In Muktinath, the services of horse rides and stretchers have greatly benefited devotees visiting the Muktinath Temple. Local youth from four villages in Mustang’s Varagung Muktichhetra-1 are offering these services to carry pilgrims to the temple.
Reaching Muktinath Temple from Purang Ranipauwa bus park takes about 45 minutes on foot. For physically fit visitors, walking to the temple is not a problem, but for the elderly, disabled, or those with mobility challenges, it is difficult. The path from the first gate of the temple to the entrance is a steep uphill climb with railings, and vehicles are prohibited on the route to preserve the local tourism community.
In response, the youth from Khinga, Rajkot, Muktinath Ranipauwa, and Chengaloor village offer horseback rides to carry pilgrims up to the temple. Only these local youth are allowed to provide this service, with regulations in place to prevent others from offering such services. A Horse Committee has been formed to regulate this service, and visitors are charged NPR 400 for local pilgrims and INR 400 for Indian visitors.
The horse-riding business has provided an alternative income for local youth, especially in a region where many young people are migrating for work. Urgen Paldan Gurung, a local youth from Ranipauwa, shared that the business has helped keep youth in the area, offering them an opportunity to earn locally instead of migrating abroad.
The service operates with a rotational system, where riders must register by 7 AM and then take turns transporting visitors to Muktinath. At the end of the day, the earnings are shared among the participants.
Additionally, stretchers are used to carry pilgrims who cannot ride horses, with a charge of NPR 4,000 for Nepali pilgrims and INR 4,000 for Indian pilgrims. Four local youths are required to carry one person on a stretcher.
Historically, horses in the Mustang were used for transportation due to the lack of road infrastructure. However, with improved road access, many horses are now being displaced. Despite this, horses are still culturally significant in Mustang, and local communities continue to use them in festivals and religious events, such as Yartung, Lhosar, and Teej.
The horse and stretcher services are considered a major help to those visiting Muktinath, especially the elderly and disabled, ensuring they can complete their pilgrimage comfortably.
