 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
8848 Nepal announces one rare
trekking package to see: Mustang,
The Forbidden Land of Mysticism
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)
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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
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All the itineraries are subject to change to
suit your schedule
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