The short answer
Four sacred Hindu kshetras within Nepal: Pashupat Kshetra (Pashupatinath, Kathmandu), Mukti Kshetra (Muktinath, Mustang), Ruru Kshetra (Ridi, Gulmi) and Baraha Kshetra (Barahachhetra, Sunsari). Many Hindus treat the four as Nepal's own pilgrimage circuit.
Key facts
- Pashupat
- Kathmandu
- Mukti
- Muktinath, Mustang
- Ruru
- Ridi, Gulmi
- Baraha
- Barahachhetra, Sunsari
How it works
- Know the four placesPashupat is in Kathmandu; Mukti is in the Kali Gandaki valley of Mustang; Ruru is at Ridi in Gulmi; Baraha is at the Koshi river in the east.
- Understand the ideaEach is a kshetra, a sacred zone, linked in tradition to a form of Vishnu or Shiva, and pilgrims visit them for darshan and rites.
- Decide your paceSome people do all four in 10 to 14 days; others spread them over several visits.
- Choose your modeRoad and flights both work; Muktinath can be reached by flight, jeep or helicopter.
- Book earlyHotels and flights can fill in festival months and Ekadashi periods.
Insider tip
Do not confuse it with the Indian Char Dham (Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram) or the Uttarakhand Chota Char Dham.
Avoid this
Do not plan it as a single weekend; the four places lie in four different parts of the country.
Related questions
Is the Nepal Char Dham the same as the Indian Char Dham?
No. They are different circuits. The Nepal Char Dham lies entirely within Nepal.
Which dham should I do first?
There is no rule. Many people start with Pashupatinath because it is close to Kathmandu and good for acclimatising.
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