Pashupatinath, Nepal

Located on the Bagmati river, the holy river in Nepal, Pashupatinah is the most important temple for Hindus, dedicated to Shiva the destroyer.
On the banks of the river are raised platforms used as cremation sites.
Pashupatinah is one of the seven world heritage sites all over the Kathmandu valley.

At the temple of Pashupatinath it is a holy place for cremations. The entire ritual can be seen when you go and sit across the river.
There are many rituals during a cremation, but there also is a large difference between the castes. When you are from a lower cast it is all done at a very basic way. The higher castes add things like red dye and flowers. At the end all bodies end up in the Baghmati River. The Baghmati feeds into the Ganges, which spills out into the Indian Ocean.
The cremation is a mens job women stay out.

Family conducting prayers at Pashupatinath, one of the most oldest and important Hindu temple in Kathmandu.

Hindu cremation ceremonies are carried out at the banks of the bagmati river. However, only the Hindus are allowed access to this part of the temple.

The temple of Pashupatinath dedicated to Hindu god Shiva, is one of the most important ones of the whole Indian subcontinent. The temple is only accessible for Hindus, but there are lots things to see around there. On the banks of Bagmati river you have the ghats, where the corpses of the deceased are burned.

There are a number of sites nearby that are well worth your time to visit. Some of them, such as Patan, were once rival cities in the Kathmandu valley. Others, like Pashupatinath, are vitally important sites in the city's life. Both (along with others, such as Bhaktapur) are so closely linked to Kathmandu as to effectively be one city. Nevertheless, there are excellent reasons for paying a visit to each of them. (MORE COMING!)

A vast complex of Hindu temples and structures. Our guide took us through here and what first hit me was the smoke wafting through the air as we crossed the bridge over the sacred Bagmati river. I looked back and saw several funeral pyres with the remnants of their human corpses; family members were bathing in the river and spreading the ashes (the river is a tributary of the Ganges and thus considered holy). There were common monkeys everywhere and sadhus were ready to pose for pictures. Of course, they're also ready to take a tip for those poses.

Pashupatinath is the most important Hindu temple complex in Nepal - even drawing devotees from nearby India due to its main attraction, Shiva's peaceful incarnation of Pashupati.

Pashupatinath is a must see if I've ever seen one! Pashupatinath is a huge and popular Shiva temple in Kathmandu. It is home to Kathmandu's funeral ghats, which are the places where the bodies are cremated and put into the river (which leads into the holy Ganges). Pashupatinath is full of cultural treasures. Cows and monkeys roam all over the temple complex. Although non-Hindus are not allowed inside the actual buildings, there is still much to be seen. Sadhus, Hindu ascetic holy men, flock here, and some even live here (note that there are a lot of fake ones to who make money from people taking their photo, but it is normally quite obvious to tell which are fake and which are original). There is also tons of Shiva devotees here, meditating and praying on the steps throughout the temple.

Pashupatinath is a really cool place, and therefore expect to pay the 250 Rupee entrance fee. Also be ready to be strong and fend off the salespeople that are located between the parking lot (ticket booth) and the entrance to the temple complex.

Pashupatinath is a must see if I've ever seen one! Pashupatinath is a huge and popular Shiva temple in Kathmandu. It is home to Kathmandu's funeral ghats, which are the places where the bodies are cremated and put into the river (which leads into the holy Ganges). Pashupatinath is full of cultural treasures. Cows and monkeys roam all over the temple complex. Although non-Hindus are not allowed inside the actual buildings, there is still much to be seen. Sadhus, Hindu ascetic holy men, flock here, and some even live here (note that there are a lot of fake ones to who make money from people taking their photo, but it is normally quite obvious to tell which are fake and which are original). There is also tons of Shiva devotees here, meditating and praying on the steps throughout the temple.

Pashupatinath is a really cool place, and therefore expect to pay the 250 Rupee entrance fee. Also be ready to be strong and fend off the salespeople that are located between the parking lot (ticket booth) and the entrance to the temple complex.