Mustang, June 4: The Gandaki Provincial Government has announced plans to initiate efforts to include Mustang’s renowned religious site, the Muktinath Temple, and the historic Lo Manthang Palace in the World Heritage List.
According to the policy and programme for the fiscal year 2026/27 presented in the Provincial Assembly on Tuesday by Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta, effective initiatives will be taken to seek World Heritage recognition for Muktinath Temple and Lo Manthang Palace.
Muktinath Temple is located at an altitude of 3,710 metres above sea level in Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality-1 and regarded as an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Whereas, 14th-century historic Lo Manthang Palace is situated within mud walls in Lo Manthang Rural Municipality.
Although the Gandaki provincial government had previously pledged to take steps for conservation, concerns had been raised by local representatives and stakeholders over a lack of implementation. The proposal has now again been incorporated into the upcoming fiscal year’s policy and programme.
The palace in Upper Mustang’s Lo Manthang, enclosed by massive stone and mud walls and carrying a history of more than 700 years, was built during the reign of King Angden Sangwo Bista in the 14th century.
Although locals were initially reluctant when a proposal for inscription was put forward by the UNESCO in 2008, interest grew after people learned that World Heritage listing could support conservation efforts and attract more tourists. UNESCO has since conducted repeated studies of the sites.
More than 800,000 pilgrims visit Muktinath Temple annually, where restoration work is currently being carried out by the temple management committee. According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Brahma is believed to have performed a sacred yagya at Muktinath in pursuit of spiritual liberation.
Meanwhile, the province also plans to develop a religious tourism circuit connecting key pilgrimage destinations including Damodar Kunda and Muktinath Temple in Upper Mustang, Galeshwor Dham in Myagdi, Panchakot, Devghat and Triveni Dham. The initiative will include the expansion of access roads and basic facilities, including treatment services for high-altitude sickness at major tourist destinations.
Minister for Forests and Environment of the Gandaki Province Government, Namdu Gurung, said the province would actively begin implementing programmes from the start of the next fiscal year, as Mustang has been prioritised in areas including religious tourism, the Korala border point, infrastructure, agriculture, livestock farming and climate change. #nepal #muktinath
