The stone terraces above the eastern bank of the Bagmati, directly across from the main temple, are where Pashupatinath's sadhus sit. These are Hindu holy men who have renounced worldly life to pursue spiritual practice — Shaivite sadhus dedicated to Shiva, many of them belonging to the Naga (naked ascetic) or Aghori traditions.
They paint their faces and bodies with ash and wear ochre robes or nothing at all. Their dreadlocked hair, called jata, can grow for decades. Most will pose for photographs in exchange for a small donation — 100 rupees is a reasonable starting point. The interaction tends to be good-natured. Some speak English. On major Shiva festivals like Maha Shivaratri, hundreds of sadhus gather here from across South Asia, making it one of the most extraordinary religious spectacles in the Himalayan region.