Mustang Nepal: – On the off chance that you’re looking for something to some degree more peculiar, the dry sell out valley in the Upper Mustang Trek is your most strong choice.
Not at all like the standard snow-capped mountain peaks, this trekking trail displays sandstone feigns and destroy scenes. What makes this trek intriguing is the significant Tibetan culture as it was beforehand the past Himalayan Kingdom.
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In any case, as a result of the forsake like condition, trekking through the night winds can be to some degree shaky. Like other kept permit trekking trails, don’t plan to see many individuals as a result of the high trekking costs. Nevertheless, if remote is the thing that you require, this trek is an OK elective as the scene is astonishing.
Upper Mustang Trekking is one of the staggering trekking into the Hidden Kingdom of Mustang. Trekking into Upper Mustang is an extraordinary and favored opportunity to experience the authentic presence of the “highlanders” or the mountain people. Trekking in Mustang gives you a near estimation trekking in Tibet.
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Upper Mustang, having a topography and culture looking like Tibet is definitely surprising and a stimulating trekking region to trek on. The whole district has an isolated and otherworldly feel to it, enchanting and moving visitors to this region.
The critical interest of Upper Mustang is the walled city of Lo-Manthang. Upper Mustang is considered as a champion among the most charming and wonderful places in Nepal.
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Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, making it an extraordinary rainstorm trek and open year-round for trekking. The rule though is the winter when most inhabitants leave the income to keep up a key separation from the cold and snow. Most of the people prefer to visit Mustang during the season of from March to early November.
Also as with various treks in Nepal, tea houses are available along the entire trek in Upper Mustang. Teahouses are direct houses, frequently the home of the family that runs them, and offer basic dinners in a mutual eating entryway nearby rooms, generally with two single beds. The place lies at the height of 3840 meters in a Northern piece of Nepal.
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Celebrated for Annapurna and Nilgiri this place runs the route toward Annapurna Base camp too. A standout amongst other touristic attractions which is gone to even by household vacationer. To trek in Upper Mustang is a phenomenal advantage.
Here you will experience the way of life of honest to goodness mountain people, who were next to no in contact with whatever is left of Nepal for quite a while, and even so far had a legitimately seen master. From various perspectives, a trek into Upper Mustang resembles trekking in Tibet, as geographically it is a bit of the Tibetan level. The district of Mustang was, until 1950, an alternate kingdom inside the breaking points of Nepal.
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The last ruler, the Raja of Mustang, still has his home in the out of date capital known as Lo Manthang.Upper Mustang was opened to non-Nepali trekkers pretty much fifteen years back and even today, get to is still significantly restricted.
To enter Upper Mustang, that is to travel advance north from Kagbeni, trekkers require one of a kind trekking permit and ought to be joined by an organization assigned officer. Upper Mustang, being in the Himalayan rain shadow, is one of the territories in the country proper for trekking despite in the midst of tempests. In the midst of this time, the upper Kali Gandaki valley is still extremely dry with simply intermittent precipitation.
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The Mustang trek is not particularly troublesome, the most surprising point came to being only 3,800 meters, however, the conditions every so often can be troublesome. Mustang is crisp in winter and is always windy and dusty as the year advanced. Winter treks are best kept up a vital separation from on account of the cold-blooded atmosphere.
There are few settlement workplaces available above Kagbeni, so groups must be totally free, especially in fuel. While porters are available in Jomsom it is attractive over use jackasses to pass on the loads up to Mustang.
These pack animals are available locally and are more common sense, and decidedly more normally friendly than porters. Colt trek requires no less than 9 days, starting and fulfillment in Kagbeni.
This empowers the trek to be done inside the 10-day time traverse that the permit licenses. The course generally takes after the Kali Gandaki valley regardless, occasionally moves high finished the Valley dividers.
The settlements are scattered and there is an insignificant sign of advancement between towns. In Mustang, little creates without water framework, subsequently, the locale takes after a sell out however bumpy, nuclear settlements in productive reaches.
Lo Manthang, the old capital, is come to in four days and no short of what one extra day should be spent here to get the sights and sound of this unique walled settlement. Stallions are available for enrolling in case you so need. The entry trek can either take a comparable course while entering or, as a choice course, the eastern bank of the Kali Gandaki may be taken after.
For non-Nepalese no expensive permission is required
Upper Mustang is definitely an attractive destination, but for non-Nepalese, traveling there is costly. A permit of $ 500. These permits are valid for 10 days and additional days cost US $ 50 per day. However, to try Mustang without the price tag, stick to Lower Mustang.
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Only a cheap permit is needed to drive you to Kagbeni. The Upper Mustang Trek is one of the most expensive treks for foreign tourists. The walk requires two different types of permissions:
Mustangs registration restriction for all nations: $ 500 per person for 10 days and $ 50 for each additional day.
- ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit) 27 USD or NPR 3000
- For SAARC Nation, ACAP approval costs NPR 1,000 and TIMS NPR 200
- ACAP entry fee for a local tourist (Nepalese nation) NPR 100
The Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) card is not required if you are running Upper Mustang. As long as you have a limited trekking permit in Nepal, the TIMS map is not required in any restricted trekking region in Nepal. (If you travel to the beginning of the road by land in 2019, you must bring the TIMS card with you.)
However, it is always advisable to inquire in advance from your local company. For example, if you have a connection to Mustang, such as Upper Dolpa Trek, Everest Region Trek or any other region other than Annapurna.
If you want to extend your trip to base camp Annapurna, get off from Mustang. Then the TIMS card is mandatory. Especially to Mustang, if you would like to continue your journey to Lower Mustang and continue to Jomsom Muktinath, Annapurna Base Camp and destination in Pokhara, you will need a TIMS card.
The good news, however, is that you do not need to buy ACAP approval again. The same permit you purchased for Upper Mustang applies to all places in Annapurna as long as you do not leave the park.
All restricted trekking permits, including those for the Upper Mustang, will be displayed in the trekking department of the Nepalese Immigration Department in Maitighar, Kathmandu.
For your information, the Nepal Tourism Board and TAAN do not issue Mustang trekking permits, but other trekking permits such as ACAP, MCAP and Everest Base Camp are issued here.
EASY ACCESS
While Lower Mustang seems to be removed, it is actually very accessible. From Pokhara, Jomsom is only 30 minutes away. If you have a tight budget, you can also drive there (about 10-12 hours from Pokhara). There are many flight options on base of service, airline and cost to choose from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
The flight time is 25 minutes. This is the fastest and easiest way to get to Pokhara. There are 2 different types of airfare: for domestic people and foreign people. The standard local one-way fare is USD 45 (NRS 4500) per person. These costs are for all Nepalese and Indian citizens.
Any other country must pay the standard one-way fare of $ 125 (12,500 NRS) per person. On the other hand, many tourist buses go to Pokhara every day. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours.
The standard coach costs about USD 8-12 (NRS 800-1200) with air conditioning. And the luxury bus costs USD 15 to 25 (NRS 1500 to 2500) including lunch, Wi-Fi and air conditioning.
Comfortable Accomodation
Nepal is famous for its cheap tea houses, especially on the trails around the Annapurnas. These are available in Lower Mustang, but there are also some more comfortable accommodations. If you are looking for comfortable beds, wall art, good food and atmospheric buildings, then there are options in Lower Mustang.
In Jomsom, Om’s Home has a friendly management, good food and old Bollywood photographs in every room and property! It was founded in 1976, making it a fairly classic place to stay in Jomsom. There’s even a new Himalayan Java coffee next door.
In Kagbeni, the recently opened Red House Lodge is housed in a renovated 19th-century convent. As many original features as the Buddhist murals in the “yoga room” and a richly decorated Buddha in the prayer hall have been preserved.
What is mustang famous for
The Mustang region of Nepal which is also called as country behind mountain was once an isolated and independent Tibetan kingdom. Today, however, part of Nepal has a robust and mystical reputation. These different parts of Mustang are divided into lower and upper parts, but they are also very different.
They offer the visitor various attractions in terms of accessibility, landscape, culture and costs. Here are 26 abstract what Mustang is famous for. Whether you have three days for a short sightseeing tour or two weeks for more extensive exploration and trekking, Mustang is an impressive area worth visiting.
In the north of the Himalayas, Mustang is located at a central point where historical and natural abundance can be found. Although Mustang is located in Nepalese territory, it was influenced by the neighboring districts of Tibet.
Therefore, it has accumulated many Tibetan norms and customs of the Tibet Autonomous Region. As you can see from the nature of the theme of this blog, I have decided to share my thoughts on why the Mustang region in Nepal is so famous at all times. Then, with every other delay, we move on.
When talking about Mustang, the Nepalese people tend to discuss this in the best possible way. On the Himalayas in the Tibetan plains it is easy to find Mustang, once a very privileged kingdom of the Lo.
But its location becomes an important part of its mysticism, which inspires travelers even more for this place. In particular, the Mustang region is easily an independent part of Nepal, in which, depending on Tibet, the terrain, the landscape, the topography and the ethnicity.
However, it has several fascinating features, including the Marshyangdi River and the Kali Gandaki Canyon.
You can certainly feel mesmerized by the serenity of the vast Mustangs landscape and their loving locals, who live in a different way than modern societies. Local delicacies can also be an incredible experience for travelers who like to try out and experience new things during their visit.
In addition, travelers can observe the major religious sites of Buddhist monasteries such as Chhairo Gompa and Jamba Gompa, which have been unchanged for thousands of years due to the remoteness of the Mustang region.
The buildings with stone walls and flat roofs as well as the mostly red-colored religious monasteries make the trip to the Mustang region even more enticing.
Many of the hikers who come to Nepal will ever dive off of well-known archetypes and choose a more exotic trip to the Mustang region, or more specifically the Upper Mustang.
On a hiking trail, hikers can visit the exquisite sites of Jomsom and Muktinath, which will make the trip to the center of the Upper Mustang more entertaining and aesthetic in terms of originality and enjoyment.
Only in Mustang can you find such a surprising biodiversity that it lives from its topography, which lies in the shadow of the rain of the mountain. Dhaulagiri
Life here in Mustang generally revolves around tourism as an important source of its economy. And so, before they go, hikers must seek a restricted area permit that gives them access to their vast land.
Anyone visiting Mustang will never be bored, as exotic landscapes tend to confuse his mind during his trip to the virgin Mustang region. Mustang has managed to defend itself from natural events, without prejudice to modern society, against the pollution of developed cities with a safe haven.
Mustang is so unlike the Nepalese regions of its counterpart and captivates its visitors with stunning backgrounds and landscapes without trees, which generally manage to ignite the hearts of travelers with hypnotic spells.
In summary, the Mustang region has all the necessary elements that distinguish it from all other regions of Nepal. If I say that there is a place worth traveling in Nepal with such a discrepancy, this will not be difficult. Diverse, then Mustang may be the only place he should go (at least once).
During the trip to Mustang, travelers can enjoy the stunning scenery, local villages and historic Buddhist shrines. You can literally stand in Mustang everywhere and take a picture, and you will surely get a pretty picture for you; That’s the beauty of Mustang for you.
Geographically, Upper Mustang is the ideal place to observe the Tibetan Plateau and Tibetan culture. A visit to Upper Mustang is like visiting Tibet. The path is wide along the sandy channel full of saligrams (fossilized shells).
This hike offers a spectacular view of the whitewashed settlements, the old palace and the simple monasteries in the shadow of the rain of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. You can travel and have the opportunity to get to know the true lifestyle of the Himalayan people, who are not in very close contact with the rest of the world.
The trip to Mustang starts in Jomsom after a panoramic flight from Pokhara. The landing at Jomsom airport is the most spectacular moment for you. Jomsom is popular for breathtaking landscapes of the Himalayas, apple and strong winds.
A special trekking permit is required to travel further from Kagbeni and to visit Upper Mustang you must be accompanied by a government appointed official. Then the path leads you into the hidden valley of the ancient Buddhist kingdom.
Mustang is a completely different world with a very different landscape and culture than other regions of Nepal.
Here we have listed the 50 highlights of the Mustang region:
50 Major Tourist Attraction Things One Can Do In Amazing Place Mustang, Nepal
1. Jomsom
This place is located at an altitude of 2800m. It spreads over both the banks of the Kali Gandaki. The transcending pinnacles of Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri frame an appealing background. Being the area base camp, it is fundamentally an authoritative and business focus with government authorities and vendors rubbing shoulders with the neighborhood occupants of the district, known as the Thakalis.
It has a remote station, a police headquarters, a bank, a doctor’s facility and a veterinary doctor’s facility. An organization of the Nepalese Army is positioned here.
Close-by is a landing strip, from where flights work consistently. Be that as it may, because of the solid breezes that smorgasbord the range in the evenings, the landing strip is useful just in the forenoon. Jomsom is served by 6-8 flights every day. Customary guests realize that the flights are subject to climate conditions. In spite of the fact that this is a remote range, private activity as numerous local carriers works visit flights to the region.
Flight unwavering quality and recurrence are for the most part higher to Jomsom than to whatever another remote zone in Nepal. This is not a regular goal. Desert the solid wilderness with the expectation that you will encounter nature in its most primitive shape. Be prepared to give your brain and soul a chance to free in huge expenses.
Be set up for unforgiving climatic conditions, glaring the sun amid the day, substantial breezes and chilly evenings. This is a remarkable ordeal for the more than 50,000 guests to Jomsom in a year – the majority of them rehash guests. We welcome you to ‘Find a New World’ called Jomsom!
2. Marpha – The town of Apple Orchards
It lies in the Trans – Himalayan rain shadow zone and accordingly remains pretty much untouched by a seething storm of lower belts. The town is for the most part inhabited by the Mawatan Thakalis speaking to four particular tribes: Lalchan (Ruby), Hirachan (Diamond), Jwarchan (Jewel) and Pannachan (Emerald). Its economy is unequivocally needy upon farming, animals, tourism, and work in outside nations.
The town is portrayed by the customary level mud roofed houses with heaps of kindling flawlessly stacked upon it. Wooden cut windows, long principle spotless flagstones, and cleared back roads are a portion of one of the kind elements of Marpha. It merits going to the little library at the focal point of the town or agriculture cultivate on the southern end of it.
3. Chhertosum (Marpha Hill)
Arranged at an elevation of 4360m, Marpha slope is a reasonable place for a day long side outing. It takes 4 to 5 hours to arrive. Its fundamental attractions are the various Yaks, touching on an excellent high elevation field (called “Yak Kharka”).
It is a door to Dhaulagiri base camp and Hidden Valley, offers superior perspective of Muktinath and different towns, and the staggering perspectives of Mt. Nilgiri (7060 m), Tilicho Peak (7139 m), Yak Kawa (6482 m), Mesokanto La (go to achieve Tilicho Lake, the most astounding lake on the planet).
4. Chhairo
It takes around 30 minutes from Marpha. There is a Tibetan evacuee camp where more than 200 Tibetans live. A Nyingma-Pa Kagyutpa organization religious community called Chhairo Gompa is near the camp. This religious community is considered as the most imperative sacred cloister of Buddhist. Chhairo Gompa is said to have been established by Tibetan Lama named Kusyo Chhiwang Thilen in mid nineteenth century.
The religious community portrays pictures of Shakyamuni flanked on either side by two of his followers, Ananda and Sariputra and an icon of the originator, Kusyo Chhiwang Thielen. Tremendous picture of Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) is put in the following room. The frescoes of Chhairo Gompa are the most seasoned existing works of the Thak Khola district.
5. Muktinath Temple Sanctuary
Muktinath sanctuary is the heavenly place for Hindus and Buddhists. Muktinath is one of the sacred spots among four “Dhams” of Hindu blessed spots being situated in the mountain area. The most reasonable time to visit Muktinath is from March to June, as the climate conditions would not be sufficiently protected to go in different months.
The adventure goes through numerous archeological locales and sanctuaries. The 108 water taps and the relentless shining flame is another fascination of this sanctuary.
The site is close to the town of Ranipauwa, which now and again incorrectly is called Muktinath as well. And this place lies at an altitude of 3710m. Inside Hinduism, it is known as the blessed place Mukti Kshetra, which really suggests the “place of opportunity or moksha”. This asylum is believed to be the 105th among the available 108 Divya Desam, which is seen as sacrosanct by the Sri Vaishnava group.
The old name of this place in Sri Vaishnava composing, before Buddhist beginning stage, is Thiru Saligramam. This houses the Saligrama shila thought to be the ordinarily available sort of Sriman Narayana – the Hindu Godhead. It is moreover one of the 51 Shakti Beetham’s. The Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, which in Tibetan connotes ‘Hundred Waters’.
In spite of the way that the haven is has a Vaishnava beginning stage, it is moreover cherished in Buddhism. For Tibetan Buddhists, Muktinath-Chumig Gyatsa is a basic place of Dakinis, goddesses known as Sky Dancers and one of the 24 Tantric spots.
They grasp the murti to be an appearance of Avalokitesvara. It is a way to Mustang from Manang on the eminent Annapurna Circuit Trek course. Named after the exceedingly adored Muktinath sacrificial stone, the valley is one of the religious places in Nepal for both Hindu and Buddhist. Hindus call it Muktichhetra (lit. the salvation district).
Various Shaligrams (Ammonite) found here are considered by the Hindu as the incarnation of Lord Bishnu and cherish them (According to Hindu myth, Lord Bishnu changed into the Shaligram in perspective of Brinda’s censure, life partner of Jalandhar).
So additionally Buddhist call this valley Chuming Gyatsa (lit. the place of 108 waterspouts) It is assumed that Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava), the scientist and coordinator of Tibetan Buddhism once contemplated and got the lifetime achievement of powerful enlightenment, while on his way to deal with Tibet in the twelfth century.
The valley has seven surely understood vital towns: Putak, Jhong, Chhyonkhar, Purang, Jharkot, and Khinga. Ranipauwa(lit. ruler’s Voyager lodging, named after Queen Subarna Prabha Devi) is another settlement set up by the all inclusive community of Parang. The larger parts of the lodgings are arranged here. The standard ethnic social occasion of the valley is Bhotias (group’s last name Thakuri and Gurung) of Tibetan root.
Behind the haven is a semi-indirect divider with 108 stone nozzles at a statue of seven feet. The installations all have a comparable condition of the pioneer of a bull and are confined by around one foot. Water from the super frosty Kali Gandaki River has been diverted to travel through the mouths of these bulls and intense voyagers who visit the asylum every now and again stay underneath each of the spouts.
The number 108 passes on great massiveness in Eastern rationale. In Hindu precious stone looking, there is 12 zodiac or Rashi and 9 planets or Graha, giving a total of 108 mixes. In like manner, there are 27 lunar houses or Nakshatras, which are apportioned in 4 quarters, or Padas each giving a mix of 108 Padas by and large. The Kali Gandaki riverbed downstream from Muktinath is the sole wellspring of the unprecedented Shaligram stones that are required to set up an asylum of Vishnu wherever on the planet.
Buddhists call Muktinath Chumming Gyatsa, which in Tibetan connotes ‘Hundred Waters’. As shown by Tibetan Buddhism Chumig Gyatsa is a heavenly place of the Dakinis goddesses known as Sky Dancers, and moreover one of the 24 watched Tantric spots.
In addition, the site is acknowledged to be an indication of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Virtue. The Tibetan Buddhist custom communicates that Guru Rimpoche, generally called Padmasambhava, the coordinator of Tibetan Buddhism, ruminated here on his way to deal with Tibet.
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Consequent to completing petitions and love at the Muktinath asylum various pioneers, both Hindu and Buddhist, visit Mebar Lha Gomba, the little religious group of `miraculous fire’, which is orchestrated near the section door of the heaven.
This religious group, dedicated to Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) and containing a statue of the Buddhist heavenliness Chenrezig (Avalokitesvara), is praised for its continually expanding vaporous petroleum fire, which Hindus adore as Jwala Mai, the Goddess of Fire.
50 Attractive Places to Visit in Mustang, Nepal
6. Chhyonkhar Village
Chhyonkhar translates as “the cycle of religion” in Tibetan vernacular. It is assumed that Chhyonkhar town was built up by a Tantrik cleric of Tibet named Chabgyepa Dhorje Singe around 209 years earlier. One of cleric times built up Chhyonkhar Gompa where Tantrik educating, Jyanwal Sinje, as Lubra Gompa is indicated here.Several adoring, for instance, Yangdak, Narak, and Thorim occur in the midst of different conditions of the year.
Clerics perform Dhekep, a hidden proceed onward twelfth month of Tibetan timetable. This town has exceptional sort of festivity called Yul Yartung, where horse riding happens. It is around thirty minutes from Ranipauwa.
7. Jhong Village
The town is old capital of the range and makes an entrancing side outing from Ranipauwa and Jharkot. The Tibetan culture and tradition is up ’til now set up. Jhong translates as “fortress” in Tibetan lingo. Jhong Chode Shedup Choephel Ling Gompa, one of the basic and greatest Shakya-Pa group religious groups in the Muktinath Valley, is masterminded on remnants of the fortifications.
The fortress is called Rabgyal Tse (lit. the zenith of overwhelming triumph) found around the fourteenth century by Pondrung Throgyal, the Titanic successor of Ame-Pal. In the past, the supervisor used to control six towns of Muktinath valley from this fortress.
This obsolete religious group was set up in the sixteenth century by Lo-Khenchen Sonam Lhundup, remarkable among another student of Ngorchen Kunga Sangpo covers clerics of Jhong, Putak and Chhyonkhar towns, as it is the central shelter of these three towns.
The religious group depicts pictures of Shakyamuni (chronicled Buddha) and distinctive divinities. It has amazing divider aesthetic manifestations and woodworks. Photography and shooting inside the shelter are altogether blocked. Visitors need to pay a certain charge to enter the religious group.
8. Jharkot Village
It is an imperative stronghold like a town with its excellent Kani (huge Chhorten) and tremendous Shakya-Pa group order. The shelter is orchestrated close to the remnants of the strongholds in Jharkot. The Tibetan name of the religious group is Ngorp. It is assumed that this religious group was built up in the midst of organization of King Chopse.
Four clerics reliably stay there and perform diverse respecting in the midst of different conditions of the year. It is a standard order of Jharkot, Purang and Khinga people. Visitors need to pay a certain cost to enter the house.
9. Lubra Village
The town is around three hours walk particularly from Ranipauwa avoiding Kagbeni – Eklebhatti course. It is around two hours walk around Jomsom along Panda Khola. The two courses remain closed from June to August in perspective of a surge in Panda Khola. Set up around 1200 A.D., this is the primary town in Mustang, where Bon (pre-Buddhist) religion is so far sharpened.
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There is a Bonpo order named Lubra Gompa at the point of convergence of the town. It was built up by Lubragpa, a mind blowing analyst of Bon religion in the eleventh century. It depicts an image of Walesa and other Bon divine beings and Buddha close by wall paintings and fine woodwork.
10. Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang is situated in the region of Mustang, which offers a scope of extraordinary social encounters. Lo Manthang has just generally as of late been gone by outsiders, and the quantities of guests to Upper Mustang are as yet confined. Because of this, the way of life here is practically untouched, making it an unbelievable site to visit.
When going to, you will no doubt walk the immediate exchange courses from the fifteenth Century, and investigate a portion of the wealthiest Buddhist culture to be found in the nation.
Things to do in Mustang Nepal
11. Common excellence
It is being situated at the northernmost piece of the nation is rich in common vegetation. The tropical snow capped and coniferous woodland possesses a little part of Bronco Nepal. Apple fields and rhododendron backwoods includes the excellence of the horse.
The biodiversity of the locale swiped whole slopes with pink and red rhododendron woods. Upper Mustang trek offers an opportunity to investigate the thousand years of old religious community, caverns, neighborhood tribes and picturesque marvels of the diverse scenes.
12. Betray vegetation around the Himalayas
Despite the fact that the area lies in the shadow of Annapurna and Nilgiri go the dirt of this district is like the betray vegetation. Being at the high elevation the breeze blows for the duration of the day. Shake soil and rough good countries make the area reasonable for shake climbing.
13. Most profound Gorge
The cause of Kaligandaki River is in the Mustang area. Kaligandaki River makes the second most profound crevasse of the nation. The waterway depleted the rough soil and good countries of colt and stream towards the south of the nation. This crevasse is another fascination of Mustang Nepal.
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14. Audacious games
It is well known for gutsy games, for example, cycling, shake climbing, trekking, horse hustling, and riding. The land structure of Mustang is contained good countries and marshes with plain, which makes it appropriate for mountain cycling, trekking being the absence of enough transportation offices individuals brings stallions up in their home for transportation reason.
15. Delightful Valleys
There are sure delightful valleys that lie in Mustang area, for example, Jomsom, Kagbeni, lomangthang. Jomsom is principally a managerial and business focus with government authorities and shippers rubbing shoulders with the nearby occupants of the locale, known as Thakalis. Kagbeni which lies close to the intersection with the trail to Muktinath is a town in Upper Mustang, situated in the valley of the Kaligandaki River. Lomangthang which lies in Upper Mustang is popular for trekking audacious.
16. Himalayan extends
Being in the northern piece of the nation, Mustang is walked with the mountain ranges, for example, Annapurna and Nilgiri run. The Jomsom valley lies in the shade of these mountains which is depleted by the Kaligandaki River. Mountains include the magnificence of horse.
17. Culture
Social trails in the local take into the homes of Gurungs in the marshes, the neighborliness of Thakalis around Jomsom, Manangis in the east and Tibetans in the bone-dry north.
The run of the mill culture of individuals living in the hilly locale can be watched and appreciate plainly in Mustang. Thakali nourishment is another fascination of this culture and Mustang itself.
18. Enjoy the snowfall
Mustang is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and is snowed especially in the winter season.
During this time, visitors to Mustang can enjoy snow and snow games. During this time, you can visit the snowy places on horseback.
Being encompassed by the snow topped mountains Mustang gets the snow falls much of the time and for the most part in the winter season.
Guests can appreciate the snowfall and snow amusements in Bronco amid this time. A visit to the frigid spots should be possible with the steed ride amid this period.
19. Nourishment and Festivals
Thakali nourishment is the renowned all through the nation which can be delighted in at its starting point put colt. Distinctive neighborhood results of apples, for example, wine, lager, dried things and so forth can likewise be appreciated. Another fascination of Mustang locale is the Tiji Festival affected by Tibetan Buddhism.
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The Mustagi individuals have their own particular manner of family life, which is very astounding for some Untouchables. Every one of the siblings in the family is hitched to a solitary young lady, what you may call a routine with regards to polyandry.
20. Lhungfu Cave
This is a heavenly Buddhist surrender situated close Phalyak and Dhakarjhong towns, around two and half-hours stroll from Kagbeni. Nearby individuals trust that god of this gives in remains there in summer and in Gurusangbo Cave (close Kobang) in winter. Numerous Buddhist explorers visit the give in every year and love here for rain. Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) is said to have thought in this buckle.
This is a blessed Buddhist give in situated close Phalyak and Dhakarjhong towns, around two and half-hours stroll from Kagbeni. Neighborhood individuals trust that god of this buckle remains there in summer and in Gurusangbo Cave (close Kobang) in winter. Numerous Buddhist explorers visit the give in every year and love here for rain. Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) is said to have ruminated in this surrender.
21. Phudzeling
This is a site of the fascinating archeological uncovering, where some of the most critical discoveries for Mustang’s paleontology have been made. A portion of the discoveries is shown in Mustang Eco Museum in Puthang, Jomsom airplane terminal (Five minutes walk south from Jomsom air terminal).
The demolished settlements and hollows remain as the proof to antiquated development of the Muktinath Valley. Obviously, the present Kagbeni was moved from here. It is around an hour stroll along Jhong River, situated inverse to Khinga.
22. Kag Khar Ruined Palace
This is the destroyed royal residence of Kag Khar line that used to house 108 rooms. Truly, Kagbeni used to be an imperative invigorated castle along the “Salt Trade Route”. Indeed, even at introduce, the design of the town bears declaration of war and mirrors its outskirt position. The dull back streets offer an approach to little inside patios.
The roads and the passages seem to wind their way through the durable whitewashed places of the old town, developed as a stronghold as methods for protection against wind and crooks. The remains of this old fortification at the middle symbolizes the way this was previously a vital place found deliberately at the intersection of two valleys; Mustang and Muktinath.
23. Devthen Chhorten
It is a holy place of Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava) situated close optional school south west of Kagbeni. Master Rimpoche assembled this Chhorten with a specific end goal to shield the town from the phantoms. The Chhorten houses symbols of Guru Rimpoche and different gods.
24. Tharwa Chyoling Nunnery
It is a little private cloister possessed by Red House Lodge in Kagbeni. The sanctuary houses a colossal earth symbol of Maitreya, the second biggest (the biggest is Jhampa Gompa in Lomanthang) in Mustang.
The Tibetan name is Jhampa that deciphers as Future Buddha. It likewise portrays a major Mandala alongside wonderful divider printings.
25. Tibetan Buddhist culture
Mustang is the last existing place where Tibetan traditional Buddhist culture is still practiced in its original form. Seclusion and inaccessibility have preserved the diverse Tibetan Buddhist culture and continue to thrive as it did many years ago.
Mustang could be an excellent place to get to know the intact Tibetan Buddhist culture, as its effects can still be seen in the arts, language and architecture. Mustang is a hidden paradise of natural beauty, Tibetan art, culture and ancient history.
The hotel is located at an altitude of 3,840 meters and is surrounded by the beautiful mountain ranges of Annapurna and Nilgiri of the Trans-Himalayas. Basically, Mustang differs in two parts, namely the lower and the upper Mustang.
Lower Mustang is an area of total desert vegetation with beautiful panoramic views and some of the oldest Buddhist monasteries, ancient and isolated villages in Nepal.
Likewise, the upper Mustang belongs to Tibetan or Thakalan culture and tradition. Although language and culture are more similar to Tibet’s.
26. Chhoser day trip
There are pony or jeep rides to the caves and monasteries of Chhoser Village. Visit the 2500-year-old Jhong Cave, which is of great historical importance. It has five floors with more than 40 separate rooms, from which you can see the impressive cliffs.
In addition, you can visit monasteries and a city called Gherpu. A day trip to Lo Manthang and Chhoser for sightseeing is also the main attraction and activity on the Upper Mustang trek. Experience the desert vegetation around the Himalayas.
Although the site is located in the shadow of the Annapurna and Nilgiri mountain ranges, the soil of this region is desert. At high altitude, the wind blows all day long. The rocky ground and the rocky highlands make the place suitable for climbing.
There are tropical trees like alps, conifers and more. It has a small forest with natural plants. It is one of the most beautiful places in Nepal with mountains and forests.
There are roads along the hill with small villages that provide the best place to observe the vegetation of the Himalayan desert.
27. Taking pictures of landscapes, wildlife and Himalayan settlements.
Photographing is an important part of traveling nowadays to keep the memory alive forever.
Dramatic landscapes, wildlife, tombs in the sky, high mountains and Himalayan settlements are the main attractions that must be captured in front of the camera. Taking photos of this dreamland is another popular activity in Mustang, Nepal.
28. Royal Palace of Lo Manthang City & Monastery
The main attraction in the walled city of Mustang is the Royal Palace of Lo Manthang and the ancient monasteries of the early fifteenth century. Ngonga Chode, Dragkar-Thegchen Ling Monastery, Jampa Gonpa, Thupchen Gonpa are the four main monasteries in the ancient kingdom of Lo.
Exploring these ancient monuments is one of the interesting things to do in Mustang. If you are lucky, you can also witness good Buddhist practices and their cultural activities.
29. Monastery and Chorten
Every city has at least one monastery and many chortens. You can see them as you travel through the upper Mustang. Most of them are protected because of historical and religious monuments.
Natural and geographical diversity is protected by its cultural and historical significance.
30) Tiji Festival
Another attraction of the Mustang region is the Tiji festival, which is influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. During this festival one can experience cultural art and dance.
This program lasts three days. It is the best place to participate in the Tibetan Buddhist culture with his music. If you travel to Mustang in May, you have the opportunity to celebrate this festival. Be sure to discover the forgotten Buddhist culture of the 15th century.
Some may wonder what is special about the Tiji Festival and why it is the biggest attraction of the Upper Mustang. The name ‘Tiji’ is an abbreviation for the word “Tempa Chirim”, which means “prayer for world peace”.
Tiji is an interesting three-day annual festival made up of Tibetan rituals and there are various myths about why it is celebrated. There is the myth of a son who had to save the Mustang kingdom from destruction.
Likewise, the victory of one of Buddha’s incarnations of a demon who lived on people who tried to destroy the world with storms and droughts. The sole purpose of this celebration is to pray for peace in the region and in the world.
It is a great opportunity for the Buddhist monks of the Choedhe Monastery of Lo Manthang to organize and perform all the ritual dances. This hike brings an extraordinary and rare cultural experience along with an incredible trekking adventure that can turn your trip into an experience that changes your life.
The Tiji Festival takes place after the second week of May each year in the legendary Lo Manthang. Want to see a big festival in Upper Mustang? Make the journey during the Tiji Festival, a three-day celebration in Lo-Manthang, to pray for peace to defeat evil.
One can watch Buddhist monks make music and perform entertaining dances. Tiji is celebrated in memory of the Buddha’s incarnation victory over the demon, which caused problems in the region in antiquity. The Buddhist masters Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra and Shilamnju (from Nepal) introduced this practice to Tibet in the eighth century AD.
There were many lineages of Vajrakila practice in Tibet. The history of the Tiji festival in Mustang begins in the 17th century.
King Mustangi Samdup Rabten invited Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga Sinam to Lomanthang. He resided as Lo-Manthang Chhode Monastery and performed a special Vajrakila ritual to promote the wellbeing of all living beings and dispel negative elements in Mustang. He started a special religious dance related to the meditation of Vajrakila.
Since then, the monks of the Chhode Monastery perform this religious dance with rituals every May in the Mustang Lo-Manthang. In Lo-Manthang, this holy dance is performed for three days by monks from the Chhode Monastery in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Mustang.
There are 3 main themes in this sacred dance, namely preparation, main exercises and graduation. In the perilimian part of this sacred dance, there are 15 levels. The creation of the heavenly palace and the creation of deities are the two steps in the main practice.
To summarize, there are steps to clarify eternal and nihilistic views and bring luck. Different poses and gestures mean different processes of symbolic distance meditation. All these steps in dance have a deeper meaning.
All obstacles in life are eliminated by seeing these steps with faith and respect. In addition, favorable conditions occur. This sacred dance ceremony is a skilful remedy used by ancient Buddhist teachers for the benefit of all sentient beings.
The yearly Tiji Festival, as a rule, happens in May and is a standout amongst an essential occasion on the social log book. This three-day custom is based on the Tiji myth and is well worth going to on the off chance that you touch base at the ideal time.
31. local kitchens
Thakali food is the famous food in the country that you can enjoy at its place of origin: Mustang. You can also enjoy the various local apple products such as wine, beer, dried products and so on.
The people of the hills of Nepal are famous for their heavy and delicious lunches. Thakalis are especially known for producing high quality rice, lentils, vegetables and curries in the country.
Even Kathmandu fills up with Thakali restaurants. But Mustang is one of the best places to sample Thakali food, if not the trails they live in the Annapurna region. The Himalayan cuisine in Nepal is heavily influenced by the Tibetan culture.
The exquisite yak cheese of the Himalayan region is remarkably famous throughout the country and beyond. Butterflies and noodles are also often consumed in this region.
All travelers will sample some local top Mustang dishes such as Tibetan bread, Khapse, Marpha and local tea mixed with salt and butter during the walk.
32. Ride through the upper Mustang
Upper Mustang is an ideal and popular destination for horseback riding in Nepal.
Riding is one of the unique things to do in the high Himalayan desert of the High Mustang. The ride to the Upper Mustang has caught the attention of many adventure lovers as it is a unique experience in the only desert region of the Himalayan country.
Upper Mustang, also known as The Last Forbidden Kingdom, is one of the most popular trekking destinations in Nepal, though it was only accessible after 1992. Riding to Upper Mustang is also ideal for those who are looking for adventure on consecutive days for hours can not go.
This ride will surely fill the hearts of travelers with love for the landscape and culture of the High Mustang without having to make an effort. Riding Trek to Upper Mustang offers an attractive panorama of Dhaulagiri (8167m), Nilgiri (7061m), Saribung (6328m), Manshail (6235m) and other snow capped mountains.
Horseback riding to the upper Mustang allows hikers to easily connect with the locals, as horses are the most popular companion to the beautiful deserts of the Mustang Himalayas. On the ride to the Upper Mustang you will also find the windy Jomsom Valley, known throughout the country for its famous apple orchards and magnificent views of the Himalayas.
Hikers meet old Buddhist monasteries, chorten, mani walls and get to know the Tibetan culture of the region. The culmination of this lo-manthang hike, the ancient walled capital of the former Mustang kingdom, is full of colorful deserts and old houses with similar patterns.
The trek also leads to the Rachung Cave, Ghar Gompa and Dzong Cave, where hikers can observe the best preserved form of Tibetan Buddhism. Hiking on horseback to the restricted areas of Upper Mustang helps the hiker understand the Himalayan way of life.
The locals organize a day trip from Lo Manthang to Chhoser on a horse during the Upper Mustang trek. The horses are tourist friendly and you can ride them slowly.
33. Mustang Jeep Safari Tour
An adventurous country trip from Kathmandu or Pokhara to Lo Manthang is possible. This adventure gives you life experience. The advantage of traveling by private jeep is that you can stop between rides to take a picture and watch the beauty.
This safari is also suitable for a family with children and older people. With the extension of the unpaved road, Upper Mustang was a popular destination for the jeep tour.
The Jeep or 4×4 tour of the upper Mustang will save you travel days, but will give you more time to explore the highlights of the Trans Himalaya region.
The tour is conducted with a guide and driver with license, knowledge and experience. It is a combination of road trip with excursions and cultural experiences. There are several side walks, city tours, visits to archaeological sites and monasteries.
The car ride is just an alternative to the Mustang hike. Tourists can still stay in the local tea house and eat and visit all the places in the kingdom that were once banned. The Top Jeep Mustang Tour can be customized for less than 6 days.
However, we recommend the longest route to enjoy the fast-changing landscape, the Himalayan landscape and the ethnicity.
34. Adventurous Sports
Mustang is famous for adventure sports such as cycling, climbing, horse riding and mountain biking. Due to the expensive restricted area permit very few foreign travelers visit this area by mountain bike.
But among lovers of local adventure, mountain biking in the Upper Mustang is becoming more popular and frequent these days. This is good news for horse-loving travelers.
Horses are especially important for people living in the Trans-Himalayan regions of Nepal (those areas “behind” or in the shadow of Himalayan rain). From the Kathmandu Valley, where you can visit semi-rural communities on the outskirts, to the Mustang Desert, you can ride for several days.
It is also possible to combine trekking and mountain biking in Nepal. Hiking and cycling offer different types of physical challenges and allow you to experience the landscape and terrain in different ways.
A great trip is to walk from the town of Jomsom in Lower Mustang to the holy site of Muktinath and then return to Pokhara by bike. Although hikers have been disturbed by the roads built in the Annapurna region in recent years, this is better news for cyclists.
35. Impressive walls and caves in Chhusang
The city of Chusang is a small settlement on the trekking route of the Upper Mustang. The city is located between Tangbe and Chele. It has a colorful environment with the gigantic cliffs of red, orange and silver gray.
And the place has the remains of the cave houses and the ancient history of the place. The Chungsi Cave is the popular cave of the traditional Mustang Salt Marketing Route.
This cave is of religious, historical and medical significance. It attracts number of tourists from all over the world. Near this monastery there is a monastery where meditation is also possible.
Mustang Caves or Sky Caves of Nepal comprises artificial caves, 10,000 in number excavated on the sides of the valleys in the Mustang district of Nepal.
These stacked caves and partially mummified human bodies and skeletons that are at least 2,000 to 3,000 years old are found by several groups of archaeologists and researchers. The discovery of valuable paintings, sculptures, Buddhist manuscripts and numerous 12th-14th century Buddhist artifacts are led to exploration of these caves by conservatives and archaeologists.
The secret caves in the Himalayas were explored only a few years ago. Another interesting thing is that it is found; Nobody had entered the cave for hundreds of years. The Ritseling Cave is located near the west side of the Konchok Ling Cave.
Mustang’s isolation eased the preservation of his ancient culture. Near the entrance of this cave is a large mandala with many Buddha figures. The multitude of eroded murals on the walls of the cave makes this cave mysterious. Here are mural paintings of various deities, including a large picture of the nine-faced and eighteen-armed Garuda.
Many of the murals on the walls of this cave have eroded. One of the murals on the back of this cave shows the scenes of a person who lived in the cave, as well as his travels to Lhasa and other parts of Tibet.
The Mysterious Sky Caves in Mustang are a collection of about 10,000 artificial caves excavated on the sides of the valleys. The caves are located on the steep walls of the valley near the Kali Gandaki River.
There are numerous artefacts that belong to the cave as sculptures, Buddhist paintings and manuscripts, making it one of the largest archaeological secrets in the world. It is 155 feet above the ground and is 2,000 years old.
These ancient caves are full of secrets about who built them and why they were built or how people came up with it.
The Ritseling Cave and several other man-made caves in Upper Mustang have great archaeological secrets. There is no information about the creators of these caves. It is a mystery how humans entered these caves after climbing the vertical rocks.
Some of the caves are more than 150 feet above the valley, really amazing. The Upper Mustang Ritseling Cave is just one of 10,000 or more man-made caves in the Mustang region of Nepal. Most caves in Alto Mustang are empty.
After reading this article, it may be interesting to visit this cave in Upper Mustang to see the old painting in Mustang Cave. The caves are located on the steep walls of the valley near the Kali Gandaki River in Upper Mustang.
Research groups have further investigated these caves, but no one yet understood who built the caves and why they were built. The site is registered since 1996 as a provisional UNESCO site.
36. Experience another side of Nepalese culture
The Hindu domain of Nepalese culture disappears as it crosses the Himalayas, and the Lower Mustang is rich in Tibetan Buddhist culture. The Mustang is heavily influenced by Tibetan cultures and traditions as Mustang was a lost kingdom of Tibet.
Although today it is a political part of Nepal, the traditions and cultures remain the same as the purely Tibetan ones. In the eighth century, during the Yarlung dynasty, Buddhism came to Tibet. From Tibet, their cultures and religions extend beyond the Mustang.
The population of Mustang was called Loba or Lowa, which is a Tibetan dialect. The wolves (lo pa) are of Tibetan descent and practice a form of Buddhism of the Sakya lineage. They are very close to the Tibetans in terms of culture and language and follow the Buddhist religion.
There is also a sect of the rare Bon religion, and the Bon priests practice together with the Tibetan lamas at the local festival. They celebrate four main religious festivals: they are “Gine”, “Gensu”, “Gelung” and “Nayuene”.
But the Tiji Festival is most popular in Mustang. His three-day festival consists of Tibetan rituals known as “The Persecution of Demons”. Also in Mustang you will find Nepalese culture and religions in many areas to celebrate different festivals.
In Kagbeni there is an old monastery from which you will probably hear the sound of horns early in the morning. Prayer flags fly over bridges and large prayer wheels turn in the narrow streets of the city. The locals dress in a style more influenced by Tibetans, with women wearing striped aprons in different colors and hair with long braids.
This is a culturally fascinating part of the country that demonstrates the diversity of Nepal. For those who have an interest in different religions, cultures, mythologies and ancient arts, they should visit Mustang. When you enter this region, people want to return to ancient Tibetan times and immerse themselves in the peaceful earth’s sky.
Another interesting culture of the Mustang region within the Loba culture is marriage. Very often, a Loba woman will marry several men, a practice known as Polyandria. This is due to the idea that the likelihood that a woman will become a widow is lower if she has many husbands.
This is a unique feature of Loba, but today it slowly decreases in modern times. The younger Loba wants to throw it away, but the older generation thinks it’s necessary. Over time, ancient cultures and religions have become more influenced by modernity in Tibetan cultures or Loba’s are steadily decreasing.
37. Travel between a completely different landscape
If you are more familiar with the lush green hills and terraced rice fields in other parts of Nepal, Lower Mustang is a big surprise. Since he does not experience the monsoon, the earth is very dry.
The only green spots you’ll see are areas of irrigated farmland around cities. The lower Mustang is geographically and geologically similar to Tibet and other areas in the shadow of Himalayan rain, such as Ladakh in India. Particularly impressive are the conical structures that look like weed-covered anthills, and the meditation caves hewn into the rocky sandstone cliffs.
Mustang is a vast and dry valley characterized by eroded canyons, layered rock formations with colors and dry deserts at high altitude. On average, less than 260 mm of rainfall occurs in Jomsom, Lower Mustang.
In spring and autumn, the place usually dries up, but summer monsoons bring some rainfall. In winter, the minimum average monthly air temperature drops by -2.7 degrees Celsius, while in summer the maximum monthly air temperature reaches 23.1 degrees Celsius.
38. flora and fauna
Mustang is very rich in biodiversity, especially trans-Himalayan biodiversity. There are many species of wild animals that are sufficient for study.
This place is rich in trans-Himalayan biodiversity and according to Wikipedia there are five types of zooplankton, seven types of nematodes, mollusk species, one species of annelids, twenty five species of insects, eleven species of amphibians, eight species of lizards, five species of snakes, a spider species, five types of snakes, 105 species of birds and 29 mammal species.
Wild animals such as snow leopard, musk deer, Tibetan wild ass and Tibetan gazelle are residents of this region. In addition, there are five species of butterflies, two types of frogs, two species of birds, a species of reptiles, extinct species of molluscs and several species of mammals.
Mustang is very rich in medicinal plants, and there are also aromatic plants; These plants have very high economic and ethnomedical values. The locals use mustang plants for food, spices, fiber, fuels, medicines, dyes, tannins, gums, resins, crafts, roofing materials, religious purposes and others.
According to the study, the medical use of 121 plant species was registered. The Mustang vegetation is characterized by the nature of the steppe and has grassland with scrub. In the lower region there are mixed deciduous forests, consisting of rhododendrons, pines and Acer species.
Above the 5,000 meters altitude there are anthropogony of Rhododendron, Potentilla biflora and Saxifraga. Around 3,245 Mustang are covered by forests.
Above the 5,800 meters altitude there is almost no vegetation due to extreme cold. Near the Jomsom area, the forest covers the end and is very limited in the region of High Mustang, which falls in the alpine climatic zone.
39. Old settlement and monastery of Kagbeni
Kagbeni is the gateway to the upper Mustang. You can stay in one of the hotels to explore the intersection of Muktinath and Kali Gandaki River.
Every year many Hindus visit this compound to pray to God and pay homage to their ancestors. In addition, you can discover the more than 500-year-old monastery and the ancient village of Kagbeni.
40. Eat apple pies and visit orchards in Marpha
A good half day excursion from Jomsom is a visit to the city of Marpha. The city of Marpha is located at an altitude of 2,650 meters in the Kali Gandaki Valley of the Annapurna Conservation Region in the Mustang district of northern Nepal.
Considering its remoteness and dry terrain, it has to be said that the city is properly named (“Mar” means worker and “Pha” means people). The region is not a place for people with a quiet life! It is inhabited by the fearsome Thakalis, a clan as diligent as an entrepreneur. Before 1959, most locals were in the salt trade and negotiated with China and Tibet.
Tourism and mule breeding have always been important occupations. The road to Marpha is pretty obvious, along a vehicle road (which is not busy) and next to the river. Marpha is a clean and beautiful city with paved canals that can be found all over the world with Tibetan influence.
It is surrounded by green irrigated orchards. Today, many locals who belong to almost every household are, in a sense, cultivating apples. How did this change happen? Accept it for founding the horticultural businesses that were established here in 1966.
They have also sparked a small revolution in the region by introducing different apple varieties along with proven production methods. Today the result of the tireless efforts of the court is visible to all. Marpha is also known today as the “Village of Orchards”.
The apples are known throughout the country as particularly delicious. In addition, Marphas apple brandy is also so famous. Apples and brandy are now also on the supermarket shelves of the capital.
Oh yes, the apple has become a pillar of the region. So much so that Marpha’s Apple Pie has become world famous (at least in the world of wanderers who were in the area). In fact, so well known are Marphas Apple Pie, which is often referred to as “The Apple Pie Trek” by Jomsom Trek.
Many tourists traveling through Marpha have been delighted to find such succulent cakes in such a remote area of the world. Not only tourists were thrilled, but many pilgrims who are on their way to the holy shrine of Muktinath must cross Marpha, and you can be sure that they will carry dozens of Marphali apples to feed themselves.
They are on the way. You can also be sure that Marpha Brandy will help walkers and pilgrims on cold nights on the way to a restful sleep!
A walk from Jomsom back to Marpha takes three hours, with no time to eat a slice of apple pie in Marpha, which is definitely recommended.
41. Go hunting for fossils of marine animals … at 3000 meters
An amazing geological feature of the Annapurna region is the abundance of Jurassic fossils that can be found there. The curly impression of ammonite fossils in stone called “saligram” is a million-dollar memory of what the earth was like before the Himalayas emerged.
Keep an eye on the ground every time you walk through Lower Mustang, and you’ll be sure to find fossil fragments and pieces if you’re lucky. The Red House Lodge in Kagbeni is transforming its public areas into a museum displaying some impressive local pieces.
Saligrams found in the Kali Gandaki River are black fossils that scientists call ammonites. According to geologists, saligrams are between 140 and 165 million years old and bicolor, black and white. Saligrams are the remnants of extinct aquatic animals, molluscs of the cephalopod family.
Saligrams are wrapped in black carbonate stone and look like black balls rounded off by the weather and the movement of the rivers. Some ammonites have a spiral shape, others a tubular structure. In life, they resembled a squid, cuttlefish or sepia without shell.
Spiral Ammonite is more common and is considered sacred for worship. Most Hindus worship Saligrams as a copy of the Conservative Vishnu. It is said that Shiva once called his wife Parvati the most beautiful woman in the universe. Parvati disagreed and said she was Jalandhar’s wife, Brinda, the fairest.
Then Shiva sent Vishnu to Jalandhar to see if Parvati was right or not. Vishnu was so fascinated by Brinda’s beauty when she arrived at Jalandhar’s house that she had disguised herself as her husband. When he came to her, Brinda knew who she was and cursed him as a stone.
After that, Saligrams in Nepal were worshiped as Vishnu, but only by men. Most calligrams are small enough to fit in a fist. Larger saligrams are very rare However, a large saligram is preserved as the Vishnu Mandir (temple) in Muktinath.
Because saligrams contain fragments of pyrite and quartz, some claim that gold or diamonds are in the fossils. These bright black fossils gave their name to Kali Gandaki (Black Gandaki). On the banks of the Kali Gandaki in Muktinath there is a cliff from which the river is supposed to wash the saligrams.
Not only the Hindus of Nepal, but also the Indians worship saligrams representing various deities. That is why the Hindus in Bengal worship black fossils called salagrams. Trailers who were in Muktinath say that the fossils are partly in the cliffs and partly in the riverbed.
Due to the amount of black fossils found, part of the river is usually called saligram. These stones of Shaligram needed to build a temple of Vishnu somewhere in the world. These fossils bloom in the waterway below Muktinath. Pilgrims or devotees are very interested in bringing saligrams home for worship.
Tourists who know the Saligrams would also like to pick them up from the bed of the upper Kali Gandaki during their visit to Muktinath. However, there is a local ban on their collection from bank of river. However, they can be found in the sacred places of Nepal as natural and ancient artifacts for sale.
42. You can drive to the lower Mustang at any time of the year
While most trips and hikes in Nepal are best done in the spring and fall seasons (March-May and September-November respectively), this is not necessarily the case in Lower Mustang. Since the region lies north of the Himalayas in the rain shadow, it experiences no monsoon.
And due to the altitude (over 2,700 meters), the temperatures remain cooler at this time. While you would have difficulty getting a clear view of the mountains in most parts of Nepal between June and August, Mustang is almost guaranteed!
Even though the winters here will be colder than in the capitals of Nepal, there is nothing to stop you from visiting during the winter months, if you prepare well with warm clothes. (Do not plan a trip to Upper Mustang in winter as the place goes into hibernation.) Note that during the monsoon season, accessibility may be a bit more difficult, despite Lower Mustang’s four-season accessibility.
The only way of flight to Lower Mustang is from Pokhara to Jomsom. Since Pokhara is affected by the monsoon, flights can be delayed or canceled because of bad weather.
The road connection is also more dangerous at this time of year due to wet roads, mud and landslides. When traveling to Lower Mustang in the monsoon, you will be able to maintain cushioning for late-night laps for several days.
Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) are the recommended months for Mustang Trek. Because it is located in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, it can also be done during the monsoon season in Nepal in June and August.
The decreasing level of the Kali Gandaki River in spring allows you to take a vehicle further from the region to make it easier for you to walk. Although winter hiking is possible, cold temperatures and snow may not be suitable for everyone.
Even the locals of Lo-Manthang leave the capital to avoid freezing temperatures and snow. You can also visit Mustang during the most famous festival “Tiji Festival”. This usually takes place in the third week of May, but the dates are usually different and are set by the Buddhist calendar.
43. Kaligandaki’s deepest george
The origin of the Kaligandaki River lies in the Mustang district. This river is the second deepest gorge in the country. The hike through the Kali Gandaki Valley takes you to the deepest gorge in the world. Andha Galchhi is located in Dana, Myagdi district in Nepal.
The Kaligandaki River was the deepest George in the world between the two highest mountains, Annapurna (8,091 m) and Dhaulagiri (8,167 m). The air distance from one summit to another is only 30 kilometers. The deepest gorge in the world is 5517 meters lower than Mount Annapurna and 5647 meters lower than Mount Dhaulagiri.
The river drains the rocky ground and the Mustang highlands and flows south of the country. This gorge is another attraction of Mustang Nepal. At the bottom of this gorge flows the Kaligandaki River.
This name remained after the Hindu goddess Kali, the personification of the powerful natural forces. This beautiful valley is surrounded by the majestic Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himalayas, more than 8,000 meters in height.
44. Nepali Grand Canyon from Chele
Hikers must walk uphill for 45 minutes to reach Chele after crossing a small metal bridge over the Kaligandaki River. Near the city, there is an amazing location that is very similar to the Grand Canyon of the United States.
On the other side of the river there are caves at the top of the vertical wall. Those who served as homes in prehistoric times were recently used as places of meditation.
They are no longer accessible, suggesting that the riverbed must have been much higher, but not much explored. In 1992, a German archaeological project was started to get more information about the caves and their inhabitants. From here we can see the camp, Chele is a small white dot at the bottom of the canyon.
The path leads slowly down to the river bed, from here it is easy to walk. I take my time and walk slowly, this area is famous for its fossils and I can find enough. The wide valley seems to abruptly end on a vertical cliff. A bridge crosses the Kali Gandaki, which flows through a natural tunnel in this cliff.
A steep path leads us to Chele, a small town with a beautiful view of the Himalayas. The north shows nothing but hills and small mountains. Chele looks like the last city in front of a huge impassable barrier, after which comes nothing but a hostile desert.
Stop and take your time to understand the beauty of nature and do not forget to take pictures for memories. This is one important of the things to do in Mustang.
45. Trekking and hiking
One of the most popular activities in Nepal is Trekking. Among many other popular destinations, Mustang is one of the always the favorite one. Mustang is popular as a mystical valley and the last forbidden kingdom of Nepal.
This heavenly place has much to offer as it is called as Mini Tibet of Nepal. On the Mustang trip, you can do many things. This place has become a popular place for walks and has fallen many in recent years.
Mustang is located at an altitude of 3,840 meters in northwestern Nepal. The Annapurna and Nilgiri mountains extend along the northern part.
This beautiful country has two main departments. Upper Mustang and lower Mustang. The upper Mustang is popular for adventure hikes, while the lower Mustang is known for its natural landscapes.
The place is rich in vegetation. Apple fields and rhododendron forests contribute to the beauty of Mustang. The Upper Mustang Trek offers the opportunity to explore the monastery, caves, local tribes and the scenic beauties of ancient landscapes.
In the past, the Mustang district was the best place for hiking on foot or on horseback. Also a route that leads to Tibet. Later over the years, road construction began. And now there are many things you can do, such as touring, cycling and, of course, the ancient tradition of riding.
Trekking and hiking in the Upper Mustang are among Mustang’s most important activities. At present there are gravel roads to Lo Manthang and Korala. If you want to get an accurate picture of Mustang, visit the Trans-Himalayan Plateau. Hiking in Upper Mustang is a rare privilege.
Here you will experience the lifestyle of the true mountain dwellers, who for centuries had little contact with the rest of Nepal and preserved their rich cultural heritage. Until recently, his king was officially recognized by the Government of Nepal.
In many ways, a walk to the Upper Mustang is like walking in Tibet, as it is geographically part of the Tibetan Plateau. The Mustang district was until 1950 a separate kingdom within the borders of Nepal. The last king, Raja de Mustang, still has his home in the former capital Lo Manthang.
The Mustang walk is not particularly difficult, the highest point is only 3,800 meters, but conditions can sometimes be difficult. Mustang is cold in winter and windy and dusty all year round. Because of the bad weather, it is better to avoid winter walks.
Above Kagbeni only a few accommodations are available, so groups, especially with fuel, must be completely self-sufficient. While loaders are available at Jomsom, it is preferable to use mules to carry loads to Mustang. These pack animals are available on the spot and are cheaper and certainly more ecological than chargers.
Mustang Nepal – 50 Attractive Places to Visit in Mustang, Nepal
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