Nepal Tirtha Yatra: Lesser-Known Sacred Sites

Overview

Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

Hotels

Documents & Fitness

Cancellation Policy

FAQs

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Highlights & Route

Most Nepal pilgrimages stop at Pashupatinath and Muktinath. This longer programme adds the shrines that Indian yatris rarely reach: Manakamana, the wish-fulfilling goddess above the Trishuli reached by cable car; Janakpur in the Terai, where Sita was born and married to Rama; and Bhaleshwor Mahadev on the 2,551 m Chandragiri ridge, with the whole Kathmandu valley and the Himalaya spread below. Six short domestic flights do the hard work so that no day has more than four hours on the road.

The spine of the yatra is Muktinath. From Pokhara a 20-minute flight lands at Jomsom in the Kali Gandaki gorge, and a jeep carries you up to the temple at about 3,700 m for the bath at the 108 spouts and darshan of Lord Muktinath, with the eternal flame of Jwala Mai beside it. Pokhara itself gives you Bindhyabasini, the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave beside Devi’s Fall and the island temple of Tal Barahi on Phewa Lake.

Then comes Janakpur. The Janaki Mandir, finished in 1910 in white marble by the queen of Tikamgarh, is the largest temple in Nepal, and the Vivah Mandap next door marks the spot of the divine wedding. Evening aarti at Ganga Sagar pond closes that day. The whole journey stays in proper hotels, with vegetarian breakfast and dinner, and is paced for parents and grandparents travelling together.

Route

Kathmandu → Pashupatinath, Guhyeshwari, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu Durbar Square → Kurintar (Manakamana cable car) → Pokhara → Jomsom (flight) → Muktinath → Jomsom → Pokhara (flight) → Kathmandu (flight) → Janakpur (flight) → Kathmandu (flight) → Chandragiri (cable car) → Kathmandu airport

Good to know before you book

Price on request, per person on twin-sharing; it varies with group size and Nepal domestic airfares.
Jomsom flights go only in the morning and are weather-dependent; we keep the Muktinath day early in the yatra so there is room to adjust.
Manakamana and Chandragiri cable car tickets are included; heritage-site entry tickets at Kathmandu, Patan and Boudhanath are paid at the gate.
Janakpur is hot from April to June and pleasant from October to March. Vivah Panchami (Nov–Dec) and Ram Navami bring huge crowds.
Passport or voter ID for every adult; Aadhaar is accepted only for children under 15 and seniors over 65.
Indian notes of Rs 100, 200 and 500 are permitted up to Rs 25,000.

Yatra Highlights

Muktinath darshan by flight and jeep, with Jwala Mai and the 108 spouts
Janaki Mandir and Vivah Mandap at Janakpur, Sita's birthplace
Two cable cars: Manakamana over the Trishuli and Chandragiri's Bhaleshwor Mahadev

Day 1 :

Arrive Kathmandu

Welcome at your arrival point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the agreed time at Tribhuvan airport and transfer to the hotel. The afternoon is free to recover from the journey; in the evening our yatra coordinator meets the group for a briefing on documents, flights and the days ahead.

Overnight: Kathmandu

Day 2 :

Pashupatinath and the old city

Morning darshan at Pashupatinath while the inner gates are open, followed by the Guhyeshwari Shakti Peeth a short walk downstream, where Sati's hips are believed to have fallen. We drive north to Budhanilkantha to see the reclining Jal Narayan, then spend the afternoon at Kathmandu Durbar Square: the old royal palace, Taleju temple and the Kumari Ghar, home of the living goddess.

Overnight: Kathmandu

Day 3 :

Manakamana and on to Pokhara

We leave early on the Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli river to Kurintar, about three hours away. A ten-minute cable car ride climbs more than 1,000 m to Manakamana Devi, whose name means 'the heart's wish'; darshan takes about an hour. Continuing west we reach Pokhara in the late afternoon and walk along the Phewa lakeside before dinner.

Overnight: Pokhara

Day 4 :

Jomsom and Muktinath

A dawn flight of about 20 minutes passes between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs to Jomsom (about 2,700 m). Jeeps take us up the valley to Ranipauwa, and a 15 to 20 minute walk (ponies available) brings us to the temple at about 3,700 m. Bathe under the 108 spouts and in the two kundas, take darshan, and visit the Jwala Mai shrine where a natural gas flame burns above water. We return to Jomsom by afternoon, before the wind rises.

Overnight: Jomsom

Day 5 :

Back to Pokhara, caves and falls

Morning flight to Pokhara. After breakfast we see Devi's Fall, where the Pardi Khola vanishes underground, then descend into the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave across the road, where the same stream reappears beside a Shiva shrine. The Seti river gorge, cut narrow and deep through the town, is next, and the evening is free at the lakeside.

Overnight: Pokhara

Day 6 :

Fly to Kathmandu

A 25-minute flight returns us to Kathmandu. The rest of the day is unplanned: rest at the hotel, shop in Thamel, or ask us to arrange Patan Durbar Square or Boudhanath for a small extra charge.

Overnight: Kathmandu

Day 7 :

Janakpur: Janaki Mandir

A 30-minute flight south to Janakpur in the Terai. We visit the Janaki Mandir, a white marble palace-temple built in 1910 and the largest in Nepal, then the adjoining Vivah Mandap that commemorates the marriage of Rama and Sita, and Ram Mandir nearby. In the evening we join the aarti at the Ganga Sagar pond opposite the temple.

Overnight: Janakpur

Day 8 :

Chandragiri and Bhaleshwor Mahadev

Morning flight back to Kathmandu, then a drive to the Chandragiri cable car at Thankot, about an hour from the city. The ten-minute ride rises to 2,551 m, where Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple stands; on a clear day the view runs from Annapurna to Everest. Return to the hotel for a farewell dinner.

Overnight: Kathmandu

Day 9 :

Departure

Breakfast, check-out and transfer to your departure point (airport, railway station or hotel) at the airport.

Overnight: none (yatra ends)

Night	Place	Hotel (or similar)	Room type
1–2	Kathmandu	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
3	Pokhara	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
4	Jomsom	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
5	Pokhara	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
6	Kathmandu	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
7	Janakpur	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis
8	Kathmandu	Hotel confirmed at booking	Standard room, sharing basis

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand all

Do Indians need a visa or passport for Nepal?

No visa is needed. Adults between 15 and 65 must carry either a valid passport or an Election Commission voter ID. Aadhaar is accepted only for children under 15 and seniors over 65, so please do not rely on it for other family members. Airlines check these documents at the time of boarding.

Why is Janakpur included in a Nepal yatra?

Janakpur is the ancient Mithila capital of King Janak, where Sita was found and later married to Rama. The Janaki Mandir and Vivah Mandap are the main shrines, and the town is on the Ramayana circuit that links Ayodhya across the border.

What is special about Manakamana?

Manakamana Devi is one of Nepal’s most visited goddess shrines, believed to grant heartfelt wishes. The hilltop used to need a three-hour climb; the cable car from Kurintar now reaches it in about ten minutes.

How many flights are there and are they safe?

Six domestic sectors, each under 30 minutes, on Nepal’s scheduled airlines. Mountain flights operate only in good morning weather, which is exactly why they are sometimes cancelled; we carry a buffer in the plan and rebook where needed.

Is the Jomsom night cold?

Yes, especially from November to March, when nights can fall below freezing. Lodges provide thick quilts and hot water; bring thermals, a woollen cap and a jacket.

Can the Muktinath portion be done by helicopter instead?

It can. A charter from Pokhara or Kathmandu avoids the Jomsom night and the jeep ride; see our Muktinath helicopter package or ask us to quote the swap.

Which Indian currency notes can I carry into Nepal?

Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 500 notes are now permitted, up to Rs 25,000 per person, under the Nepal Rastra Bank notice of July 2026. Rs 2,000 notes are not accepted. Indian rupees are taken almost everywhere at 1.60 Nepali rupees to the Indian rupee, and you can also exchange small amounts for Nepali currency at the hotel.

What is the highest point on this Nepal yatra, and do we sleep at altitude?

The highest point is Muktinath temple at about 3,700 m. You fly to Jomsom (about 2,700 m), go up by jeep to Ranipauwa and walk 15 to 20 minutes to the temple, with ponies available. You return to Jomsom the same afternoon and sleep there, not at the temple. Bhaleshwor Mahadev on Chandragiri (2,551 m) is a cable-car visit. Anyone with heart or lung conditions should check with a doctor before booking.

Yatra	Duration	Starts from	Price
Nepal Tirtha Yatra: Lesser-Known Sacred Sites (this page)	9 days / 8 nights	Kathmandu	On request
Everest Helicopter Ride from Kathmandu	3 days / 2 nights	Kathmandu	On request
Everest Mountain Flight from Kathmandu	Day visit	Kathmandu	On request
Kathmandu Valley Mandir Darshan Yatra	4 days / 3 nights	Kathmandu	On request
Muktinath Darshan Yatra from Nepalgunj	5 days / 4 nights	Nepalgunj	On request
Muktinath Helicopter Darshan from Kathmandu	3 days / 2 nights	Kathmandu	On request
Muktinath Yatra from Gorakhpur	4 days / 3 nights	Gorakhpur	On request
Nepal Adventure Holiday with Bungee Jump	8 days / 7 nights	Kathmandu	On request

Nepal Tirtha Yatra: Lesser-Known Sacred Sites

Get the plan and price for your dates

Highlights & Route

Route

Good to know before you book

Yatra Highlights

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Inclusions & Exclusions

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Hotels

Documents & Fitness

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Cancellation Policy

Frequently Asked Questions

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