Pashupatinath Temple, Hindu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
Pashupatinath is a Hindu temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, with a main pagoda crowned by gilded copper roofs that rise above the Bagmati River. The grounds include smaller shrines, stone platforms beside the riverbank, and several terraces connected by steps and narrow pathways.
The first structures appeared around 400 CE, and medieval kings ordered several renovations, including a full reconstruction in 1692. During that renewal, the signature gilded roofs were added that shape its appearance today.
The name honors Pashupati, a form of Shiva as protector of animals, and devotees bring incense and flowers each day for prayer. Visitors can watch priests perform ritual washing in the river and ring bells while ascetics in orange robes move through the grounds.
The site opens early in the morning and closes late in the evening, but non-Hindu visitors cannot enter the main inner shrine. Exploring both banks of the river requires several hours and sturdy shoes for the steep steps.
The inner sanctuary holds a stone Mukhalinga wrapped in a silver serpent and displaying four different faces. Each face represents a different manifestation of Shiva and is oriented toward one of the four cardinal directions.
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