Muktinath Temple, Hindu and Buddhist temple in Mustang, Nepal
Muktinath Temple is a religious sanctuary at 3,710 meters (12,172 feet) elevation in the Muktinath valley near the Thorong La mountain pass in Mustang district. The structure is visited by both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims and sits in a dry mountain landscape with broad views across the surrounding plateau.
The sanctuary received Hindu consecration in the early 19th century and is regarded in Vaishnavism as one of eight sacred pilgrimage sites. Its connection to Buddhist traditions has existed for a long time and reflects the religious intertwining of this mountain region.
The name derives from the Sanskrit word for liberation, and pilgrims from both faiths visit this site as a place of spiritual cleansing. Devotees light oil lamps in the shrine halls and perform purification rites beneath the water spouts.
The sanctuary remains accessible from March through November and can be reached either by helicopter directly from Kathmandu or by trekking via the Annapurna Circuit. Visitors should prepare for high altitude and bring warm clothing, as temperatures stay cool even during summer months.
A semicircular wall encloses 108 stone water spouts shaped as bull heads that channel cold water from the Kali Gandaki River for purification ceremonies. The number 108 carries special symbolic meaning in Hindu and Buddhist rituals and appears throughout many religious practices in the region.
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