District · Kathmandu
Pashupatinath
Reached by taxi from Boudha; a place of worship and funerals.
Key facts
- Suits
- The great Shiva temple and cremation ghats
- Sights here
- 2
- Eats here
- 1
What it's like
- Feels:
- Prayer flags, butter lamps and murmured mantras
- Suits:
- The great Shiva temple and cremation ghats
- Best time:
- Dawn and after 16:00Dawn and after 4:00 PM
- Watch out for:
- Midday heat on the plaza.
- In short:
- Reached by taxi from Boudha; a place of worship and funerals.
About these names
The old city, Thamel and Durbar Square lie on the west bank of the Bagmati river; Boudhanath and Pashupatinath are about 6–8 km east; Patan is just across the river to the south; Swayambhunath sits on a hill to the west. Traffic decides every trip: allow double the map time.
Where exactly
This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Pashupatinath
see
Reached by taxi from Boudha; a place of worship and funerals.
Suits: The great Shiva temple and cremation ghats
On the map: Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple and the ghats
Off the map: Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) (30–60 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Thamel: A dense visitor quarter of narrow lanes, hotels, trekking shops and restaurants; noisy at night, dusty by day. Suits: Trip logistics, gear, cafés, first nights. Price band $.
- Durbar Square and Basantapur: The historic centre with Malla palaces and temples; crowded with shrines, pigeons and vendors. Suits: The royal square, temples, the Kumari.
- Boudhanath: A Tibetan Buddhist neighbourhood around a huge stupa; quieter at night than Thamel. Suits: The stupa, monasteries, a calmer base. Price band $$.
- Pashupatinath: Reached by taxi from Boudha; a place of worship and funerals. Suits: The great Shiva temple and cremation ghats.
- Patan (Lalitpur): A Newar city with a beautiful square and metalwork workshops; often the easier day. Suits: A calmer old square, museums, crafts.
- Swayambhunath: A hilltop stupa west of the city with monkeys; about 365 steps from the eastern stair. Suits: Sunrise and city views from a hill temple.
- Bhaktapur: About 13 km east; well preserved and quieter than Kathmandu; entry fee for foreigners.About 8.1 mi east; well preserved and quieter than Kathmandu; entry fee for foreigners. Suits: A medieval town by day trip.
- Sleep area Boudha: suits The stupa, monasteries, a calmer base, price band $$.
- Sleep area Thamel: suits Trip logistics, gear, cafés, first nights, price band $.
- Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), 30–60 min by the usual route.
Stay here?
Not a base in this guide
See
Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.
- Boudhanath StupaBook a time
Go at dawn or after 16:00, when pilgrims walk the circuit; 60 minutes for one to two rounds and tea; midday is hot and shadeless.
- Hours:
- Open all day; monasteries and shops keep daytime hours; confirm.(check)
- Entry:
- About NPR 400 (2026 estimate)
- Pashupatinath Temple and the ghatsBook a time
The great Shiva temple complex on the Bagmati, with cremation ghats and sadhus: go in the late afternoon for 90 minutes, and treat it as a place of worship and funerals.
- Hours:
- Desk estimate: daylight and evening arati; confirm.(check)
- Entry:
- About NPR 1,000 (2026 estimate)
Eat
What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.
- Momo houses, Boudha
Steamed or fried dumplings and thukpa noodle soup around the Boudhanath plaza: a fast lunch or snack after the circuit; pick a busy place.
Price: A plate of momo is about NPR 200–400.
Getting there and around
Where to get off
- Taxi to the stupa plaza entrance · for Boudhanath Stupa
- Taxi to the main entrance on the east side of the river · for Pashupatinath Temple and the ghats
- Restaurants around the stupa plaza and on the lanes leading to it · 3 min walk to Momo houses, Boudha
Walks inside the district
- Boudhanath Stupa → Circuit (kora) around the stupa: 3–5 min on foot (Walk the circuit)
- Circuit (kora) around the stupa → Momo houses, Boudha: 3–5 min on foot (Walk to a plaza restaurant)
- Boudhanath Stupa → Momo houses, Boudha: 3–5 min on foot (Walk to a plaza restaurant)
On to the next area
- Car west: about 30 min to Thamel
- Car south-west: about 30 min to Kathmandu Durbar Square
From other sleep areas
- From Boudha: 2–4 min walk to Boudhanath
Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.
Half-day walk
In the day plans: Day 2 — Boudhanath at dawn, dinner in Thamel (Kathmandu in 3 days)
Photo and sunset spots
Boudhanath from a rooftop café
Light: Sunrise or golden hour
Shoot from a rooftop; ask before photographing monks.
The Bagmati ghats from the east bank
Light: Late afternoon
Do not photograph cremations without permission.
Safety at night and noise
Boudhanathday: oknight: ok
Traffic on the ring road; normal city care.
Pashupatinathday: oknight: caution
Persistent guides and monkeys near the ghats; keep food out of sight.
Nearby districts
Built from this guide’s Kathmandu districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.