before. Also, on the opposite side of the river are a host of Stupas and temples, where Sadhus often gather.
The Temple opens early morning at 4 AM and remains open till 9 PM. However, the main sanctum where the main deity of the temple is housed remains closed from 12 PM to 5 PM. So, devotees can enter the temple complex from 4 AM to 7 PM. Devotees can attend the Morning and Evening Aarti. But non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Pashupatinath Temple. They can have a view of the temple from the other side of the Bagmati River. However, no one is allowed to enter the innermost chamber of the temple and touch the Shivalinga. Devotees can only stand outside the Garbhagriha to have darshan and watch the priests performing the rituals. Other religions, like Sikhs and Jains, can enter the temple complex. Also, the leather items like shoes, belts, wallets, and bags are not allowed inside the temple as a veneration to lord Pashupatinath, the God of animals.
The temple opening and closing timings are not fixed. It keeps changing according to the season. Before you plan your Pashupatinath Temple Tour, you must see more details on the temple’s timings, depending on the time of the year when you are visiting the shrine.
Most people during their Kailash Mansarovar Yatra visit the sacred shrine of Pashupatinath Temple. And, some people plan a Nepal tour, especially to visit and pay homage to the Pashupatinath Temple. Whether you have booked your Nepal tour package or you are visiting Kailash Mansarovar via the Nepal route, you must visit this holy temple. Let’s see where the temple is located and how to get there:
Pashupatinath Temple is situated on the banks of the holy River Bagmati in the eastern region of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal. The temple is approximately 5 km from the city centre of Kathmandu, which can be reached from any part of the city.
Well, the temple is only 5 km from Kathmandu. There are several transportation options to reach the temple from the city. You can take local buses from Ratna Park going towards Gaushala or Pashupatinath. However, the condition of the buses might not be satisfactory. Therefore, you can choose a private taxi to get to the temple.
If you are traveling from Raxaul to Pashupatinath Temple, then you will have to cover a distance of approx. 135 km. Raxaul is a town on the India-Nepal Border in Bihar. Most Indians travel from Raxual to reach Pashupatinath Temple. It is a significant town for Indian Tourism, crossing towards Nepal. By road, it takes approx. 6-7 hours to reach Kathmandu from Raxual. If you want, you can drive to Simara Airport at a distance of 30 km from Raxual. From there, board a flight to Kathmandu.
The best time to visit Pashupatinath Temple is from March to May and September to November. This is also the time when the biggest festivals are celebrated in the temple complex. However, if you prefer a calmer view with fewer crowds, then avoid visiting the temple during the major Hindu festivals, especially Shivratri. The morning is the best time to visit the temple to experience the spiritual ambiance with fewer crowds.
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