Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most revered Hindu temples of Nepal. It is situated on the banks of sacred Bagmati River which is located on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hundreds of followers of Hinduism visit this temple every year. Especially elederly followers of Hinduism visit this temple during their last stage of life. They come here to be cremated on the bank of holy Bagmati river.
It is believed that those who die in this temple are reborn only as a human irrespective of any bad Karma they might have done in their life. It is astonishing that the astrologers of Pashupatinath temple predict the exact day of death of the person. The main temple is built in pagoda style and has a spire in gold. All the four doors of the temple are covered with silver sheets. It is a perfect example of classical Hindu architecture. The copper roof is two-storied and is also covered in gold. It is believed that wishes come true here. Beautiful wooden sculptures adorn the temple. There is a huge statue in golden of Nandi- the Shiva’s bull.
The main temple can only be visited by the followers of Hinduism. Rest of the buildings can be accessed by foreigners as well. There are various other religious buildings on Bagmati river which are solely devoted to Lord Shiva. Numerous funeral pyres are built on the bank of the river as cremation is a part of daily activity there. Tourists can also see open air cremations held over there.
The hindu rituals are often very mind-boggling to the foreigners. The strange thing is that when the body is cremated there, the smell that emits is not of a decaying body but of a sour milk mixed with species. Foreigners often visit this temple to see Sadhus. They have a different appearance and also have paintings in yellow color on their bodies. One of the UNESCO cultural heritage sites is Pashupatinath temple, Kathmandu. One should visit this temple for a profound spiritual and cultural experience.