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Muktinath yatra |
Muktinath
is one
of the
sacred
places
of
worship
for the
Hindus
in the
Himalayan
ranges
of
Nepal.
Known
for both
Hindus
and
Bhuddists,
this
shrine
attracts
pilgrims
during
the
months
of
May-November.
The
famous
temple
of Lord
Muktinath
lies in
the
district
of
Mustang
and is
situated
about 18
kms
northeast
of
Jomsom
at an
altitude
of about
3800
meter.
The main
shrine
is a
pagoda
shaped
temple
dedicated
to Lord
Vishnu.
This is
one of
the
106th
sacred
Muktichhetra
(assured
of
salvation)
of 108
sacred
places
of
Vaishnavs,
where
Lord
Vishnu
got free
from the
curse of
Sati.
Here is
a
largest
Shaligram.
Here is
also a
Jwaladevi,
a divine
flame is
continuously
burning
since
thousands
of year.
Muktinath
is the
most
sacred
Hindu
site in
Nepal
after
the
temple
of
Pashupatinath
in
Kathmandu.
Hindu
pilgrims
come
here to
bathe in
the 108
water
spouts
shaped
as cows’
heads
and
Buddhists
come
here to
pay
homage
at a
shrine
enclosing
an
eternal
blue
flame.
Pilgrims
take
bath in
holy
water
spouts
to
purify
their
bodies
before
visiting
the main
Temple
for
worship.
Visitors
can
enjoy
magnificent
views of
the
Himalayas,
fabulous
and
typical
valley
of
Kaligandaki
and
diversity
of
ethnic
culture.
The
trail
from
Jomsom
passes
along
the Kali
Gandaki
River,
the
deepest
gorge in
the
world to
Kagbeni,
a
fascinating
old
citadel.
The
trail
then
divides
into
four
directions
of which
the east
route
leads to
Muktinath.
The
trail
down
from
Muktinath
via
Eklya
Bhatti
(single
teahouse)
meets
with the
one
coming
from
Kagbeni
and then
you walk
into the
Kaligandaki
gorge
visiting
Marpha,
which is
well
known
for
garden
of
apples,
apricots
and
peaches
sold
fresh,
dry and
as
distilled
liquor
brandy
and its
narrow
lanes of
cobbled
stones
with
houses
painted
in white
on each
side.
This
trek
begins
from
Pokhara
and
flies
out from
Jomsom.
Alternatively,
the trek
commences
from
Jomsom
and trek
out to
Pokhara. |
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Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
|
Drive from
Kathmandu to
Pokhara (914m.)
which takes
about six hours.
You depart for
the six hours
drive to Pokhara
(915m,), 200
kilometers west
of Kathmandu. As
you climb out of
the Kathmandu
valley, only to
quickly descend
again to the
Trisuli River,
you follow
upstream to its
junction with
the Marsyangdi
River. You
follow the
Marsyandi gently
up through
heavily terraced
fields and small
hill towns to
the Seti River
that takes you
directly into
Pokhara. Having
pleasant
weather, Pokhara
is tourist's
paradise with
full of natural
as well as
cultural
heritage sites
such as lakes,
caves, temples
of Buddhist and
Hindus along
with mountains.
You can observe
views to the
north across the
hills and Phewa
Tal (lake) to
the white peaks
of the Annapurna
and Dhaulagiri
ranges. This
drive will take
most of the
morning, leaving
much of the
afternoon to
fall in love
with its beauty.
You can also fly
from Kathmandu
to Pokhara which
takes about 25
minutes.
|
Day
02 :
|
Drive from
Pokhara (915 m.)
to Nayapul
(1050m.) by car
which takes one
and half hours
drive. Now you
begin your trek
from Nayapul
(1050m.) to
Tikhedhunga
(1577 m.) via
Birethanti
(1065m.) which
takes about four
and half hours.
After breakfast
at hotel you
could drive by
car or van for
one and half
hours to Nayapul.
Then you start
your trekking.
The first part
of your trek is
easy passing
through numerous
small villages
and settlements.
Afterwards you
could ascend
gently to the
final
destination of
the day. The
majority people
here are Gurung
and their
religion is
Buddhist. They
are engaged in
agricultural
activities,
tourism business
and some in
Gorkha and
Indian
regiments.
|
Day
03 :
|
Trek from
Tirkhedhunga to
Ghorepani (2675
m.) and it takes
about six hours.
To begin your
trek, you could
ascend steeply
for the early 2
hours and then
ascend gently
passing through
Ulleri (2070m.)
and Banthanti,
Magar villages.
On the way, you
could see good
view of
Machhapuchhre or
Fish Tail
(6997m.),
Huinchuli
(6441m.), and
Annapurna
(7219m.) South.
Now your trail
is quite easier
passing through
forest and
descends gently
up to the final
camp. You could
see some of the
wild life such
as monkey and
various species
of birds.
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Day
04 :
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Trek from
Ghorepani to
Tatopani
(1189m.) which
takes about
seven and half
hours. This day
offers you an
early morning
trip to Poon
Hill (3232m.) to
enjoy the
sunrise view
over Mt.
Dhaulagiri
(8167m.),
Tukuche Peak
(6920m.),
Nilgiri
(6940m.), Varaha
Shikhar
(7847m.), Mt.
Annapurna I
(8091m.),
Annapurna South
(7219m.),
Annapurna III
(7855m.),
Machhapuchhare
(6993m.),
Annapurna IV
(7525m.),
Annapurna II
(7937m.),
Lamjung Himal
(6931m.) and
other numerous
snowcapped
mountain peaks.
After breakfast
you trek from
Ghorepani to
Tatopani. After
descending
through the
rhododendron
forest, fine
vistas open up
we approach
Chitre, with the
Dhaulagiri Range
straight ahead.
The path then
leads through
terraced fields
to Sikha, a
Magar village
clustered on a
ridge. You
continue to
descend,
gradually at
first and then
more steeply to
cross the Ghar
Khola. After a
short climb, we
then cross the
Kali Gandaki on
a large
suspension
bridge and from
here it is only
a short distance
upstream to
Tatopani.
Tatopani takes
its name from
the hot springs
near the river
below the
village. At
Tatopani you can
enjoy the
Natural Hot
Spring Bath.
|
Day
05 :
|
Trek from
Tatopani to
Ghasa (2013m.)
and it takes
about five
hours. The
followed route
ascends gently
up the Kali
Gandaki Gorge,
the deepest
gorge in the
world, towards
the village of
Dana, which is
surrounded by
orange groves.
From autumn to
winter, baskets
of these oranges
are offered for
sale to passing
travelers. Just
beyond the small
hamlet of Rupse,
a thundering
waterfall
cascades down
beside the
trail. From
here, the trail
enters the
steepest and
narrowest
section of the
gorge, but the
layered stone
path is
well-constructed
and wide. When
the rock cliffs
end, we descend
to the river
before making
the short climb
back up to Ghasa.
This is the
first Thakali
village we come
across and the
houses here are
all built in the
flat-roofed
Tibetan style.
|
Day
06:
|
Trek from Ghasa
to Marpha
(2667m.) which
takes about six
and half hours.
The trek ascends
crossing the
wide valley of
Kali Gandaki for
about six to
seven hours.
Through out the
trek you will be
enjoying the
mighty
Rhododendron
trees and many
ethnic villages
with a sparse
population of
Gurung, Thakali
and few
Tibetans. On the
way to Marpha we
trek along the
banks of Kali
Gandaki through
the Apple
orchard, you can
eat apples if it
happens to be
the fruit
season. Marpha
is a big village
enriched with a
Buddhist
Monastery in
between the
village which
has its own
cultural
importance.
|
Day
07 :
|
Trek from Marpha
to Jomsom
(2713m.) to
Kagbeni (2897m.)
and it takes
about five
hours. You
continue to
follow the wide
valley of the
Kali Gandaki,
passing through
Khobang and
Tukuche. Tukuche
is a delightful
village where
narrow alleyways
and houses built
around enclosed
courtyards
attempt to
provide some
shelter from the
winds which howl
through the
gorge. The wind
generally picks
up after about
midday, but will
at least be
blowing at our
backs as you
head up to
Jomsom. After
passing through
stone-walled
orchards, a
stone gate marks
the entrance to
Marpha. White
walled houses
line both sides
of the narrow
paved street,
under which
flows a cleverly
made drainage
system. Marpha
makes a good
lunch stop and
the courtyards
of the many
lodges make
ideal resting
and refreshment
places. The
local apple
brandy is
especially
well-known! As
the trail
continues
towards Jomsom,
the landscape
becomes
increasingly
arid and
impressive with
its mixture of
browns, yellows
and grey,
contrasting with
the white
snowcaps of
Tilicho and
Nilgiri. By
afternoon, the
stiff winds
begin to blow,
hastening our
way to Jomsom.
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Day
08 :
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Trek from
Kagbeni to
Muktinath (3795
m.) which takes
about 4 hours.
The Trail
steeply ascends
for couple of
hundred Meters.
While gradually
walking you can
enjoy beautiful
deserted
landscape,
Caves, old
Tibetan Style
Villages, apple
Garden, Yaks
Herds, Sheep
Herds and so on.
You can look at
Thorong La
valley straight
up to the
Muktinath. You
can enjoy
delicious lunch
at Jharkot and
visit Monastery
believed to be
built in 15
century. Now you
head towards
Muktinath
following steep
ascent path for
half an hour.
You stay
overnight at
Muktinath
village. From
here you hike to
Rani Pauwa
(3700m.), an
important
pilgrimage site
for both Hindus
and Buddhists.
Here you come
across Natural
flaming which
really
exhilarates you.
At this point,
you can see
splendid view of
Dhaulagiri
(8165m), Nilgiri
(7061m.) and
others. Now you
walk for fifteen
minutes to reach
Muktinath
Temple, where
you can enjoy a
holy bath of 108
Taps. The people
of Kagbeni,
Jharkot and
Muktinath are
close to the
life style,
culture,
religion and
idea of Tibetan
people.
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Day
09 :
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Trek from
Muktinath to
Jomsom (2713 m.)
and it takes
about 5 hours.
Today we
continue down
for early two
hours and then
walk through the
flat path till
we reach Jomsom.
Between the walk
lies Eklebhatti
village where
you find tea
houses and
lodges.
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Day 10 :
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Fly from Jomsom
to Pokhara which
takes about 35
minutes. The
flights are
available during
the morning
time. The strong
breeze blows
during the after
and frequent
change of the
weather prevent
the flight being
landed and taken
off in the
afternoon.
During the
flights in
morning, the sky
looks very clear
which makes you
able to enjoy
the splendid
views of
different
mountain peaks.
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Day
11 :
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Drive from Pokhara to
Kathmandu by tourist mini
bus, which takes about
seven hours. While driving
from Pokhara to Kathmandu,
you head up to Damauli,,
Dumre, Muglin and Kurintar
where the Nepal's first
Cable car is operated to
reach to Manakamana
Temple. En route, you
could enjoy the mountain
views, green sceneries,
rice terrace fields,
vegetable fields and
people being engaged in
their daily life
activities. From Naubishe
you climb up to Thankot,
the gateway to capital
city.
You can also fly from
Pokhara to Kathmandu which
takes about 25 minutes. |
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