What is the Tiji festival?
The Tiji Festival is the most favorable festival in the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. Ancient mythology relates how the Tiji Festival was celebrated to mark the victory of well-being over evil. It is believed that what is now the Mustang region was in trouble and was being destroyed by a demon who spread disease and took away water. Dorje Jono fought and defeated this demon, and the festival celebrates his victory with prayer chants and colorful dances.
Dorje Jono (also known as Dorje Phurba, Vajrakila, or Vajrakumar) is the name of a deity in Vajrayana Buddhism, an age-old Buddhist practice in India and Nepal. The Buddhist master Padmasambhava of Nepal went on to introduce this practice to Tibet during the 8th century, where it then branched into many lineages.
Padmasambhava instructed the major steps in the sacred dance of Vajrakila at Samye Monastery in Tibet. Chhode Monastery at Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang is famous for its performance of Vajrakila practice and ritual.
However, the Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang did not start until the 17th century, when the Mustangi King Samdup Rabten invited Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga Sinam to come to Lo Manthang. He stayed at Lo Manthang’s Chhode Monastery and performed the special Vajrakila ritual for the well-being of all sentient beings and also to chase away all negative elements in Mustang.
The best time to visit Upper Mustang
Nepal is for all seasons; however, going to Upper Mustang in winter (December to January) will be much colder, and the temperature will fall to 5 degrees to -25 degrees. Apart from these 3 months, March to November is the best time to visit. Especially if people are planning to visit Nepal in the monsoon season (July to August), it is a nice time of the year to visit because of the rain shadow area of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.
Upper Mustang overland tour itinerary
Upper Mustang has road connectivity nowadays. It is possible to have a jeep drive all the way to Upper Mustang from Kathmandu. If you are a trekking and hiking lover, then take a flight to Pokhara and Jomsom and walk to Upper Mustang, which will take 5 days to reach Lo Manthang. After two days of exploration, we trekked back to Jomsom for 3 days.
It would take 3 days, about 71 km, from Jomsom to Lo Manthang by jeep. Due to the altitude sickness, we have to go slowly and making as many side trips as possible to the monastery and cave along the way. A detailed overland tour itinerary to Upper Mustang through Kali Gandaki Valley is available here.
Upper Mustang overland tour fees and permits
As I have described above, it is a restricted area of Nepal, and every traveler should have a special group permit. The permit is issued by a registered and legal trekking company under the Nepali government.
Upper Mustang permits cost USD 500 per head for the first 10 days and thereafter USD 50 per day.
ACAP permit: 30 USD per person.
What is the maximum height of the Upper Mustang Trek?
Most of the population of Mustang lives near the Kali Gandaki River, 2,800 to 3,900 m (9,200 to 12,800 ft) above sea level.
Upper Mustang Temperature
Upper Mustang is famous for snowcapped mountains, its terrain, and the view of the Tibetan Plateau. Generally, the temperature ranges from 10 degrees to 15 degrees in the day and 0 degrees to -10 degrees at night.
