Pashupatinath Temple Visitor Guide 2026: Entry Fee, Timings, Aarti and Rules for Non-Hindus

Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) posts a daily count of cremations at the temple. It listed 35 on September 21, 2026 and 36 on August 24, 2026. Many first-time visitors don't expect that, and most guides barely mention it.

Guides also disagree on the basics. Some give three different opening times. Some list ticket prices that are years out of date. This guide uses PADT's own website and the Government of Nepal holiday list, and it marks which numbers are confirmed and which still need a check.

Written by the Nepal Calls You team. Facts last checked October 2, 2026.

Pashupatinath Temple Quick Answer 

Non-Hindus cannot enter the main sanctum. They can visit the rest of the complex, including the ghats, gardens and shrines, and watch the evening aarti from the east bank of the Bagmati River. Foreign visitors pay NPR 1,000. The complex is open from 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Pashupatinath Temple at a Glance 

Can Non-Hindus Enter Pashupatinath Temple? 

PADT says the main sanctum is for Hindus only. That is the building with the Shiva lingam. The rule applies to all non-Hindu visitors, whatever their nationality or ticket type.

You can still see a lot. PADT says non-Hindu visitors are welcome in the wider complex, which covers about 264 hectares. That includes:

• The ghats along the Bagmati River

• The gardens and smaller shrines

• The east bank, where you get a clear view of the main temple across the river

• The evening aarti

The east bank is the key place. Almost everything non-Hindu visitors come to see is there or can be viewed from there. 

Pashupatinath Entry Fee for Foreigners (2026) 

• Foreign nationals: NPR 1,000 per day per entry.

• Indian and Nepali citizens: free.

• Other SAARC countries and China: the fee is not settled. Sources list prices from NPR 250 to NPR 1,000, so confirm at the counter.

PADT does not publish a ticket price on its website. The NPR 1,000 figure comes from Nepal Tourism Board pricing as reported in several 2026 guides. Check it again before you travel, because fees at heritage sites can change.

PADT lists four ticket counters: Guheshwori, Vatsaleshwori, Tilganga and Gate No. 3.

Outdated prices to ignore: 

• Older blogs still show NPR 250, 500 or 750 for foreigners. Those are past prices.

• One 2026 guide prints US$6.50. That is an error. NPR 1,000 is the figure to use.

Pashupatinath Temple Timings 

PADT's website lists the temple as open every day from 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Its daily schedule runs like this: 

Some blogs give separate sanctum hours, such as 5 AM to 12 PM and 5 PM to 7 PM, or say inner gates close at 2:00 PM. PADT does not publish either claim, so treat them as unconfirmed. They only affect Hindu devotees anyway. For non-Hindu visitors, the complex hours above are the ones that matter. 

Pashupatinath Aarti Time and Where to Watch 

The evening aarti is the best thing to see at Pashupatinath. Three priests stand on the east bank facing the main temple. They perform the ritual with oil lamps and chanting while crowds gather along the river. 

• Time: PADT's daily schedule shows 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

• Where to stand: on the east bank of the Bagmati, across from the main temple. PADT says visitors of all backgrounds can watch from here.

• When to arrive: 30 to 45 minutes early if you want a spot with a clear view.

PADT's homepage also lists an evening window of 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, which looks like a darshan window and not the river aarti. Some guides say the aarti starts at 6:00 PM in winter and 7:00 PM in other seasons. I could not find that on PADT's site, so check the day's schedule on pashupati.org.np before you go. PADT's office number is +977-01-4571828 (Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM). 

Dress Code and Photography Rules at Pashupatinath 

What to wear (PADT rules): 

• Cover your shoulders and knees.

• No shorts, sleeveless tops or casual western wear.

• Take your shoes off before entering any shrine.

Photography (PADT rules): 

• Not allowed inside the main sanctum or during religious ceremonies.

• Allowed on the ghats and in outside public areas, if done respectfully.

• Drones need written permission from PADT.

• Ask before photographing sadhus. Many will ask for a small fee.

Some blogs say leather items are banned. PADT does not list that rule, so don't treat it as official. 

How to Watch the Cremations at Pashupatinath Respectfully

The Bagmati River is holy to Hindus, and cremation happens only in its banks. PADT runs the Kriyaputri service, the last-rite ritual at Arya Ghat, 24 hours a day. You will see smoke, fire and grieving families.

Some etiquette:
Watch from the east bank. Don’t go close to the cremation platform.

Don’t photograph the cremation unless the family has clearly agreed. In practice, it is better not to photograph at all.

Keep your voice low. This is a funeral not a show.

Don’t treat it as a spectacle. Skip the selfies.

Leave when you need to. If you feel like too much, walk up to the hill side shrines. The Gorakhnath temple has views along the Bagmati Valley.

Guides will tell you what each ritual step means. Ask them to keep you at a distance.

What to See at Pashupatinath 

• The main temple: you can't enter, but the view from the east bank shows the pagoda-style roof clearly.

• The ghats: Arya Ghat and Bhasmeshwar Ghat are the main cremation sites. PADT also runs an electric cremation house.

• The east bank hillside: small shrines, pilgrim rest houses (dharmsalas) and sadhus.

• Gorakhnath temple: a quieter spot with views over the river.

• UNESCO status: Pashupatinath was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979 as part of the Kathmandu Valley.

Best Time to Visit Pashupatinath 

Maha Shivaratri 2027 falls on Saturday, March 6, 2027 (Falgun 22, 2083 BS), according to Nepal's public holiday list. Some calendar sites show March 5,  but those are general calendars and not Nepal’s official list.

For scale, more than a million devotees visited the Pashupatinath for Maha Shivaratri in 2025. In 2026, PADT opened all four gates at 2:00 AM and set up designated queues. Non-Hindus can't enter the sanctum on any day, but the festival is a strong cultural experience if you can handle packed walkways. Go early, carry little, and expect slow movement. 

How to Get to Pashupatinath 

• Taxi from Thamel: about 15 to 20 minutes. Ask for "Pashupati Temple."

• Bus: routes 11, 22 and 30 stop at Gaushala bus stop, a 5-minute walk from the entrance.

• Parking: limited, near the main gate.

A 3-Hour Pashupatinath Plan for Non-Hindu Visitors 

This is one way to do it. Adjust the times if the aarti schedule changes. 

Mistakes to Avoid at Pashupatinath

• Expecting to enter the main temple.

• Arriving at 6:30 PM for the aarti, when the best spots are already taken.

• Photographing cremations or sadhus without asking.

• Wearing shorts or a sleeveless top.

• Trusting an old blog for the ticket price.

• Rushing it. Allow 2 to 3 hours.

See Pashupatinath With a Guide 

A guide helps most with the cremation context and the aarti. If you'd rather not work out the details yourself, see our Pashupatinath Darshan and Kathmandu Tour. 

Pashupatinath Temple FAQs 

Can foreigners enter Pashupatinath Temple? 

Foreigners can enter the complex with a ticket. They cannot enter the main sanctum, which is for Hindus only.

How much is the Pashupatinath entry fee for foreigners? 

NPR 1,000 per day per entry. Indian and Nepali citizens enter free. Confirm the price at the counter, because fees can change. 

What time does Pashupatinath open and close?

The complex is open from 4:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day, according to PADT. 

What time is the Pashupatinath aarti? 

PADT's daily schedule shows about 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Watch from the east bank of the Bagmati and arrive early. Check the day's schedule before you go. 

Can I take photos at Pashupatinath? 

Not inside the main sanctum or during religious ceremonies. You can photograph the ghats and outside areas respectfully. Drones need written PADT permission.

What should I wear to Pashupatinath? 

Cover your shoulders and knees. No shorts or sleeveless tops. Take your shoes off before any shrine. 

How long does a Pashupatinath visit take? 

Most visitors need 2 to 3 hours, or longer if they stay for the aarti. 

Is it okay to watch Cremations?

Cremations happen openly on Bagmati, and non-Hindus watch from the east bank. Keep your distance and voice low, and don’t photograph without the family’s consent.