A journey through the divine: From the Dome of Wadala to the peaks of Nepal 

While passing by the Wadala Dome Theatre, I stumbled upon a movie titled “Discovery India.” Intrigued by its content, I decided to step inside. Little did I know, this seemingly random decision would lead me to an extraordinary spiritual adventure. The film chronicled the life of Shri  Swaminarayan, his remarkable journey across India and Nepal, and his ascetic practices in the  Himalayas.

Projected onto the expansive dome, the breathtaking snow-capped peaks felt so real that I shivered as if surrounded by the icy grandeur. Watching Shri Swaminarayan’s bare-footed trek across snowy terrains and his dedication to ashtanga yoga was nothing short of inspiring. When the movie showcased him bathing in the sacred waters of 108 Dharas at Muktinath, my heart yearned to visit the site. Just a week later, fate seemed to conspire in my favour.

To Muktinath: A serendipitous pilgrimage 

Out of the blue, a family friend invited me on a trip to Muktinath. Without hesitation, I found myself aboard a Nepal Airlines flight to Kathmandu, accompanied by her, her colleague, and his sister.

Muktinath Temple

As the legend goes, Muktinath holds profound significance in Hindu mythology. It is here that Lord Vishnu,  using his divine chakra, fragmented Goddess Sati’s body into 51 pieces, bringing order to the cosmos after Lord Shiva’s devastating grief.

Sunrise in Jomsom

Our journey was both challenging and rewarding. Though our flight from Pokhara to Jomsom was cancelled due to bad weather, a jeep ride to Tatopani and a trek through the rugged terrain of Beni eventually brought us to Jomsom. Nestled amidst apple orchards and dwarfed by the towering

Dhaulagiri & Annapurna mountain, Jomsom felt like a slice of paradise. The sights along the way— from the mighty Kali Gandaki River to the sacred Shaligrams (fossilized stones symbolic of Vishnu)— were mesmerizing.

Kali Gandaki River

Reaching Muktinath, perched at an altitude of 3,800 meters, was surreal. The temple, surrounded by  108 water spouts, radiated an ethereal charm. Bathing in the Mukti Dhara was not just a physical cleansing but a spiritual renewal.

108 Dhara

The Eternal Flame, symbolizing the five elements, reinforced the sanctity of the place. It felt as though I had entered the abode of the divine.

A Himalayan sojourn 

Our return to Pokhara was marked by a mountain flight that offered a bird’s-eye view of the Himalayas,.  The snow-capped peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and others glistened in the sunlight, leaving us awestruck. This experience inspired us to take a special Everest flight from Kathmandu, where we marvelled at the grandeur of 16 high peaks of Nepal including, Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama  Dablam etc.

An unexpected encounter at Pashupatinath 

Before leaving Kathmandu, we visited the iconic Pashupatinath Temple, a famous Jyotirlinga. The five-faced Shiva Lingam radiated profound energy, and the rituals performed by the priests were deeply moving. However, an unexpected incident added an adventurous twist to our visit. A monkey snatched my friend’s sister’s camera, leading us on a wild chase across the temple grounds and into the nearby forest. A biscuit bribe finally resolved the situation, but our pursuit led us to an extraordinary discovery.

Deep within the forest, we stumbled upon an ancient temple with a massive wooden door. Inside stood a 10-meter-high idol of Vishnu in his “Virat Roop”—a sight so magnificent that it left me speechless. The 80-year-old priest said that the temple was almost 1000 years old, the idol ancient, but hardly anyone visits this temple. The experience felt divinely orchestrated as if the monkey was a messenger guiding us to this sacred place.

Miracles of the divine 

Our journey didn’t end there. Nearby, we came upon the Gujeshwari Temple, one of the 51 Shakti  Peeths, where Sati’s back is believed to have fallen. Witnessing a Nepali couple’s wedding within this holy sanctuary added to the mystique and charm of our journey.

This visit, unlike my many prior treks in Nepal since 1975, was uniquely fulfilling. It was not just a physical journey through Nepal’s awe-inspiring landscapes but also a deeply spiritual odyssey—a  “Forget Me Not” experience etched in my heart forever.