Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most famous, sacred Hindu Shrines dedicated to Pashupatinath in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River 5 kilometers north-east of Kathmandu Valley in the eastern city of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

Bagmati River in Nepal is considered as holy as the Ganges in India. Pashupatinath Temple, with its astonishing architectural beauty, stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture, and tradition & regarded as the most sacred temple of Hindu Lord Shiva in the world. Pashupatinath is the most important temple dedicated to god Shiva. It is a cubic construction with four main doors, all covered with silver sheets.

The pagoda-style Pashupatinath temple was constructed in 1696 but this has been a site of Hindu and Buddhist worship for far longer. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the compound of the famous main temple, but you can catch tantalizing glimpses of what is going on inside from several points around the perimeter wall. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism.

Only Hindu pilgrims can enter the premises of the temple which Pashupatinath Temple stands. Inside the shrine, hidden from view, is a black, four-headed image of Pashupati. If you climb the terraces to the west of the temple, you can look down on the gilded rooftop. Chronicles indicate the existence of the shrine prior to 400 AD. The Bagmati Riverbanks also serve as cremation sites to Hindus. It is believed that those who die in Pashupatinath Temple are reborn as a human, regardless of any misconduct that could worsen their karma. There numerous Ghats including Raj Ghat where the dead bodies are burnt. It is regarded an auspicious place for Nepali Hindus to be cremated. Raj Ghat is mostly used for cremation for royalties. The temple, a well-known Hindu pilgrimage site, is included in World Heritage Cultural site list by UNESCO.