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Mustang Photo Gallery - Lo Manthang To Muktinath

In May 2008 I trekked from Jomsom to Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang for the Tiji Festival

Mustang 01 01-1 Tsarang Entrance Chorten The trail descends from Lo Manthang (3910m) to cross a stream before ascending to the Lo La (3950m) with our last view of the walled city of Lo Manthang. The trail then traverses the Tholung Valley before reaching a ridge (3580m) looking over the village of Tsarang (3560m). The trail descends to cross the Tsarang Chu, and climbs 125m to Tsarang, the second largest village in Mustang. I walked across the village to see the entrance chorten nicely framing the village and the Tsarang gompa and old dzong.

Mustang 01 01-1 Tsarang Entrance Chorten

Mustang 01 01-2 Tsarang Dzong Gyan and I visited the old dusty crumbling five-story white dzong (fort) in Tsarang, but there really wasn’t anything to see inside.

Mustang 01 01-2 Tsarang Dzong

Mustang 01 01-3 Tsarang Gompa The Tsarang Gompa in Upper Mustang is situated along a cliff and painted in the white, gray and red sakya colours, seen from the old dzong.

Mustang 01 01-3 Tsarang Gompa

Mustang 01 01-4 Tsarang Gompa Entrance Door We tried to visit the Tsarang Gompa but the caretaker with the keys wasn't around, so the door remained closed. Darn.

Mustang 01 01-4 Tsarang Gompa Entrance Door

Mustang 01 01-5 Tsarang Gompa Entrance Wheel Of Life Painting The Wheel Of Life panting is just to the left of the entrance door of the Tsarang gompa in Upper Mustang.

Mustang 01 01-5 Tsarang Gompa Entrance Wheel Of Life Painting

Mustang 01 02 Descending From Tsarang To Kali Gandaki River I decided to return on the east side of the Kali Gandaki Valley. The trail descends steeply down a rough rocky trail from Tsarang to the Kali Gandaki River.

Mustang 01 02 Descending From Tsarang To Kali Gandaki River

Mustang 01 03 Walking Along Kali Gandaki River Between Tsarang And Tange We walked along the wide Kali Gandaki River bank, buffeted by the strong afternoon winds, as we trekked from Tsarang towards Tange. Several times we had to take off our boots and socks and cross the river.

Mustang 01 03 Walking Along Kali Gandaki River Between Tsarang And Tange

Mustang 01 04-1 Tange The trail branched to the left from the Kali Gandaki River, following a side river to Tange (3240m).

Mustang 01 04-1 Tange

Mustang 01 04-2 Tange Chortens Tange is a small village dominated by a series of large chortens in a combination of bright red and white colours.

Mustang 01 04-2 Tange Chortens

Mustang 01 04-3 Tange My Room I stayed in the main room of a house in Tange, sleeping on a Tibetan carpet on a bench by the wall. I enjoyed a nice Pepsi to celebrate being out of the wind.

Mustang 01 04-3 Tange My Room

Mustang 02 01 Tange From Trail To Pass The trail descends from Tange (3240m) to cross the bridge over the Tange Khola and on to the wide stony plain of the Yak Khola. An hour from Tange we began a long, steep climb, with views back towards Tange, a green oasis in the gray hills of Upper Mustang.

Mustang 02 01 Tange From Trail To Pass

Mustang 02 02-1 Trail And Dhaulagiri From Pass After Tange After four hours from Tange we reached the 4050m pass with a view of the trail contouring into the distance with Dhaulagiri poking its summit above the ridge.

Mustang 02 02-1 Trail And Dhaulagiri From Pass After Tange

Mustang 02 02-2 Dhaulagiri Close Up From Pass After Tange Dhaulagiri’s summit pokes up above an intervening ridge at the top of the pass from Tange in Upper Mustang.

Mustang 02 02-2 Dhaulagiri Close Up From Pass After Tange

Mustang 02 03 ACAP Shelter Between Tange And Tetang From the 4050m pass after Tange, the trail contours to an ACAP shelter, where we stopped for lunch.

Mustang 02 03 ACAP Shelter Between Tange And Tetang

Mustang 02 04 Kali Gandaki Valley From Trail Between Tange And Tetang The trail contours from the ACAP shelter and climbs around various bluffs reaching an altitude of 4110m. The Kali Gandaki River is hidden between the hills on the eastern and western sides of the valley on the trek from Tange to Tetang.

Mustang 02 04 Kali Gandaki Valley From Trail Between Tange And Tetang

Mustang 02 05 Deep Canyon Before Tetang The drop-offs on the side of the trail were staggeringly steep and a bit dangerous, with views of the 1000m deep canyons, as we neared the descent to Tetang from Tange. Don’t get too close!

Mustang 02 05 Deep Canyon Before Tetang

Mustang 02 06-1 Tetang Entrance Chorten Tetang (2940m) is set between two hills to avoid much of the Kali Gandaki wind. Here is the entrance chorten to Tetang, with the main village further up the valley. Overall I did not enjoy trekking the east side of the Kali Gandaki Valley. I recommend going back the western side and simply trekking from Chuksang for half an hour to Tetang.

Mustang 02 06-1 Tetang Entrance Chorten

Mustang 02 06-2 Tetang My Tent And Trail The only camping spot was already taken at the lodge in Tetang, so Gyan put my tent on the roof. The last part of the trail from Tange that zigzags down a fairly dangerous passage to Tetang is visible above the lodge. Two of our crew decided it was too dangerous, and trekked down to Chuksang and back up to Tetang instead.

Mustang 02 06-2 Tetang My Tent And Trail

Mustang 03 01 Tetang The trail from Tetang (2940m) climbs through the narrow lanes of the village and then steeply up the valley. I looked back towards the west to see the barley fields of Tetang, the Kali Gandaki valley, and the cake-layered cliffs beyond.

Mustang 03 01 Tetang

Mustang 03 02-1 Dhaulagiri Close Up From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath The trail from Tetang levels off and then becomes steep again to cross the Gya La (3970m). Just after the pass, there was a very good view of Dhaulagiri.

Mustang 03 02-1 Dhaulagiri Close Up From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath

Mustang 03 02-2 Dhaulagiri Close Up From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath Dhaulagiri’s summit pokes up above the clouds seen from the Gya La (3970m) between Tetang and Muktinath.

Mustang 03 02-2 Dhaulagiri Close Up From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath

Mustang 03 02-3 Nilgiri North Close Up From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath The north face of Nilgiri North (7061m) looks immense from just past the Gya La (3970m) between Tetang and Muktinath.

Mustang 03 02-3 Nilgiri North Close Up From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath

Mustang 03 02-4 Yakawa Kang From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath Yakawa Kang (6482m, also spelled Yakgawa) is the rocky peak to the north of Thorung La, seen just past the Gya La (3970m) between Tetang and Muktinath. It was opened for climbing in 2003.

Mustang 03 02-4 Yakawa Kang From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath

Mustang 03 02-5 Thorung Peak From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath Thorung Peak (6144m) is the nice snow mountain on the left, just to the south of the Thorung La, seen just past the Gya La (3970m) between Tetang and Muktinath. The trail from Tetang descends from the Gya La (3970m) and eventually joins the main trail from Manang to Ranipauwa. Muktinath is visible in the lower right.

Mustang 03 02-5 Thorung Peak From Gya La Between Tetang And Muktinath


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