MUKTINATH: Despite biting cold, devotees continue to flock to Muktinath Temple, a sacred site for both Hindu and Buddhist followers, located at an altitude of 3,800 meters.
Dinesh Bhusal, manager at the Muktinath Development Committee, said that the number of visitors has not declined despite severe cold this year, noting it is unusual for the season.
The plunging temperatures have affected local residents, limiting their mobility. The temperature around the temple drops below 15°C during mornings and evenings.
On average, around 1,500 devotees visit the temple daily. Many believe that bathing in the 108 springs and ponds within the temple premises fulfills their wishes.
The Muktinath Development Committee has arranged health care services for visitors affected by the cold, with health workers stationed on-site.
Hotel operators in the area are seeing a boost in business as both domestic and international tourists, particularly from India, continue to visit the shrine despite harsh weather conditions.
Visitors such as Sundar Raut from Humla and Dev Bahadur Rokaya from Jajarkot expressed happiness over their pilgrimage, highlighting the temple’s spiritual significance. Rokaya said, “The religious faith of getting my wishes fulfilled drew me here.”
The rise in religious tourism has been supported by the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road, a national pride project connecting Nepal to China.
According to the District Police Office, Mustang, 203,292 domestic and 48,109 foreign tourists have visited the district in the last five months of the current fiscal year.
Comment