Marmelakhang Gompa

Also known as Narsingh gompa, Marmelakhang or the temple of 1000 lamps, is the oldest gompa in the vicinity of Muktinath temple. Inside this temple is the famous Guru Rinpoche's (Guru Padmasambhava) statue adorned in khatas and accompanied by the wrathful deities on both sides. Buddhists believe that the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Rimpoche, stopped here, meditated and blessed the valley on his way to Tibet. So basically, Guru Rinpoche was the superstar of the ancient times who helped spread Buddhism and so the name comes up every time you visit a Buddhist establishment. There is a legend that says you can still see a footstep print of Guru Rinpoche in the area where this temple is located. Give us a call if you happen to find it. On the entrance, there are intricate wooden carvings of the Four Guardian kings of the four cardinal directions. Yellow colored Vaisravana (Namthose in Tibetan, also known as Jambhala) is the guardian of the north and holds a victory banner in his right hand and a mongoose in his left hand. Blue colored Virudhaka is the guardian of the south and holds a sword. Red colored Virupaksa is the guardian of the west and holds a stupa in his left hand and a serpent in his right. White colored Dhritarashtra is the guardian of the east and holds a stringed musical instrument similar to a mandolin. Outside the gompa is a small compound and is quite a spot to hang around.