JOMSOM-MUKTINATH
Grade: Moderate
Duration: 14 days
(9 days lodge trek, 1 day Pokhara, 4 days Kathmandu)
The diversity of the flora
and fauna in this route is as amazing as its cultural
diversity. This trek is definitely for adventurers with
limited time.
Jomsom or the 'New Fort' is located at an elevation
of 2713 meters. The town was well known from the days
of old for its excellent vantage point and serving as
a trailhead to Muktinath (the temple of the preserver),
Mustang and the land beyond.
In this trip you will witness the bailer of goods by
the people of the local hills, the traditions of the
Thakalis (previous traders who now have a strong restaurant
trade) and you may even visit a Jimi Hendrix restaurant.
The trail from Jomsom first leads to Kagbeni(2810m)
a township along the Kali Gandaki River banks, the deepest
gorge in the world. The town seems to have come straight
out of the medieval past. It is a collection of mud
houses, dark alleys, and imposing chorten and a large
Gompa. The local people live a life pretty much untouched
by Western influences. From here you will walk past
piles of trailside rocks erected by pilgrims to honour
the deceased and then reach Muktinath.
Horses and mules will accompany you to the temple of
the preserver at 3802 meters. Every year, thousands
of pilgrims make it to this place, some in bare feet.
They come to worship the eternal flame mentioned in
the Mahabharata epics of 300 B.C. the temple has 108
sacred springs and a Tibetan monastery called Jwala
Mai houses eternal flames. During the full moon of July
a horse racing festival is celebrated by ethnic Bhotias
as the Hindu festival if Janai Purnima takes place.
Heading down to Marpha you may try the famous local
cider of fruit preserves. To the south reaches Tukuche
a center where Nepal and Tibet traded during the Rana
era. The trail passes through a Thakali village where,
particularly, you may feel the rough winds that make
flying aircraft in the region difficult in the afternoons.
At Tatopani, you may relax in the hot springs.
Ghorepani at 2853m boasts of 13 varieties of Nepal's
national flower the Rhododendrons, thus making the hills
as colourful as the Magar community that resides here.
From Ghorepani you can enjoy the spectacular panorama
of Dhaulagiri (the eighth highest mountain in the world
at 8167m), Nilgiri (7061m), Annapurna I, Hiunchuli and
other summits. Poon Hill offers the best views of the
peak.
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