Muktinath- A Salvational Journey in the Himalayas.

  • Sarba: My soul finds its grace and pace in the embrace of the mountain.
  • Last Updated on Oct 14, 2024
Muktinath is situated at an altitude of 3,710 meters at the foot of the Thorong La pass in Mustang, Nepal. It is a sacred place for Hindus as well as Buddhists. In Hindus, it is known as Mukti Kshetra, the "place of salvation," and is one of the eight sacred Svayam Vyakta Ksetras and a 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It also shares significance as one of the 51 Shakti Pitha sites. The temple enshrines a gold statue of Vishnu-locally known as Mukti Narayana-and has bronze deities of Bhoodevi, Saraswati, and Garuda. Behind this temple lie 108 stone faucets from which pilgrims bathe in the icy cold waters of the Kali Gantaki River. This riverbed is the only source in the world of the sacred Shaligram stones used unanimously in Vishnu temples worldwide.
 
To the Buddhists, it is the sacred place of Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva of Compassion, also known as Chumming Gyatsa or Hundred Waters and is connected with Guru Rimpoche's journey to Tibet. Near the temple lies Mebar Lha Gomba, or monastery, that has an eternal flame. This flame is thought to be miraculous and is worshipped as Jwala Mai by the Hindus.

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Why does Muktinath Temple in Nepal have such a rich history?

The Muktinath Temple of Nepal draws its history from the 19th century. Tradition has it that this is a Vishnu temple built at the request of Queen Sabarna Prabha of Nepal. In 1818, Shabkar-a great yogi from Tibet-visited Muktinath and stayed there for some days to understand the site more properly.
According to the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Rinpoche or Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, meditated at Muktinath while on his journey to Tibet. Near the temple is located Damodar Kunda, which is the origin of the sacred Shaligram stones and the Gandaki River. This pilgrimage site, situated as "Men-Chu" in Tibetan, is closely connected with the life of Guru Rinpoche and is regarded as the beginning of Mukti Kshetra.
According to Indian mythology, the great fight between Lord Shiva and Asura King Jalandhar holds much importance. Jalandhar made use of his powers to assume the appearance of Shiva himself, approached Parvati with that appearance, and thus sought to delude her. However, Parvati saw through the illusion and sought Shiva's help. During this fight, it was the devotion of his wife Vrinda that gave protection to Jalandhar. The gods sought a means of killing Jalandhar and thus sent Lord Vishnu in the form of Jalandhar with the aim of hoodwinking Vrinda, which made Shiva ultimately defeat Jalandhar.
When Vrinda came to know of the truth, she cursed Lord Vishnu to turn into a stone, and Vishnu was reborn as Shaligram in the area of Muktinath. In grief, Vrinda self-immolated, and from her ashes came the Tulsi plant. Pleased with her unfailing devotion, Lord Vishnu announced that the Tulsi leaf should be invariably present in the worship of the Shaligram.

What is the spiritual significance of Muktinath Temple?

Muktinath Temple has come to symbolize the great interreligious harmony between the Hindus and the Buddhists. The prayer rituals, or Puja, performed at this temple are looked after by a Buddhist monk in addition to a local nun, which further signifies its shared spiritual importance.
In Hinduism, Muktinath is considered the only Divya Desam outside India, ranking 106 out of the 108 holy places. It also forms one of the four Nepalese sites for Char Dham called Mukti Kshetra, which literally means the "liberation arena" (moksha). Its importance is highlighted in ancient texts such as the Vishnu Purana and Gandaki Mahathmya. In Sri Vaishnava tradition, the temple is known as Thiru Saligramam while the sacred Saligram Shila-a non-anthropomorphic image of Vishnu-which is not found elsewhere is found only in the nearby Gandaki River.
To Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath counts as one of the 24 Tantric sites and is significant to Dakinis or Sky Dancers. They believe that the temple's murti is a manifestation of Avalokitesvara-the Bodhisattva of Compassion-and refer to it as Chumig Gyatsa.

Exactly where in Nepal is the Muktinath Temple located?

The Muktinath Temple lies in the sermonically tranquil valley of Kaligandaki, Nepal, at the foot of Thorong La mountain pass within Mustang district. It is near the village of Ranipauwa, within the scenic Annapurna region, making it a notable destination for international tourists, especially those trekking the Annapurna Circuit.
Perched at an altitude of 3,800 meters, Muktinath Dham is one of the highest temples in the world. Located in a place of surprising contrast, the vast Tibetan plains stretch far and wide to the north, and the breathtaking snow-capped Annapurna mountain range forms a dramatic and picturesque backdrop on the south.

How to reach Muktinath Temple?

The Muktinath Temple can be reached from several routes, depending upon your choice of travel by road, trekking, or air. By road, it takes about 6 nights/7 days of journey from Kathmandu to Muktinath via Kathmandu-Pokhara-Jomsom-Muktinath. The total distance from Kathmandu to Muktinath is approximately 400 km. They catch the Prithvi Highway via Kathmandu to Pokhara, continuing through the towns of Beni, Tatopani, Ghasa, Marpha, Kagbeni, and Jomsom to finally reach Muktinath.
It is also possible to go on a road journey of 4 nights/5 days following the same route, reach Muktinath after crossing Pokhara and Jomsom. Jomsom is the nearest airport from Muktinath. There are no direct flights available from Kathmandu to Muktinath. First, one has to take a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara-one hour flight, and from Pokhara, a short flight of 25 minutes takes to Jomsom. Drive or trek from Jomsom to Muktinath, hike through Eklebhatti, Kagbeni, Jharkot and Ranipauwa to the temple.
For trekkers, Muktinath is reachable by the famous Annapurna Circuit trek. It is a classical trek starting from Besi Sahar, taking one through some of the beautiful villages and forests and across high-altitude passes-renowned among them being Thorong La Pass, which is 5,364 meters above sea level.
It could be faster to take a helicopter tour from Kathmandu to Muktinath, taking one and a half hours. On reaching, near Ranipauwa, a short hike of 30 minutes will bring you up at the temple. This is an ideal helicopter service for those people in search of fast and comfortable travel means.

Best Places to Visit Around Muktinath

Muktinath Temple
This pagoda-style temple reflects the religious harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism. Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu attained salvation here, and he is worshipped as Muktinath-the lord of salvation. Devotees bathe under the chilled waters of 108 spouts behind the temple. The temple features metal statues of Vishnu, goddess Laxmi, Saraswati, Janaki, Garuda, Lava-Kusha, and the Sapta Rishis. Buddhists revere Vishnu as Avalokiteshvara (Chingresig).
 
Mharme Lha Khang Gompa
Located north of Muktinath Temple, the literal translation of the name of this monastery is "thousand holy lamps", and it is dedicated to Guru Rimpoche, or Padmasambhava. The central figure is a big clay statue of him, flanked by deities of Bon. It is believed to be one of the most sacred meditation spots, where Guru Rimpoche achieved enlightenment.
 
Dhola Mebar Gompa
Known as the monastery of the miraculous flame, this site features a natural gas flame that is always on. Hindus worship it as Jwala Mai, or goddess of fire. It lies south of Muktinath Temple and contains flames of different origins: "Sale Mebar", "Dhola Mebar" and "Kla Mebar".
 
Gompa Samba
Meaning "new monastery," it was established by Syandol Lama from Tibet. It was a hostel for lamas, which was later reconstructed by the villagers of Khinga and Jharkot. The main deities include Sakyamuni, Chingresig and Guru Rimpoche, and it is found to the left of the Muktinath Temple entrance.
Tharwa Chyoling Nunnery
This monastery, sometimes called Gompa Dhong Dhong, about an hour from Ranipawa was founded by Takla Thakuri. It recently underwent renovation by Syangpa Rimpoche after some earthquake damage.
 
Gargen Chyoling Nunnery (Ghar Gompa)
It was also one of the oldest monasteries in the valley, featuring Anila or Buddhist nuns from the surrounding villages. This monastery has undergone renovation about 26 years ago from monks belonging to Luri Gompa. It is the place where the nuns study and reside.
 
It is not allowed to conduct photography or filming inside all the monasteries and temples. For instance, shooting the deities is not permitted. The cultural heritage has been preserved within the Muktinath Temple complex by the Anila from Khinga and Jharkot.

Remarkable Festivals of Muktinath

There are some interesting festivals held in Muktinath valley throughout the year. The famous one is Yartung, celebrated in August or September. This festival marks the harvest season; thus, featuring horseraces in Ranipauwa, where devotees from surrounding villages and Manang and Mustang take part. Other notable festivals include Lhosar-the New Year Celebration, Dhajyang/Toranla-the Festival of Archery, Dhekyap, Bakchhap-the Festival of Lama Dance, and Fangyal, a festival in honor of rest. During these festivals, villagers carry out Syabro Dance, which is a traditional local dance. The dancers are seen dancing with traditional clothes to showcase the richness of culture during these festivals.
Sarba: My soul finds its grace and pace in the embrace of the mountain.

Sarba: My soul finds its grace and pace in the embrace of the mountain.

Mr. Sarba is an energetic, multifaceted travel expert at Nepal Nomad, a reputed local travel company that has been running tour operations for 18 years. Being the owner, tour manager, and managing director of the company, Sarba's impetus has been vital in its growth and success. Nepal Nomad puts great emphasis on the safety and enjoyment of its clients, and provides enthusiastic teams of guides, porters, and mountaineers.
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