Mustang(avg altitude 15,000 ft; 4,800 m), The Mystical Land of the Lo
olpo's neighboring kingdom, where myth and
fantasy seem stronger than reality, is Mustang, reached by a ong, trek through Kali
Gandaki gorge over the one, desperately hihg, south-east facing pass into Dolpo. The
native name for this lunar land of canyons and ridges is Lo. In the capital, Mustang,
dominated by fortress walls, hte central feture is the massive white-walled Royal _alace
in which lives the world's least known monarch. Schools are bringing change. But while the
youngsters come home filled with stories of space fights which they've heard on the
classroom wireless, their grandparents still believe the world is flat and shped like a
half moon.
More on Mustang and Lo Manthang
Lo Manthang, in fact is the full name of the 2,000 sq km (772 sq mile) kingdom of His Highness King Jigme Parwal Bista, founded in the fourteenth century by the Tiberan warlord Ama Pal, It lies on a barren valey floor at around 4,800 m (15,000 ft), snug against the Tibetan border on three sides and guarded by formidable 7,300 m high mountains pierced only by narrow passes. On the Npela side, massive Dhaulagiri, at 8,167 m (26,795 ft) the world's seventh highest mountain, provides the defence which has sealed Lo from the outside world through centuries.
Fabled Mustang, as it's now known on the map, is only and "honorary" kingdom these days but each night King Jigme, the 25th monarch sonce the 1480s, orders the only gae of the mud-walled capital shut and barred to keep out invadrs or intruders. Twelve dukes, 60 monks, 152 families and eight witches occupy the capital. King Jigme still owns serfs who plow his stony fields for grain crops. But Lo's treasures are many and priceless: a wealth of Tibetan art, monasteries - the name derives from the Tibetan phrase meaning "plain of prayers", mon thang - are carved into cliff faces. You climb ladder to reach them. Other wealth lioes in the rocky hills: turquois, and tich deposits of alluvial gold on the beds of the rivers that course throught hte land. But Lo's citizens consider the task of planning for this metal beneath their dignity.
The King's subjects - Lopas, who are Laimaist Buddhists - number around 8,000 and speak their own dialect of the Tibetan language. The women practice polyandry - often marrying two or three brothers. The king keps his authority as a ruler by virtue of a 160 year old treat to King Birendra Shah's dynansty dn payment to Nepal of 886 ruppes a year adn one horse. In return he holds hte rank of Colonel in the Nepali Army.
So archaic is the kingdom, matches were unknown until few years ago and superstitious fears are rampant. The whole land goes to bed in terror of Lo's 416 demons of land, sky, fire, and water, and life is dedicated to warding off evil spirits whch can cause Lo's 1,080 known diseases as well as five forms of violent death. Thus, for three days each year, King Jigme's ubjects celebrate New Year by "chasing the demons": witht he noise of cymbals, drums, and notes made by playin on human skull, filling the air.
Not a single tree grows in this arid and withered land. To supplement their monotonous diet of yak milk adn sour cheese, they nurture fragile gardens. Fro trade ,the Lopas deal in salt from Tibet. The trail they follow winds for 240 km (150 m) aling th eKali Gandali gorge between Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. (From The Insider's guide to Nepal. by Brian Tetly)
Adventure Makalu announces one rare trekking package to see: Mustang, The Forbidden Land of Mysticism
Mustang Trek: The Land of Mysticism(Sep-Nov, May –Sep)
Mustang, the land of Lo, lie behind the two giants, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. The Tibetan plateau is a fascinating country offering a unique opportunity to trek through one of the most isolated places on earth. Isolated for so many years due to its remote and politically sensitive situation, Mustang intrigues us with its powerful aura of magic and mystery.
A Shangri-La rich in spiritual reward with a cultural spiritual reward with a culture insight into primitive settlement by devout Buddhist whose life-style remain unchanged for centuries.
We explore the walled capital o fLo-Manthang, virtually untouched since the 14th century and docover monasteries rich in art and history, ruins of old forts and caves adorned religious relics.
Itinerary
Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel
Day 02 Full Day sightseeing around the Kathmandu
Valley
Day 03 Fly to Pokhara
Day 04 Fly to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni
Day 05 Trek to Chusang
Day 06 Trek to Samar
Day 07 Trek to Gelung
Day 08 Trek to Giling
Day 09 Trek to Tsarang
Day 10 Trek to Lo-Manthang
Day 11 Free day at Lo-Manthang
Day 12 Trek to Lo-Gekhar
Day 13 Trek to Ghemi
Day 14 Trek to Ekla Bhatti
Day 15 Trek to Tangbe
Day 16 Trek to Kagbeni
Day 17 Trek to Jomsom
Day 18 Fly Jomsom/Pokhara/Kathmandu
Day 19 Free day in Kathmandu
Day 20 Free Day in Kathmandu
Day 21 Departure from Kathmandu
All the itineraries are subject to change to suit your schedule
Please write to the MANAGER to get more detail on all the routes.