# Muktinath Temple Guide: Pilgrimage to the Sacred Temple of Salvation _Published 6 February 2026_ High in the Mustang district, at about **3,710 m**, lies one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in the Himalaya. **Muktinath**, meaning "Lord of Liberation", is revered by **Hindus** as one of the eight most sacred shrines of Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Desam temples, and by **Buddhists** as **Chumig Gyatsa**, "Hundred Waters", a place where Guru Rinpoche meditated on his way to Tibet. Pilgrims believe that bathing under its **108 water spouts** and in its sacred pools brings liberation (*mukti*) from the cycle of rebirth. Muktinath is also a highlight of the Annapurna Circuit, reached after crossing the Thorong La, and increasingly accessible by jeep and helicopter. Here's why it matters, what to see, how to get there and how to plan a visit. **Quick answer:** Muktinath Temple lies at about **3,710 m** in Mustang, sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Highlights include the **108 water spouts**, the **Mukti Kunda** pools and the **Jwala Mai** temple with its natural eternal flame. It is reached by flight from Pokhara to **Jomsom** and a 1–1.5 hour jeep ride, by road from Pokhara (about 7–9 hours), by **helicopter**, or on the **Annapurna Circuit** trek. The best time is **March–May** and **September–November**. ## Muktinath at a glance FactDetailsLocationMustang district, below the Thorong LaAltitudeAbout 3,710 mSacred toHindus (Vishnu) and Buddhists (Chumig Gyatsa)Highlights108 water spouts, Mukti Kunda, Jwala Mai eternal flame, gompasAccessJomsom flight + jeep; road from Pokhara; helicopter; trekPermitACAPBest timeMarch–May, September–November## Why Muktinath is sacred For **Hindus**, Muktinath is one of the holiest sites dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the **Char Dham** of Nepal and among the 108 Divya Desams, the sacred temples of Vishnu praised by the Tamil Alvar saints. The presence of the five elements, earth, water, fire, air and sky, in one place is considered especially auspicious; the natural gas flame burning over water at Jwala Mai represents the rare union of fire and water. The nearby Kali Gandaki river is famous for **shaligram** stones, fossilised ammonites revered as manifestations of Vishnu. For **Buddhists**, Muktinath is **Chumig Gyatsa**, one of the 24 sacred tantric sites. It is associated with **Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava)**, who is said to have meditated here on his way to Tibet, and with the dakinis, female sky-dancers. Nuns from a Buddhist tradition look after parts of the temple complex, and Buddhist pilgrims circumambulate it alongside Hindu devotees, making it a rare example of shared worship. ## How to get to Muktinath ### By flight and jeep Most pilgrims fly from **Pokhara** to **Jomsom** (about 20 minutes), between Dhaulagiri and the Annapurnas through the deep Kali Gandaki gorge. From Jomsom (2,720 m), jeeps drive up the valley via Kagbeni to Ranipauwa in about 1–1.5 hours. Jomsom flights operate only in the early morning because of strong afternoon winds, and cancellations are common in bad weather. Many itineraries spend a night in Jomsom or Kagbeni to help acclimatise before visiting the temple. ### By road A road now connects Pokhara with Jomsom and Muktinath via Beni and the Kali Gandaki valley. The drive takes about 7–9 hours from Pokhara to Jomsom, and longer to Muktinath, on a road that is partly rough and prone to landslides in the monsoon. Private jeeps and buses make the journey, and it is often used when flights are cancelled. The road runs through the world's deepest gorge, past the Tatopani hot springs and the apple orchards of Marpha. ### By helicopter For pilgrims with limited time or mobility, **helicopter tours** fly from Pokhara or Kathmandu to Muktinath, allowing a visit to the temple in a single day. Because of the rapid altitude gain, stays are kept short. Helicopter tours are especially popular with older pilgrims and Indian visitors. The full itinerary is on our [Muktinath pilgrimage tour](/muktinath-pilgrimage-tour) page. ### On foot Trekkers on the **Annapurna Circuit** reach Muktinath after crossing the **Thorong La (5,416 m)** from Manang, arriving tired but elated at the temple. It is also possible to trek up from Jomsom via Kagbeni and Jharkot. See our [Annapurna Circuit guide](/blog/annapurna-circuit-trek-guide). ## Altitude and health At about 3,710 m, Muktinath is high enough for altitude sickness, especially for pilgrims who fly directly from Pokhara (820 m) to Jomsom and drive up the same day. Symptoms include headache, breathlessness, nausea and dizziness. To reduce the risk, spend a night in Jomsom or Kagbeni before visiting the temple, walk slowly, drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol and rest if you feel unwell. Older pilgrims and those with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before the trip. Helicopter visitors should keep their stay short and move slowly. Our [altitude guide](/blog/altitude-sickness-nepal-trekking) goes into more detail. ## Best time to visit The best times are **March–May** and **September–November**, with clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures. Winter (December–February) is very cold, with snow possible and some lodges closed, although the temple remains open. The monsoon (June–August) brings less rain to Mustang than to the south, but the road from Pokhara and Jomsom flights are affected by weather. Major pilgrimage times include **Ram Navami** and **Janai Purnima**, when the temple is busy. ## Rituals and etiquette Pilgrims typically take a dip in the Mukti Kunda ponds, run under the 108 spouts, then enter the temple to offer prayers, flowers and incense. Many also visit Jwala Mai and the Buddhist gompas. Visitors of all faiths are welcome, but should dress modestly, remove shoes before entering shrines, walk clockwise around the temple, and ask before photographing rituals. The water is extremely cold, so bring a towel and change of clothes if you plan to bathe. ## Kagbeni and the Kali Gandaki valley Most visits to Muktinath pass through **Kagbeni**, a medieval village at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Jhong rivers and the gateway to Upper Mustang. Kagbeni's narrow alleys, mud-brick houses, a red monastery, chortens and fields of barley make it one of the most atmospheric villages in Nepal. It is also a sacred site where Hindus perform rituals for their ancestors on the riverbank. Nearby, **Jharkot**, with its old fort and gompa, and **Marpha**, with whitewashed houses and apple orchards, are well worth visiting. The Kali Gandaki valley between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna is the deepest gorge in the world and a landscape of stark beauty. ## Shaligram stones The Kali Gandaki river is the world's main source of **shaligram** stones, black fossilised ammonites from an ancient sea that once covered the region, 150 million years ago. Hindus revere them as natural manifestations of Vishnu, and they are used in worship in homes and temples. Pilgrims often collect or buy shaligrams in Jomsom, Kagbeni and Ranipauwa. Note that removing fossils from protected areas may be restricted; buy only from licensed sellers. ## Where to stay and eat Ranipauwa, the village below the temple, has a range of hotels and lodges, from simple guesthouses to comfortable hotels, many with hot showers and heated dining rooms. Jomsom and Kagbeni also have good hotels and are popular overnight stops. Food includes Thakali dal bhat, which is considered among the best in Nepal, Tibetan dishes, and Indian vegetarian food catering to pilgrims. Many pilgrims prefer vegetarian meals during their visit. ## Permits Visitors to Muktinath need the **Annapurna Conservation Area Permit (ACAP)**. Indian and other SAARC nationals pay a lower fee. If you plan to continue into Upper Mustang beyond Kagbeni, a separate restricted area permit is required. Your travel agency usually arranges permits. More on this in our [permits guide](/blog/nepal-trekking-permits-guide). ## Sample itinerary DayPlan1Kathmandu to Pokhara2Fly Pokhara to Jomsom, drive to Kagbeni; explore3Drive to Muktinath, temple visit, return to Jomsom4Fly Jomsom to Pokhara5Return to KathmanduThis itinerary includes a night at lower altitude before the temple visit, reducing the risk of altitude sickness. ## Combining Muktinath with other destinations Muktinath combines naturally with other destinations. Many pilgrims visit **Pashupatinath** in Kathmandu and **Manakamana** temple on the way to Pokhara. From Kagbeni, travellers can enter **Upper Mustang** with a special permit. Trekkers combine Muktinath with the **Annapurna Circuit** or **Poon Hill**. Indian pilgrims often combine it with the **Kailash Mansarovar Yatra**. Our [Upper Mustang guide](/blog/upper-mustang-trek-guide) and [Kailash guide](/blog/kailash-mansarovar-yatra-guide) go into more detail. ## What to see ### The Muktinath Temple and 108 spouts The main temple is a pagoda-style shrine housing a golden image of Vishnu. Behind it, a semicircular wall holds **108 bull-faced water spouts**, from which icy water flows. Pilgrims run through them, bathing under each spout, a symbolic act of purification. In front of the temple are two ponds, the **Mukti Kunda**, where pilgrims take a dip before worship. ### Jwala Mai Temple A short walk from the main temple, the **Jwala Mai Temple** (Mebar Lha Gompa for Buddhists) shelters small natural gas flames that burn from the rock beside a spring, seemingly flames burning on water. It's one of the strangest things you'll see at Muktinath. ### Gompas and Ranipauwa Several Buddhist gompas surround the complex, including the **Marme Lhakhang** and **Narsingh Gompa**. Below the temple, the village of **Ranipauwa** has hotels, lodges, restaurants and shops selling shaligram stones, prayer beads and souvenirs. ## A pilgrim's visit, step by step A typical visit to Muktinath begins with a drive or walk from Ranipauwa, the village below the temple, up a path lined with prayer flags and souvenir stalls. Some pilgrims hire a pony for the final climb. At the temple gate, pilgrims remove shoes and enter the sacred grove, where ancient trees shade the courtyard. Many first take a dip in the two **Mukti Kunda** ponds in front of the temple, the water icy cold even in summer. Then they run beneath the **108 water spouts**, allowing water from each to pour over them as a symbol of purification. After changing into dry clothes, they enter the main temple to offer prayers, flowers, incense and money to the image of Vishnu, attended by Buddhist nuns and Hindu priests. The visit continues to **Jwala Mai**, where the eternal flames burn beside a spring, and to the Buddhist gompas. Many pilgrims leave feeling a deep sense of peace and fulfilment. ## The landscape of lower Mustang Muktinath sits high on a bare, windswept slope. To the east rises the **Thorong La** and the peaks of the Annapurna range; to the south, the great white wall of **Dhaulagiri** and **Tukuche**; to the north, the barren hills of Upper Mustang. The valley is dry and windswept, with poplar trees, barley fields and small villages built of stone and mud, like Jharkot and Khinga, clinging to the hillsides. The contrast between the arid landscape and the green sacred grove around the temple is striking. Strong winds blow up the Kali Gandaki valley every afternoon, so visit the temple in the morning. ## Muktinath for Indian pilgrims Muktinath is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Indian Hindus, especially followers of Vaishnavism, and many make the journey as part of a wider Nepal pilgrimage. Indian nationals do not need a visa for Nepal and pay reduced ACAP fees. Popular itineraries combine Muktinath with Pashupatinath, Manakamana and Janakpur, and some pilgrims combine it with the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Helicopter packages from Pokhara are popular with older pilgrims. Vegetarian food and Hindi-speaking guides can be arranged. Travelling in organised groups with experienced operators helps manage flights, weather and altitude. ## What to pack - Warm clothing, including a down jacket, as it is cold at 3,710 m, especially in the morning and evening. - A towel and change of clothes if you plan to bathe under the spouts. - Comfortable shoes with good grip. - Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat for the strong high-altitude sun. - A scarf or buff for the dust and wind. - Personal medicines, including for altitude if prescribed. - Puja items if you wish to perform rituals. - Cash for donations, offerings and purchases. ## Common questions **Can elderly pilgrims visit Muktinath?** Yes, many do, often by helicopter or jeep, with a pony for the final climb and careful attention to altitude. **Is the temple open all year?** Yes, although winter is very cold and access can be affected by snow. **Can I bathe in the spouts in winter?** Many pilgrims do, but the water is extremely cold; be careful and change into dry clothes quickly. ## The history of Muktinath Muktinath has been a place of pilgrimage for many centuries, mentioned in ancient Hindu texts and in Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. The present temple, a small pagoda, is believed to have been built in the 19th century, possibly by a queen of Nepal, on the site of much older shrines. The site has long been a meeting point of cultures: Hindu pilgrims from the south, Tibetan traders and Buddhist practitioners from the north, and Thakali and Gurung communities who lived along the trade route. Until roads reached Mustang in the 2000s, pilgrims walked for days up the Kali Gandaki valley or crossed the Thorong La from Manang. Today, flights, jeeps and helicopters have made it far more accessible, while its spiritual significance remains unchanged. ## Thakali culture The lower Mustang region around Jomsom, Marpha and Tukuche is home to the **Thakali** people, famous for their trading heritage, hospitality and cuisine. Thakali villages are known for their clean, well-organised whitewashed houses with flat roofs, and their lodges have long welcomed traders, pilgrims and trekkers. The **Thakali thali**, a set meal of rice or buckwheat, lentils, vegetables, pickles and meat or vegetable curry served in brass dishes, is considered one of the best versions of dal bhat in Nepal. Visitors to Muktinath should try it in Jomsom or Marpha. We cover this in our [Nepali food guide](/blog/nepali-food-guide). ## Marpha: the apple capital A short drive south of Jomsom, **Marpha** is one of the most beautiful villages in the Kali Gandaki valley, with whitewashed houses, stone-paved lanes, a monastery and extensive apple orchards. Marpha is famous for its apples, apple brandy, cider, dried apples and apple pie, and visitors can tour orchards and distilleries. The village makes a lovely overnight stop on the way to or from Muktinath, especially in autumn during the apple harvest. ## Weather and flights Jomsom flights operate only in the early morning because strong winds sweep up the Kali Gandaki valley from late morning. Flights are often delayed or cancelled due to cloud or wind, so build a spare day into your itinerary. If flights are cancelled, the road via Beni is the alternative. In the afternoon, the wind in Jomsom and Kagbeni can be very strong and dusty, so plan your temple visit for the morning. ## What visitors say Pilgrims often describe their visit to Muktinath as deeply moving, particularly the moment of bathing under the 108 spouts in the cold mountain air, and the sight of flames burning over water at Jwala Mai. Trekkers arriving from the Thorong La remember the relief and joy of reaching the temple after a long, hard day. Many speak of the peaceful atmosphere created by Hindu and Buddhist worshippers side by side. ## Upper Mustang beyond Muktinath North of Kagbeni lies **Upper Mustang**, the former Kingdom of Lo, a restricted area of desert canyons, cave dwellings and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries culminating in the walled city of **Lo Manthang**. Visiting requires a special restricted area permit and a licensed guide. Many travellers combine a Muktinath pilgrimage with a trek or jeep tour to Upper Mustang, especially in the summer months, when the region lies in a rain shadow. We cover this in our [Upper Mustang guide](/blog/upper-mustang-trek-guide). ## Responsible pilgrimage Muktinath's growing popularity brings more visitors, vehicles and waste to a fragile high-altitude environment. Help protect it by carrying out your rubbish, avoiding single-use plastics, using refillable water bottles, and respecting religious practices and the environment around the temple. Support local lodges and businesses in Ranipauwa, Kagbeni and Jomsom, and buy shaligrams only from legitimate sellers. ## Insurance Make sure your travel insurance covers travel to about 4,000 m and emergency evacuation, especially if you are flying in directly or travelling with elderly pilgrims. Our [insurance guide](/blog/travel-insurance-for-nepal-trekking) goes into more detail. ## Jharkot and the villages around Muktinath Just below Muktinath, the village of **Jharkot** is built around the ruins of an old fort (*kot*) on a ridge, with a red-painted monastery that houses a traditional Tibetan medicine centre. Its narrow lanes, flat-roofed houses and views over the valley towards Dhaulagiri are well worth a short walk. Nearby **Khinga** and **Purang** are small farming villages with barley fields and apple orchards. Walking between these villages and Muktinath shows you traditional life in lower Mustang and helps with acclimatisation. ## Festivals at Muktinath The temple is especially busy during Hindu festivals such as **Ram Navami** in spring and **Janai Purnima** in the monsoon, and during Buddhist celebrations such as **Yartung**, a local horse festival held in late summer, with horse races, archery and dancing. Festival days are lively, but rooms and transport fill up, so book early. ## Muktinath by trek from Jomsom For those who prefer to walk, a pleasant two-day trek from Jomsom follows the Kali Gandaki to **Kagbeni**, then climbs through Khinga and Jharkot to Muktinath. The walk offers superb views of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri, and walking up gradually helps with acclimatisation. Many trekkers return by jeep. It is a good option for travellers who want some trekking without committing to the full Annapurna Circuit. ## Photography at Muktinath The temple grounds, prayer flags, the 108 spouts and the backdrop of Dhaulagiri make beautiful photographs, especially in the morning light. Photography inside the main shrine and of certain rituals may be restricted, so always ask first. Be discreet when photographing pilgrims bathing, and respect their privacy. ## Is Muktinath worth visiting? Absolutely. People come for faith, for curiosity or for the Mustang scenery, and it rewards all three. Getting there, through the world's deepest gorge and old stone villages, is half the experience. ## Plan your visit with us We arrange Muktinath visits by flight, jeep, helicopter or trek, with guides, permits and comfortable lodges, and can adapt the pace for elderly pilgrims and families. [Contact our team](/contact-us) for a tailored plan. ## Planning your visit to Muktinath Muktinath is one of the most spiritually powerful places in the Himalaya, where Hindu and Buddhist traditions meet in a stark and beautiful high-altitude landscape. Pilgrims, Annapurna Circuit trekkers and curious travellers all end up here, and it's worth the effort for each of them. [Contact us](/contact-us) to plan your Muktinath visit. ## Frequently asked questions ### Where is Muktinath? In Mustang district, Nepal, at about **3,710 m**, below the Thorong La. ### Why is Muktinath sacred? It is sacred to **Vishnu** for Hindus and associated with **Guru Rinpoche** for Buddhists. ### What are the 108 water spouts? Bull-faced spouts behind the temple where pilgrims bathe for purification. ### What is Jwala Mai? A temple where natural gas flames burn beside a spring. ### How do I get to Muktinath? By flight to Jomsom and jeep, by road from Pokhara, by helicopter or on the Annapurna Circuit. ### How long does it take from Pokhara? About 20 minutes by flight to Jomsom plus 1–1.5 hours by jeep, or 7–9 hours by road. ### Is altitude sickness a risk at Muktinath? Yes, at 3,710 m; ascend gradually and drink plenty of water. ### When is the best time to visit? **March–May** and **September–November**. ### Do I need a permit? Yes, the **ACAP** permit. ### Can I visit by helicopter? Yes, from Pokhara or Kathmandu, with a short visit at the temple. ### What are shaligram stones? Fossilised ammonites from the Kali Gandaki, revered as forms of Vishnu. ### Can non-Hindus visit Muktinath? Yes, visitors of all faiths are welcome. Web page: https://himalayanhiking.com/blog/muktinath-temple-guide