Place · Boudhanath
Pashupatinath Temple and the ghatsपशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर
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.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 60–90 min
- p95 150 min
- Price
- About NPR 1,000
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Best time
- late afternoon
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- Painful
- Boudhanath: painful
- Getting there
- Taxi to the main entrance on the east side of the river
- Shiva temple
- Cremation ghats
- Evening arati
- Go late afternoon
- Shoes off inside
- Hard in a wheelchair
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with …
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
- Kathmandu Valley ↗In the dry season (Nov–Apr) the valley fills with haze and dust: viewpoints often show nothing after 09:00, so go at dawn or skip.
- Kathmandu ↗Thamel's inner lanes are crowded, uneven and shared with motorbikes: taxis stop at the edge, so large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Kathmandu ↗Dust and smoke haze is worst around Feb–Apr and can linger in winter: carry a mask rated for fine particles on walking days and move long walks to the clearest morning.
Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 06:00–08:00 · go late afternoon
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: About NPR 1,000 (2026 estimate)
- Time to spend
- 60–90 min · up to 150 min if you linger
Know before you go
- The main temple is closed to non-Hindus; the ghats and the terraces are open.
- Go in the late afternoon for the evening arati and softer light.
- Cremation is a sacred rite; keep your distance and stay quiet.
- Guides may approach you; agree a fee before you accept.
Best time of day
Go late afternoon. Plan 60–90 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and public holidays
Weather here, next 7 days
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Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
40min
Worthwhile
60min
Typical
90min
p95
150min
Opening days and hours not printed until verified.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Buy at the entrance on the day.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- A foreigner entry ticket (about NPR 1,000, check) is sold at the gate.
- Dress code
- Modest; shoulders and knees covered.
- Bags & lockers
- Bags are checked at the gate.
- Lockers or cloakroom (no) None.
- Photos
- Allowed in public areas; ask before photographing people; no photos of cremations.
- What's closed
- Festival dayscheckMaha Shivaratri draws huge crowds and road closures.
- Prayer timescheckSome areas are closed to visitors during ceremonies.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Foreigner entry | About NPR 1,000 (2026 estimate) | Check at the ticket counter. |
| Registered guide | NPR 1,000–2,500 (2026 estimate) | Agree the price first. |
Inside, in order
Gate and ticket
10 minBuy the foreigner ticket and check bags.
East-bank terraces
30 minOverview of the temple and the ghats.
Ghats and side temples
30 minCremation platforms and small shrines; keep back.
Evening arati
20 minLamps and chants at dusk.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Taxi to the main entrance on the east side of the river
- Exit
- —
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- unknown
- Shoes
- Shoes off as signed; leather items may be refused.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Busy on Mondays, festival days and Shivaratri; late afternoon has evening arati crowds.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- medium
Bailouts
crowd
The east-bank terraces for an overview
heat
Shade under the trees by the river
Nearest rescue anchor: A — north-west of the cluster: café or restaurant with seating (field-verify)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partly
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: check · check
- Wheelchair: no · no
- Stroller: no · nopoor
Slopes and stairs at the ghats; the main paths are paved.
Step-free route
- 1Not easily accessible: steps and slopes at the ghats.
- 2The east-bank terrace gives a view with fewer steps.
Combine with
- 30 minBoudhanath
- 45 minDinner in Thamel · eat
Walk the Boudhanath area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| The temple from the east bank | Late afternoon | Do not photograph cremations. |
| Lamps at the arati | Dusk | Keep back and do not use flash. |
Red lines
- The main temple is closed to non-Hindus; view it from the far bank.
- Do not photograph cremations without permission and never near mourners.
- Keep food out of sight; monkeys will grab it.
More on the groundFacilities · Who it suits · Skip it if · With kids
With kids
- with kids
- Cremations and crowds may upset children; consider before you go.
- child price
- check
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | yes | Near the gate (small fee). |
| Lockers or cloakroom | no | None. |
| Café or food | limited | Stalls near the gate. |
| Seating | limited | Steps and walls. |
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Culture travellers | good | A living centre of Hindu worship. |
| Photographers | ok | Dramatic light; strict rules on cremations. |
| Families | caution | Consider carefully. |
Skip it if
- You dislike public funerals.
- It is Maha Shivaratri and you dislike crowds.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Can I enter the main temple?
No; only Hindus may enter the inner temple.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it suitable for children?
Cremations take place in public; think about it before bringing children.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
How long do I need?
About 90 minutes.
When is it busiest?
Maha Shivaratri and Mondays.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage