Muktinath Temple Tour
Muktinath, a sacred space for people of both the Buddhist and the Hindu faiths, is a place of pilgrimage, peace, harmony, and amazing artwork. Located at the foot of a mountain pass in the Himalayas, the site offers amazing views along with a rich cultural and spiritual heritage. The Hindu name for the the Muktinath is Mukti Kshetra, which means a place of salvation, which the Buddhist name is Chumig Gyatsa, meaning hundred waters.
Muktinath has been watched over by Tibetan Buddhist nuns from the Lama Domar family, who have lived in the area for generations. For the nuns and others, Chumig Gyatsa and the Muktinath temple are places of great importance, a home to the Dakinis, sky-dancing goddesses. In the Hindu estimation, Muktinath is a central place to venerate Lord Vishnu. Stories are told of a nearby river, the Salagrami (or Kali Gandaki River), which Vishnu turned to stone.
Because of the mountains terrain and the Nepal weather, travel to Muktinath can be difficult at times. The pilgrimage site, when the weather is amenable, can be reached by road from Kathmandu. Visitors also can book helicopter tours and Jeep treks to travel to Muktinath. Trekking along the Annapurna Circuit is another way to make a trip to this somewhat remote site. These guided excursions are a very popular addition to Nepal holidays. Sometimes, the trek is strenuous and requires a lot of walking. Your effort will be rewarded with with experiences that can't be duplicated. If a difficult hike isn't for you, consider one of the other ways to get to the holy site.
Recently, motorbiking has become a new way to travel to Muktinath, thanks to newly paved roads. A popular road winds from Jomsom to Muktinath. You could take this route when exploring on your own or with a guide. Many local Nepali families make their living by accompanying visitors on tours of this amazing place. Many packaged vacations, booked with professional tour planners, help take care of the details of the trip, including transportation and guide service.
Whichever way you choose to arrive, you should prepare for the high altitude, more than 12,000 feet above sea level. Those prone to altitude sickness will do better arriving by road, rather than air, with more time to adjust to the change on elevation. It's also helpful to spend at least a night in Jomsom so you can adjust to the terrain.
On a Muktinath tour, pilgrims and other visitors will have a chance to explore the ancient roots and modern practices of these two great faiths. The Muktinath temple at the center, built in 1815, looks similar in design to the temples of Kathmandu. It remains dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is called Chenrezig by the Buddhists.
Besides the Muktinath temple, there is so much more the explore. Some of the other things to see in Muktinath include an eternal flame and several small structures called gompas. If choose to tour with a guide, you'll have the chance to hear more about the spiritual significance of each of these structures.
After you've spent the day exploring Muktinath, you will have many choices of where to stay for the night, if you don't head back to Kathmandu. On the route to Jomson, there are many guesthouses where reservations are usually not needed. Like any other hostels, these lodges provide comfortable beds and food at a very reasonable rate. Hindu pilgrims will find a welcome at Dharamshalas, a traditional religious resthouse.
ITINERARY DETAILS
Option 01:
| Day 01: | Arrival Kathmandu |
| Pick up from Airport transfers to Hotel, Evening Visit to Pashupati Nath Temple for have worship (puja), darshan at arati time, back to Hotel, overnight. | |
| Day 02 | After early Breakfast fly to Pokhara -25 min, Arrival in Pokhara, Tranfser to Hotel, afternoon Pokhara city sightseeing, Places to visit Bindhabasini Temple, Seti River gorge, Gorkha Museum, Devi's waterfall, Mahadev Cave and visit the Barahi Temple by boat ride in Fewa Lake, back to hotel, Evening leisure and overnight. |
| Day 03: | Early in the morning fly to Muktinath by Helicopter-45 min, walk or pony ride to Muktinath temple, After Holy bath have worship (puja), darshan visit arround the temple back to Helipad, fly back to Pokhara, then fly back to Kathmandu by schedule flight, arrive and pick up from airport transfer to hotel, Evening leisure, overnight. |
| Day 04: | After Breakfast kathmandu City Sight Seeing Pashupati Temple, Bouddha stupa, Budanilkantha, Swayambhu Nath Stupa, Kumari Temple, Krishna Temple. back to hotel, Overnight. |
| Day 05: | AM breakfast, transfer to Airport and fly to yours onward Destination |
Option 02:
| Day 01: | Arrival Kathmandu |
| Pick up from Airport transfers to Hotel, Evening Visit to Pashupati Nath Temple for arati and Have a worship (Puja) back to Hotel, overnight. | |
| Day 02: | Kathmandu Sightseeing |
| After breakfast Kathmandu city Sight Seeing places to visit Pashupatinath, Bouddha Nath, Budhanilkantha, Balaju water, Swayambhu Nath stupa (Monkey's temple), Patan durbar squar and Krishna temple, back to hotel, evening leisure, overnight. | |
| Day 03: | Kathmandu - Pokhara |
| Am Breakfast Departure to Pokhara enroute visit to Manakamana Temple by cable car, , after have darshan continues to Pokhara, Arrival Pokhara, Transfer to Hote, rest and overnight. | |
| Day 04: | Pokhara - Muktinath - Pokhara |
| At Morning fly to Muktinath by Helicopter, After holy bath, have worship (puja) & darshan Fly back to Pokhara, evening leisure and overnight. | |
| Day 05: | Pokhara city sightseeing |
| After breakfast Pokhara city Sight Seeing place to visit - Bindhabasini Temple, Seti River gorge, Gorkha Museum, Devi's waterfall, Mahadev Cave and visit the Barahi Temple by boat ride in Fewa Lake, evening leisure, overnight | |
| Day 06: | Pokhara - Kathmandu |
| AM breakfast drive/ fly back to Kathmandu, transfer to Hotel, Evening Leisure overnight. | |
| Day 07: | Final Departure |
| AM breakfast, transfer to Airport and fly to yours onward Destination. |
Option 03:
| Day 01: | Arrival Kathmandu |
| Pick up from Airport, transfer to Hotel, Evening Visit to Pashupati Nath Temple after arati and Puja back to Hotel, overnight. | |
| Day 02: | Kathmandu |
| After breakfast Kathmandu city Sight Seeing place to visit Pashupatinath, Bouddha Nath, Budhanilkantha, Balaju water, Swayambhu Nath stupa (Monkey's temple), Patan durbar squar and Krishna temple and back to hotel, Evening leisure, overnight. | |
| Day 03: | Kathmandu - Pokhara |
| AM Breakfast, Drive / fly to Pokhara, Arrival in Pokhara transfer to Hotel, Evening leisure, overnight. | |
| Day 04: | Pokhara - Jomsom - Muktinath- Jomsom |
| At Morning fly to Jomsom, drive to Muktinath by Jeep (1.30 hrs ) along the Kaligandaki Valley. After holy bath in Kunda,108 Dhara and have darshan /worship to Muktinath drive back to Jomsom by jeep (130 hrs.), Evening leisure, Overnight. | |
| Day 05: | Jomsom - Pokhara |
| At Morning fly back to Pokhara, Pick up from Airport transfer to Hotel After Breakfast Pokhara city Sight Seeing place to visit - Bindhabasini Temple, Seti River gorge, Gorkha Museum, Devi's waterfall, Mahadev Cave and visit the Barahi Temple by boat ride in Fewa Lake, Evening leisure, overnight. |
|
| Day 06: | POkhara - Kathmandu |
| Drive/Fly back to Kathmandu, Arrival Kathmandu, transfer to Hotel, overnight. | |
| Day 07: | Final Departure |
| AM breakfast, transfer to Airport and fly to yours onward Destination |

