Muktinath in Nepal's Lower Mustang region is both a major religious place and a scenic tourist destination. Actually, the name "Muktinath" refers to both a famous Hindu temple and a Village Development Committee (VDC), which consist of eleven villages, to which the temple belongs. The name of the main village, which is also closest to the temple, is Ranipauwa. Most of the hotels and tourist facilities are located here, a few hundred meters below the Muktinath temple. Ranipauwa is therefore also called just "Muktinath", though this designation is not entirely correct. Several villages of the VDC Muktinath are ancient sites in the Tibetan style, most importantly Jharkot.
In contrast, Ranipauwa almost entirely consists of modern buildings. Nonetheless, it's a major tourist attraction of Nepal, not only due to the famous pilgrimage site of Muktinath, but also because of the scenery, with stunning views to the valley of Kali Gandaki and Nilgiri mountain, Dhaulagiri Range and other mountains of Upper Mustang. Till 2014, when the road from Pokhara to Manang at the opposide side of the Thorung La Pass (at 5416 m highest point of the Annapurna Circuit) was opened and Manang became accessible for jeeps, Ranipauwa of Muktinath, situated in an elevation of 3700 m (12,140 feet) had been the highest place in Nepal reachable via motorable road.
Seasons and best time to visit Muktinath
The best time to visit Ranipauwa and the Muktinath Temple is between September and December, when the air is clearest. Also the months from March and April are recommendable. The winter months, however, can be tough for travellers. The access road through the Kali Gandaki valley and Lower Mustang slippery and therefore dangerous. As Muktinath is situated in the wind and rain shadow of the mountain, it receives not much precipitation during the monsoon period in the summer. That's why the entire region of Mustang, just like neighbouring Tibet, is dry and mostly semi-arid or even arid in places. But in the rainy season, hich is usually in July and August, the access road is muddy and slippery again. During the monsoon season, visitors are recommended to take flights to Mustang instead of using vehicle transport by road. The temple festivals of Muktinath, however, take place in July and August. As Muktinath is a pilgrimage site attracting Hindu devotees from far away, it does not come to a surprise that around half of the visitors of Ranipauwa are Indians. Hindus prefer to visit the sacred place during the festival period.
Muktinath Temple as Mustang's Major Pilgrimage Site
The Muktinath temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The name "Muktinath" literally means "salvation-birth". It refers to the Bhakti tradition of trust in the supeme deity, in this case Lord Vishnu, to grant ultimate liberation to his devotees out of love for them. Muktinath is mentioned already in the Puranas, the ancient Indian scriptures that are the main source of Hindu mythology, also narrating the specific supramundane origins of sacred places. Also the South Indian saint Thirumangai Alvar, who is the last and most prolific of the Tamil Alvar (Vishnu Bhakti) poets praised the temple of Muktinath. The oldest surviving traces of pilgrim pathes to Muktinath are dated back to around 1000 AD.
Vaishnavas (those Hindus venerating Vishnu as the supreme being) count Muktinath among the eight most sacred shrines called Svayam Vyakta Ksetras, only two of them are located in the Himalayas, the other one being Badrinath in India. Vaishnavas (those Hindus venerating Vishnu as the supreme being) count Muktinath among the eight most sacred shrines, which are called Svayam Vyakta Ksetras. Only two of them are located in the Himalayas, the other one being Badrinath in India. The man-sized main idol of Sri Muktinath is said to be made of gold. The main temple building is placed in a courtyard (Prakaram) with water pouring from sprouts on three sides for ritual bathes. Muktinath temple has 108 sprouts altogether, a number of great symolism in Indian religions.
The Muktinath Temple is also considered to be a Shakti Pitha, a home of of Shakti, the primordial cosmic energy in female form. The Shakti of Muktinath is venerated as "Gandaki Chandi". Muktinath is said to be the place, where the right cheek of Sati, a personification of Shakti, fell down on earth, when Lord Shiva carried her body. Altogether 51 body parts fell down, creating the 51 Shakti Pithas of the subcontinent.
Muktinath is of significance to Buddhists, too. According to folklore, Padhmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, came to Muktinath on his way to Tibet and meditated here. The Buddhist place of worship, however, is at a different spring. It has a flame fed by natural gas originating from this spring. For Buddhist worshippers, a Buddhist monk is avalable.
The Muktinath Temple is also considered to be a Shakti Pitha, a home of of Shakti, the primordial cosmic energy in female form. The Shakti of Muktinath is venerated as "Gandaki Chandi". Muktinath is said to be the place, where the right cheek of Sati, a personification of Shakti, fell down on earth, when Lord Shiva carried her body. Altogether 51 body parts fell down, creating the 51 Shakti Pithas of the subcontinent.
Muktinath is of significance to Buddhists, too. According to folklore, Padhmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, came to Muktinath on his way to Tibet and meditated here. The Buddhist place of worship, however, is at a different spring. It has a flame fed by natural gas originating from this spring. For Buddhist worshippers, a Buddhist monk is avalable.