The sacred Muktinath Temple in Mustang has witnessed a significant surge in pilgrims, with nearly 50,000 devotees visiting the site over the past four days. According to Information Officer and Police Inspector Santosh Basyal of the District Police Office, Mustang, the temple, which typically receives an average of three to four thousand visitors daily, recorded an exceptional rise in footfall from Thursday to Sunday.
Public Holidays and Heatwave in India Boost Tourist Arrivals
Authorities attribute the sudden increase in visitors to the consecutive public holidays during the period, along with extreme heat conditions in India, which encouraged a large number of Indian tourists to travel to cooler destinations like Mustang. Inspector Basyal noted that the combination of holidays and weather conditions played a key role in the increased influx of pilgrims and tourists.
Majority of Visitors from India
Muktinath Development Committee Manager Dinesh Bhusal stated that approximately 70 percent of the visitors during this period were Indian tourists. The rise in tourist numbers has led to hotels from Beni in Myagdi district up to the Muktinath area being fully occupied.
Hospitality Sector Benefits from Tourist Surge
Local tourism entrepreneurs have reported strong business activity as accommodation facilities remain fully booked, reflecting the growing popularity of Muktinath as a major religious and tourism destination in the region.
