Muktinath Jeep Tour-04 Days

Highlights

Thrilling jeep tour through the rugged off-road tracks.
Witnessing the World’s deepest gorge, the Kali-Gandaki Gorge.
Visiting the holy temple of Muktinath (3800m).
Witnessing the stunning Kali Gandaki Valley and Kagbeni.
Witness the appealing mountain views, scenic landscapes, and cascading waterfalls along the way.

Muktinath Temple is a sacred place both for Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley at an altitude of 3,800 meters at the foot of the Thorong La pass, Mustang district, Nepal. The Hindus call the sacred place Mukti Kshetra, which literally means the “place of salvation”. Mainly the temple is with a predominant Sri Vaishnava origin and worshipped by Buddhists. This temple is considered to be the 105th among the available 108 Divya Desam. The ancient name of this place, before Buddhist origin is known as Thiru Saligramam. This houses the Saligrama sila considered to be the naturally available form of Sriman Narayana (The Hindu God head). It is also one of the 51 Sakthi peetams. The central shrine of Sri Muktinath, predominant among all 108 Hindu SriVaishnava Divyadesam is considered one of the eight most sacred shrines for Hindu Vaishnavas known as Svayam Vyakta Ksetras, the other seven being Srirangam, Srimushnam, Tirupati, Naimisharanya, Totadri, Pushkar, and Badrinath. The temple is very small. Muktinath is one of the most ancient Hindu temples of God Vishnu. The murti is of gold and is tall enough to compare with a man.

The prakaram(outer courtyard) has 108 bull faces through which water is poured. It is of freezing temperature. The sacred water that flows in 108 pipes around the temple complex denote all sacred Pushkarini waters (Temple Tanks) from all 108 Sri Vaishnava Divya Desams including Srirangam, Tirumala, Vaikunta, where the devotees take their sacred bath even in the freezing temperatures. In Hindu astrology, there are 12 zodiac or Rashi and 9 planets or Graha, giving a total of 108 combinations. Also, there are 27 Lunar mansions or Nakshatras which are divided in 4 quarters or Padas each giving a combination of 108 Padas in total. The worship is conducted by Buddhist nuns. The waterway downstream from Muktinath along Kali Gandaki is the source of all Silas or Shaligrams that are required to establish a temple of Vishnu anywhere in the world. It is considered to be one of the holiest places of pilgrimage for Hindus, Buddhists, and Vaishnavas.

Aside from the religious beliefs, the place also offers a fantastic view of the deserted beige-colored hills and the mountain peaks such as the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range. Perched on the southern fri15nges of the Tibetan Plateau, it also opens the gateway for the acclaimed Throng-La Pass (5,416m) and the district of Manang.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 01: Drive from Pokhara to Tatopani ( 1190m) – Approx 5 hrs drive

After an early breakfast, we begin our journey by traveling to Tatopani. The 5-hour drive passes through the settlements of Beni and Kusma. We stop at Beni for a quick lunch. After Beni, the pitch road slowly turns into a narrow twisting gravel road. After a 20km drive from Beni, we finally reach Tatopani. You can spend the rest of the day indulging in the natural hot spring pool in the banks of Kali-Gandaki River. Overnight stay at a hotel in Tatopani.

Day 02: Drive from Tatopani to Jomsom ( 2743m) -Approx 6 hrs drive

On the fourth day of our journey, we continue to follow the road along the banks of Kali-Gandaki River leading to Jomsom. The drive takes about 5-6 hours. The desolate hills and mountain landscapes start coming into the picture as you near Jomsom. Upon reaching Jomsom, we spend the rest of the day exploring Jomsom, and it’s natural scenery by capturing some well-deserved photographs. Overnight stay at a hotel in Jomsom.

Day 03: Drive from Jomsom to Muktinath (3800m) and retun to Jomsom -Appox 3 hrs drive

An early drive takes us through the dirty off-road track takes us to the small settlement of Kagbeni. The trail takes you through rocky roads and flowing streams. On reaching Kagbeni, we ascend further upwards towards Muktinath. After driving for a few kilometers, the off-road track meets a pitched highway which leads to the top. We also have to walk for a few minutes from the base to reach the temple, which stands at an elevation of 3800m. We spend sometime  around Muktinath exploring the stupa, monasteries and Jwala Mai Fire temple where there is a constant burning fire. After lunch, we will drive to Jomsom for overnight

Day 04: Drive from Jomsom to  Pokhara ( 827m) – Approx 7-9 hrs drive

As the Jomsom Muktinath Jeep tour comes to an end, we conclude the trip by driving towards Pokhara. We pass through the dirty and rocky trails leaving the mountains in the backdrop. Following the path along the banks of Kali-Gandaki river, we pass through Larjung, Kalopani, Ghasa into Beni, where we have a small meal and continue our way to Kusma and finally into Pokhara.

Practical Information for Muktinath Jeep Tour

Information on Route to Muktinath starting & ending from  Pokhara

From Pokhara, we will drive about 5-hour to reach Tatopani. Tatopani is famous for its natural hot spring and other activities. We continue our journey with a ride from Tatopani to the magnificent town of Jomsom. The trail starts getting rough and rugged as we near Jomsom. Upon reaching Jomsom, we check in our hotels and spend the rest of the day exploring the scenic beauty around Jomsom. From the charming views of the snow-capped mountains to the barren hills and ever-flowing Kali-Gandaki River, Jomsom is undoubtedly heaven on earth.

Following day we pursue our journey by traveling to Muktinath, we offer our prayers and return to Jomsom for stay overnight. We finally conclude our tour by driving back to Pokhara and then back to the capital. From Beni, the road is narrow and rocky with winding twisting and turns up to Jomsom. From Jomsom, the gravel road extends till Kagbeni, from where the trail again joins the pitched road until Muktinath. The rugged and rough tracks guarantee to provide you with authentic off-road experience!

Information on Temperatures about  Jomsom & Muktinath

The temperature in summer (March to August) is 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 hovers between 14 to 16 degree Celsius and 0 to 4 degree Celsius. In the winter (December and January) the maximum temperature will be 4 to 6 degree Celsius and minimum 0 to -8 degree Celsius.

Permits Required For Jomsom Muktinath

Since Lower Mustang falls under the Annapurna conservation area, you need the ACAP Permit. The permit costs around $30, and you can take it from Kathmandu or Pokhara. For Indian nationals, the ACAP fee is Rs 500. It is one-time entry and exit permit so you won’t need to worry about the duration of your stay once you’ve obtained this permit.

Type of Vehicle recommendation for Jomsom Muktinath trip

Majority of the trail throughout the trip is full of rugged, rocky and steep terrains. So, we need a sturdy vehicle with excellent suspension and high clearance. Hence, we suggest to use a four-wheel drive to pass through the barren ridges, jagged lands, and ever-flowing streams.

Highest Point in of this trip

The highest point is the holy temple of Muktinath which sits at the height of 3800m.