Pashupatinath Temple Tour

The Pashupatinath Temple is the holiest Hindu temple in the world, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kathmandu. Pashupatinath Temple is located on the sacred Bagmati riverbank of Kathmandu, Nepal. The Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to the manifestation of Goddess Shiva. The temple is one of the oldest and most significant religious landmarks in South Asia and the most sacred holy temple in the world. It was recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 AD. The Pashupatinath Temple tour covers around 246 hectares (2,460,000 m²) and includes a total of 518 mini temples. In the 5th century, the Pashupatinath temple was built by Supuspadev (Prachanda Dev), and later King Manadeva further constructed it. The Licchavi king Prachandadev officially started building the Pashupatinath temple in 400 CE. The beautiful pagoda style made the Pashupatinath temple look gorgeous.

The temple has 4 main doors, and during festivals like Maha Shivaratri and Teej, all four doors will be open. The main door of the Pashupatinath temple's western door will be open regularly. There are large numbers of devotees who visit every day from across the world. Devotees from Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, and other parts of the world will visit every year. The Pashupatinath temple looks gorgeously beautiful, made in the pagoda style and Newari architecture. Two-level roofs are covered with copper and gold, the main door is covered with silver steel, and the crown (Gajur) is made of pure gold. The Pashupatinath Temple tour is beautiful, and travellers will have peace and spiritual vibes, where devotees visiting the Pashupatinath Temple believe they are blessed by the lord Shiva.

Highlights of Pashupatinath Temple Visit

• The beautiful, gold-plated copper roof and pure gold crown on top
• Pashupatinath Temple is located on the holiest Bagmati riverbank.
• The Bagmati River Ghat is also the cremation site of Hindu rituals.
• Evening Aarati, morning worship, and expect the blessings from the goddess.
• Pashupatinath Temple is the holiest Hindu temple.
• The temple has 518 different small temples.
• Explore the Nandi statue, Lord Shiva’s bull, and another ancient historical statue.
• There will be meditation, yoga, Ayurveda, and astrology around the temple premises.
• Yoga in Pashupatinath Temple, evening Aarti, and worshiping the lord Shiva are very popular.
• There will be highly educated Bhattas as priests in the Vedic religious scriptures.
• The Hindu religion believes that visiting the Pashupatinath Temple fulfils all desires and wishes.

Things to do in Pashupatinath Temple Visiting

1. Worshiping to the lord Shiva and Pooja
2. Performs Hindu rituals, Pooja and peace mediation
3. Yoga and Meditation in Pashupatinath Temple
4. Experience the spiritual musical concert on the full moon at Kirateshowar Temple.
5. Pashupatinath Evening Aarti (Spiritual Musical Evening)
6. Interacting with ascetics and finding meditation, Ayurveda, and blessings
7. Walk around the Pashupatinath and explore the serene surroundings.
8. Explore Hindu cremation and rituals in the Bagmati River.
9. Visit the deer park in Mirgasthali.
10. Ayurveda and herbal remedies
11. Astrology and Hindu rituals
12. Visit the Pashupatinath museum

History of Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in the world. The temple is considered to be of pre-ancient Vedic origin according to the Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda of the Skanda Puran. The main scripture of Hinduism is the Vedas, which mention in the Vedas about the Pashupatinath temple. In 400 CE, the greatest Licchavi king Prachanda Dev first built the Pashupatinath temple, and later in the 5th century, Mandeva further constructed the complex. The Pashupatinath temple was later reconstructed by the king Shivadeva around the 11th century, and the roof of the temple was added by the king Ananta Malla. The current form of the Pashupatinath temple was renovated in 1692 BC, after the previous structure was affected by the earthquake.

Legends say that Lord Shiva and Parvati took the form of antelopes in the forest on the east bank, so till now we can see antelopes in it. The gods caught him and grabbed one of his horns, forcing him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as Shiva Linga, but over time, it was buried and lost. Centuries later, the herdsman found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. After digging the site, he discovered the divine Linga; that’s the Linga we worship as Shiva Linga now. The pagoda-style Pashupatinath temple is gorgeous to visit. Hence, the Pashupatinath temple is known as the biggest temple of the Hindu tradition and the Vedic cultures. Char Dham Nepal is considered as Pashupatinath temple, Muktinath temple, Baraha Kshetra, and Ruru Kshetra, or Devghat Dham.

Pilgrimage Tour in Nepal

Nepal is a fertile land for ancient heritages, the birthplace of Buddha, Goddess, Ram, Sita, and Pashupatinath, where Lord Shaiva was in penance. For the Buddhist, Hindu, Bon, and other religions, Nepal has lots of legends and history, where pilgrimage can have exploration and worship. Travellers from all over the world used to visit Nepal for pilgrimage tours. Besides the Hindu pilgrimage Kathmandu tour, you can have nature exploration, adventure activities, mountain expeditions, culture, history, and human civilization during the Nepal tour. The Pashupatinath temple, Boudha Nath Stupa, Lumbini (the birthplace of Buddha), Muktinath temple, Baraha Kshetra, and Devghat Dham are the main attractions and popular for pilgrimage tours in Nepal. Moreover, Nepal offers lots of pilgrimage tours. The Kailash Mansarovar Kailash Yatra for worshiping Lord Shiva is also popular in Nepal.

For Hindu pilgrimage, Nepal offers the holiest temples: Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Baraha Kshetra, and Devghat Dham. These places are considered the Char Dham of Nepal. Furthermore, you will be exploring the Manakamana temple, Budhanilkantha, Janaki temple, Gosaikunda lake, Panch Pokhari, Badimalika temple, and many more Hindu pilgrimage sites. Nepal also offers the Buddhist pilgrims, the Bon religion, and others. The Boudha Nath stupa, Lumbini, Swayambhu Nath, Tengboche monastery, and Nomobuddha are the main pilgrimages of Buddhists. Travellers visiting the Dolpo region, the upper Manaslu region, and Manang can explore the Bon religion, which worships nature. Nepal also has Sikh, Islam, Christian, and other religious devotees and followers. Travellers during the Kailash Mansarovar Tibet pilgrimage can have a pilgrimage tour and a wonderful nature exploration. Hence, Nepal is the best travel destination for pilgrimage tours and nature wonderland exploration.

Pashupatinath Temple Tour Guide

The Pashupatinath Temple tour guide will take you to the world's holiest Hindu sacred place in Kathmandu. Travellers visiting the Pashupatinath temple will pack up from the hotel with the travel agency’s representatives. In general, travelling from Thamel to Pashupatinath Temple will take about half an hour, which will be approximately 4 kilometers. Depending on the traveller’s interest in visiting the temple, the morning and evening will have different programs. Likewise, in the mooring, you can do worship, morning puja, put Tika, and interact with Sadhus. During the evening time you can experience the evening Aarti, Puja, and other activities. For those who want to have peace, spiritual vibes, and Bhajan, it is better to visit in the morning. Explore the devotees’ activities, Sadhu, Aarti, and other activities; you can have an evening visit to the Pashupatinath temple.

Hence, you will enter the Pashupatinath from the Guhyeshwari Temple and its premises. Travelers will explore the surroundings, goddess statues, ancient architecture, devotees, Hindu priests, and ascetics. You will enter the main Pashupatinath temple from the east gate. Eventually, inside the main Pashupatinath temple, only Hindus are allowed to enter, and no pictures are allowed inside the main temple. However, if you are a Hindu believer and believe in Hinduism, even other religions and foreigners are allowed to enter to worship at the Pashupatinath temple. Hence, you will have worship, Puja, and get back to the temple, then explore the holy Bagmati River. Pashupatinath cremation is interesting for a Pashupatinath guide while visiting.

Explore Pashupatinath Temple, Guide and Heritages 

Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple is the best destination for ancient heritage exploration and further study. Explore the Basukinath Temple,Surya Ghat, Aarya Ghat, Deer Park, Bagdor in Pashupatinath, and other beautiful surroundings. There are at least 518 mini temples with the Pashupatinath main temple. The main Pashupatinath temple looks gorgeous and beautiful; the silver-coated giant bull, Shiva linga, copper and gold-plated roof, and pure gold-made temple crown will make the temple look awesome. The Pashupatinath entrance fee will be Rs 1000 for foreigners except Indians. The Indian travelers will have a free entry permit for the Pashupatinath temple. For those below 10 years, Nepali nationals will have free entry as well. Take a picture for memories; there will be lots of ancient heritages, religious activities, and rituals.

Moreover, travellers will experience the jolly monkeys, antelope, sacred goats, cows, and other animals. There are also Deer parks where travelers can have nature and short hiking experiences. Hence, the Pashupatinath temple is the best place to be visiting, and it provides you with peace and spiritual pilgrimage vibes. Yoga tours, meditation, spiritual peace, and calm are offered by the beautiful Pashupatinath temple visit. Those travelers looking for a city tour guide can hire one. Hiring a city tour guide will navigate the way and explain about the local culture, history, and other activities. The cost of a city tour guide in Kathmandu for the Pashupatinath trip is about USD 25 to 30 for the day. The best travel companies, like Touch Planet Treks, will provide a good experience and a professional city tour guide.

The Facts About Pashupatinath Temple

• The main deity is Lord Shiva in the form of Pashupathi (animals).
• Pashupatinath Temple is one of the oldest and holiest Hindu temples in the world.
• The temple was first built by the Licchavi king Prachanda Dev (Supuspa Dev).
• Pashupatinath Temple was first built in 400 CE by King Prachanda Dev.
• Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 AD
• The Pashupatinath Temple is built in the ancient Newari pagoda style.
• The giant Nandi bull and roof are copper and gold-plated, and the main door is built of silver steel.
• The main crown, or Gajur, is made of pure gold, which looks beautiful.
• In the main temple, Hindus are allowed but can explore from the roof.
• The main festivals in Pashupatinath are Maha Shivaratri and Teej, which draw huge crowds.
• Visitors can explore ascetics and astrologers, do meditation and yoga, and pray and worship.
• Exploring the unique Hindu cremation rituals, Hindu history, and the museum
• There are 518 mini temples and the main Pashupatinath temple.
• Pashupatinath Temple is one of the main Dhamas of Char Dham (four goddess abodes)

Best Time to Visit Pashupatinath Temple Nepal

The Pashupatinath temple is located in the Kathmandu Valley, beside the holy Bagmati riverbank. The average altitude of Kathmandu is about 1,400 meters; however, the Pashupatinath temple is elevated at 817 meters. The best time to visit Pashupatinath Temple is during festive times like Maha Shivaratri and Haritalika Teej. The Maha Shivaratri falls in the month of February or March, and Haritalika Teej falls in August or September. These are the best festive times to visit Pashupatinath Temple. However, travellers can visit all the time during the year in the Pashupatinath temple. There will be performing worship, Hindu ritual ceremonies, morning Bhajan, evening Aarti, and other religious activities. Exploring the interesting Hindu cremation, Pooja, and all as usual, every day. During the Shivaratri, the Pashupatinath temple will be open till the night.

Generally, the Pashupatinath temple will open from 4 am to 9 pm. But morning worship will be from 5 am to 12 noon, and in the evening from 5 pm to 7 pm, and from 9 am to 11 am, there will be a special Abhishek. The evening Aarati performance will start around 6 to 7 pm beside the Bagmati River. Sometimes the seasons can vary slightly due to weather conditions or other reasons. Thus, the best time to visit Pashupatinath Temple is February to March for the Maha Shivaratri festival and August to September for the Teej festival. Furthermore, it's good for all the seasons, morning time for morning Abhishek with morning Bhajan, and evening time for evening Aarti on the Bagmati riverbank.

Maha Shivaratri Festival in Pashupatinath Temple

The Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu is a temple of the goddess Shiva; there is a giant bull and a Shiva Linga representation of the lord Shiva. The Maha Shivaratri is the biggest festival in the Pashupatinath temple. The Maha Shivaratri falls on the 14th night of the dark fortnight of the Nepali month Falgun, which falls in the month of February or March. During the Shivaratri there will be a gathering of hundreds of thousands of devotees and holy ascetics (Sadhus) from across the world and Nepal. Most of the naked ascetics will come from India and other Hindu communities. Devotees will see many naked ascetics having marijuana, a Prasad of Shiva, and naked Sadhus representing the Shiva Linga. There will be a huge, long queue to enter the main Pashupatinath temple for worshipping.

Devotees worship the lord Shiva Linga, chant mantras like Om Namah Shivaya, and perform the night vigils to make lord Shiva happy. The night before Maha Shivaratri there will be night honors to Lord Shiva's divine grace, creation, destruction, and his cosmic dance, which is also called Shiva Tandav. Visiting the Pashupathinath temple on Maha Shivaratri is believed to find the best life partner like Shiva and Parvati, where girls will wish to have a husband like Shiva, and boys wish to find a wife like Parvati. Moreover, the devotees wish to fulfill their desires, have a good future, achieve spiritual purification, liberation, and connection to the lord Shiva. Hence, the Maha Shivaratri festival in the Pashupatinath temple is the most wonderful time to visit. Worshiping the lord Shiva in Maha Shivaratri will give you the liberation/moksha in Pashupatinath Temple.

Conclusion of Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is the best and holiest place to visit once in a lifetime for Hindu believers and an ancient heritage site. Those who want to explore the ancient temple, UNESCO heritage sites, and the history, cultures, religion, and human civilization. The Pashupatinath temple was built by Licchavi king Prachanda Dev in 400 CE, and later King Manadeva rebuilt and renovated the temple in the 5th century. This more than 1600-year-old temple is beautiful to explore. A total of 246 hectares of area is covered by the temple. During the Pashupatinath temple visit, travelers will explore the huge area of the temple, 518 other mini temples, devotees from around the world, ancient architecture, arts and crafts, the Kama Sutra of the goddess, and many statues of the goddess. The Pashupatinath is majorly worshiping the Hindu lord Shiva and Parvati. However, travellers can explore the Kirateshowar temple, Mahhadev temple, Guhyeshowari temple, Vishnu temple, Goraknath temple, Ram mandir, and other Hindu temples. The Deer Park, the sacred Bagmati River, Aarya Ghat (cremation place), and other ritual ceremonies are best explored during a Pashupatinath Temple visiting.

FAQs of Pashupatinath Temple Visit

Who built Pashupatinath Temple?

The visionary Licchavi king Supuspa Dev built the Pashupatinath temple. Supuspa Dev, also known as Prachanda Dev. In 400 CE, King Prachanda Dev built the historic temple Pashupatinath, which was later in the fifth century reconstructed by the popular King Mana Deva. During the 11th century, King Shivadeva renovated the temple; Anant Malla added a roof in the 13th century; and in the 16th to 17th centuries, King Shivasimha Malla significantly remodeled the temple, which is the present temple.

What is the Pashupatinath Temple visiting hours?

In general, for the Pashupatinath temple tour, the temple is open from 4 am to 9 pm. But the inner sanctum, the Pashupatinath main temple, will close at midday for a few hours, yet the outer surroundings are still accessible. Worship for devotees will be from 5 am to 12 noon; there will be a pooja, morning Abhishek, and Bhajan. From 5 pm to 9 pm, another session for worshiping will be held; it will include performing evening Aarti, Puja/Pooja, and other ritual ceremonies. The evening aarti will start about 6 to 7 pm, but the time could change slightly.

During the Pashupatinath temple visit, what is the evening Aarti entry fee?

It is free to enter the Pashupatinath Temple evening Aarti; as long as you have the entry ticket, you can enjoy the evening aarti in the Pashupatinath Temple. The entry fee applies only to foreigners, except for Indians. Hence, foreigners with an entry ticket can explore the evening aarti and other ritual activities for free.

What time will start the Pashupatinath Temple aarti?

The Pashupatinath Aarti will start around evening 6 to 7 pm. Sometimes it could pass 7 pm, and it will remain till 8 to 8:30 pm in the evening. However, sometimes might cancel the Pashupatinath evening aarti due to weather condition, mostly in the rainy season it will be interrupt. The aarti will be performing in the west bank of Bagmati river an opposite of the Pashupatinath temple. The evening will be spiritual while attending the aarti in Pashupatinath temple. The Pashupatinath evening aarti time will be approximately 7 pm to 8:30 pm in the evening.

When the UNESCO world heritage site Pashupatinath Temple listed?

In 1979 the Pashupatinath temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pashupatinath temple is one of the major UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu, Nepal. Including the Pashupatinath temple, Nepal has a total of 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites. There are 8 cultural heritage sites, and 2 are the natural sites.

Is Pashupatinath temple Rudra Abhishek online booking available?

Yes, the Pashupatinath temple Rudra Abishek online booking is available through the online payment form from the SBI bank the day before the desired date. However, the Touch Planet Treks travel company is also arranging the online booking for Rudra Abhishek to Pashupatinath Temple. Travellers can visit the Touch Planet Treks website or contact 977-9841774591 via phone call or WhatsApp message. The online booking needs to be at least a day before the desired day of visiting.

How to get Pashupatinath Temple tickets for Foreigners?

The ticket for Pashupatinath Temple is available at the entrance near the temple, and travelers can purchase it online from travel agencies like Touch Planet Treks. The ticket cost for Pashupatinath Temple entry is approximately USD 15 per person. It will be free entry for children below 10 years old and Nepali and Indian nationals.

Can I do Pashupatinath Temple Darshan booking?

Yes, travelers can have Pashupatinath Darshan bookings and tour packages. You can have Rudra Abhishek online booking, entry tickets, and Pashupatinath travel packages through Touch Planet Treks. The best travel and trekking companies, like Touch Planet Treks, will manage the Pashupatinath Darshan tour packages. The city tour guide, private transportation, and Pashupatinath entry ticket will be arranged by the companies.

Is worth to visit Pashupatinath Temple Tour?

Yes, visiting the Pashupatinath temple is perfectly worthwhile, where travelers will be exploring the ancient culture, architecture, arts and crafts, and Hindu traditions, and can worship at the holiest Hindu temple, Pashupatinath. The cremation culture of Hindu believers, evening aarti, morning Bhajan, and devotees will give you different feelings. Visiting the Pashupatinath temple and exploring the surroundings is like studying the Hindu culture and its university.

What is the dress code for Pashupatinath temple tour?

The dress code for the Pashupatinath temple tour is formal with full sleeves in yellow. However, there is no specific dress code for Pashupatinath temple visits, but full coverage of the chest, shoulders, and knees is the appropriate outfit. The leather outfits are not allowed inside the main temple. Hence, travelers can have a comfortable and respectful dress during the Pashupatinath Temple visit.

What will be the tour package for Pashupatinath temple?

The Pashupatinath temple tour package will be a full-day tour package, a city tour package, and a specific Pashupatinath temple tour package. The best travel companies, like Touch Planet Treks, offer the Pashupatinath temple tour starting from about USD 45 per traveler. However, the Pashupatinath tour package cost depends on the required services and itinerary. The cost of the Pashupatinath temple tour is as low as USD 25 each. You can choose the best packages, which are suitable according to your budget. The entry fees of Pashupatinath temple are USD 15, so you can manage your own transportation and can have a budget travel to the Pashupatinath temple.