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Mustang
Introduction
In March 1992, the 'forbidden' kingdom of Mustang
was opened to the outside world. Now, for the first
time in recent history, foreign travelers are able
to visit Lo-Manthang, the seat of an ancient kingdom
dating back to the 15th century.
The Kingdom of Lo is situated along the north
central border of Nepal north of the main range of
the Himalaya's in the upper reaches of Mustang
District. Lo and the area directly to its south,
called Baragaon, which both fall within Upper
Mustang, can be claimed as one of the most
outstanding areas of the Himalaya. The people of
Upper Mustang are called Bhotias and those from Lo
are called Lobas. They speak various dialects of
Tibetan. Historically, their art and culture
flourished due to contact with traders, monks and
religious masters passing between Tibet and India,
or between Ladakh and Bhutan.
The climate and geography of Upper Mustang are
nearly identical to those of Western Tibet and as
such, they are dramatically different from the
temperate and tropical areas of the south side of
the Himalayas. The dry, wind swept ecology of this
Trans-Himalayan region is extremely fragile. Fuel
wood is virtually non-existent, water is scare, the
agricultural land yields insufficient food grains
and the marginal and grasslands support only limited
numbers of livestock and wildlife. With the influx
of tourists, the already pressured desert
environment risks further degradation. In addition,
although the culture has flourished in contact with
other religious and cultural centers of the
Himalayas, its sudden exposure to other worlds
beyond its high plateau may create a negative impact
on the society. In order to keep the destructive
environmental and cultural impact of tourism in
Upper Mustang to an absolute minimum, the Ministry
of Tourism has decided to develop the area as a
model eco-tourism area.
The Ministry of Tourism, has proposed that part of
the revenue generated from trekking royalties to
Upper Mustang, US$700 (per person) for 10 days and
US$70 (per person) for each additional day, be
earmarked for use in UMCDP to sponsor environmental
and cultural preservation efforts and community
development works. An Upper Mustang Development Fund
has been established with the financial support of
the Ministry of Tourism and the American Himalayan
Foundation, to raise the living standard of the
people living in Upper Mustang area. The main aim is
to carry out development activities in the remotest
villages.
Trekking in upper Mustang
Few regions of the great Himalaya remain unraveled.
The ancient kingdom of Mustang in western Nepal is
one of them. Only a handful of foreigners have
crossed the high passes to the valley of Tholung
wherein lies the palace of Lo-Manthang, the seat of
the king of Mustang, who is still in residence.
From Kathmandu
you drive to Pokhara, Nepal's second largest town
set on the shores of Lake Phewa Tal. You spend a day
here relaxing before taking the flight up the great
Kali Gandaki Valley to Jomsom where the trek begins.
You ascend the ridge to the north of the town with a
spectacular panorama of the Annapurna range rising
behind you.
The trail
continues to climb onto this southern edge of the
Tibetan Plateau towards Mustang. There are several
pass crossings (the highest being the Nyi La at
3990m) all of which offer astounding views south to
the Annapurna and north to Tibet, before you make
the final climb to a ridge at 3850 metres.
From here you
look down into the Tholung Valley to the walled city
of Lo-Manthang. Their days here enable you to
explore this remarkable medieval city with its
monasteries and palace or to ride ponies north to
the King- a memorable character from another world.
You then trek back to Jomsom via a different route
before flying to Kathmandu via Pokhara. This is an
exceptional trip.
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TREKKING
ITINERARIES
