Muktinath

(IPLTOURS)

As a part of the Pilgrimage to the holy shrines in Himalayas Pilgrims have to start their pilgrimage from Hardwar to visit Pasupathinath and Mukthinath in Nepal.

Muktinath Temple

Mukthinath known as Mukthi Kshetra means the place of liberation (moksh) is a popular Vishnu temple located in Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain near Mustang, Nepal. It is important to both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple was built at a height of 3800 meters and one of the highest temples in the world. The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa called Muktinath. This temple is considered to be 106th among the 108 Divya Desam under Sri Vaishnava sect. The ancient name of this place in Sri Vaishnava literature, before Buddhist is Thiru Saligramam. It is also one of the 108 Siddhpeeth and is named Mahadevi. Although the temple has a Vaishnav origin, it is also sacred in Buddhism because Guru Padmasambhava meditated there for some time. For Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath is an important place.

The Muktinath Temple is considered to be one of the 108 Siddhpeeth and is named Mahadevi or Devibhagwat. Shakti Peethas are sacred abodes of Shakti formed by the falling body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered. The Shakti of Muktinath is called as “Gandaki Chandi”, and the Bhairava as “Chakrapani”. The forehead is believed to have fallen here.

The first way to reach Mukthinath is that Pilgrims may go to Gorakpur by train or air and from Gorakpur to Somali of Nepal border at a distance of 90 km. The birth and developed place of Lord Budda is near to Somali Village. From Sonali Pilgrims have to go to Phokra at a distance of 250 km and stay at Phokra in the night. They have to go to Johnson from Pokhara at a distance of 170 km by air or road and reach Mukthinath and return to Pohokra through Johnson after Dharsan. Pilgrims may go individually or by engaging travel agency. After completion of sightseeing in Mukthinath, Pokhara and after Manokamana Devi Sakthi Peet, they may go to Katmandu for Pasupathi Nath Mandir, Brijeswari Mandir and local sightseeing in Katmandu.

The second way is to reach Raxuel of Bhihar State and border of Indo Nepal. There is a check post and the border Village is Bheerjang of Nepal. There will be buses and private vehicles from Bheerjang to Katmandu. After dharsan of Pasupathinath and surrounding temples, Pilgrims may travel to Pokhara at a distance of 205 Km in Prithivi High Way (nearly 8 hrs journey) and stay there. Mukthinath is at a distance of 170 Km from Pokhara and takes 10 hrs for journey. Pilgrims have to change three vehicles to reach Mukthinath. Pilgrims have to change the jeep twice frist to Beni by taxi/bus from pokhara then change another bus or jeep to Johnson and from Johnson again change another jeep to Muktinath. Return journey is the same to reach Katmandu.

There are two ways of transportation for Kathmandu to Mukthinath