पशुपतिpaśupati · lord of creatures, a name of Shiva
Nepal for yogis, between Shiva and the Buddha
Updated October 17, 2026 · sources checked October 17, 2026
In short
Nepal suits yogis who want living Hindu and Buddhist practice rather than a yoga resort. Kathmandu holds Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath, all inside a UNESCO World Heritage property since 1979; Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace, was listed in 1997. Most visitors get a visa on arrival (US$30, 50 or 125). The clearest skies follow the monsoon, in October and November.
Why come here for yoga
Nepal is not a yoga resort, and that is its value. It is a country where Hindu and Buddhist practice is daily life, a few hours' flight from Rishikesh or Varanasi, with the Himalaya on the horizon.
For the hatha yogi, one name matters more than any other: Gorakhnath. The Nath yogis, Gorakhnath and his guru Matsyendranath, are traditionally linked with the origins of hatha yoga; the link is debated by scholars (James Mallinson disputes it), but texts such as the Siddha Siddhānta Paddhati are attributed to Gorakhnath in the Nath tradition. In Nepal he is worshipped as the patron saint of the country: the Gurkhas and the Gorkha district take their name from him, and until the end of the monarchy in 2008 he was the patron deity of the kings (Wikipedia, Gorakhnath). The Pashupatinath complex is also associated by Buddhists with mahasiddhas such as Matsyendranath, Gorakhnath, Naropa and Tilopa.
For meditation, the Kathmandu Valley is a major centre of Tibetan Buddhism and of the Theravada-derived Vipassana movement:
- Kopan Monastery, on a hill above Boudha, presents itself as teaching "meditation and Buddhist teachings in the Tibetan tradition"; its official site says its November Course has run since 1971, alongside introductory courses and silent retreats.
- Dhamma Shringa, the Nepal Vipassana Centre at Budhanilkantha, north of Kathmandu, runs ten-day courses in the tradition of S.N. Goenka; dhamma.org lists 20 centres in Nepal and asks applicants for working Nepali, Hindi or English.
What Nepal does not offer is a historic school of asana comparable to Mysore or Rishikesh. Many retreats and teacher trainings are advertised in Kathmandu and Pokhara; judge each one on its teachers and syllabus, not on the view.
Sacred places
पशुपति
paśupati
Lord of creatures (paśu), a name of Shiva
- Pashupatinath, on the Bagmati river in Kathmandu, one of the holiest Shiva temples for Hindus. According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust, the area is open daily from 4 am to 9 pm; the evening aarti runs from 5 to 7 pm; non-Hindu visitors may not enter the main sanctum and photography is not allowed inside it, but the ghats are open to all. The cremation ghats are in daily use: watch with the restraint you would want at a funeral.
- Boudhanath (Boudha Stupa), one of the largest spherical stupas in the world, the heart of Kathmandu's Tibetan community since 1959. Pilgrims walk around it clockwise at dawn and dusk.
- Swayambhunath, on its hill west of the city, where Hindu shrines and Buddhist stupa share the same site; it is nicknamed the "Monkey Temple".
- These three belong to the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property, inscribed by UNESCO in 1979 with the Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur and the temple of Changu Narayan (Wikipedia, Kathmandu Valley).
- Lumbini, in the southern plains, revered as the birthplace of the Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. In its Sacred Garden stand the Maya Devi Temple and the pillar of the emperor Ashoka, whose Brahmi inscription records that he came there because "the Buddha Shakyamuni was born here"; around it, a Monastic Zone holds monasteries built by Buddhist countries (Wikipedia, Lumbini).
- Pokhara, 200 km west of Kathmandu at about 820 m, on Phewa Lake, facing the Annapurna range: a quiet base for practice between treks rather than a pilgrimage site.
If Lumbini draws you, the natural sequel is in India: Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha awakened, and Varanasi, near Sarnath, where he first taught.
When to go
The Nepal Tourism Board describes five seasons and notes that 80 % of the rain falls during the monsoon, from June to September; the clearest skies come after it, in October and November, and spring is the other favoured season. Kathmandu, at about 1,400 m, has cold winter nights (Nepal Tourism Board; Wikipedia, Kathmandu). The UK government warns that travel in the monsoon, "normally June to October", can be hazardous, with floods and landslides closing roads.
Altitude matters even for a retreat. Temperatures fall by about 6 °C for every 1,000 m of altitude (Nepal Tourism Board), and the FCDO lists altitude sickness as a risk in trekking areas. If your programme adds a trek, plan acclimatisation days and ask who decides when to descend.
Getting there
- By air: almost all international visitors land at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. Gautam Buddha International Airport at Bhairahawa, near Lumbini, opened to international flights in 2022, and Pokhara International Airport began operating on 1 January 2023, mostly for domestic flights (Wikipedia).
- Visa: Nepal's Department of Immigration issues tourist visas on arrival at Tribhuvan. You fill in the online form before arrival (or at the airport kiosks), pay at the bank counter, then see the immigration officer. Nepali embassies abroad also issue visas.
- Internal flights: the FCDO notes that the UK Air Safety List includes all known Nepali airlines, which are banned from operating to or from the UK; weather cancellations are common in the mountains.
Budget
Official prices only, read on 17 October 2026:
| Item | Official price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa on arrival, 15 / 30 / 90 days | US$30 / 50 / 125 | Department of Immigration |
| Pashupatinath (foreign nationals) | NPR 1,000 per day per entry; free for Indian nationals | Nepal Tourism Board |
| Boudha Stupa / Swayambhu | NPR 400 / NPR 200 | Nepal Tourism Board |
| Lumbini | NPR 700 | Nepal Tourism Board |
Retreat fees, rooms and guides are not published in a form we can date: ask for a written quote, and keep cash in US dollars for the visa, as the FCDO advises.
Etiquette
- Walk clockwise around stupas, prayer wheels and temples.
- Respect the "Hindus only" signs at Pashupatinath and elsewhere; do not photograph cremations or people in mourning at close range.
- Remove shoes where asked, cover shoulders and knees, and ask before photographing monks, sadhus or ceremonies.
- In monasteries, sit lower than the teacher and do not point your feet at altars.
Health and safety
Read the UK FCDO's Nepal advice (updated 1 October 2026) before you book, or France Diplomatie if you are French. Key points: emergency numbers are police 100, tourist police 1144, ambulance 102; monsoon floods and landslides close roads; earthquakes are common; scams have been reported where trekking guides take beginners too high too fast and call expensive helicopter evacuations. Make sure your insurance covers mountain rescue and helicopter costs. Trekking regions require a permit and a TIMS card, and the FCDO says all foreign independent trekkers must use a local guide or porter in national parks and protected areas.
Choosing a retreat or a training here
Ask, and keep the answers in writing:
- Who teaches, from which lineage, and for how many years? Can you check it outside the school's own website?
- What is the daily schedule: how many hours of asana, pranayama, meditation, philosophy?
- What certificate will you receive? Read what Yoga Alliance does and does not check, and our page on the 200-hour teacher training.
- Does the programme include altitude or trekking days, and who is responsible for safety?
- Which visa do you need for the length of the course?
Red flags: a certificate promised after a few days, promised spiritual results, pressure to pay in cash before arrival. More destinations: our yoga travel page.
Questions people ask
How much is the Nepal tourist visa on arrival?
On 17 October 2026, the Department of Immigration listed US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days and US$125 for 90 days, with an online form you can fill in before arrival. Extensions are possible up to 150 days in a visa year. Check the official site before you fly.
Can non-Hindus enter Pashupatinath?
Not the main sanctum. The Pashupati Area Development Trust states that non-Hindu visitors are not permitted inside it, but may watch from the surrounding ghats. The Nepal Tourism Board listed the foreigner entry fee for the complex at NPR 1,000 per day per entry.
Is Nepal a good place for a yoga teacher training?
It can be, but Nepal is not where the modern teacher-training system was built. Its strength is the setting: temples, monasteries, meditation centres and mountains. Judge any course by its teachers, syllabus and certificate, exactly as you would in India.
When is the best time for a yoga retreat in Nepal?
The Nepal Tourism Board says the clearest skies come after the monsoon, in October and November, with spring as the other favoured season. The monsoon brings most of the year's rain from June to September and, according to the UK government, roads can be hazardous until October.
Sources
- Visa Information — Department of Immigration, Government of Nepal (on-arrival visa fees) checked October 17, 2026
- Pashupati Area Development Trust — official site (hours, Hindus-only sanctum) checked October 17, 2026
- Heritage site entry fees — Nepal Tourism Board checked October 17, 2026
- Climate of Nepal — Nepal Tourism Board checked October 17, 2026
- Nepal travel advice — UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (updated 1 October 2026) checked October 17, 2026
- Kathmandu Valley — Wikipedia (World Heritage Site since 1979, seven monument zones) checked October 17, 2026
- Lumbini — Wikipedia (UNESCO 1997, Ashoka pillar, Maya Devi Temple) checked October 17, 2026
- Gorakhnath — Wikipedia (Nath yogis, hatha yoga, patron saint of Nepal) checked October 17, 2026
- Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu — official site (courses since 1971) checked October 17, 2026
- Dhamma Shringa, Nepal Vipassana Centre, Budhanilkantha — dhamma.org checked October 17, 2026
Want to go and practise yoga there?
Tell us where, when and how you practise. Clément, who lives in Rishikesh, reads every request and answers you personally. No automated email, no commission, no promise of a price or a partner.