The Jomsom and Muktinath trek is a part of the Annapurna circuit and perhaps the single most popular trek in Nepal. The diverse landscapes and cultures found along this trekking route give the perfect insight into the rural life of Nepalese people. The main feature of this trek is walking through the gorge carved by the Kali Gandaki River, which, carries water from the Tibetan plateau to eventually join the Ganges in India.
The starting and ending point is Nayapul about one hour drive from Pokhara. Normally trekkers continue on above Jomsom to Muktinath, the famous pilgrimage site for both Hindu and Buddhist. To the Hindu, Muktinath is a sacred as the place of salvation. They believe that to wash in the water here guarantees salvation after death. To the Buddhist it is the place that the great sage Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) meditated at, and to all, it is the source of fossilized ammonites, known locally as shaligrams that are found all along the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki River valley. This trek is recommended year round as most of this trek is always in the rain shadow.
