Muktinath Darshan Tour
Muktinath is a sacred place both for 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), Mustang district, Nepal. It is believed that all miseries / sorrows are relieved once you visit this temple (Mukti=Nirvana, Nath=God). The main shrine is a pagoda shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Set into the wall around it is 108 waterspouts from which pour holy water.
For Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath, they called Chumig Gyatsa (Hundreds Waters) is a place of Dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers. It is of great importance for Buddhists that Chumig Gyatsa is one of the 24 Tantric places.
For Hindus, beside the natural fire representing Brahma and the holy waters, the central meaning of the Muktinath area is the veneration of the god Vishnu in the form of ammonites (shilas) called Salagrama-Shilas. There are many stories which tell of Vishnu turning into stone and all of them are closely connected to the holy Kali Gandaki River. This river, also known as the Salagrami, is a few hours walking from Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa.
Muktinath Darshan by Helicopter
Duration : 06 nights / 07 days
Destination : Kathmandu - Pokhara - Jomsom - Muktinath Darshan - Pokhara - Kathmandu
Day 1 : Kathmandu arrival. Overnight Hotel.
Arrival in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport, meet by our representative and transfer to hotel. Meeting and briefing about the program. Rest day at leisure. Overnight stay.
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing. Overnight Hotel.
After breakfast, we begin the tour program with guided sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Bouddhanath Stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Overnight stay.
Day 3: Kathmandu to Pokhara. Overnight Hotel.
Drive or fly to Pokhara. Check in Hotel & refresh. Stroll around Lake side & Pokhara market in the evening. Overnight stay.
Day 4:Pokhara – Jomsom - Muktinath Darsan. Overnight at Hotel.
Early morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Jomsom. Receive by our representative in Jomsom & walk to Hotel.
After breakfast, you have to walk about 15 minutes further to jeep station crossing Kali Gandaki bridge & then drive to Muktinath. Arrival in jeep station near Muktinath and walk 20 min further from jeep station to Muktinath Temple. Perform worship (puja) & darsan with taking holy bath in the sacred 108 water spouts surrounding the temple; Also a Jwalamai Darshan will be made. Then walk down upto Jeep station and drive back to Jomsom. Refresh in hotel & take lunch. Overnight stay.
Day 5:Jomsom - Pokhara. Overnight at Hotel.
After breakfast, move to airport for your flight to Pokhara. Arrival in Pokhara and pick up by our representative & check in to the Hotel. After lunch, guided sightseeing tour of Pokhara Valley – David’s Fall, Gupteswor Mahadev Cave, Bindabasini Temple, K. I. Singh Bridge and Barahi Temple with a boat ride on Fewa Lake. Overnight stay.
Day 6:Pokhara - Kathmandu. Overnight at Hotel.
Drive or fly back to Kathmandu. Rest of the day is free for shopping and relaxation. Overnight stay.
Day 7: Departure.
Transfer to the International airport for your onward destination.
Muktinath Yatra by Trek
Duration : 14 Nights / 15 Days
Destination : Kathmandu - Pokhara - Jhomsom - Kagbeni - Muktinath - Kalopani - Tatopani - Ghorepani - Tadapani - Ghandruk - Birethanti - Pokhara - Kathmandu
Day 01 : Welcome to Kathmandu Arrive Kathmandu airport. Transfer to the very friendly Hotel. Hotel Tibet Holiday Inn. Welcome dinner in the evening.
Day 02 : Kathmandu Sightseeing The following morning you will be taken on a ½ day Sightseeing tour of the many holy temples and interesting Surrounding sights of Kathmandu including the Sacred Pashupatinath Temple and Nepal's oldest city, Bhaktapur. The remainder of the day is yours to explore the many shops and bazaars and eating-houses of Kathmandu.
Day 03 : Kathmandu - Pokhara by Toursit Bus A beautiful town set on the banks of the Phewa Lake. It is smaller and much less hectic than Kathmandu and is the perfect starting point for our trek. Your first day in Pokhara can be spent just relaxing or you may enjoy a visit to the Tibetan Refugee Camp and Devi Falls. The remainder of the time is yours to enjoy either doing last minute shopping for the trek or packing your kitty bag for the following day's departure O/N Hotel B&B
Day 04 : Pokhara - Jomsom - Kagbeni Fly to Jomsom & sightseeing around Jomsom. The Kaligandaki valley here is called the Thakkhola, after the native Thakalis, who are distantly related to the Tibetans. The day we walk to Kagbeni, the checkpoint of entry to Upper Mustang. The altitudes of this trek vary between about 915m at Pokhara to approx.3880m at Muktinath; going up and down will test the best pair of knees. The secret is, take it SLOWLY!
Day 05 : Kagbeni - Muktinath We ascend steeply to a 3880m, at Muktinath. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sights for Hindus. Holy water flows from the 108 carved spouts surrounding the Vishnu temple in a grove of poplars. Muktinath is also home to many ethnic Tibetans and holy Buddhists, who come here for the temple in which fire miraculously burns in a stream of water inside a small but very holy temple.
Day 06 : Muktinath - Jomsom Descend gradually through fields and poplar groves, then into the Kali Gandaki river valley. Follow the valley southwards to Jomsom. The Kali Gandaki valley here is called the Thak Khola, from the ethnic group the Thakalis, the main inhabitants of this area.
Day 07 : Jomsom -Kalopani Descend to Marpha, a lovely village of whitewashed houses and fertile fields. Continue down the Kali Gandaki reaching the old Thakali trading center of Tukuche. As the trail continues, the Himalayan rain shadow end and open spaces make way for coniferous forest and Kalopani (2560m.) From here there are spectacular 360-degree views of Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna high above.
Day 08 : Kalopani - Tatopani A beautiful walk, with another transition into sub-tropical vegetation and the return of water buffalo, banyan trees and poinsettias. The trail follows the river through a narrow gorge, and descends to cross a bridge near a spectacular waterfall, before winding through the valley to Tatopani. The hot water springs that give the village its name provide the perfect opportunity for a good 'scrub.
Day 09 : Tatopani - Ghorepani Steadily climbing all day, we eventually leave behind the terraced fields and walk through thick rhododendron forest to the village of Ghorepani. We camp at the pass for the best views of the sunset over the spectacular, snow-capped Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna Range.
Day 10 : Ghorepani- Tadapani Early morning, you will visit the famous Poon Hill where you will hopefully be blessed with a fantastic sunrise and 360 deg view of all the Annapurna Range including Annapurna South (7272m) Annapurna I (8091m) with imposing views of the Mt. Dhaulagiri (8157m) and the Dhaulagiri Range to the West. The views here are breath taking as you sit and sip on a hot chocolate before heading down the main trail to Pokhara.
Day 11 : Tadapani - Ghandruk Trail descends steeply through dense damp forest, where you may see monkeys, and continues down over a series of rock-cut steps that follow a leaping stream. Arrive in Ghandruk (1940m) and explore the maze-like streets of this thriving Gurung settlement.
Day 12 : Tadapani - Ghandruk Trail descends steeply through dense damp forest, where you may see monkeys, and continues down over a series of rock-cut steps that follow a leaping stream. Arrive in Ghandruk (1940m) and explore the maze-like streets of this thriving Gurung settlement.
Day 13 : Ghandruk - Birethanti - Pokhara : A steady climb down past startlingly green cultivated terraces and picturesque, beautifully-preserved farms to the scurrying Modi River, which the trail follows back to Birethanti. Drive to Pokhara. O/N at Hotel.
Day 14 : Kathmandu Drive Back to Kathmandu
Day 15 : Departure : As per the flight timing drop at Airport. Tour ends.
Clothing:
We suggest you to take normal warm clothes. Light warm jacket, woolen sweater, warm T-Shirts, comfortable shoes, trousers and cotton pants are enough for this trip. We recommended you to bring down jacket for the winter.
Accommodation:
There is enough Hotels and lodges near by Muktinath in Jharkot and Ranipauwa. The Hotels and lodges are fine there. Some Hotels have solar heated hot showers and provide rooms with attached bath. Also local restaurant are available there. They provide good food. For Hindu pilgrims there are also free Dharamsalas .
Climate
Muktinath and its high valley are located in the Mustang Bhote region. The climate and landscape here are similar to those of the Tibetan Plateau since it is situated in the rain shadow of the Greater Himalayas. The changes in climate from warm to cold take you to the sacred shrine of Muktinath in Mustang district. Flowing through the region from north to south and forming deep gorges is the Kali Gandaki river. The temperature in summer (March to August) hover between Maximum of 16 to 18 degree Celsius and Minimum 6 to 8 Degree Celsius. In the beginning of winter (September to November) the temperature fluctuates between 14 to 16 degree Celsius and 0 to 4 degree Celsius. In the winter (December to February) the maximum temperature will be 4 to 6 degree Celsius and minimum 0 to -8 degree Celsius.
Season:
The most suitable time to visit Muktinath from March to May & October. In November & February it can be cold, but you can travel. December and January are for the diehard & snowfall in the all of area 4 to 10 ft. June to September is raining season. As the weather conditions would not be safe enough to travel in o ther months.