Pashupatinath - Kathmandu Nepal

When i arrived at Kathmandu airport after tiring flight from Riyadh via Sharjah. I queued up for entry visa, which is free for Pakistani nationals if they are entering Nepal once in a year. After catching up with my brother we headed towards old Bhat Battini Naxal, Bhat Battini is a chain of super markets, which is named after a Temple. Roads were small and torn but surprisingly clean.

Next day our tour began with Pashupatinath, which is most sacred place for Hindus and it is considered to be the oldest Temple in the world related to Lord Shiva.When you will reach to the site you will see a stone saying World Heritage site. You will follow the road to the temple you can see small vendors lined up on both side of the road selling flowers, colors, different collectable items and Murties (Idols). 

We were offered a guided tour for 500-NR, as we knew nothing about the temple so we accepted the offer and began our tour, we came across a small downstairs temple upon asking we found out that this is "Jhumka Temple" exact place where Mata's Jhumka fell. 

Jhumka Temple

Then we came across an event known as "Lakh Diya" as per our guide "this was performed by relatives of the girl who is single and have difficulty in getting married, over aged you know."

Lakh Diya

Our guide told us with great honour that you can only wonder around the temple and cannot enter the original temple if you are not Hindu, he further added "Sonia Gandhi was also not allowed to enter as only born Hindus can enter the temple not even the converts", we were Muslims so there was no chance for us. 

Suddenly our guide said this way please and we realized we were actually going inside the temple. Later we found that our guide assumed that we were pilgrims from India so we started acting like one. First instruction we received was no photographs as there are CCTV coverage across the temple.

Entering from the gate we saw a golden Bull statue sitting and it is facing toward a temple of Shiva, our guide told us that no one can touch the idol not even the king of Nepal, now there is no king so not even the PM. There are only four Saddhu Baba's allowed to enter the temple for cleaning all of them are from south India.

We went near the window and saw a glamorous shining statue with great detailed art work, then we circled around it where there were bells to ring. Then we went to another Temple where there was four windows with Statues of Lord's in them, but the last one was jam packed and suddenly everybody jumped and leaned forward before clearing the area. When we came out our guide said did you get it, i had no clue what he was asking so i said no. He showed me his foot and said i got it here still i was confused so he explained the "Jal" (Sacred Water) which they believe accumulates from the temple in a glass. Once the glass is filled the Saddhu's appointed throws it out, it is believed that who ever gets even the drop of water is blessed with good luck and prosperity in his business. Our guide told us all the businessmen from Nepal line up daily here to get sprinkled by "Jal".

Then we went to the Nag Temple, our guide told us and i quote "there were many Nag's related to Lord Shiva but this one used to sit in his throat for singing, when Parvati died Lord Shiva became mentaly disturbed and left his divine duties and threw all the Nags away. All Nags disappeared but this Nag stayed here for 10,000 years and waited for Lord Shiva. When Lord came back and saw Nag waiting near the bank of sacred river. Then it was announced that who ever will come for pilgrimage of Shiva, his pilgrim will not be completed if he didn't visit the Nag."

There was a small hole behind the Nag temple as per our guide if any women can rotate 360 degree her body without letting go of the circle she will have the best taste in her food forever. A women even displayed it in-front of us how its done exactly.

We moved on to a place known for making wishes but the procedure of wish was to come to the place make a wish and then move on to a maze, at the end of the maze an elderly man sits who puts Red color on your forehead. Then you have to come back to the place where you made the wish and put some money in the box and empty three glasses of water or milk there, one for your parents safety, one for your siblings safety and one for your safety. Then you have to ring the bells hanging there which are alot.

We moved on and there were two more temples related to Lord Shiva they were for just visit and pay gratitude for the the greatness of the Lord. We also saw small statues of the whole royal family, who were murdered at Katmandu Darbar. 

Then we moved to the river side where we saw concreted beds near the bank there were four to five in numbers, our guide told us that for Hindus it is privilege if he dies near the river and is cremated here. Then he pointed towards a tilted bed and told us that when a man is near his death his relatives leave him here there are rooms free of cost, and when he is taking his last breaths he is moved to the tilted bed so that his feet are touching the water. When he is dead he is moved to the straight beds where he is cremated. Before for Royal family there was separate bed and for all the highers a separate bed, Now they don't care anymore. Then he told us that non Hindus can only see cremation from across the riverside where stairs are maintained, then he pointed towards small rooms across the river bank and told us that these are religious scholars and elders people come to them for religious issues and guidance.

Then we exited the main temple from same door and went to see the Sadhu Leader who currently holds the highest place among the Sadhu's. When we entered his room there was a cow sitting on the left side of the room and many long hair, long beard elderly men on the right side of the room. There was too much smoke in the room, our guide told us that marijuana is legal for them. 

Sadhu Leader

Then on our way back we saw Mother Teresa's trust where you can go and work as volunteer for the old and sick people admitted there. It was founded by Mother Teresa herself and she visited and worked there too. 

Overall it was a great experience to visit the holiest place of a religion you have no clue about. Our guide was also an amazing person and knew the temple by heart. 

Me at Pashupatinath