The best Muktinath Temple Tour

The best Muktinath Temple Tour Overview

Muktinath tours are the most important pilgrimage visits of Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal. Every year thousands of tourists, both locally and internationally, take part in the Muktinath temple tour for its heavenly aura, making it one of the most longed-for attractions of Nepal. The statue of Vishnu within the temple is said to have been erected on its own after which devotees built a temple around it.

Many people make the mistake of assuming Muktinath as a Hindu temple which is not the whole truth. Muktinath is actually a sign of an alliance between the Hindus and Buddhists built in the early 19th century. Followers of both religions treat this temple as a place of liberation, it’s a gateway to heaven for the devotees, a place for purification and self-reflection.

One of the distinguishing factors of Muktinath is its unusual and visually appealing location. It is located in the high Himalayas of Mustang, at a height of 3710 meters. The area surrounding Muktinath is also considered sacred including trees that grow in the area despite the extreme conditions unfavorable for survival.

Muktinath Temple is located on a couple of hiking trails that are also popular on their own, they are the Annapurna Circuit Trek and the Jomson Trek trail. These treks offer an amazing adventure passing through settlements, valleys, and mountains, and experiencing the local lives and culture of the people of the Himalayas. But trekking is not the best option for most people and hence we bring to you the Muktinath Temple Tour.

Our Muktinath Temple Tour is one of the easiest ways for you to travel to and back from Muktinath without having to worry about anything. Our Muktinath tour package will take care of your traveling permits, local government taxes, logistics, and more, all you have to do is travel with a smile. You will be accommodated in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu for 3 beautiful nights and in Pokhara for 2 whole nights.

You can learn more about this package below as we will discuss every aspect of Muktinath tours along with our Muktinath tour package.

Muktinath Temple

One of the most celebrated pilgrimage destinations, the Muktinath Temple sits at an elevation of 13000 ft. (approx.) on the lap of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayan ranges. The name Muktinath translates to Mukti being “salvation” and nath meaning “lord”. So, loosely, it translates to Lord of Salvation which is the main reason people visit indulge in Muktinath temple tour, for salvation.

Despite being located high and around barren lands, the temple itself is well-watered by streams and springs. The atmosphere there is not as dry as one would assume naturally.

The temple is located in Mustang which is topographically similar to Tibet, the culture there is also influenced by the Tibetian ways. The temple itself lies in the middle of nowhere, separated from the city of Mustang, in the northeast region of the Thak Khola. The Muktinath River’s source is near the shrine and flows for a bit more than 9.5 km which is 6 miles.

There are a couple of cities around Muktinath, one of the most notable ones is Kagbeni. This city houses the meeting point of the Muktinath River and the Kali River. This is where the Muktinath river ends.

One of the most famous things you can find in your Muktinath temple tour is fossils which are considered sacred. Lord Bishnu himself is in the form of a fossil that is placed inside the shrine. These fossils are found on the river banks of the Muktinath River. You can take a couple of fossils as a souvenir of your Muktinath tour.

Pashupatinath Temple

Every year, many devotees visit this temple to seek religious enlightenment, some visit the place for its historical importance while others do it for archeological interests. No matter what the reasons are, they are drawn towards this single temple because it is pleasing and spiritual.

The Pashupatinath region is one of the most significant religious destinations for Hindus all over the globe, especially for Saivamargis. Saivamargis are people who follow the teachings of Shaivism, a Hindu tradition that is based on the conclusion that Lord Shiva is the one and only supreme being.

However, this temple is not limited to Hindu visitors, people of different religious interests visit this temple open-heartedly. Upon visiting this temple you will experience rich culture and religious heritage. The temple is built in the pagoda style standing 23 meters tall with 4 main doors.

The most popular river in Nepal flows right by the Pashupatinath Temple. This river is considered holy just like the Ganges are considered holy in India. The river is a popular spot for devotees to take a quick dip and is also a place to incarcerate bodies.

Gujeshwori Shakti Peetha

Gujeshwori temple is just 1 km away from Pashupatinath and is also located on the river bank of Bagmati. Dedicated to the goddess named Guhyekali, the name Gujeshwori can be traced back to the Sanskrit word “Guhya” meaning “secret, and “Ishwari” meaning “goddess”. This implies that the form of the goddess is beyond what we humans can comprehend.

Built in the Bhutanese pagoda style, this temple is most popular among people who practice Tantras, a form of magic in the Hindu culture. During the Lichhavi dynasty (around 400 AD), this temple was constructed with the guidance of Narasingha Thakur, a well-known Tantric figure.

As time went by, the temple eroded, there were multiple renovations but one of the most notable ones was done by King Pratap Malla under the guidance of Lambakarna Bhatta, another tantric figure.

Although the exterior of the Gujeshwori temple is nothing to be amazed at, the interiors are quite amazing. You can see different beautiful patterns throughout and design ideas inspired by flowers. Many people choose to ignore it because it is not as appealing as Pashupatinath but one must enter the inside of the temple to really soak in the beauty of the shrine.

Soyambhunath Stupa

The history behind Soyambhunath says that the whole valley of Kathmandu was a lake in the early days. The lake was called NagDaha as it was swarmed by Nag (Cobra). Even then, it was considered a holy place and was visited by many sages for a cleansing bath.

After hearing about this lake, Buddha came to take a bath in the lake and spread a couple of Lotus seeds after he was done. The seeds grew to become a Lotus flower with a thousand petals and emitted a light that illuminated the entire surroundings. Hearing such an uncommon tale, Manjushree himself visited the lake and decided to drain it so the holy site would be accessible to everyone.

Fast forward to the current day, the city of Kathmandu is the bed of the drained lake and the illuminating Lotus was shielded by building a dome around it, known as Soyambhunath today. Every morning before the dusk breaks, devotees climb up the stairs leading to the stupa as a test of faith.

There are four eyes drawn in each direction which signifies that god has his eyes all over the world. You might notice that there are no noses drawn instead there is some weird character. That character is the number one written in the Devanagari script which symbolizes the only way to attain enlightenment is through the teachings of Buddhism.

Tal Barahi Temple

There are a number of temples in Pokhara that are dedicated to goddesses such as Bhadrakali, Bindabasini, Sitala Devi, Akala Ddevi, and so on. Among them, the Tal Barahi temple is the most popular and the most visited. Hundreds of people visit the temple every day despite being accessible only via a boat ride.

Tal Barahi temple is not just a religious site for religious practitioners but also a cultural building. The temple is built in the Shikhara style which is a style of architecture that has been mentioned in sacred Hindu texts. The shrine itself is a 2 story building built like a pagoda using stones and wood primarily.

Dedicated to the goddess Barahi, a reincarnation of goddess Durga, this temple has a big enough surrounding to accommodate a large number of visitors. You can buy offerings right outside the temple and take a couple of aesthetic pics. You can also choose to feed the fish of the lake or enjoy paddle-boating yourself to the shore.

Much like your Muktinath temple tour, we are sure you will enjoy visiting this temple as well. Our Muktinath tour package will incur your boating expenses as well.

Manakamana Temple

Located in the Gorkha district, Manakamana is one of the most visited pilgrimages in Nepal. Every year, hundreds of thousands of visitors visit the temple which is only accessible by a cable car ride. Kartik Panchami and Baisakh Panchami are the major events that take place yearly.

Devotees from all over Nepal and India travel hundreds and thousands of kilometers to worship the goddess Bhagwati, who is a reincarnation of the goddess Parvati, the wife of Lord Shiva.

The name Manakamana is made of two words, “Mana” meaning “heart” and “Kamana” meaning “wish”. Devotees believe that goddess Parvati will help you achieve whatever you wish for if you visit the shrine with pure intentions.

The story behind the temple goes all the way back to the 17th century, the times of King Ram Saha. The queen was said to have divine powers but she hid them from everyone else except one of her devotees named Lakhan Thapa. One day the king saw his queen transforming into a deity, and the king confronted the queen about this matter which resulted in his sudden death by unexplainable reasons.

According to the then ritual, the queen had to commit Sati (a ritual in which the wife had to jump on the pyre of her burning husband and commit suicide). The queen later returned in the form of a stone which became the base of the temple.

Difficulty

Our Muktinath temple tour is not difficult at all. You will be traveling via planes and four-wheelers with minimum walking. However, it can be a bit too cold for some people so make sure to bring in some extra layers of clothes just in case. Our Muktinath tour package does not provide items of clothing or rental clothes of any sort.

Who can join this trip?

Everyone who can tolerate a bit of cold can join this trip. There is no exclusion to this trip. You can bring your kids along or your grandparents. It is fit for all ages.

Altitude Sickness

Altitude Sickness at an altitude of 3,710 meters or 12,172 ft is not a common occurrence. Most people will not have any effects from the altitude but if you are one of those people who are sensitive to high altitude make sure that you alert us about it. Also, you should take advice from your doctor before going on the trip. Our Muktinath tour package is not liable for any medical expenses.

Food and Drink

During your Muktinath temple tour, we will provide you with Indian and Nepalese meals all day long. Outside of that, if you want to eat anything else you can do it at your own expense.

Transportation

All the transportation will be arranged by us, including your flights from Pokhara to Jomsom, a wheeler ride from Jomsom to Muktinath, and private vehicle rides from and to Kathmandu.

Accommodation

You will be staying for a total of 3 nights in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu, a total of 2 nights in a similar caliber hotel in Pokhara, and one night in Jomsom.

Permit

You will need the Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card to travel to Muktinath which will be included in the Muktinath tour package. We will help you get both the permit, you can leave the hassle to us.

What to expect

You should expect a bit of chilly winds up in the Himalayan region and a Muktinath temple tour that is worth every penny. You can expect a ton of fun in addition to a memorable week that will have you talking for years.

We’ll be visiting multiple religious shrines that are historically and religiously very important to the followers of Hinduism and Buddhism. You’ll experience the barren beauty of Mustang and also enjoy the warm air by the lake in Pokhara.

This tour will focus more on visiting the shrines that constitute the culture of the Nepalese community. You’ll get to learn how our cultural practices directly relate to the way we practice religion.

As your travel partner, you can expect us to have your back on every aspect, all you have to do is enjoy your time here in Nepal. Expect a hassle free vacation with tons of unique experience to go home with.

Cost Includes

Cost Excludes