Can’t do this in Varanasi in India? Let’s do it in Nepal
For tourists on the Indian subcontinent; When mentioning “cremation”, people often think of one word: Varanasi. This is a historically famous Indian city; is a famous cremation place (where death comes in just a moment) for Hindus. Modern Varanasi is a hotspot for Indian tourists because it is religious; carries many legends about the beginning; and is beautifully located along the Ganges River.
However, Varanasi is not the most convenient place to visit, not to mention the troubles in and out of India. If you simply want to see the Hindu practice of cremation at a beautiful riverside temple; There is a more perfect alternative than Varanasi; which is Pashupatinath, located just outside the center of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.
How to reach Pashupatinath?
One of the most attractive aspects of Pashupatinath is that it is located quite close to the city center of Kathmandu. It’s only about 3 miles from Thamel, where tourists are more likely to stay. Additionally, Pashupatinath is even closer to Tribhuvan International Airport; So another option for this visit is to come here first as soon as you land in Kathmandu ; then go to the hotel. In contrast, Varanasi is quite a few hours away from major Indian cities by train; while Delhi and Kolkata are the common starting points for most visitors there.
It should be noted that, depending on the time of day; The journey can take up to 1 hour, as Kathmandu is famous for its traffic jams. Pashupatinath is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is also one of the places in need of renovation due to the 2015 earthquake; with an entrance fee of around 1,000 Nepalese rupees; or about 10 USD.
The best way to make your trip more worthwhile; both in terms of time and cost; is to combine it with a trip to nearby Boudhanath Stupa; also known as Boudha. Under the orange light of sunset; The smoke rising above Pashupatinath looked beautiful; then go to Boudha soon after dark; to visit the stupa (also damaged in the earthquake) that flashed under the rainbow light.
Let’s continue the journey that is being missed when traveling to India; and do it immediately when arriving in Nepal. Don’t miss Pashupatinath, because it’s very close to Kathmandu.
