How To Visit Pashupatinath Temple – Aarati, Cremations and What To Expect
It doesn’t matter where you stay in Kathmandu, you will be able to go to the Pashupatinath Temple. It is one of the most sacred Hindu Temples in Nepal, and goes along the Bagmati River.
If you’re visiting Nepal, you are likely not a rookie. But if you are, this guide guide should help you.
I personally booked a tour to visit Pashupatinath, and after doing so….I HIGHLY recommend it. Book here for a very interesting night.
What Is Special About Pashupatinath Temple?
Other known as the “cremation temple”, you will actually see live human cremations and other rituals inside of here. Yes, you heard that correctly. I personally had a few beers first out of nervousness, because where I’m from…this is not a normal activity.
You could do logistics, plan it, deal with the traffic on your own, etc. But DON’T. It gets nuts in there, just book the tour on Viator or another site…even if you hate tours. Trust me. I went with 2 guides, and there was 1 other guest present.
When picked up at your hotel, bring a backpack with enough drinks for yourself, or at least money to buy some. The air is very interesting inside of this temple.
There’s really no “best hotel to stay at near Pashupatinath Temple”. You just need time to get there. Personally, I found that area pretty chaotic in retrospect, so my stay at the Hyatt Regency Kathmandu was perfect.
You will join the Aarati (a light ritual where they use flames and lights to remove darkness). There is 0% chance I would’ve known where to go or even stand without those guides. It was crazy and packed.
In a way I almost felt bad taking up a prime spot for a child or local who is participating in this religion, but if you have been to this part of the world, they appreciate you observing and respecting their culture.
This is a very powerful event, regardless of your background or religious beliefs. It is a MUST visit thing to do in Kathmandu, Nepal. I believe the saying is “you’re not in Kansas anymore”.
I would have complete regret if I did not book this tour.
I don’t want to spoil much, but people will ask you for money, people will standing very close to you, it will smell funny, and it will be smokey…but you better go.
Entry Fee for Pashupatinath Temple
Foreigners pay NPR 1,000 to enter Pashupatinath Temple (roughly $7 to $8 USD). Nepalis and Indians enter free. The ticket office is located near the main entrance and accepts cash only so make sure you have rupees on you before you arrive. If you are visiting specifically for the evening Aarati ceremony the ticket office will likely be closed by the time you arrive which means entry is free at that point. Your guide will handle all of this if you book a tour which is strongly recommended.
Should You Book a Tour for Pashupatinath?
For the one hundredth time…
Yes, and I say this as someone who rarely books tours. I’ve booked very few – one at the Great Wall of China, and one in Armenia. Pashupatinath is not a temple you want to navigate alone on your first visit. The Aarati ceremony is packed, chaotic, and completely disorienting if you do not know where to stand or what you are watching. Without a guide you will end up at the wrong spot, missing the best views, with no context for what is happening around you.
A guide gives you the history, finds you the right position for the ceremony, explains the cremation rituals in a way that makes the whole experience meaningful rather than just strange, and gets you in and out without the stress of figuring it out yourself. The cost is minimal compared to what you get out of it.
The Aarati Ceremony - What to Expect
The Aarati begins around 6pm along the Bagmati River Ghats and runs for about an hour. Priests perform a fire ritual using large brass lamps, incense, and chanting to honor Lord Shiva. The ceremony is an offering of light designed to remove darkness and express devotion. As the ceremony gets underway the crowd builds quickly with locals, pilgrims, and tourists all pack in together along the riverbank.
What makes this genuinely unlike anything else is what is happening simultaneously on the other side of the river. Cremation pyres are burning. Families are saying goodbye to their loved ones. The smoke drifts across the ceremony. The smell is distinct. The atmosphere is heavy and spiritual, it is crazy.
I had a few beers beforehand out of genuine nervousness. Nothing could have fully prepared me for it. It is one of the most powerful things I have ever witnessed as a traveler. Not in any sad or depressing way either…just powerful.
The Cremation
Pashupatinath is known as the cremation temple for a reason. The Bagmati River Ghats (steps) along the temple complex are one of the few places in the world where open air cremation ceremonies can be witnessed by visitors. Hindus believe that being cremated at Pashupatinath ensures liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
This is not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense, these are real funerals for real families and should be treated with absolute respect.
Do not point. Do not photograph without considering whether it is appropriate. (I personally asked my guide if I could make a few videos and he said it was no big deal at all). Just observe quietly and respectfully. If you approach it that way the locals will welcome your presence…they believe that having witnesses to their ceremonies is meaningful.
Best Time to Visit Pashupatinath Temple
The tour is going to be in the evening. This is the most memorable way to experience the temple and what most visitors remember most vividly.
You could visit in the morning but it’s really not going to be the same experience.
What to Wear to Pashupatinath Temple
Modest dress is required. Cover your knees and shoulders as a baseline. Apparently wearing lether is bad? So definitely don’t wear your leather pants if you were planning to get quirky. You’ll be standing a lot so wear comfortable shoes.
Photography at Pashupatinath
Photography is permitted throughout the outer complex and along the Bagmati River Ghats where the Aarati ceremony and cremation Ghats are located. It is strictly prohibited inside, but you will not be allowed entry as a non-Hindu regardless of whether you have a camera or not.
When photographing the cremation ceremonies use your judgment. These are active funerals. A general rule is to keep your phone down during the most intimate moments and be discreet at all times. Nobody will stop you from taking photos along the Ghats but read the room. Locals generally appreciate respectful visitors observing their culture. Like I said, my guide said there was absolutely making videos across the river of the smoke filled air.
Getting to Pashupatinath Temple
The easiest way to get to Pashupatinath is by ordering an InDrive or Pathao from wherever you are staying in Kathmandu. The journey from Thamel takes around 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. If you are booking a tour your guide will arrange pickup from your hotel which takes all the stress out of it.
You could take a stroll to enjoy the city but the roads and traffic can get quote crazy. My guide to user InDrive or Pathao is here.
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