Exploring the Himalayan vastness of Mustang
Mustang is among the most remote and sparsely populated regions of Nepal
Bulwarked by colossal Himalayan peaks, Mustang is among the most remote and sparsely populated regions of Nepal. It was long an independent kingdom known as Lo, and remains "grounded in its own past", says Chandrahas Choudhury in Condé Nast Traveller. Encompassing the upper reaches of the Kali Gandaki river and the surrounding mountains – the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs – this is an arid and sombre place, windy and stony. Merchants once carried wool and salt down from Tibet to India through this valley (by some measures, the world's deepest gorge). It is still "a stronghold of Tibetan culture" – but in such "monumental" surroundings, humans and their concerns feel like "an afterthought".
Tourism in Upper Mustang is strictly controlled by a permit system, but there's much to see in its lower reaches, where a new 29-room hotel, Shinta Mani Mustang, opened last year. A low-slung structure made from timber and stone, it sits above the regional capital, Jomsom (pop. 1,370), and has floor-to-ceiling windows affording views of the peak of Nilgiri. It's a good base for hikes to "serene" monasteries, and to villages such as Marpha, which has flagstoned streets lined with teahouses and shops that "buzz with life".
Among the most remarkable walking destinations near Jomsom is the tiny village of Lubra, where locals still espouse Bon, the pantheistic faith that predates Buddhism in Tibet. An ancient walnut tree, "gnarled and great-canopied", grows at its entrance, and above it stands a 12th century temple where Bon symbols appear alongside frescoes depicting Buddhist legends "rich in demons and serpents". It's also worth hiking up to wondrous wild redoubts such as Chhema Lake, a silent perch from which to contemplate the "unblinking stillness" of the icy peaks all around.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Doubles at Shinta Mani Mustang (shintamanimustang.com) start from £1,465 for five nights, all-inclusive.
Sign up for The Week's Travel newsletter for destination inspiration and the latest news and trends.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Magnificent Tudor castles and stately homes to visit this year
The Week Recommends The return of 'Wolf Hall' has sparked an uptick in visits to Britain's Tudor palaces
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Ed Park's 6 favorite works about self reflection and human connection
Feature The Pulitzer Prize finalist recommends works by Jason Rekulak, Gillian Linden, and more
By The Week US Published
-
6 fantastic homes in Columbus, Ohio
Feature Featuring a 1915 redbrick Victorian in German Village and a modern farmhouse in Woodland Park
By The Week Staff Published
-
Vegetable cocktails are having a moment
The Week Recommends Wild carrot margarita? Mung bean old-fashioned? 'Allotment-inspired' tipples are appearing on drinks menus
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Renegade comedian Youngmi Mayer's frank new memoir is a blitzkrieg to the genre
The Week Recommends 'I'm Laughing Because I'm Crying' details a biracial life on the margins, with humor as salving grace
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Drawing the Italian Renaissance: a 'relentlessly impressive' exhibition
The Week Recommends Show at the King's Gallery features an 'enormous cache' of works by the likes of Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael
By The Week UK Published
-
Niall Williams shares his favourite books
The Week Recommends The Irish novelist chooses works by Charles Dickens, Seamus Heaney and Wendell Berry
By The Week UK Published
-
Patriot: Alexei Navalny's memoir is as 'compelling as it is painful'
The Week Recommends The anti-corruption campaigner's harrowing book was published posthumously after his death in a remote Arctic prison
By The Week UK Published