Janakpur, Pashupatinath and Muktinath Pilgrimage is a 9-day trip for Indian pilgrims and families who want the three great Hindu places of Nepal in one journey. You visit the Janaki temple in Janakpur, fly to Kathmandu for Pashupatinath, drive to Pokhara past the Manakamana cable car, then go up the Kali Gandaki valley by 4WD to Muktinath at about 3,800 m. It is graded Easy to Moderate. It costs from USD 1,645 per person (Budget, couple). The price per person is the same for a private trip and a group of the same size, and it falls as the group grows. Indian guests pay in US dollars, like everyone else.
Nepal pilgrimage at a glance
| Duration | 9 days, Janakpur to Kathmandu, 8 nights |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | Muktinath about 3,800 m / 12,470 ft. Highest night Jomsom, 2,720 m |
| Grade | Easy to Moderate. Mostly road and temples. Muktinath is thin air and steep lanes |
| Best months | October to November, and March to May |
| Group size | 1 to 20, always private |
| Permits | Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card, included |
| Start dates | Any day, from Janakpur |
| From price | USD 1,645 per person, Budget, couple. Standard USD 2,195, Luxury USD 3,085 |
Why I built it this way
Many Indian families ask for these three places together: Janakpur, the birthplace of Sita; Pashupatinath, on the Bagmati in Kathmandu; and Muktinath, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists. I built this as one journey in the order that makes sense on the map and for the body: the low, warm plains first, the Kathmandu temples next, and the high temple last, after two days of climbing gently by road.
The Muktinath part is our Muktinath Jeep Pilgrimage, 6 Days, with the Manakamana cable car on the way to Pokhara and a night at Tatopani for the hot springs. We go to Jomsom by 4WD, not by flight, so that you gain height gently, about 1,500 m in two days. We sleep at Jomsom, lower than the temple, and visit Muktinath in the morning. Every booking helps pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum.
Pashupatinath is a temple only Hindus may enter, and our guide will show you what everyone can see, including the evening aarti by the river. See Pashupatinath Temple Guide: Evening Aarti, Etiquette and What Non-Hindus Can See. Prices are in US dollars. Indian guests pay in US dollars or euros, like everyone else, and we cannot take Nepali rupees.
Best time to go, month by month
These notes are general and they are not forecasts. The Kali Gandaki road is the part of the trip that weather affects most.
| Month | What it is like | My verdict |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cold at Jomsom and Muktinath, snow possible. | Possible, pack warm |
| February | Cold, Muktinath may have snow. | Possible, pack warm |
| March | Warmer, clearer days, cold nights at Jomsom. | Good |
| April | Spring, clear mornings, afternoon wind at Jomsom. | Good |
| May | Warmer and hazier. Jomsom afternoons are windy. | Good, early starts |
| June | Monsoon: landslides can block the Kali Gandaki road. | No |
| July | Monsoon. | No |
| August | Monsoon. | No |
| September | The rains ease late in the month. The road may still be rough. | Late September only |
| October | Clear air, the busiest weeks, festival season. | Best |
| November | Dry, clear and colder every week. | Best |
| December | Dry, clear and very cold at Muktinath. | Possible, pack very warm |
October and November give the clearest views, and they are also festival season with crowded temples. Ask me about the road before you book any month.
Starting dates for 2027
You choose your dates, starting any day in Janakpur. These are the windows I would pick for 2027. Festival dates are the expected ones and are confirmed each year. Temples are very crowded on festival days.
| Window in 2027 | What to expect | My advice |
|---|---|---|
| January to February 2027 | Clear and cold, quiet trails. | Possible, pack warm |
| March to May 2027 (Holi expected 22 to 23 March) | Spring: warmer, hazier afternoons. | Good |
| June to mid September 2027 | Monsoon: wet paths, cloud and leeches. | No |
| Mid September to December 2027 (Dashain expected 6 to 10 October, Tihar 29 to 31 October) | The clearest views of the year, and the busiest weeks. | Best |
We check the Kali Gandaki road 48 hours before departure. If it is not open, we move your dates free of charge.
Permits and costs
We arrange the permits and pay the entry fees.
| Permit or fee | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Conservation Area permit | NPR 3,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC) | Included |
| TIMS card | NPR 2,000 (NPR 1,000 SAARC) | Included, we issue it through our agency |
| Muktinath temple entry | NPR 200 | Included |
| Kathmandu heritage fees | Entry to Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur and Changunarayan areas | Included |
The price per person falls as the group grows, and a child pays the same as an adult. Private or group, the price per person is the same. Here is the full table. These prices hold for 2027.
| Group size | Budget | Standard | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 guest (solo) | USD 2,880 | USD 3,720 | USD 5,495 |
| 2 to 4 guests | USD 1,645 | USD 2,195 | USD 3,085 |
| 5 to 8 guests | USD 1,250 | USD 1,730 | USD 2,440 |
| 9 to 12 guests | USD 955 | USD 1,400 | USD 2,065 |
| 13 to 20 guests | USD 955 | USD 1,400 | USD 2,030 |
Not included: international flights, your journey to Janakpur, your Nepal visa if you need one (Indian citizens do not need a Nepal visa; other passports pay USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days on arrival), travel insurance, tips, personal spending, puja offerings and any extra porter. You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance in Kathmandu. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card, and card payments carry a 3.5% bank charge. We cannot take Nepali rupees from foreign guests.
Getting there and getting back
Day 1 starts in Janakpur. Most Indian guests reach Janakpur by road or by air, and we meet you there. On day 2 you fly Janakpur to Kathmandu. From Kathmandu we drive to Pokhara on day 4 and take a 4WD up the Kali Gandaki valley on days 5 and 6. We return the same way on day 8 and drive Pokhara to Kathmandu on day 9.
Indian citizens do not need a visa for Nepal, and we will tell you which ID to carry when you book. Other nationalities pay USD 30 for 15 days or USD 50 for 30 days, and the passport must be valid for six months.
Safety and altitude
Muktinath is about 3,800 m, and the air is thin. We sleep at Jomsom, 2,720 m, lower than the temple, and go up in the morning. Walk slowly and drink water. Older pilgrims should tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition before they book. We carry a first aid kit with a pulse oximeter and we go down if anyone is unwell.
The road beyond Beni is rough and unsealed, and the Kali Gandaki valley has landslides in the monsoon. We check the road 48 hours before departure. Buy travel insurance that covers travel to 4,000 m.
What to pack
- Warm layers: Muktinath and Jomsom are cold even in spring
- A windproof jacket for Jomsom afternoons
- Comfortable shoes that are easy to remove at temples
- Modest clothes for temples, covering shoulders and knees
- A hat, sun cream and sunglasses
- Personal medicines, including anything for altitude your doctor advises
Budget, Standard or Luxury
All three tiers visit the same places on the same days. What changes is the hotels, the meals and the vehicle between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels | Simple hotels and lodges, twin share | Comfortable private-room hotels and lodges | The best hotels and lodges available at each stop, private rooms |
| Meals | Not included | Breakfast daily and most lunches and dinners, tea or coffee | All meals with non-alcoholic drinks |
| Kathmandu to Pokhara | Tourist bus seat | Tourist bus seat | Private car |
| Kali Gandaki valley | Private 4WD | Private 4WD | Private 4WD |
| Guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide | Licensed English-speaking guide |
Read before you book
- Muktinath Jeep Pilgrimage, 6 Days
- Muktinath Nepal: Complete Guide to the Sacred Himalayan Pilgrimage
- Pashupatinath Temple Guide: Evening Aarti, Etiquette and What Non-Hindus Can See
- Tatopani: Nepal's Natural Hot Spring Retreat in the Himalayas
- Kagbeni: The Ancient Gateway at 2,804m Where Rivers Meet
- Kathmandu Valley Heritage Tour, 4 Days
The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.
