Upper Mustang 

Mustang (in Nepali meaning "fertile plain") is a mystic land in the rain shadow area of Nepal. Mustang is the ancient Himalayan Kingdom which is situated in the Trans Himalayan region at an average altitude of 4,000m and lies in the northern central part of Nepal at the top of the Kaligandaki River. Mustang is the hidden world of the old Buddhist kingdom called Lo.  Lo used to be part of the Tibetan empire and is therefore closely related to Tibet.  Tibetan Buddhism is still being practiced in a very pure form and villages are built in Tibetan style, with whitewashed houses with firewood tucked on the roofs. Upper Mustang consists of two distinct regions: the southern part and the northern where the languages, culture, and traditions are alike to those of the Tibetan people. Upper Mustang was a separate kingdom within Nepal until the time of Monarchy till 2006 and even after the downfall of the Monarchy this small Tibetan settlement has the same respect for their King Jigme Paramal Bista.

The major attraction of Upper Mustang is the walled city of Lo-Manthang. Lo Mangtang is a medieval town, surrounded by a huge town wall. From the pass Lo La (3950 m) we can see the town shimmering in the distance in the barren landscape.  Entering Lo Mangtang through the town gate you enter a different world. It is just wonderful to wander through the narrow alleys. In Lo Mangtang you can find the palace of the king, a huge 4 story high building. When the king is at home, you can even visit him sometimes. The king doesn’t have any real power anymore but is of course still highly respected by his people. Upper Mustang is a restricted area and up till 1992, it was forbidden for foreign visitors to enter the kingdom. 

Upper Mustang, with topography and culture resembling Tibet, has many unique features and attractions. It is considered one of the most interesting and picturesque places in Nepal. The whole area has an isolated and mystical feel to it, enchanting and inspiring visitors to this region. The people here are Tibetan in origin and their way of life and spoken language reflect this ancestral lineage. The people of Mustang call themselves Lobas. Here we can see a few beautiful big monasteries, for example, the Thugchen Gompa, built in the 15th century, the Amchi museum, and Amchi School, a century-old cave-dwelling, situated high in the rocks. An Amchi is a traditional Tibetan doctor. 2 Amchis are living in Lo Mangtang, which are also the official doctors of the king. They founded a school to preserve this ancient wisdom. 

Mustang’s natural and cultural treasures have made it one of the most popular tourist and trekking destinations in Nepal.