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मुक्तिनाथ
Muktinath (3,800 m), Gandaki (Mustang) · 28.8172°, 83.8714°
At 3,800 m below the Thorong La, the highest of the 108 Divya Desams and the only one beyond India — the 'place of liberation' where 108 bull-faced waterspouts pour glacial water over pilgrims. Buddhists revere it as Chumig Gyatsa, place of the dakinis, with a nun tending the Jwala Mai flame that burns over running water; the Kali Gandaki below yields the shaligram stones worshipped as Vishnu himself.
What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.
The Gandaki's shaligrams are Vishnu turned to stone — cursed by Vrinda (Tulsi) for deceiving her, he accepted eternal embodiment in her river's fossils; at Muktinath the elements themselves — earth, water, and fire burning upon water — worship him together.
Fly Pokhara–Jomsom + drive/trek; or Annapurna circuit; jeep roads now reach Ranipauwa.
coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-26 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Mustang
Answers only from cited records
Opening the line…