Mukti Nath

It is believed that all miseries / sorrows are relieved once you visit this temple (Mukti = Nirvana or status of Liberty / Free, Nath = God). The famous temple of Lord Muktinath lies in the district of Mustang and is situated about 18 kms northeast of Jomsom at an altitude of about 3800 meter. The main shrine is a pagoda shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Sets into the wall around it are 108 waterspouts from which pour holy water. The temple is situated on a high mountain range and is visited during fair weather. There are two ways to get to Muktinath from either take a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and hike for 7-8 hours from Jomsom or trek all the way from Pokhara through Kali-Gandaki valley, which takes 7/8 days. It is believed that one should visit this temple after competing pilgrimage of four special religious sites in India. This temple held sacred by Hindus as well as Buddhists. The Jwala Mai temple nearby contains a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural gas underground. Jomsom is a major center in the Annapurna region. There is a world-class accommodation facility in Jomsom from where one can enjoy remarkable natural beauty. Muktinath is the most sacred Hindu site in Nepal after the temple of Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. Hindu pilgrims come here to bathe in the 108 water spouts shaped as cows’ heads and Buddhists come here to pay homage at a shrine enclosing an eternal blue flame. Pilgrims take bath in holy water spouts to purify their bodies before visiting the main Temple for worship. The flight from Pokhara to Jomsom offers magnificent views of Himalayas as it flies through a narrow slice between the tips of two Himalayan giants: Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Annapurna I (8,091m). Visitors can enjoy with magnificent views of the Himalayas, fabulous and typical valley of Kaligandaki and diversity of ethnic culture. The trail from Jomsom passes along the Kali Gandaki River, the deepest gorge in the world to Kagbeni, a fascinating old citadel. The trail then divides into four directions of which the east route leads to Muktinath. The trail down from Muktinath via Eklya Bhatti (single teahouse) meets with the one coming from Kagbeni and then we walk into the Kaligandaki gorge visiting Marpha, which is well known for garden of apples, apricots and peaches sold fresh, dry and as distilled liquor brandy and its narrow lanes of cobbled stones with houses painted in white on each side. This trek begins from Pokhara and fly out from Jomsom. Alternatively, the trek commences from Jomsom and trek out to Pokhara.