By Thakur Prasad Acharya, Myagdi, Aug. 21: Damodar Kunda, a renowned religious site in Lo-Ghekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipality-4 in Mustang district, is a breathtaking confluence of spirituality and natural beauty. Nestled at the foothills of the Damodar mountain range, this sacred site is believed to bring spiritual fulfilment and grant the wishes of those who take a holy dip in its waters.
Both Nepali and Indian Hindu pilgrims frequent the lake for these reasons. Situated at an altitude of 4,800 metres above sea level, Damodar Kunda is revered as a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. The best time to visit the lake is from June to August, with pilgrims especially flocking there during the Janai Purnima and Chaite Dashain festivals.
The site features five ponds, with devotees typically bathing in the two largest ponds. Reaching Damodar Kunda involves a perilous journey, after reaching Charang in Upper Mustang via the Kali Gandaki Corridor and Jomsom-Korala road, pilgrims travel two hours by vehicle to reach Yara village. From Yara, it takes five hours on foot to reach Damodar Kunda.
The lack of well-maintained roads, communication services and accommodations makes the pilgrimage daunting. The local government has provided a Dharamshala (pilgrims' rest house) and drinking water facilities, and during the monsoon season, free meals are offered at the Dharmashala. Despite the difficult journey, the stunning scenic beauty of Damodar Kunda makes the hardships worthwhile, said Ramji Prasad Subedi, a pilgrim from Myagdi.
He described Damodar Kunda as a heaven on earth, with its pristine alpine scenery and religious significance. Subedi further explained that reaching Damodar Kunda involves crossing two steep hills, each over 5,500 metres high, before descending into the flat basin where the lake is situated. The area is a beautiful valley encircled by snow-capped peaks.
The lake features two large circular ponds and three smaller ones, with a distinct chakra (wheel) pattern in one of the larger ponds, believed to symbolise Lord Bishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. Jhyang Chhesa Gurung, Ward Chairperson, Damodar Kunda stressed the need for better communication infrastructure and facilities for pilgrims. In recent years, many Nepali devotees have started visiting Damodar Kunda, although the site remains relatively unknown lacking promotion from the government.
Rural Municipality Chairperson Lopsang Chhompel Bista (Raju) highlighted the potential to develop Damodar Kunda as a major religious tourism centre, connecting it with other sacred sites like Muktinath, Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. Despite these possibilities, he complained about the lack of government support. Chairperson Bista said the route from Charang to Manasarovar is the shortest, cheapest and safest, taking only six hours.
Although the area’s remote location and lack of infrastructure pose challenges, the number of religious tourists visiting Damodar Kunda has increased significantly over the years. The rural municipality is seeking support from the federal and provincial governments to develop Damodar Kunda as a centre for the study, research, and promotion of the Hindu and Buddhist civilisation, as well as religious and adventure tourism..
