Mustang still retains a way of life that has changed little over the centuries
Tightly sealed off to the outside world until 1992, Mustang still preserves within its boundary a culture and a way of life that has changed a little over the centuries. Still presided over by its hereditary dynasty, this unique kingdom within country has Tibetan Buddhist monasteries that pre-date many monasteries within Tibet, and well preserved Tibetan Buddhism.
Jomsom
District Headquarter of Mustang, Jomsom is famous for its exhilarating spiritual environment. Jomsom area is not only the most popular trekking destination in Nepal but is also the gateway to shrines that holds great religious significance to both Buddhists and Hindus. The only means to access Jomsom till a few years back used to be by trekking and small aircraft or helicopter. Now a motorable road via Beni connects it to the rest of the country. There are about eight flights daily from Pokhara to Jomsom, each flight taking 20 minutes. Pokhara is in turn connected to Kathmandu by road and air, which is about 30 minutes by air and five hours by road. Usually, a short flight takes the passengers from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then a connecting flight to Jomsom. The flights take place early in the morning because of the weather. In the afternoon, it is too windy for small aircraft to fly to or from Jomsom.
Sightseeing
The central feature of Jomsom is the massive white-walled Royal palace with the world least known monarch. Lo Marthan, in fact, is the full name of the 2,000 square kilometer kingdom founded in the 14th century by a Tibetan warlord Ama Pal and the present King is Jigme Dorje Parbal Bista. Fabled Mustang, as it is known on the maps, is only an honorary kingdom these days, but each night King Jigme, the 25th monarch of the dynasty, orders the only gate of the mud-walled capital shut and barred. Twelve dukes, 60 monks, and 152 families occupy the capital. King Jigme still owns serfs who plough his stony fields for crops.
The treasures of Lo are many and priceless: a wealth of Tibetan art, monasteries, and fort set in 23 villages and two towns. The names of many of Mustang’s monasteries that are craved into cliff faces are derived from the Tibetan phrase ‘mon than’ which means ‘plain of prayer’. You have to climb ladders to reach them. Other wealth lays in the rocky hills – turquoise and rich deposits of alluvial gold on the beds of the rivers that course through the land. Lo’s citizens, however, consider panning for this metal as demeaning to their dignity.
Muktinath
This small but famous three-storey temple is situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters, 110 kilometers from Pokhara. The temple is to the north of Jomsom and the temple contains the image of Jwala Mai (the goddess of flame). An eternal flame has been burning inside the temple continuously since time immemorial and this temple draws both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims alike. Black amniotic fossil, thought as the embodiment of lord Vishnu, is found in plenty in the area and pilgrims travel long distance over rugged trails to collect these.
Kali Gandaki Gorge
The deepest gorge in the world, Kali Gandaki Gorge, is flanked on one side by the daunting massif of Annapurna and on the other side only 35 kilometers away, by the summit of Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters). In between is the village of Tatopani, where tourists can relax in the hot water spring.
Climate: Sub-tropical, cool, temperature, alpines
Himalayan peaks: Dhaulagiri, Dhaulagiri I and Mustang
Accommodation facilities: Local lodges
Accessibility: Airways, roads
Communication: Post office, wireless internet
Predominant language/culture: Gurung, Thakali, Magar, Chhetri, Kami
Tourist attraction center: Jomsom, Muktinath, Dhami, Tukuche, Tatopani, Tilicho Lake, Dhampus peak
Tightly sealed off to the outside world until 1992, Mustang still preserves within its boundary a culture and a way of life that has changed a little over the centuries. Still presided over by its hereditary dynasty, this unique kingdom within country has Tibetan Buddhist monasteries that pre-date many monasteries within Tibet, and well preserved Tibetan Buddhism.
Jomsom
District Headquarter of Mustang, Jomsom is famous for its exhilarating spiritual environment. Jomsom area is not only the most popular trekking destination in Nepal but is also the gateway to shrines that holds great religious significance to both Buddhists and Hindus. The only means to access Jomsom till a few years back used to be by trekking and small aircraft or helicopter. Now a motorable road via Beni connects it to the rest of the country. There are about eight flights daily from Pokhara to Jomsom, each flight taking 20 minutes. Pokhara is in turn connected to Kathmandu by road and air, which is about 30 minutes by air and five hours by road. Usually, a short flight takes the passengers from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then a connecting flight to Jomsom. The flights take place early in the morning because of the weather. In the afternoon, it is too windy for small aircraft to fly to or from Jomsom.
Sightseeing
The central feature of Jomsom is the massive white-walled Royal palace with the world least known monarch. Lo Marthan, in fact, is the full name of the 2,000 square kilometer kingdom founded in the 14th century by a Tibetan warlord Ama Pal and the present King is Jigme Dorje Parbal Bista. Fabled Mustang, as it is known on the maps, is only an honorary kingdom these days, but each night King Jigme, the 25th monarch of the dynasty, orders the only gate of the mud-walled capital shut and barred. Twelve dukes, 60 monks, and 152 families occupy the capital. King Jigme still owns serfs who plough his stony fields for crops.
The treasures of Lo are many and priceless: a wealth of Tibetan art, monasteries, and fort set in 23 villages and two towns. The names of many of Mustang’s monasteries that are craved into cliff faces are derived from the Tibetan phrase ‘mon than’ which means ‘plain of prayer’. You have to climb ladders to reach them. Other wealth lays in the rocky hills – turquoise and rich deposits of alluvial gold on the beds of the rivers that course through the land. Lo’s citizens, however, consider panning for this metal as demeaning to their dignity.
Muktinath
This small but famous three-storey temple is situated at an altitude of 3,800 meters, 110 kilometers from Pokhara. The temple is to the north of Jomsom and the temple contains the image of Jwala Mai (the goddess of flame). An eternal flame has been burning inside the temple continuously since time immemorial and this temple draws both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims alike. Black amniotic fossil, thought as the embodiment of lord Vishnu, is found in plenty in the area and pilgrims travel long distance over rugged trails to collect these.
Kali Gandaki Gorge
The deepest gorge in the world, Kali Gandaki Gorge, is flanked on one side by the daunting massif of Annapurna and on the other side only 35 kilometers away, by the summit of Dhaulagiri (8,167 meters). In between is the village of Tatopani, where tourists can relax in the hot water spring.
Climate: Sub-tropical, cool, temperature, alpines
Himalayan peaks: Dhaulagiri, Dhaulagiri I and Mustang
Accommodation facilities: Local lodges
Accessibility: Airways, roads
Communication: Post office, wireless internet
Predominant language/culture: Gurung, Thakali, Magar, Chhetri, Kami
Tourist attraction center: Jomsom, Muktinath, Dhami, Tukuche, Tatopani, Tilicho Lake, Dhampus peak
