Until recently it was still the Kingdom of Mustang. But the king is dead, the son abdicated and the Nepalese government used the god-given opportunity and annexed it. A country that has only 30 000 people.
But the upper Mustang region is still as remote as it used to be during the time of Silk Road. Just maybe. There will be one or two jeeps and few satellite antennas in the scares villages you pass.
Otherwise, it is the same rugged place with beautiful mountain tops, friendly people and beautiful valleys. In whose valleys you can find ancient monasteries with wise-men strolling around. It has that feeling where the time goes very slowly.
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The Expedition Of Upper Mustang
It was in all sense a true expedition. But not in the traditional sense. It was an expedition not to find a resource or a place but to find ourselves.
There were 5 of us. Explorers from abroad. To keep company for the next 26 days. But we were not the only ones. There were also 10 mules, 1 horse, 1 cook, mule master, and our guide. All specialists in their own fields.
The Kingdom Of Lo & Our Experience
We have learned that Mustang was once a very rich country. Since Silk Road used to pass here. Many residents had gold and plenty of food on their table. However, the good times did not last. A dictator appeared, who decided that only he – alone can be rich. You can still see and feel the former greatness through many ancient fortresses ruins that are left across the country unattended.
We have also learned that people used to live, meditate and hide from thieves in the caves through the course of Mustang History. Some are even used now to stock hay and livestock. While monks or hermits still use them for meditation. Thus the whole region has a very high spiritual feeling a washing the travelers and bringing them to a higher state of being.
We saw city mirages etched in the cliffs of the mountains. So detailed that you could easily identify castles and cities. But here, we understood, is where Indian craftsmen drew inspiration in building Shiva temples.
We saw and experienced places of power. Where locals to this day try to avoid it during the day. It is told that at this place GURU Rinpoche had a fight with a local demon. While fighting, the beast clawed the mountains and with its blood, the cliffs were constructed. And in the place where the intestines were ripped off the longest Mani wall was built in Mustang. And at the place where the face was ripped of Stupa was placed. Here magically all of us were rejuvenated all the tiredness and pain disappeared.
We have stayed at Ghar Gompa Monastery. Located at 5100m height. It is one of the oldest monasteries built during the 8 century. But the most interesting fact is that the monastery was never active.
The Final Thoughts On Mustang and Himalayas
The Himalayas are a very mysterious place. Unfriendly nature, a harsh environment for living, but… they call you, you breathe differently there, you get an understanding of how small you are and many secrets open up here… Daily changing beauty, never repeating views, polarizing clouds, sun and moon together from the midday, heat and cold, flow and static, peace and danger…
It is a place of power only a few such locations exist. And not everyone gets to experience it. Its the only place in the world whereby simply walking all the mysteries to the attuned are open.
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