Treks in Mustang

About Mustang

The former Himalayan kingdom of Mustang is an arid and starkly beautiful land. Long protected from mass tourism, its allure has come from its inaccessibility and its reputation as a last bastion of traditional Tibetan culture.

 

Geography

Officially Mustang is the name of the entire district along the Kali Gandaki from the Tibetan border south to Ghasa on the Annapurna Circuit. The restricted are of Tibetan influence lies north of Kagbeni, and Nepalis refer to this as upper Mustang.

Upper Mustang consists of two distinct regions: the southern part and the northern part. The southern part has five villages inhabited by the people related to the Manangis. The northern part is the former kingdom of Lo. This is where language, culture and traditions are almost purely Tibetan. The capital of Lo is Manthang.

The people of Mustang

The 7000 people of Upper Mustang call themselves Lobas, meaning 'Lo people'.

They herd yaks, raise goats and sheep, and farm buckwheat, barley, wheat and mustard. The harsh conditions allow only one crop a year, except in the villages below Chhuksang where two crops are grown. Planting is in April and May, and during September the entire region is busy with the harvest. Many residents leave Mustang between November and March to sell sweaters in southern Nepal or India or work in Kathmandu.