mustang@tiji
Featured in the book ‘1000 places to see before you die’, Upper Mustang in Nepal is the hidden treasure for adventurers. The kingdom that represented Tibet culturally and geographically stayed intact because of its political location in Nepal. The kingdom in the citadel of the Himalayas stayed intact until recently indifferent to strife in Tibet and Nepal. The land practiced earliest form of Tibetan Buddhism in its traditional Tibetan style monasteries and honey comb caves. Mustang is one of the greatest achievements in the study of Himalayan anthropology, history and culture.
Driving tour of Mustang is new driving adventure in the Himalayas of Nepal. With the extension of dirt road, tourists can explore the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal in shorter and more convenient way. The drive starts from the foothills of the Himalayas and traverse to the other side through the world’s deepest gorge wedged between two 8,000 m peaks; Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Annapurna I (8,091m). The drastic change of landscape, majestic snow peaks and the mystic land of Mustang makes the trip one of the fascinating driving tour in the Himalayas.
Tiji Festival - the mask dancing festival
In around May, Upper Mustang celebrates mystic mask dancing festival known as Tiji. The festival is about 400 years old and is the last surviving tradition in the Himalayas. The three days long festival commemorates the evil over human, birth of the good and transformation of the evil into Buddha’s realm.
Upper is the last enclave of medieval Tibet which is fast changing to haphazard development and modernization. Visit it before it loses its naturally sustaining medieval feel and the Tibetan Buddhist practices and culture enjoyed with freedom unlike Tibet.
Just to be clear, you don't get to drive a Mustang :(