Pashupatinath Quick Facts
Pashupatinath Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva as Pashupati, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal, dating to at least the 5th century CE, spread across roughly 246 hectares, and drawing well over a million pilgrims during its largest annual festival, Maha Shivaratri. This page collects the essential facts about Pashupatinath — identity, location, religion, architecture, history, and visitor information — in a fast, scannable reference format, with brief context for each fact so the numbers are easy to understand and cite correctly.
This entry is part of our About Pashupatinath guide. For narrative depth behind any of these facts, see What is Pashupatinath?, Temple Facts, and Temple Timeline.
Identity Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Shree Pashupatinath Temple |
| Also called | Pashupatinath Mandir, Pashupati Temple |
| Deity | Lord Shiva, worshipped as Pashupati (“Lord of All Living Beings”) |
| Religion | Hinduism (Shaivism) |
| Meaning of the name | Sanskrit pashu (“living being”) + pati (“lord”) + nath (honorific for a deity) |
| National status | Widely regarded as Nepal’s national shrine |
| Sacred object inside the sanctum | A reputedly four-faced (chaturmukha), self-manifested (svayambhu) Shiva lingam |
Pashupatinath’s name and core identity are explained in full detail on our What is Pashupatinath? page.
Location and Geography Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Deopatan, eastern Kathmandu, Nepal |
| River | Banks of the Bagmati River |
| Coordinates | Approximately 27°42′35″N, 85°20′55″E |
| Elevation | Approximately 817 meters (2,680 feet) |
| Distance from Kathmandu city center | Roughly 5 kilometers |
| Distance from Tribhuvan International Airport | Roughly 2–3 kilometers |
| Country | Nepal |
| Province | Bagmati Province |
Its close proximity to the airport makes Pashupatinath one of the most accessible major pilgrimage sites in South Asia for international visitors — a fact explored further in Why is Pashupatinath Famous? and our Travel Guide.
Size and Structure Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total complex area | Approximately 246 hectares (2,460,000 m²) |
| Number of temples and shrines | Roughly 500–520 individual structures |
| Architectural style | Nepalese pagoda |
| Main temple roof | Two-tiered, gold-gilt copper roof |
| Main temple doors | Four silver-plated doors |
| Notable interior feature | Richly carved wooden roof struts (tundal) depicting deities and mythological scenes |
| Cremation ghats | Multiple ghats along the Bagmati, including Aryaghat, historically reserved for royalty and dignitaries |
Sources differ slightly on the exact structure count and total hectarage — figures ranging from about 246 to 264 hectares and 500 to over 520 shrines appear across academic, UNESCO, and travel sources, reflecting different survey methods and boundary definitions over time. For a full architectural walkthrough, see Temple Complex.
Historical Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Earliest documented temple | Circa 400–505 CE, Licchavi period |
| Oldest chronicle source | Gopal Raj Vamshavali (compiled c. 1389 CE) |
| Kings credited with earliest construction | Prachanda Deva and/or Supuspa Deva (sources vary) |
| Major medieval reconstruction | King Shivadeva (11th–12th century); roof added by King Ananta Malla (13th century) |
| Historic looting event | 1349 CE, attributed to Sultan Shamsuddin of Bengal; the sacred lingam was damaged and later restored |
| Current structure largely built | 1692–1697 CE |
| Age of the site | Well over 1,500 years by conservative historical estimates |
A full year-by-year account of these events is available on our Temple Timeline and Origin pages.
UNESCO and Heritage Status Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| UNESCO status | World Heritage Site |
| Inscribed | 1979, at the 3rd session of the World Heritage Committee |
| Listed as part of | Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property (one property, seven monument zones) |
| Selection criteria | Cultural criteria (iii), (iv), and (vi) |
| UNESCO reference number | 121bis-006 |
| In Danger listing | 2003–2007 (later removed following conservation improvements) |
| National legal protection | Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1956 |
| Managing body | Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), established 1986 |
For the full story behind these facts, including the 2015 earthquake’s impact on the site, see our dedicated UNESCO World Heritage page.
Religious and Ritual Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can enter the inner sanctum | Practicing Hindus only |
| Who can visit the wider complex | Visitors of any faith or nationality |
| Priests | Hereditary Bhatta priests, traditionally drawn from South India (Karnataka) |
| Daily rituals | Morning and evening aarti, along with daily puja inside the sanctum |
| Largest annual festival | Maha Shivaratri (“the Great Night of Shiva”), held in February or March |
| Typical Maha Shivaratri attendance | Reported figures range from several hundred thousand to well over a million pilgrims in a single festival period, with some years’ totals reported near two million |
| Other associated festivals | Teej, and other Shiva-related observances throughout the year |
| Resident ascetic community | A large population of sadhus, some living in on-site ashrams, others arriving seasonally |
For a full breakdown of temple rituals, see our Rituals & Poojas section, including Daily Puja, Rudrabhishek, Maha Rudra, and Laghu Rudra.
Visitor Facts: Hours, Fees, and Access
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| General complex hours | Approximately 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily |
| Inner sanctum darshan hours | Typically split into morning (roughly 4:00/5:00 AM–12:00 PM) and evening (roughly 5:00/6:00 PM–7:30 PM) sessions, with a midday closure |
| Entry fee for Nepali and Indian nationals | Free |
| Entry fee for other foreign nationals | Approximately NPR 1,000 (roughly USD 7–10, subject to exchange rate) |
| Best time for a quieter visit | Early morning, around the Mangala Aarti |
| Photography | Generally prohibited inside the main sanctum and during active religious ceremonies; permitted in most outer courtyard and viewing areas |
| Dress code | Modest clothing expected throughout the complex |
Exact opening and closing times can vary by season and by festival calendar, and different official sources occasionally publish slightly conflicting schedules — always confirm the current day’s timing locally before visiting. For complete, up-to-date visitor guidance, see our FAQ section, including Can Non-Hindus Enter?, Entry Fee, Dress Code, and Photography.
Nearby Sites at a Glance
| Site | Relationship to Pashupatinath |
|---|---|
| Guhyeshwari Temple | Across the Bagmati River; linked through Shakti Peeth mythology |
| Boudhanath Stupa | A short distance away; shares the same 1979 UNESCO Kathmandu Valley listing |
| Mrigasthali | Deer sanctuary directly linked to Pashupatinath’s origin legend |
| Ram Mandir | Nearby Vaishnava temple within the wider religious district |
| Aryaghat | The temple’s principal cremation ghat, closest to the main sanctum |
See our full Nearby Attractions guide, including dedicated pages on Guhyeshwari, Boudhanath, Ram Mandir, and Arya Ghat.
Numbers That Define Pashupatinath
To summarize the scale of the site in a single glance:
- 1,500+ years — approximate minimum age of documented worship at the site
- 246 hectares — approximate total area of the temple precinct
- 500+ — number of individual temples and shrines within the complex
- 7 — number of monument zones making up the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Property, of which Pashupatinath is one
- 1979 — year of UNESCO World Heritage inscription
- 1692–1697 — years the current main temple structure was built
- 1,000,000+ — typical number of pilgrims attending Maha Shivaratri in recent years
- 2–3 km — distance from Tribhuvan International Airport
- NPR 1,000 — standard entry fee for non-SAARC foreign visitors
Administration and Governance Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Primary managing body | Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), established 1986 |
| First chief patron of PADT | King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah |
| National heritage legislation | Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1956 (2013 B.S.) |
| International oversight | Nepal’s Department of Archaeology, in coordination with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre |
| Historical royal connection | Served as Nepal’s de facto royal temple from the unification of Nepal in 1768–1769 until the monarchy’s abolition in 2008 |
| Priest tradition | Hereditary Bhatta priesthood, a practice occasionally subject to legal and public dispute over appointment rules |
This layered governance structure — a dedicated site-level trust, national legislation, and international monitoring — reflects the scale of what’s actually being managed: not a single monument, but an active, continuously used religious precinct receiving millions of visits annually. For more on how this system responded to specific historical challenges, including the 2003 “in danger” listing and the 2015 earthquake, see UNESCO World Heritage.
Comparative Facts: How Pashupatinath Measures Up
Numbers are easier to interpret with context. Here’s how some of Pashupatinath’s key facts compare to other well-known reference points:
| Comparison | Pashupatinath | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Documented from c. 400–505 CE | Comparable in documented antiquity to many of India’s oldest continuously used temple sites |
| UNESCO listing type | One of seven zones in a single property | Similar in structure to multi-site UNESCO inscriptions elsewhere, such as the Great Zimbabwe or Angkor complexes, where several distinct locations share one designation |
| Annual festival attendance | 800,000 to 2 million+ during Maha Shivaratri | Places it among the largest single-site religious gatherings in South Asia, alongside major Kumbh Mela-adjacent events, though on a smaller scale than the Kumbh Mela itself |
| Complex size | ~246 hectares | Roughly comparable in scale to a small town center, considerably larger than most single-structure temple complexes worldwide |
| Airport proximity | 2–3 km from Tribhuvan International Airport | Among the most accessible major world pilgrimage sites for international travelers, compared to sites like Mecca, Varanasi, or Amarnath, which require substantially more travel time from an international gateway |
These comparisons are covered in more narrative depth in Why is Pashupatinath Famous?, which explains how this specific combination of scale, accessibility, and religious status shaped the temple’s global recognition.
Fact Sheet: Media and Citation Quick Reference
For journalists, students, or content creators needing a condensed, citation-ready summary, the following core facts represent the most consistently corroborated details across UNESCO documentation, academic sources, and Nepal’s official heritage bodies:
- Pashupatinath Temple is a Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva as Pashupati, located in Deopatan, Kathmandu, Nepal, on the banks of the Bagmati River.
- The earliest documented temple structure dates to the Licchavi period, roughly 400–505 CE.
- The temple complex was inscribed as part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, under cultural criteria (iii), (iv), and (vi).
- The current main temple structure, featuring a two-tiered gold roof and silver-plated doors, dates largely from a reconstruction completed in the late 17th century.
- The complex spans approximately 246 hectares and contains more than 500 individual shrines and temples.
- The inner sanctum is restricted to practicing Hindus; the wider complex is open to visitors of all backgrounds.
- The temple’s largest annual event, Maha Shivaratri, draws crowds regularly reported in the hundreds of thousands to over a million.
- Management is handled by the Pashupati Area Development Trust, established in 1986, operating under Nepal’s 1956 Ancient Monuments Preservation Act.
When citing any of these figures externally, note that some — particularly area, shrine count, and festival attendance — vary slightly across sources, as detailed in the “Common Misconceptions” section above.
Seasonal and Climate Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Best months to visit | October–November and February–March, coinciding with clearer weather and major festivals |
| Monsoon season | Roughly June–September, bringing heavy rainfall to the Kathmandu Valley |
| Coolest months | December–January |
| Warmest months | May–June, prior to monsoon onset |
| Elevation-driven climate | Moderate, temperate climate typical of the mid-hill Kathmandu Valley, at roughly 817 meters elevation |
| Ideal daily visiting window | Early morning, both for weather and for a quieter, less crowded darshan experience |
Timing a visit around Maha Shivaratri offers the most dramatic atmosphere but also the largest crowds; travelers preferring a quieter experience typically visit outside major festival dates. See our Travel Guide for seasonal planning advice.
Common Misconceptions Worth Clarifying
A few points are frequently misunderstood or mis-cited in casual sources, so they’re worth stating precisely:
- Pashupatinath is not a single building. It is a large precinct containing hundreds of individual shrines, ghats, and ashrams, not just the central pagoda most photos show.
- It is not independently UNESCO-listed. Pashupatinath is one of seven monument zones collectively inscribed as the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property, not a standalone World Heritage Site.
- Entry restrictions apply only to the inner sanctum, not the entire complex. Non-Hindu visitors can access the vast majority of the precinct, including viewing areas for the main temple and the cremation ghats.
- Exact area and structure counts vary slightly by source. Figures such as “246 hectares” or “518 shrines” are widely cited but not perfectly uniform across UNESCO documentation, academic surveys, and travel literature — treat precise figures as close approximations rather than fixed totals.
- Historical dates and rulers are sometimes disputed. Because much of the temple’s early history survives only through chronicles compiled centuries after the events described, sources occasionally disagree on specific names (such as which king built the earliest shrine) and dates (such as whether the final major reconstruction was completed in 1692 or 1697).
For deeper discussion of these nuances, see Temple Facts and Origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Pashupatinath Temple? The earliest documented physical temple dates to approximately 400–505 CE, during Nepal’s Licchavi period, making the site well over 1,500 years old, though devotional tradition holds the location’s sanctity predates any structure.
How big is the Pashupatinath temple complex? The complex covers approximately 246 hectares and contains more than 500 individual temples, shrines, and monuments, making it far larger than the single main pagoda most visitors picture.
Is Pashupatinath a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Yes, as one of seven monument zones collectively inscribed as the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Property in 1979.
What is the entry fee for Pashupatinath? Nepali and Indian nationals enter free. Other foreign nationals typically pay around NPR 1,000, though fees and categories can be updated by Nepali authorities, so current visitors should confirm the latest rate.
What are Pashupatinath’s opening hours? The complex is generally open daily from around 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with the inner sanctum typically closed for a midday break; exact timings can vary seasonally and by festival calendar.
Can non-Hindus visit Pashupatinath? Non-Hindus cannot enter the inner sanctum but are welcome throughout the rest of the complex, including viewing areas for the main temple and cremation ghats.
What is the biggest festival at Pashupatinath? Maha Shivaratri, held annually in February or March, which draws crowds reported at several hundred thousand to well over a million pilgrims depending on the year and source.
How far is Pashupatinath from Kathmandu airport? Approximately 2–3 kilometers, making it one of the most easily accessible major pilgrimage sites in the world for international travelers.
For more direct answers on visiting, see our full FAQ section.
Is photography allowed at Pashupatinath? Photography is generally permitted in the outer courtyards and public viewing areas but prohibited inside the main sanctum and during active religious ceremonies, including cremations, out of respect for grieving families.
What is the significance of the number of faces on the lingam? The lingam inside the sanctum is traditionally described as four-faced (chaturmukha), with each face representing a different aspect of Shiva oriented toward the cardinal directions, and a fifth, formless aspect understood to face upward — a detail that distinguishes Pashupatinath’s central image from the single-form lingams found at many other Shiva temples.
Where to Go Next
- What is Pashupatinath? — foundational facts about the temple and its deity
- Temple Facts — deeper context and explanation behind the numbers on this page
- Temple Timeline and Origin — the full history behind the historical facts above
- UNESCO World Heritage — complete details on the site’s 1979 designation
- Spiritual Importance — the religious meaning behind the site
- Temple Complex — a full structural map of the precinct
- Travel Guide — practical planning information, including How to Reach and Taxi Guide
- FAQ — quick answers to common visitor questions
This entry is part of our About Pashupatinath guide, covering the essential facts, history, mythology, and rituals of Pashupatinath Temple.