Mustang

“Mun Tan” is the Tibetan word meaning fertile plain that Mustang is named after. Located in North-Central Nepal on the Central Asian plateau bordering Tibet, Dolpo and Manang, Mustang is the famous former Kingdom of Lo with close language and cultural links to Tibet that was annexed by Nepal at the end of the 18th Century. In fact, between the 15th and 17th centuries, Mustang was considered an important strategic location for trade between India and the Himalayas and a dependency of the Kingdom of Nepal. In 2008, Mustang’s status as a kingdom ended when Nepal became a republic.

Upper Mustang which was first opened in 1992, forms a restricted area experienced by a very few tourists each year. With its wild west feel, Mustang which is a largely dry and arid desert-like environment that is located in the rain shadows of Annapurna massif and Dhaulagiri range. The region is dramatically sculpted by the Kali Gandaki River which is the lifeblood for the sparsely inhabited trans-himalayan settlement of around 15,000 people. The mighty river bisects Mustang and runs southward towards the flat plains of the Terai. Nearly 80% of Mustang is between 3000 and 6400 metres with the Southern third known as Thak comprising the Thakali indigenous group is coined Lower Mustang and included as the northernmost part of the famous Annapurna circuit. Located in one of the deepest gorges in the world, Lower Mustang offers a glimpse into a forgotten world with its famous pilgrimage site of Muktinath contrasted by the seasonal apple delights on offer in Jomsom. In comparison, the Northern two-thirds beyond Annapurna is known as Upper Mustang and requires special entry permits that control tourist numbers to less than several hundred per year.