It is a temple devoted to Lord Vishnu and revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Standing at a height of almost 3800 m, this stunning temple houses one of the eight most sacred shrines called Sri Muktinath. The idol is a few feet in length and made entirely out of gold. The courtyard of the temple has 108 bullhead statues out of which sacred waters flow out into 108 kunds or ponds. Pilgrims bathe in these holy ponds to purify their souls and then make their religious offerings to Lord Vishnu while a Buddhist monk conducts all the worship processions.
It is also known by another name that is Mukti Kshetra which translates to ‘place of liberation’ or ‘Moksha’. It is mentioned in many religious Hindu scriptures and is considered to be one of the 108 premium temples of Hindus. The place holds the faith of Tibetan Buddhists also who call it ‘Chumig Gyatsa’ and regard it as the home of ‘Dakinis’, called the Sky dancers. Moreover, the site is also regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas that were formed by falling out of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi carried by Lord Shiva. It builds a beautiful panorama that is worth watching with the snow-clad mountains of the Annapurna range in the South and the Tibetan plateau in the North of the temple.
Location
This popular pilgrimage site, for Hindus as well as Buddhists, is situated in the Muktinath Valley of Nepal. The Muktinath temple stands as one of the highest temples in the whole world in the lap of Thorong La Mountain Pass. It is very close to the Annapurna mountain range.
How to Reach Muktinath
Due to it being a remote location, it surely requires a bit of physical effort to reach this shrine. You can go to Muktinath by taking a flight to land at Jomsom airport which is an hour and a half drive away from Muktinath. Most of the tourists who prefer to travel by air first take the flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then to Jomsom for a much more comfortable journey. If you are a fan of adventurous trails you can also opt out of the 7-8 day trek to Pokhara from Nayapul instead of flight and then drive to Muktinath.
And if you want to take on a road trip from Kathmandu which is almost 374 kms from the temple, it will take almost 18 hours of car drive to reach Muktinath. The roads are in okay condition but since it is a mountain area, a high ground clearance vehicle is advisable such as a land cruiser or any other off-roader for the road trip. Helicopter service is also available and a very convenient way to get to the Dham. If you board a helicopter from Kathmandu it will just take two hours to reach Muktinath.
Best Time to Visit Muktinath
Tourists usually take on their Tour Packages to Muktinath in the months from September to April when the weather is nice and cool. People avoid traveling to Muktinath during the summer season which is too hot for a comfortable trip.
Weather in Muktinath
As Nepal lies in the sub-tropical region, temperatures here vary greatly. The summer season which lasts from May to the end of June is very hot where the average temperature rises to 88°F. Monsoon showers start in July and last till the beginning of September. The months of December and January have the lowest chances of precipitation. The monsoon season hinders tourism greatly but the month of September again marks a high number of tourists and devotees arriving to visit the temple. Winter season is an enjoyable time of the year in Muktinath when the average temperature is 70°F and it even snows every once in a month.
Places to Visit near Muktinath
Muktidhara
It is basically the 108 spouts of water that flow out of those bull-face statues in the courtyard of Muktinath Mandir. Devotees bathe in the holy waters of these fountains which receive a 24-hour water supply from the Gandaki River.
Jomsom
It is also a popular tourist destination which is famous for its beautiful natural valleys that attract nature lovers and adventurous trekkers from all over the country.
Pokhara
It is also an important name that you come across when you visit the holy Muktinath. The city is also known as the gateway to the Annapurna circuit. There are many ashrams and yoga centers for you to explore.
Jwala Mai Temple
This temple is famous for its three eternally burning flames which attract a wide number of tourists to come here to pay tribute to the flame goddess. There is no idol in the temple but only the flames which represent Jwala Mai.
Tilicho Lake
Located in the Manang district, this is a glacial lake at an altitude of 4920 m from sea level. The clear blue waters of this soothing lake amidst the snow-clad beautiful mountains is definitely a must-visit site in your Muktinath trip.
Annapurna Conservation Area
This long stretch covering 7629 sq. kms in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas is managed by the National Trust for Nature Conservation. You can glance into the enchanting wilderness with its variety of flora and fauna.
Accommodations
There are a limited number of accommodation options available for your Muktinath trip. Among these, you will find a lot of three-star hotels and also local in which most of the tourists prefer. There are very few luxury hotels also such as Hotel Grand Shambala and Himalayan Paradise near Muktinath. Besides this, a few ashrams are also available on the outskirts.
Food Facilities
You will be served traditional Kathmandu-style cuisine on your trip to Muktinath. This spicy and delectable list will surely include famous Nepali dishes like Nepali Thali which has Papad, potato curry, dal curry, lady finger, and rice (Bhaat). Other Nepali cuisine includes Chilli Momos, Thukpa, and Stir Fried Buff Chilly. You can find numerous food stalls in the surrounding villages and routes to savor your taste buds with these lip-smacking delicacies.
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