Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek

Early morning taking mountain flight to Jomsom, a 20-minute flight offer aerial Mountain view of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri range. Jomsom is a commercial city of Mustang also popular for organic apple varieties like Apple pie, Apple brandy, Apple cider, etc. The barren landscapes and high mountains can sight from Jomsom airport. After breakfast trek begins and follows the route on wide Kaligandaki River with seeing marvelous sceneries on strong force wind to Kagbeni village via Eklebhatti. Kagbeni village, the entrance point to the forbidden kingdom, Upper Mustang. Afternoon explores the medieval flat roof village also visit Kag Chodden Buddhist monastery. Also see the entrance and exit of the village have male and female phallic, local believed it is a guard of the village.

We leave from the lodge, trek goes through the middle of village and checks restricted permits before leave village behind us. Now short ascend up, it present soaring peak and smoky Tibetan village with huge Kaligandi valley. The flat trail lead on arid canyon with eyeing beautiful image of mound to small Tengbe village. From here walk drop down to bank of river then short walk bring us at Chhusang village, a small village separated by Tetang River. We stop here for lunch, now trek continuous north coastline of river with viewing colorful traditional grave, Chorten and Stupa with favorable local atmosphere. Cross steel bridge over Kaligandaki River where river throughout natural cliff tunnel on ravine. East side of canyon has huge cliff with 16 beautiful cave. The trail upward with climbing on pasture and terrace to Tsaile village, the Chaile village located at tiny ridge, it offers amazing sunset view on Thorong peak, Tilicho peak and Nilgiri Himal.

Today walk is comparatively harder than the previous day because approximately 900 m ascending up and 450 m descending. The trail lead throughout traditional Chele village and straightway climbing up on huge cliff until Taklam La pass and then taking a break, Samar village and enjoy to see the breathtaking scenery of a nearby mountain. From here follow branch trail with lot shingles with descending to Chungsi Kangchung Cave also called Guru Rinpoche monastery. The semi-cave is decorated by lungda and Buddhist flags, it is popular for meditation and retreatment.
A trek resume and ascending up to Syangboche and then level trail continuous on the plateau to Ghiling village where highly chance to encounter wild animals likes Jackal, deer, and fox. A small village with Tibetan cultural influence has some beautiful monastery and large old-era Chhorten in the middle of the village.

After breakfast, the trail ahead to Tsarang village with walking thru the large Ghami village where Mustang King has winter palace. The route crossing over Nyi La (4020 m) and Tsarang La (3880 m) which expose the best view of surrounding mountains and spectacular semi-plateau landscapes. A trail often passes seasonal vegetation farm and mountainous grain terrain also walking alongside longest mani wall of Nepal. Tsarang village has beautiful red and white painted Buddhist gompa also visit king palace and fortress.

A trek begins and walking throughout flat-roofed Tibetan culture village and beside of potatoes and buckwheat farm to Ghar gompa. Follow the gentle uphill track on the mountain where several rare herbs found and local use to make homeopathic medicine. The route crossing over Tholung-La (4340 m), the highest point of the Upper Mustang trek. From the summit enjoy to see the picturesque view of Lomanthang below popular trekking peak example Tilicho peak, Bhrikuti peak, Sarebung, and Damodar Danda. Lomanthang, the walled city has four beautiful monasteries and palace of Mustang king.

The first day of Tiji Festival called “Tsa Chham” start early morning from Chhyoden Gompa then a short walk to Thubchen monastery, the ritual begins by a group of monks on the big hall. After that decorative costumes wearer monks make a short walk to Gyalbo palace with permission of mustang king. Monk starts colorful Tiji festival around 2 pm courtyard of the palace. While sitting on the ground you will be greeted by women’s groups in fabulous traditional attires and jewelry. Only monks from Chhyoden gompa is performing on the festival but all the four Buddhist sects come to watch the annual ceremony. The group of monks is dancing in elaborate address and attires, where other lamas are playing copper trumpet dunchen, Gong, frame drum, cymbals, conch sell horn, and Tibetan Flageolets

Another important day in Tiji festival ceremony where the head of most villages attend and witness to watch colorful monk's annual festival. The Mustang king also a participant to see grand monks' festival. Again the second day of Tiji festival starting after midday in front of the royal palace. 2nd Day of Tenjee festival is one of the important ritual days along with the three days festival, the courtyard will be occupied by native and international visitor. The local come with colorful dressed-up as well as different old-style jewelry make the ceremony more vivid and worth it. Better to make your way to square as early as possible, there will be hives of people to observe the cultural show. The fantastic Himalayan festival will continue with a performance of Buddhism monks on the rhythm of Buddhist chant, the yellow and red hat wear monk with play cymbals, various dungchen, human thighbone flutes etc. whatever monks and native done, it means to chase away the evil spirit from the lost Buddhist kingdom. We can see mask dance and skeleton dance.

The morning will use with visiting natural hot spring north east of Lomanthang which takes 3 hours. Today is the final day of the festival and again it starts at 2 pm. Tiji centennial ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma (barley cakes). The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, whereupon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devil's remains are overturned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke. The red hat monks chant and play the dungchen, elephant skin drum conch and cymbals on the palace ground. Then monks move with playing instrument across the village and stop a few corners before reach terminal. One monk will dance on the rhythm of chant and instrument, the old gun explosion on other corners of the ground.

It is around 6/7 hours off-road drive from Lo-manthang to Jomsom. Along the driving journey can stop and stretch your leg also enjoy to see the surrounding scenery. Drive through-out villages and mountains till Chhusang village then continues journey bank of Kaligandaki River to Jomsom via Kagbeni village. You will have impressive Mountain View of Nilgiri and Dhaulagiri en route of Jomsom.

We are taking an early morning flight from Jomsom to Pokhara, the flight follows the route above the world deepest gorge between Mt. Annapurna and Mount Dhaulagiri. Upon arrival, Pokhara airport transfer to your hotel then enjoys a day by exploring colorful Lakeside and Phewa Lake.
In option can drive to Pokhara from Jomsom which would be approximately 10 hours, the road contains both off-road and paved road through the villages, gorge, cultivate terrain and densely populated cities.