Mustang: Travel Diary

It was hard for me to believe i was not going to "RARA" trek with my friends this year. Each year i go trek with my friends in "Nepal" giving some time for myself last was the Ghorepani Ghadruk circuit trek. I hadn't went on trekking before "Ghorepani Ghandruk" circuit trek that was the first trek from me. On the day when i finished the ghorepani ghandruk trek i decided im going to explore my country "Nepal", each corner of the country i full of rich tradition culture and the natural beauty. In the year 2017 our destination was magnificent "Rara" lake. I was skeptical if i could manage time for it and it happened as i had thought not because i couldn't manage time but there was another destination waiting for me. It was no other place than majestic "Mustang" (The forbidden Kingdom).

I was excited for Mustang this time with my cousins. I will be describing my tour write my experience of each day :

Day 1:

We took bus from Kathmandu at 7:00Am to Pokhara. Reached Pokhara around 4:00PM and stayed in KGH's "Waterfront Resort". We stayed in Pokhara that day and enojyed the evening sunset at "Fewa Lake" took a walk on lake side and we went to the Pokhara Kitchen for Authentic "Thakali" Dinner.

Day 2: 

We were ready to start our trip to Mustang we took morning flight from Pokhara airport to Jomsom airport. The small plane could not fly it we past the time to 10:30 due to extreme wind condition. The wind in Jomsom is so strong after 11 the plane can't land so there is only morning flight. We reached Jomsom and as soon as I stepped our of the airplane I felt the the cold wind of Jomsom on my face. We had our room booked in lodge near Jomsom with airport with the help our my cousin's friend. Had a lunch on the restaurant of the lodge. Explored Jomsom that day. On the afternoon my cousin's friend managed a vehicle for Muktinath Temple which is 2hr off-road drive from Jomsom. After 2hr drive we reached to the base of muktinath temple where the moterable road ends.  Now we had to hike 30min to reach the muktinath temple so we decided to take horse. The 180 cold tap water of the temple was extremely cold that i cant bear the cold i had to swap my hand to touch the water even for few second. We returned back to Jomsom and it was dark already and we also had to cross the "Kaligandaki River" through the river on our four wheeler but unfortulately on the dark we forgot the place from where we crossed the river so we had to leave our vehicle other side of the river and went to the lodge by suspension bridge. 

Day 3:

We were still at Jomsom strolling around the small village exploring culture and living. After lunch we took ride to "Dhumba Lake" (turquoise lake) from where the panaroma view of "Dhaulagiri" range can be seen and it is on the base of "Nilgiri Himal". From the top we can view the Jomsom valley. After the short trip to "Dhumba Lake" we went to the my cusion's friend home and drank tibeten tea. The internal artiteche of the home was unbelieavle. It hard to imagin how it looks inside the house just by looking outside.

Day 4:

We took jeep to "Chusang" for the uppermustang trip from "Chusang" we had to take another jeep. after few bumpy drive we reached to "Chusang" and took another vehicle for upper-mustang "Lomangthan". On this ride we had already found some people with us on the same vehicle who became our friend. On few stops we eat apples from trees and strolled around village. Few passenger were already off to their stops. On the place called "Dhakmar" one of the passenger got off to his stop. After few Kilometer drive the driver couldn't steer the vehicle and was started to skid towards the cliff but somehow the driver managed to stop the vehicle later on the we found out due to less tire pressure it happened and the vehicle was stopped because of on big stone, thanks to the stone and the driver who manage to stop the skidding vehicle. It took 3hr to repair and bring the vehicle on track during that time we took shelter on the local school where we were warmly welcomed with hot cup of tea. The time with the students of school was amazing. As soon as the vehicle was repaired and was on track we started to move again it was already twilight. On one place the vehicle stopped for a while for break so we we out of vehicle to stretch our body, the sky was so clear that the core of milky way was visible with our naked eye. After that we went straight to the hotel.  

Day 5:

On day 5 after breakfast we took 3 hrs hike to the Mountain cave "SHIJA JHONG CAVE" on the was we passed through different village "Chhoser village" wa one of the beautiful villagei have ever seen on my life. The "SHIJA JHONG CAVE" is unbelieable. One cannot believe until he sees it. The caves are dug on the cliffs, there is chambers inside well ventilated and they are upto 5 levels each connecting the upper and lower levels. There are over 10,000 man made cave which are dug into the mountain. They are also called sky cave. Archrologist have found mummified human bodies and skeletons that are at least 2000-3000 years old. Many artifacts  has been discovered belonging to the 12th and 14th century.

We hiked back to "Lomangthan" and explored the palace of King of Mustang, went to monastry and the local school. The day was well spent at "lomangthan". 

Day 5:

There was still so many places left in mustang to explore but due to time frame we had to return back with the amazing experience. We returned back from "Lomangthan" by the same route. Stayed on Jomsom and we were invited on dinner by my cousin's friend. Will the travel ecperience I learned the living, lost myself on the beauty of nature and the himalays. 

Day 6:

Returned back to Pokhara from Jomsom airport on ariplane. Stayed on the same resort and spend the evening at lake side with the friends whom I meet on the Mustang trip.

Mustang was one of the most memorable exploration to the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau as well as The last Forbidden kingdom "Upper Mustang"