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Pashupatinath
 

The most important of Nepal's Hindu temples, Pashupatinath sits on the banks of the holy Bagmati river in the northeast corner of Kathmandu, drawing thousands of devout. Hindu pilgrims every day. It is also one of the five principal pilgrimage sites for Hindus, and together with Guheshowari, the temple occupies a huge complex full of holy sites.

Pashupatinath is a reincarnation of Lord Shiva, the destroyer, in this most benevolent form as the shepherd of fertility. The centre of all pious activity within the temple complex is a black stone lingam of symbol of fertility, housed in the main temple complex and guarded by a gilded grant bronze ox.
 
The biggest festival that takes place in Pashupatinath is Maha Shivaratri, which celebrates Shiva's birthday and falls sometime between February and March. Beside Nepalis, pilgrims from all over India flock to this temple to celebrate the occasion. Another colorful festival at Pashupatinath is Teej, which falls sometime between August and September. This festival is celebrated mainly by women dressed in red flock to pay homage to the Lord of Fertility and pray for the health and longevity of their spouse.
 

Entrance into the main temple is restricted to Hindus only, but do not be disheartened because there is plenty to see even on the outside. The best way to do this is to climb the small densely forested hill on the opposite bank of the Bagmati. You will get the best view of the temple complex form this vantage point.

While there, you could also see funeral pyres burning down below on the ghats that line the bank of the Bagmati river, just outside the temple complex. It is a serenely peaceful experience, despite the presence of death. Hindus believe that being crernated at Pashupatinath will break the cycle of rebirths, therefore attaining Nirvana.
 
 
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