Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal

The temple of Pashupatinath is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the subcontinent’s great Shiva sites. Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal Pashupatinath, beside the sacred Bagmati River, is the holiest place in Nepal. Pashupatinath’s supreme holiness has two major parts. One is that Shiva linga enshrined in the main temple and its location on the banks of Bagmati. Hindu devotee plunge into the holy Bagmati river daily and recite the verse from the ancient Vedas. It is believed that plunging or bathing into the holy river releases from the cycle of rebirth.

It is believed that sex organ of Shiva fell to Nepal. The main temple of Pashpati nath ( meaning Lord of Beasts believed to be divine protector of Nepal) contains a lingam of Pashupati which is three and a half feet high and has four faces sculptured on it.

Pashupatinath is Nepal’s most renowned Hindu cremation site. In Hindu culture, after the person  is dead, his/her dead body is wrapped in cloth and placed on bamboo litter and bodies are delievered by barefoot pallbearers accompanied by the male relatives. The eldest son from the family performs the cremation ceremony and the dead body is burnt. A few hours later the ashes are collected and swept in the river which will join the Holy Ganges eventually.

Pashupatinath temple is in the banks of Bagmati river on the eastern side of Kathmandu. The place where Pashupatinath is located is called Gaurighat, Kathmandu. People often say the location as Gaushala, Jaya bageswori etc. So, when you reach near the intersection of Gaushala or Jaya Bageswori or Mitrapark then you will see the board where it is written “The Way to Pashupati”. The another easier way to figure out is “Bagmati river is flowing beside Pashupatinath”. You may hear the sounds of bell from the temple as well.

How to Reach Pashupatinath ?

From Airport :Once you know where is Pashupatinath then you can plan to visit there. If you are somebody who just came from Airport and want to go there, then if you are taking a cab or taxi it will take maximum 10-15 minutes to reach there. If you want to go from public transportation, you should take the bus, microbus or tempo ( a three wheeler taxi) which says it is going to Gaushala or Chabahil. You would be able to find plenty of vehicles around there.