The district of Mustang was once an independent kingdom. Until the early 1950s, it was closely tied to Tibet in terms of culture. The people here remained isolated from Nepal from hundreds of years and even to this day, the true mountain folks of Upper Mustang still retain their Tibetan language and heritage. Explore the lost hidden kingdom on Upper Mustang Trek.
History – King’s Rule
The king of Mustang enjoyed titular kingship till 2008 when Nepal was declared a republic in the wake of a massive political shift in Nepal. The king was still allowed to hold the title of king, along with petty kings in the former states of Bajhang, Salyan and Jajarkot. Mustang’s capital is Lo Manthang and is still home to the last raja of Mustang.
Tiji Festival 2020 – A Cultural Event
Tiji Festival is the famous Tibetan cultural annual event held in May. Experience the mystic culture of Lo-Manthang in 19, 20 and 21 may 2020.
It is because of the regions recent addition to Nepal and a long history of isolation, Upper Mustang still retains its culture and virgin natural beauty.
The population of Mustang, based on the 2001 consensus, was roughly 14,981 distributed over three larger towns. Scattered throughout the barren district are also some 30 or so smaller settlements. The inhabitants of this region are primarily Gurungs and Thakalis, while some boast a purely Tibetan lineage.
Geography
Mustang was located on a very strategic trade point between India and Tibet and hence this region saw a thriving population. The trekking route that is used today is still the same route that was used during the trade since the 15th century.
Although, this region became a part of Nepal from the 1950s, it was only opened to foreigners until as recent as early 2000s. Access is still restricted, however, as travelling further than Kagbeni would require special trekking permits and travellers to be accompanied by a government official.
Explore the Historic Mountain Caves
The most alluring attraction of Upper Mustang are the Mustang caves or Sky Caves, so called because of hundreds of man-made caves carved into the sides of the cliffs. There are said to be about 10,000 caves in this region. Exploration of these caves have led to the discovery of various Buddhist artifacts, some dating back to the 12th century even. The collected artifacts are Buddhist paintings, sculptures and manuscripts. These along with a 55 panel depiction of Buddha’s life make the Mustang Sky Caves, one of the world’s greatest archeological mysteries.
Trek Difficulty
Upper Mustang Trek is particularly not a difficult one with the highest point reaching only 3,800m but the conditions can be harsh. During the winters, most of the population migrate to lower regions of Nepal due to the harsh conditions, so winter treks are best avoided. The summer months and also the monsoon time is the preferred season for travel.
Best for Monsoon Trekking
Since Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow region of the Himalayas, this place receives scarce rain. This trek generally requires a minimum of 14 days and fairly easy walk through the Kali Gandaki valley with occasional climbs above the valley walls. There is little that grows in the desert of Upper Mustang, but it’s arduous conditions test the travellers’ grit and make them a tougher individual. Here, the journey is the part of the experience, something you will realize when your grit is tested by the harsh cold Mustang winds.
