9 reasons You must visit Upper Mustang once in your Lifetime

9 reasons You must visit Upper Mustang once in your Lifetime

Mustang, an ancient Kingdom of Lo, is a remote and secluded province in the Himalayas of Nepal. Existing within the boundary of Nepal and Tibet, the region is mostly influenced by Tibetan Culture and Lifestyle in the higher altitudes. Due to its distant existence, Upper Mustang is sealed by segregation from the outer world. The people and their lifestyle, the language they speak, their foods and clothes as well as the houses they live in the Upper Mustang are disparate to the usual world. But what makes it so distinctive and appealing that every year millions of people are fanatical about Upper Mustang Trekking? Well, this question might arise for those who have heard about Upper Mustang but have not been there yet. So, we are here with 9 incredible factors behind the gigantic popularity of Upper Mustang Trek.

Desert-like landscape – the cold desert

The desert-like landscape of Upper Mustang despite the fact that it is in the Himalayas is a matter of wonder. The sandy and windy trails with prayer flags blowing flawlessly on the cold desert with Chortens and other small monuments standing along the trail is what one can experience only at Mustang.

Inimitable History

Mustang once was an independent kingdom, despite the fact that the culture and language were highly influenced by Tibetan culture. Mustang was an ancient salt trade route and had ruled over the trades between the Himalayas and India from the 15th to 17th century before it was invaded by Nepal and became part of Nepal’s empire in 1795.

Restricted Area

The Upper Mustang was a restricted demilitarized area before 1992. This is the reason; Upper Mustang is one of the most preserved regions in the world. Nowadays, visitors would require to have issued special permits for Upper Mustang Restricted Area as well as Annapurna Conservation Area Permit to legally visit this region.

Mountain Panorama

Upper Mustang is the best spot to observe the eye-dazzling panoramic view of Mountain Ranges including the mighty Annapurna ranges and Dhaulagiri ranges. As well as, some of the peaks like Sarebong, Thorong La, and so on could also be noticed from Upper Mustang.

The holy and spiritual Muktinath

Muktinath, the holy and spiritual spot for both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimages is the foremost reason that people often consider visiting Mustang as a sacred activity. There is a belief that taking a bath in the 108 taps of Muktinath will wash away your sins and there is a natural hot spring i.e. Tatopani which is supposed to heal any kind of aches as well as wash away the sins.

Arts beyond imagination

While you are visiting Upper Mustang, it is very frequent to perceive Mani Walls and Mani Stone since there are numerous Buddhist Monasteries along the trail. But one of the most enchanting and alluring parts of visiting Upper Mustang is the exotic arts and the red monastery which has its own magnetism.

Myths and Legends

It is obvious that every place has got its own importance and beliefs. Moreover, the myths and legends regarding various events and activities are something worth analyzing. Upper Mustang has a huge range of myths and legends to offer you, what are you waiting for? Moreover, there is a very auspicious festival called Tiji Festival which is celebrated during the month of March and has its own significance and impact.

Rain Shadow Area

Unlike other trekking destinations, Upper Mustang doesn’t have any boundary or time frame. Tourists can visit Upper Mustang anytime around the year because Upper Mustang lies in the rain shadow area and receives much less rainfall, even during monsoons.

Effortless Trek

Upper Mustang Trek is relatively very easy and shorter than any of the treks in Nepal. Similar or fewer opportunities to explore make it the prime destination for trekking in Nepal. Likewise, Upper Mustang is fully accessible by road so everyone can trek Upper Mustang despite age, fitness, and other boundaries.

Moreover, the Mustang Valley of Nepal has been listed as one of the best places to go in 2023 by CNN Travel.

Thank you for reading this article about reasons to visit Upper Mustang once in a lifetime! Please feel free to leave your feedback and suggestions regarding this article.

 

 

Source: Nepal Mountain Trekkers