Upper Mustang trekking general information
Upper Mustang trekking – General information
The Upper Mustang region lies in the Northern part of the Mustang district in Nepal. It used to be one of the famous trading routes between Nepal and Tibet. The people of Mustang practice Tibetan Buddhism and speak a Tibetan dialect. It once was an independent Kingdom from 1380 until it was annexed into Nepal in the 18th century.
Upper Mustang caves
The people of Upper Mustang practice animal husbandry, trading, and some limited seasonal farming. Farming was always limited due to its position in the Trans Himalayas with a semi-arid climate. However, the receding glaciers have made it even more difficult to cultivate in this high land in recent years. So much so that some villages have been abandoned, and the inhabitants have migrated elsewhere: ironic for the place called Smon-Thang in Tibetan, which means fertile plain.
For more details about Upper Mustang
Upper Mustang trekking
To reach Upper Mustang, one must travel northwards of the Kali Gandaki Valley, the most in-depth ravine globally, with Mount Nilgiri 7055 meters – 7134 meters and Mount Dhaulagiri 8167 meters, the seventh highest peak in the world to its South. The average altitude of the Mustang is around 4000 meters. The capital, Lo Manthang, is a walled city. Trekkers were only allowed to visit the Upper Mustang in 1992. Nepal government charges a special area permit of US$500 for ten days and $50 for every additional day in this area.
A liaison office must also accompany the visiting international groups to keep close supervision to protect centuries-old local traditions and cultures. Due to this high permit fee, less than 1000 trekkers visit this region every year. Only the Bonafide Trekking companies of Nepal can obtain this special area permit. For more on Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang is known for its high whitewashed mud-brick walls, Gompas, and the King’s five-storey palace. It is believed to have been constructed in the 15th century. There are four significant Gompas within the walled city.
Upper Mustang Hike
An average trekking duration depends on the number of stops made in various villages. However, you can do a comfortable 10-15 days round trip journey to Upper Mustang. It involves trekking on dry, dusty trails with several passes to go over to reach Lo Manthang. The road from Tibet already got Lo Manthang in 2001, and a fair-weather highway is under construction from Jomsom, the administrative headquarter of Mustang District. Due to road construction, locals have turned to ride motorcycles or horse riding.
Upper Mustang is still mysterious and surreal. Please visit Upper Mustang while you still have a chance to discover its unspoiled beauty. We do organize a hassle-free trekking holiday to Upper Mustang.
The King of Mustang, Jigme Paljor Bista, passed away on 16th December 2016, aged 86.
This article is by Raj Tamang,
Chief Experience Officer of Responsible Adventures.
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