Muktinath
मुक्तिनाथ
Muktinath is a sacred pilgrimage site located in the Mustang district of Nepal, nestled at an altitude of approximately 3,710 meters (12,172 feet) in the Himalayas. It holds religious significance for both Hindus and Buddhists. For Hindus, Muktinath is considered to be a place of liberation or moksha, and it is one of the 108 Divya Desams, which are sacred places of worship for Vaishnavites. The main temple houses a golden statue of Vishnu as Shri Mukti Narayana. For Buddhists, Muktinath is known as Chumig Gyatsa, which means "Hundred Waters" in Tibetan. It is revered as one of the 24 Tantric places and is associated with Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who is believed to have meditated there on his way to Tibet. The site features a natural spring and an eternal flame fueled by natural gas, which are considered to be manifestations of the elements of water and fire, respectively. The journey to Muktinath is an adventure in itself, involving either a trek through the Annapurna Circuit or a flight to Jomsom followed by a shorter trek or jeep ride.
