31-Ton Massive Shaligram Stone Found at Nepal’s Muktinath? Here’s a Fact Check
A claim circulating online suggests a 31-ton massive Shaligram stone was found at Muktinath in Nepal. LatestLY's fact-check reveals this claim is misleading. While a large Shaligram sculpture has been unveiled, it is a carved statue and not a naturally discovered stone.
A viral claim asserts that a 31-ton massive Shaligram stone has been discovered at Muktinath in Nepal. LatestLY's investigation finds this claim to be misleading, as the object in question is a large, carved sculpture rather than a naturally occurring stone.
The Claim and Its Spread
The claim, circulating widely across social media platforms, suggests the discovery of an enormous 31-ton Shaligram stone in the Muktinath area of Nepal. Posts often feature images of a large, dark-colored stone structure, implying it is a natural find of immense religious significance. Viral Video Claims To Show 1st Footage of Nepal Flash Flood? Here’s the Truth Behind the Clip.
Massive Shaligram Stone is Carved Sculpture
Evidence and Official Sources
Contrary to the viral claim, the object is not a naturally found stone but a massive Shaligram sculpture. According to Desh Sanchar, a 22-foot tall Shaligram statue was unveiled in Mustang, Nepal, as part of an initiative to boost religious tourism. The sculpture was carved by artists from a large rock sourced from the Kali Gandaki River. Review Nepal further highlights this 22-foot sculpture in Jomsom, Mustang, as the world's largest replica, serving as a significant religious and cultural attraction.
The inauguration of this grand Shaligram was conducted by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahaswami Vidushekhara Bharati Maharaj of the Sringeri Sharada Peeth in Karnataka, South India, during his visit to Muktinath. Mohan Singh Lalchan, the chairperson of Gharpajhong Rural Municipality, confirmed that the statue was constructed on the riverbank and ceremonially inaugurated by the Indian Jagadguru. Online sources like a Facebook post by Om Prakash Pant also clarify that the 22-foot-tall statue in Jomsom, Mustang, was carved by an artist.
Shaligram Is Artificial
Context of Shaligram Stones
Shaligram stones are typically much smaller, naturally occurring fossilized ammonites collected from the riverbed or banks of the Kali Gandaki, a tributary of the Gandaki River in Nepal, as detailed by Wikipedia. They are considered sacred in Hinduism, particularly by Vaishnavites, as representations of Lord Vishnu. The idea of a naturally found 31-ton Shaligram stone is inconsistent with the known characteristics and formation of genuine Shaligrams, which are usually small enough to be held in hand or placed on an altar. Experts state that genuine Shaligrams are only found in Nepal's Kali Gandaki River and are generally much smaller, contradicting the scale of the object in the viral claim.
Conclusion
The claim of a 31-ton massive Shaligram stone found at Muktinath in Nepal is misleading. While a significant 22-foot tall Shaligram sculpture has indeed been unveiled in Mustang to promote religious tourism, it is an artificial creation carved by artists from a large rock, not a naturally discovered stone.
Fact check
A 31-ton massive Shaligram stone was found at Muktinath in Nepal.
The claim is misleading; the object is a 22-foot tall carved Shaligram sculpture, not a naturally discovered 31-ton stone.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2026 08:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).