The temple of Muktinath is in the trans-Himalayan locale of Nepal at the foot of the snow-covered ranges at an altitude of 3,800 m. The site is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Mukti Kshetra, or where the temple of Muktinath is situated, is mentioned in the Hindu Scriptures such as the Ramayana, Barah Purana and Skanda Purana. The place partly owes its fame to the fossil stones, called shaligram – considered holy by Hindus – found along the Kali Gandaki River. The fossil stones are said to represent Lord Vishnu in stone form. There is a black shaligram in the temple.