Tiji Festival - Lo Manthang (Upper Mustang) The Lost Kingdom of Tibet

Upper Mustang - The Last Lost Kingdom of Tibet (formerly Kingdom of Lo) is an upper part (Northern area) of Mustang District, which is located in Nepal. The Upper Mustang was a restricted kingdom until 1992 which makes it one of the most preserved regions in the world. It resides in the northern corridor of the Annapurna massif that completely shields the rain clouds from entering the region, making it a rain-shadow area with a majority of the population still speaking traditional Tibetan languages. Tibetan culture has been preserved by the relative isolation of the region from the outside world.
The forbidden Kingdom of Mustang, which extends deep into the Tibetan plateau, is located near the Chinese border and inside Nepal, beyond the 8,000-meter ranges of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri. For centuries, the Kingdom of Mustang has been inhabited mainly by the Lobos. This ancient town is home to the former royal palace, monasteries, and intricately designed mud-brick houses. Exploring its narrow alleys and visiting its monastic centers offers a glimpse into the region's rich heritage, dotted with Buddhist monasteries and gompas that reflect the strong influence of Tibetan Buddhism. The Thubchen Gompa and Jampa Lhakhang are significant religious sites adorned with exquisite murals, statues, and ancient scriptures.
Geographically, the region is a rain-shadow area, sheltered by the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges. The landscape of this region is made up of barren cliffs, deep gorges, and extensive valleys that are dotted with traditional Tibetan-style villages. For centuries, the Kali Gandaki River has created the dramatic terrain that is visible throughout this area.
Tiji Festival is the grand Tibetan-Buddhist festival celebrated in the Lo-Manthang City of Upper Mustang. The festival remains endemic to the people of Upper Mustang. The term "Tiji" stands for “Tenchi." Both of these are the short forms of Tenpa Chirim, which means prayer for world peace.
The three-day festival begins with a peaceful dance, which escalates to a vibrant performance depicting the winning of the good over the evil. On the last day of the festival, performers disguise themselves as demons and gods and wear eccentric masks and horns called "Dhungchen."
The Tiji Festival Trek begins at Jomsom, the headquarters of Mustang District. One can fly to Jomsom via Pokhara or take a long 10-hour road journey along the Kali Gandaki River to reach Jomsom.
Mustang lies in the northern corridor of the Annapurna massif that completely shields the rain clouds from entering the region, making it a rain-shadow area. One can get to enjoy the mesmerizing view of Annapurna I (8091m) and Dhaulagiri peak (8167m) during this trek.
After leaving Jomsom, the trail begins to ascend north along the Kali Gandaki River. One will encounter a tremendous amount of undulating trails with many passes ranging from 3,500 meters to 4,200 meters. The trail passes and crosses the popular remote settlements of Kagbeni, Chele, Zhalte, Syangboche, Dhakmar, Gelling, Lo Gekar, Charang, Yara, and Luri Gompa to reach Lo Manthang. One will be amazed by the mesmerizing view of Annapurna I (8091m) and Dhaulagiri (8167m) while trekking.
Lo Manthang is a small settlement protected by walls on all sides. Making a side trip to visit the Muktinath Temple (3,800 m) via Tange is one of the best highlights of this trek.
To embark on an Upper Mustang Trek in Nepal, it is essential to obtain three permits. These permits are for the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the Trekkers Information Management System (TIMS), and a special permit issued by the Nepal Immigration office. This special permit can only be obtained through a Government-authorized trekking agency.
The special permit to enter the Upper Mustang region costs USD 500 per trekker for the first ten days. The cost of an additional day is USD 50. In addition to the special permit, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) permit costs around USD 30 per person.
To put it simply, the region of Upper Mustang is very well and highly preserved, and still hold the charm of traditional Tibetan culture.
Background Track Courtsey: Snow Mountain by Daiqing Tana & Haya Band from the album Silent Sky
雪山
HAYA樂團
寂靜的天空
Camera: Fujifilm Xpro-2 | Leica Dlux-7 | Iphone