3 Days Muktinath Tour Highlights
- The scenic flight between Pokhara and Jomsom
- Appropriate even on a short holiday
- Amazing view of Annapurna (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m) Massifs
- Natural Flame, 108 waterspouts, Kunda, Jwala Mai Temple, Gomba Samba, Swaminarayan, Shaligram, etc.
- Pilgrimage to cleanse sins if any
3 Days Muktinath Tour Overview
3 Days Muktinath Tour is one of the pilgrimage tours in Nepal. It takes you to the Muktikshetra located in the historical Mustang region. “Muktinath” is made up of two words “Mukti” (meaning ‘liberation’) and “nath” (meaning ‘Lord’). Combining, it means the Lord for Liberation.
Muktinath Temple is located below Thorung La Pass (5,416m), which is the highest mountain pass in the Annapurna region. This pass is between Khatung Kang (6,484m) and Yaskawa Kang (6,482m) in the Annapurna Circuit trail.
It is a sacred place of Lord Vishnu, who is equally revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Therefore, every year, thousands of pilgrims from India and Nepal visit this place. The natural flame that keeps burning continuously and 108-water sprouts are the attractions of this shrine. Kunda, Jwala mai Temple, Gomba Samba, Swaminarayan, Shaligram, etc. have added to the religious importance of this place.
You can visit this shrine while doing the Jomsom trek or Annapurna Circuit trek in Nepal as well. Likewise, there is a Muktinath Helicopter tour for the who have limited time but are keen on visiting this Shakti pith. Flight to Muktinath Temple allows you to have an aerial view of Annapurna (8,091m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167m) Massifs.
Muktinath Tour for Yartung Festival
Jomsom region is a splendid place occupied by the Mustangese people (also known as the Thakali people). The major festival of the Muktinath region is the Yartung Festival, which is observed throughout the Mustang region. “Yartung” in the local dialect means “end of summer.” It is celebrated on the full moon day of August every year for three days in the Muktinath Temple area. Travelers in Nepal Trekking will have a chance to experience this festival.
This is the main festival that is celebrated for 3 days by merrymaking by the Thakali people. A large number of people from Mustang and Manang gather in Muktinath to watch the horse races organized on this day. The Thakali people drink and perform traditional dances in a complete jovial mood. This festival is celebrated to pay homage to Bodhisattvas and on this auspicious occasion, the junior receives blessings from the Lama and senior members of the family.
Best Time for Muktinath Yatra
Muktinath Yatra is a famous pilgrimage tour to the Mustang region located en route Upper Mustang trek. You can make a Muktinath Pilgrimage tour all times of the year. Except for some exceptions, all time of the year is considered the best time for the Muktinath Tour.
Muktinath tour in spring is a wise decision as the temperature and weather are favorable. The forests of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) are highly beautiful of colorful rhododendron flowers. The weather supports the clear view of the snowcapped peaks and wonderful landscapes.
The summer season doesn’t affect the Mustang region much as it lies in the rain shadow area of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Massifs. There is low or no rainfall in Mustang even in the rainy season. Therefore, you can plan the Muktinath tour even in this season. Muktinath overland tour is not very good in this season as the lower section between Pokhara and Muktinath experiences heavy rainfall and flooding. Sometimes, flights to Jomsom are canceled due to bad weather.
Autumn is the best time for the Muktinath Pilgrimage tour as it is the season that has pleasant weather and warm temperatures. The view of the snowy peaks and the hills all around look really beautiful as there are no pollutants in the air. This time, this region is full of trekkers and pilgrims from all over the world for Trekking in Nepal.
Muktinath tour in winter is also accessible although sometimes the entire region experiences the negative temperature due to heavy snowfalls. Muktinath region in this season is covered by snow. Therefore, the Muktinath Helicopter tour is the best option to visit this religious site.