Devotees Brave Freezing Cold to Visit Muktinath Temple

Mustang, Dec 31: Despite severe cold, devotees continue to flock to Muktinath Temple, a sacred site for both Hindus and Buddhists, situated at an altitude of 3,800 metres.

Dinesh Bhusal, manager at the Muktinath Development Committee, noted that the number of visitors this year remains steady despite the plunging temperatures, which drop below 15°C in the mornings and evenings. Local residents have faced mobility challenges due to the cold, but daily footfall at the temple reaches around 1,500 visitors.

Devotees come to take ritual baths in the 108 sacred springs and ponds, believed to fulfill wishes. To safeguard visitors’ health in the harsh weather, the Muktinath Development Committee has stationed health workers at the site.

The steady influx has boosted local businesses, especially hotels, with both domestic and international tourists, particularly from India, visiting the temple. Sundar Raut from Humla and Dev Bahadur Rokaya from Jajarkot expressed their satisfaction in visiting the holy shrine, citing religious faith as their motivation.

The improved accessibility provided by the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road, a national pride project linking Nepal to China, has significantly facilitated tourist arrivals. According to the Mustang District Police Office, 203,292 domestic and 48,109 foreign tourists visited Mustang during the first five months of the current fiscal year.