Hindu Nepal: Temples, Festivals, Pilgrimage and Calendar Guide

Quick answer: Nepal is the world's most Hindu country by share of population: the 2021 Census counted 81.19% of Nepalis as Hindu, about 23.7 million people, according to the National Statistics Office. It is home to Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, one of the holiest Shiva temples, Muktinath, one of the 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu, and Janakpur, the birthplace of Sita. Nepal follows the Bikram Sambat calendar, and its great festivals are Dashain and Tihar. Nepal is 15 minutes ahead of India, so festival dates almost always match India's. The next big dates are Chhath, 13–16 November 2026, and Vivah Panchami in Janakpur in mid-December.

This is HinduTone's starting point for Hindu Nepal: the great temples and pilgrimages, the festival year, and guides for pilgrims and for Nepali Hindus abroad.

Editor's note (8 November 2026): the population figure is from Nepal's National Population and Housing Census 2021, released by the National Statistics Office in June 2023. Festival dates are HinduTone's calculation for Kathmandu using Drik Panchang rules. Check temple timings and travel conditions before you go.

Temples and pilgrimages

• Pashupatinath, Kathmandu: the great Shiva temple on the Bagmati, part of the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site; the inner sanctum is open to Hindus only. Maha Shivaratri draws huge crowds of devotees and sadhus.
• Changu Narayan, Bhaktapur district: one of the oldest Vishnu temples in the valley, also part of the World Heritage Site.
• Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu: the great reclining Vishnu in a pond at the foot of Shivapuri.
• Dakshinkali: the Kali temple south of Kathmandu, busiest on Saturdays and during Dashain.
• Muktinath, Mustang: the high-altitude temple sacred to Vaishnavas and Buddhists, one of the 108 Divya Desams.
• Janaki Mandir, Janakpur: the temple of Sita in her birthplace, centre of Vivah Panchami and Ram Navami.
• Manakamana, Gorkha: the wish-fulfilling Devi temple, reached by cable car.

More: sacred Hindu temples in Nepal, the Ugra Narasimha temple in Kathmandu, Pashupatinath and its bond with Kedarnath and Shiva temples in Nepal for Karthika Masam.

The festival year in Nepal

Tihar: how Nepal's festival of lights differs

Tihar, also called Yama Panchak, honours crows (Kag Tihar), dogs (Kukur Tihar) and cows (Gai Tihar) before Laxmi Puja, followed by Govardhan Puja and, in Newar homes, Mha Puja, the worship of one's own body, on the Newar New Year. It ends with Bhai Tika, when sisters give their brothers the seven-coloured tika and garlands of makhamali flowers. Groups of children and young people go from house to house singing Deusi and Bhailo.

Practical guidance for pilgrims

• Pashupatinath: dress modestly; leather items are not allowed inside; non-Hindus can view the temple from across the Bagmati.
• Muktinath: at about 3,700 metres; allow time to acclimatise and check road and flight conditions in Mustang.
• Festivals: Dashain and Tihar are national holidays, with heavy travel out of Kathmandu; book buses and flights early.

Frequently asked questions

What percentage of Nepal is Hindu?

81.19% in the 2021 Census, about 23.7 million people.

What is the most important Hindu temple in Nepal?

Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, one of the holiest Shiva temples in the world.

Is Tihar the same as Diwali?

Tihar is Nepal's festival of lights, held at the same time as Diwali, with Laxmi Puja on the same night, but it adds the worship of crows, dogs and cows, Mha Puja and Bhai Tika.

Can non-Hindus enter Pashupatinath?

The inner temple is open to Hindus only; others can view it from across the Bagmati river.