Nepal's iconic Pashupatinath Temple, the 5th century holy Hindu shrine, opened for pilgrims on Wednesday after being closed for nine months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pashupatinath Temple is the largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of the Bagmati River and sees thousands of worshippers from Nepal and India daily.
Entry of devotees inside the temple premises was prohibited since the Nepal government imposed a lockdown in March to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Special safety measures have been adopted to open the temple which is situated in the outskirts of Kathmandu, said Pradeep Dhakal, chief of the Pashupati Temple Area Trust.