Before You Book
Pujas, Festivals and What to Know
The Kathmandu Mahadev Darshan runs all year, on the dates your group chooses, subject to weather and conditions at the temples. There are no fixed departures, and it runs for groups of two or more with no upper limit. You stay in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu, twin or double sharing, with upgrades at extra cost, and vegetarian meals can be arranged throughout.
Basic samagri for personal offerings, such as flowers, incense and red vermilion, is included where appropriate, and Sama Yatra helps arrange any puja you request in advance. A priest performs it, booked through the temple’s official counter or directly, depending on the ritual. The pujas themselves, special priest fees and extra samagri are paid separately.
As of October 2026 the Pashupati Area Development Trust publishes the puja rates for Pashupatinath, paid in Nepalese rupees. The table below gives them with their dollar value at NPR 153.49 to the dollar. A Lakhbatti Puja, an offering of many small oil lamps, is not on the trust’s list, and its cost is confirmed with the temple or priest.
| Puja | NPR | About USD |
|---|---|---|
| Panchamrit Puja | 2,100 | 14 |
| Panchamrit with Balbhog | 3,100 | 20 |
| Panchamrit Puja with Rudrabhishek and Balbhog | 7,500 | 49 |
| Panchamrit Puja with Laghurudrabhishek and Purabhog | 15,100 | 98 |
| Panchamrit Puja with Rudrabhishek, Purabhog and 125,000 Deep Arati | 35,000 | 228 |
| Panchamrit Puja with Laghurudrabhishek, Purabhog, Hawan and 125,000 Deep Arati | 65,000 | 424 |
| Daily Nitya Puja with Purabhog, with the devotees | 171,000 | 1,114 |
| Ekdiwasiya Maharudri, one day | 321,000 | 2,091 |
| Ekadas Diwasiya Maharudri, 11 days | 800,001 | 5,212 |
| Ekadas Diwasiya Atirudri, 11 days | 2,500,000 | 16,288 |
Panchamrit is an offering made with a mixture that commonly includes milk, yogurt, honey, ghee and sugar. Rudrabhishek is the worship of Shiva with sacred offerings and the chanting of Rudra mantras, and Laghurudrabhishek is a longer form with prescribed recitations. Deep Arati is an offering of lamps, Hawan is a fire ritual with mantras, and Maharudri and Atirudri are extensive group or multi-day forms of Rudra worship.
Monday is traditionally Shiva’s day and brings bigger crowds to Pashupatinath. The Mondays of Shrawan, usually July to August, are an especially auspicious time when many pilgrims fast and offer water or milk; in 2026 the temple opened at 3:00 am on those days.
Maha Shivaratri, usually February to March, brings night-long worship and more than a million visitors, and published calendars put it on 6 March in 2027. Teej, usually August to September, honours Shiva and Parvati, especially for women. Bala Chaturdashi, usually November to December, remembers departed family members with offerings around the temple complex, and Dashain and Tihar, usually September to November, bring special worship.
As of October 2026, Indian citizens need no visa for Nepal. Citizens of other SAARC countries except Afghanistan receive up to 30 days free once in a visa year, and everyone else buys a tourist visa, which costs USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days or USD 125 for 90 days.
A Hindi-speaking guide can be requested, subject to availability. A 30% deposit confirms the booking. Bookings cannot be cancelled, but the journey can be postponed for up to two years at the same cost. Rooms are twin or double sharing. There is no separate child price, and Indian pilgrims can discuss paying in rupees.
