Manang

 Manang (3540m) is one of the largest villages in Manang district and one of the last trekking stops for trekkers walking the famous Annapurna Circuit trek. From Manang the route continuous to Thorung La (pass) at 5.415 meters above the sea level which connects Manang district to Mustang District by providing a route between the town of Manang and the village Muktinath. This trail to Muktinath has been used by the locals for hundreds of years to transport huge herds of sheep and yak in and out of Manang.
The northern part of town is more preserved in it's old style, in the southern part you will find many hotels, shops and even a cybercafe, with satellite internet connection.
Manangies are well-known traders and many of them are relatively rich having property in both Manang and Kathmandu and their children study in good schools or even abroad.
Many trekkers spend one acclimatisation day in Manang or surroundings although the surroundings are interesting enough to stay for several days. Interestings places to visit are the glacial lake at the foot of the ice-fall at the slopes of the Gangapurna mountain, the village of Braga, Bhojo gompa, a Milarepa Cave and a two or three day side trip to Tilicho lake. You have to try the famous Seabuckthorn juice when staying in Manang, which is said to contain a lot of vitamins and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine since ages.

Places To Visit In Manang

Muktinath Kshetra
Because I, Lord Vishnu, exist in the form of Shaligram (sacred stone), this place is ever peaceful, secret, pleasant and salvatory. Muktinath Kshetra is the place where all gods including Lord Brahma performed a special religious rite, Yagyan for the salvation of all living species on earth. So, this place called Mukti Kshetra, the place of salvation/spiritual salvatorium.
It is widely believed that sacredness of this place has been enhanced because of the presence of Trinity Gods: Vishnu as water, Shiva as fire and Brahma himself as a performer while performing the divine Yagyan.
All four species: Jarayuj (root breed), Swoidesh (self breed), Andaj (egg breed), and Udima (birth breed) who visit the place and worship gods get salvation after their death.
Besides Lord Vishnu, Brahma and me with other gods and sages shall be with you, says Lord Shiva while pronouncing the sacred value of the place. To have a holy dip at Krishnagandaki is equal to hundred holy dips at other pilgrimage sites in terms of the salvation. Mukti Kshetra includes many other holy areas. The different parts of this composite whole are compared to the organs of human body as followings:-
Charanaravinda ( Feet) - Shree Gajendramoksha Divyadham Trivenidham,
Nawalparashi Ghunda ( Knee) - Devaghatdham, Chitwan
Katti ( Waist) - Ruru kshetra, Palpa
Bakshasthal (Chest) - Shaligram Chakrasheela Galeshwordham, Myagdi
Kantha (Neck) - Pitreetirtha Kagavenidham, Mustang
Mukharvinda (Mouth) - Shree Muktinathdham, Mustang
Shree/Sheekha (Head) - Shree Damodharkunda, Mustang
The Holy stones are available all the way from Damodar Kunda to Gajendramoksha Divyadham. Among all Hindu Shrines of Nepal, Muktinath is situated at the highest altitude of 13,000 feet from sea level, in mid-hilly region of Mustang district, Dhaualagiri zone of western Nepal.
Damodarkunda
Damodari Ganga springs along Shaligram Parvat which contains Shaligram (sanctifying sacred stones)
It is the holy part of Damodar Himal elevated to 22,000 feet high from sea level situated in Mustang district.
There are numerous sanctifying glacial lakes, both small and large, where Damodari Ganga takes her form, Damodarkunda being the largest one. As a confluence of lakes and ponds such as Brahmakunda, Rudrakunda and Anantakunda; Damodarkunda contains the largest volume of water. Damodarkunda, the estuary of Krishnagandaki river, is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Hindus .Several colophons of religious scriptures describe the heavenly bliss of this Kunda ( sacred pond).So, it bears both religious and historical importance. A unique place to feel ecstasy of self and be transported to holy bliss, Damodarkunda is one of the holiest of terrestrial shrines, so reverently described in Puranas, the holy books of Hinduism.
Shaligram
Gloriously described in Puranas as Krishnagandaki (Black Gandaki) as well as Chakranadi, and worshipped as one of the holiest rivers, Krishnagandaki consists of seven Gandaki rivers supposed to have sprung from cheek (Gandasthal) of Lord Vishnu. It has a distinct honor of being the only river in the world to contain sacred stones (Shaligrams).Shaligram forms the stone incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Almighty Preserver of the Universe. Shaligram only resembles basalt which contains ammonite symbols of Lord Vishnu: the chakra (wheel type ring-rang diverging from a minute epic-centre gravitated inside out found free in the untouched relapses of Mother Nature).Hindu devout worship these stones at their homes. His Holiness Shankaracharya praises the river thus:
Which means: Lord Vishnu who accommodates the universe is in your folds. Such an omnipresent god is present in the form of stone i.e., Shaligram. Shaligram’s jala (the water where Shaligram is dipped and rinsed) sprinkled over one’s head gets him/her rid of past wrongs and beckons him/her thereby to keep pace along the path to salvation. Even Muslims have a great reverence to Shaligram as they pay highest and holiest bows to Kalapathar (the black stone –collossium of Shaligram).
Krishnagandaki, inexhaustible reservoir of Shaligram starts from Damodar Himal and flows southward through Mukti Kshetra (the place of salvation).According to the Baraha Purana, the place is named after a sage (Rishi), Gandaki, who sat in a penance.The river is believed to have sprung as perspiration from the cheek of the Lord Vishnu.


Kagaveni
One who performs Pitree Shradda (a rite performed to commemorate the death of the elders’ esp. parents) near Kagaveni can easily facilitate the dead towards redemption. The value of Shradda at this place is many times more prominent than that at Gaya.
According to the Puranas, this place been named after a saga called Kagabhusundi who sat in penance at this place. Kagaveni lies at the bank of Kali Gandaki River on the way to Muktinath few miles away from Jomsom. This is renowned as a confluence of two rivers: Krishna Gandaki and Kaga Khola since meeting places of sacred rivers have great religious value in Hindu culture like Prayaga Ganga- the confluence of Ganga and Jamuna, and Deva Prayag-the confluence of Ganga, Jamuna and Alaknanda.

Braga:
Wonder and fear fill the hearts of those who visit Braga. Built into a wall of towering cliffs, the settlement has been tightly structured for protection against all possible dangers of the Himalayan frontier. Inhabited by 600 people, its aged monasteries tell the tale of a warm and pious people who have survived the odds.


 

Milarepa Cave:
The Saint Milarepa is known to many Himalayan Buddhist and Bonpo communities. As he wandered across the mountains, Milarepa came across a cave where he meditated for many days. A hunter of the Nyeshang people, Gompo Dorje brought food and comfort to the saint, who, in turn, gave Dorje and his people much wisdom. Milarepa’s cave is honoured with an annual festival. Locals often meditate and make offerings to the saint.
Chongkar Viewpoint, Gangapurna Glacier, Papachong Meadow:
Gangapurna Lake is the collected glacial melt of Mount Gangapurna. The lake is a well-known landmark and easily approachable from Manang village, the largest of six villages that make up the upper Manang district. Its milky waters are in close proximity to the yak grazing grounds.


Chongkar Viewpoint:
An hour away from the Manang settlement is a place to lie down and relax, view the villages below, stare at the skies and mountains above, and build peace within the soul. Chongkar View Point was discovered by the Nyeshang people many ages ago as they started to build their settlement and watch what was going on in the valley below.
Papachong Meadow’s gentle breeze, wildflowers of many hues, were abandoned by the Nyeshang people for greater shelter from the hazards of the Himalayan frontier. Locals still remember abandoned farmland, cattle sheds and warm homes once occupied. They point to the ruins in the meadow and speak of the people that lived there with longing in their voices.