15,000 pilgrims visit Muktinath in two days

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT,Mustang, Mar. 31: Nearly 15,000 domestic and foreign tourists visited Mustang over two days.

According to the District Police Office, Mustang, a total of 14,853 tourists arrived in Mustang via road, trekking routes and airways on Friday and Saturday. 

Police Inspector Bishal Adhikari stated that 9,556 tourists entered on Friday, while 4,297 arrived on Saturday. “The majority of visitors were Nepali, most of whom traveled to Muktinath and returned,” said Adhikari.

Data collected from the Ghasa Police Post on Saturday showed that among the incoming tourists, 2,227 were men and 1,876 were women. Additionally, 109 men and 65 women arrived from SAARC nations, while 13 men and 6 women came from other countries.  

Police records indicate that most SAARC tourists were Indian nationals. On Saturday, coinciding with ‘Chaitra Krishna Aunsi’, many visitors traveled to Kagbeni and Muktinath Temple to perform ‘shraddha’, ‘tarpan’, and ‘pinda daan’ rituals in honour of their deceased ancestors.  

While the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) keeps records of foreign tourists in Mustang, the police collect data on Nepali visitors based on vehicle movements at checkpoints.  

After Nepali tourists, Indian nationals make up the largest number of visitors to Mustang.