Damodar Kunda Trekking

Duration15 Days
CountryNepal

The holy Damodar Kunda is in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. It is in the Northern Himalayan range of Annapurna. Damodar Kunda lies at an altitude of 4890 meters. This lake is a famous and holy place for the Hindu community. It is an area like the Tibetan plateau landscape, in the remote area of Nepal near Tibet. It is believed that people should visit once in a lifetime and take a holy bath here. Bathing in Damodar Kunda takes away from all sins done in a previous and current lifetime. The main source of the Gandaki River is Damodar Kunda. It is also a good place to find Shaligram. Damodar Kunda in Upper Mustang is a restricted area by the Nepal government. A special permit is applied in this trekking area.

Damodar Kunda and Muktinath Trekking include sightseeing in major places of Kathmandu and Pokhara. We take the short flight to Jomsom from Pokhara and reach Muktinath. Muktinath is the god of salvation and a famous pilgrimage place for Hindus and Buddhists. It lies at the foot of the Annapurna Himalayan range. Panoramic Himalayan views, ancient monasteries, Holy temples, and syncretic cultures of Nepalese and Tibetan are the major attractions of the Damodar Kunda and Muktinath Trekking.      

Trek arrangement is with full camping. The regular trekking way of Upper Mustang is full of facilities of guest houses and restaurants. Damodar Kunda and Muktinath Trekking follow off the beaten path compared to Upper Mustang Trekking.  Some places on this trek are not facilitated by guesthouses. This trekking plan goes with camping for the entire trip. Touch Kailash Travel team manages a professional working team with all the tented camp and freshly cooked foods throughout the entire trek.

The best season for the Damodar Kunda and Muktinath Trekking is from March to October. The rest of the months, November to February, are cold, and trekking might be difficult with snow on the path and in some high passes. The rainy season in Nepal (June – August) is better for organizing this trek. Since Upper Mustang is a rain shadow area, there is less rain even in the monsoon season. Land becomes more beautiful after getting a slight rain in that area. There is a special fair every year on the full moon day in Damodar Kunda. 

Highlights:

  • Holy Damodar Kunda
  • Muktinath Temple
  • UNESCO Heritage Sightseeing in Kathmandu
  • Sightseeing and exploration at Pokhara
  • Nomad Lifestyle experience
  • Mustang Region exploration
  • Local Guest House experience 
  • Mustang - Muktinath Region
  • Scenic flights from Pokhara to and from Jomsom
Itinerary
Trip PlanExpand All

We will receive you at the airport in Kathmandu, and guide you to the hotel, after refreshment, we will have a short briefing in the evening, rest, and overnight at the hotel. 

After morning breakfast at the hotel, we will start visiting the attractions of the capital city of Nepal. We will be visiting Pashupatinath Temple, Guheshwori Shaktipeetham, and Jalnarayan Temple in Kathmandu. Back to the hotel for lunch, evening exploration at the Thamel tourist market for any trip preparations, and last-minute gear shopping. Overnight at the hotel. 

We will drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. The 200km total drive will take us to the Lake capital of Nepal, we will drive to Manakamana Temple, a short cable ride to the temple, darshan, and lunch, and later continue the drive to Pokhara. Around 7 hours of the total journey will take us to Pokhara. Overnight at the hotel in Pokhara. 

We will catch an early morning flight to Jomsom, and we will drive to the temple of Muktinath. A 25 minutes scenic flight in a small twin otter aircraft and 1.5 hours drive will take us to Muktinath. We will make our darshan and puja at the Muktinath Dham and explore the Muktinath Valley in Mustang. Overnight at a guest house in Muktinath. 

Breakfast at the hotel, and drive to Yara. Around 5 hours of offroad drive will take us to Yara, it is a remote village in the Mustang District. We will stay overnight at a locally owned guest house.

 We will be on the off roads driving to Ghuma Thanti today. The small village at Ghuma Thanti will be our accommodating place for the day. We will stay overnight at a locally owned guest house and take rest, preparing for our trek the next day. 

A long day walking today with lots of ups and downs. prepare and carry packed lunch, and enough drinking water for today as well. we cross 5600 meters high pass on the way and reach Damodar Kunda - The Holy Lake. Himalayas and landscapes are more scenic today. We will set our camp near the Damodar Kunda, and spend the night. 

Explore Damodar Kunda today. there are 3 lakes around, these are, Brahma Kunda, Rudra Kunda, and Ananta Kunda. In Hindu culture bathing in Damodar kunda take out all the sins done in previous and current lives. We will explore around the lake, and stay overnight in the tent camp. 

Trekking the same way back today by passing 5600 meters high pass. It takes 2 hours lesser than your previous walk on this same route. Today total walking hours are reduced by 2 hours since we will be walking more downhill than uphills, and descending in altitude. Overnight at guest house/ camp in Ghuma Thanti. 

 Some breakfast in the morning, and we will drive on the same way to Yara. We will stay overnight at a guesthouse in Yara.

We will be driving around five hours to Charang or Tsarang. It is a large thick village inhabitant of people of Lo, actually of Tibetan origin. The adjacent Gompa and aged monastery are supposed to be around 500 years old and are enclosed by several finest religious wall paintings.

 We will be driving back to the town of Jomsom. The mountain capital of this region. We will get back to more facilities and take good rest at Jomsom, the town formed with the backdrop of Mt. Dhaulagiri and Mt. Nilgiri. Overnight at a hotel in Jomsom. 

 Morning flight back to Pokhara, we will check into the hotel, and set on to explore the lake city. We will visit the Taal Barahi Temple, boating in Phewa Lake, visit David's Falls, and the Gupteshwor Mahadev Temple in Pokhara. Free evening around the Phewa Lakeside for souvenir shopping. Overnight at Pokhara hotel. 

We will catch a late morning flight to Kathmandu, and conclude the trip. We will take ample rest in Kathmandu, do some souvenir shopping in the Thamel tourist market, and overnight at a hotel in Kathmandu. 

We will drop you at the airport as per the flight timings and bid farewell after a successful trip to Damodar Kunda.  

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Trip Note

Touch Kailash Team will organize the trek as per your convenient time frame and for 2 and more people since a minimum of two people is required for the Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit fees. Get in touch with our experts and we will help plan for the trek. 

Essential Information

Damodar Kunda is accessible via Helicopter from Kathmandu or Pokhara. It is a short day trip in helicopter tour.