treasures of nepal

Holy Sites andPilgrimage DestinationsTo the Hindus, the most famousand most venerated is the templeof Lord Pashupatinath, situatedon the banks of the holy riverBagmati in Kathmandu. It isamong the most revered shrinesfor Hindus all over the world.Pashupati Temple by nightPashupatinath TempleNepal has numerous pilgrimage sites, sacred to bothHindus and Buddhists. To the Hindus, the mostfamous and most venerated is the temple of LordPashupatinath, situated on the banks of the holy riverBagmati in Kathmandu. It is among the most reveredshrines for Hindus all over the world. The main temple,which stands in the middle of a courtyard, is twotiered,built upon a square plinth, and is 23.6 metreshigh. The four large gates of the temple are silver andgilt-plated and richly carved with images of deities.The two copper roofs are supported by numerous strutsadorned with beautifully carved images of variousHindu gods and goddesses. The sacro sanctum, orthe main idol of “Mukhalingam”, is one metre highand has faces carved in four directions. The originaltemple is said to have been built at the beginning ofthe Christian era. It is said to have undergone severalreconstructions over the ages to what stands today.17