Muktinath Pilgrimage Tour is a journey to one of Nepal's most popular Hindu pilgrimage sites - Muktinath Temple. The tour is special as you get to explore the two major cities of Nepal: Kathmandu and Pokhara.
By visiting Muktinath Temple, it is believed that all the sins and sorrows are relieved. According to Hindus, one should visit Muktinath Temple at least once in their lifetime. The 6-day Muktinath trip takes you to this sacred temple while letting you explore many other religious sites such as Pasupatinath temple, Tal Barahi, Bindhyabasini, and more. This pilgrimage trip is the best way to explore the mighty landscapes of Nepal as well as cultural and religious heritage sites with minimal effort.
The Muktinath Pilgrimage Tour starts from Kathmandu where you visit Pasupatinath Temple and witness Arati in the evening. Then you will visit the Manakamana Temple on the way to Pokhara. From Pokhara, you have a flight to Jomsom and a jeep ride to Muktinath. Once you visit the temple, you will get back to Jomsom via roadway and flight to Pokhara. The next day you will visit all the major tourist sites in Pokhara and fly back to Kathmandu the next day. On the last day of the tour, you will visit 5 of Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This Muktinath Pilgrimage Tour is designed in such a way that you will get to explore everything at its best. The tour does not demand physical fitness so it is suitable for everyone who desires to visit Muktinath Temple. The Pokhara-Jomsom and Pokhara-Kathmandu flights save time, giving more flexibility to pursue the tour even when you have a time limitation.
Mustang Pilgrimage Tour Highlights
- Make your dreams come true by bathing in the sacred waters at Muktinath Temple
- Visit Pasupatinath Temple and witness Arati
- Cable car ride from Manakamana Temple along the way to Pokhara
- Exciting flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and Back
- Scenic ride from Jomsom to Muktinath and back
- Explore Pokhara city (Devi’s Falls, Bat cave, Mahendra Cave, Gupteshwor Cave, Phewa Lake)
- Visit Kathmandu's 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Darbar Square, Pashupatinath, Swyambhunath and Bouddhanath)
- Scenic ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back via a flight
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the gateway to other cities in Nepal, however, the city itself has no less to offer. It looks chaotic at first but there are many cultural, historical and religious monuments hidden beneath. The valley is home of 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Pasupatinath Temple, Changunarayan Temple, Swyambhunath Stupa and Bouddhanath Stupa. These heritage sites carry their own historical and religious importance. Changunarayan and Pasupatinath Temple are the biggest pilgrimage sites for Hindus, while Swyambhunath and Bouddhanath are of equal importance for Buddhists. Kathmandu showcases the harmony between diverse religions and the culture of Nepal.
Pokhara
The lake city of Pokhara offers you many wonderful experiences. The city, situated on the lap of Annapurna, is home to the beautiful lakes Phewa, Begnas, and Rupa. Davis Falls, Bat Cave, Mahendra Cave, and Gupteshwor Cave are the major attractions of the city. Pokhara is home to many religious temples and stupas such as Tal Barahi, Bindabasini, World Peace Pagoda, and more. The gateway of the Annapurna region, Pokhara also provides you with many adventure activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving, rafting, boating, etc. Pokhara is one of the major tourist hubs of the country because of these reasons. Outside of the city lies Sarangot, a viewpoint near the valley that provides you with mesmerizing views of surrounding landscapes, especially at sunrise.
Manakamana Temple
Manakamana is the temple situated in the Gorkha district. It is dedicated to the goddess Bhagwati, a reincarnation of Parvati. It is believed that your wishes are fulfilled when you visit the temple and offer your devotion to the goddess. The name ‘Manakamana’ itself translates to Mana - "heard" and Kamana - "wishes." For Manakamana Darshan you can offer dhup, oil lamp, bastra (cloths), fruits, etc. A few minutes of cable car riding from Kurintar takes you to the temple. You will visit the Manakamana Temple on the way to Pokhara.
Muktinath
Last, but not least, Muktinath is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Nepal for both Hindus and Buddhists. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, situated at the foot of Thorong La Pass. The temple is known as Mukti Ksetra and it is believed that one gets (moksha) liberation and all the sins are washed away after bathing in the temple's waters. It is also one of the 108 Divya Desam which are considered sacred. The site is equally important for Buddhists devotees. According to them, Muktinath is an important place of Dakinis which are the goddesses known as sky dancers. Buddhists believe that the Murti is a manifestation of Avaliketeshwora who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.