A few minutes below the main temple, a low Tibetan-style building called Jwala Mai, or Mebar Lhakhang to Buddhists, encloses a small altar. When the nun lifts the curtain at the base, you see a steady blue flame of natural gas flickering from the rock, and close beside it the sound of water running underground. Hindus honour the flame as a form of the goddess, while Buddhists link it to Guru Rinpoche, who is said to have meditated here.
Our guide explains how Buddhist nuns from the nearby nunnery care for the main Vishnu temple too, a shared arrangement that surprises many Indian visitors. You can also visit the Narsingh gompa and the Marme Lhakhang, both small, both lit by butter lamps. Prayer wheels circle the courtyards and white khata scarves hang from the trees by the gate.
Inside, keep your head bowed under the low ceiling and do not touch the altar. A donation of NPR 100 or more is customary, and nuns sometimes offer a red protection thread in return. The visit takes about an hour combined with the main temple and is an easy walk on stone paths, though steps are uneven and the air is thin.
Good for
- Pilgrims
- Families
- Seniors
- Photographers
Questions travellers ask
Why does fire burn on water at Muktinath?
A small seep of natural gas escapes from the ground at the same spot where a spring emerges, so a flame burns right beside running water. Pilgrims see it as earth, water and fire meeting in one sacred place. The flame has burned for as long as local records go back and is protected inside the Jwala Mai shrine.
Who manages Muktinath temple?
Daily worship is carried out by Buddhist nuns from a local nunnery, with Hindu priests performing pujas and rites for pilgrims. The site is sacred to both faiths, and a temple management committee looks after the complex. This dual tradition is centuries old, and visitors are welcome to join either set of rituals respectfully.
Can I take photos inside Jwala Mai?
Photography of the flame itself is usually discouraged and sometimes not permitted, depending on the nun on duty. Always ask first and accept a no. You can photograph the outside of the gompas, prayer wheels and the courtyard freely. Avoid flash near butter lamps and keep phones silent inside.
