Muktinath is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley at an altitude of 3,710 meters at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass (part of the Himalayas) in Mustang, Nepal. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa, which is sometimes mistakenly called Muktinath as well.
Jomsom Muktinath Tour
Muktinath is a sacred place for both Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley at an altitude of 3,710 meters at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass (part of the Himalayas) in Mustang, Nepal. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa, which is sometimes mistakenly called Muktinath as well.
Within Hinduism, it is called Mukti Kshetra, which literally means the "place of liberation or moksha". This temple is considered to be the 106th among the available 108 Divya Desam, which are considered sacred by the Sri Vaishnava sect. The ancient name of this place in Sri Vaishnava literature, before Buddhist origin[clarification needed, is Thiru Saligramam. This houses the Saligrama shila, considered to be the naturally available form of Sriman Narayana the Hindu Godhead. It is also one of the 51 Shakti peethams. The Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan means "Hundred Waters". Although the temple has a Vaishnava origin, it is also revered in Buddhism. For Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa is a very important place of Dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers, and one of the 24 Tantric places. They understand the murti to be a manifestation of Avalokitesvara.
Muktinath is the most famous temple as well as important pilgrimage site for both Buddhist and Hindu. There is white painted wall complex, as entrance gate is Tibetan style linked by prayer wheels. In this compound, main point is 108 sacred brass water spouts. The number 108 is sacred number in both religious. And another interesting thing is the Goddess of fire, in local language known as “Jwalamai”, it is a monastery. Inside the building, holy and nature gas flame behind a grill just above running water, which is holy water as well, pours through a cow’s mouth spewing out.
If you have flexible time,you can hike to Jhong where villages and monasteries on the north bank of Jhong khola/stream. It is a traditionally part of Mustang. And until several years before to visit this side was limited, it is permitted to visit the Chorming village of Jhang.
It is yours choice to how to start the tour, first you can drive all the way to Muktinath by local buses or private vehicle then fly back from Jomsom to Pokhara. And second option is flying to Jomsom then drive round trip. In this tour, drive along the Kaligandaki and seen the mountains view either during fly or drive as well touch yours heart by Upper Mustang landscape. It is rough/grabble rod not black top road.
Trip Itinerary
Day01. Arrival at Tribhuvan International airport Kathmandu
Day02. Basic information about the trip and preparation or Kathmandu valley sightseeing
Day03. Drive to Pokhara by tourist bus or flight
Day04. Drive to Tato pani/hot spring
Day05. Drive to Marpha, the king land of Apple
Day06. Drive to Kagbeni
Day07. Drive to Muktinath
Day08. Drive back to Jomsom
Day09. Early morning flight to Pokhara, and sightseeing around
Day10. Back to Kathmandu
Day11. On time board to onward destination
