There are many places to visit in the world. Among all those countries, Nepal is also one of the best countries to visit. Even within Nepal, there are many locations you can visit, and two of the best ones are Manang and Mustang. Now, there are many things you can do in these locations and knowing some travel tips would make your journey smooth and interesting. Some of you might wonder what can be the tips and tricks for travelling the Manang and Mustang.
Well, in this blog, we are gonna provide information about the tips and tricks of visiting these places, why to visit these places, and how to get there. Furthermore, we give information about things we should do there to create memories and the differences between those places. By keeping these things in mind. Let’s get started.
Now you have already known the different places of Nepal you need to visit.Among those places, what can be the top reasons to visit Manang? Some of the top reasons includes:
Due to the above reasons, Tourists should come to Nepal and visit places like Manang. There are many other reasons, too, but these are some of the mysterious things about visiting Manang.
Many of you want to go to Manang for the scenario created by mountains. But you may wonder how to go/reach the destination. There are different methods of going to the destination. Some of them can be contacting travel agencies, reserving the vehicle and traveling with the family.
You can reach Manang via 3 modes: Plane, Bus and trekking. Manang is 204 km far away from Kathmandu, Nepal.To reach Manang for a single person, it takes 8hr 2min; Rs 1500 and 1 hr 29 min; Rs 3400 to reach Pokhara.
If you have flexible time, you can go to Manang. You can travel there through various means. After reaching there, you can do plenty of things for your enjoyment. But, questions can be raised “ what are the things you can do after reaching there”. There are many activities you can do in Manang Such as:-
There is a saying that deciding to visit Manang with a trek to Tilicho Lake is one of the best choices you have ever made in my life. We can express that you will feel wonderful by seeing:-
Furthermore, you can see many different things when you reach Tilicho lake. Because of the beautiful things, Tourists have really enjoyed the real view of Tilicho Lake. Why don’t you guys go and visit the place?
The Braga Monastery lies on the way to Tilicho Lake. The alternate names for Braga monastery are Braga Gompa and Bhraka Gompa which is a Buddhist Monastery in the village.This Monastery typically lies in the mountains of Nepal, which is 3 km away from Manang. The monastery which is found there was built around 600 years ago. Because of the old monastery, they have their own features. The main feature includes clay statues of Buddha and Lamas and sets of Kangyur and Tengyur, which are written on Tibetan and Nepali paper in gold. The reason behind the build of the monastery is to fulfill the spiritual, cultural, and practical needs of the Buddhist community in Manang
People gather in the monastery, especially during the Dashain festival and NyungNe Fasting. Because of that, the monastery is very famous and it also preserves the culture.
Similar to Braga monastery, Gangapurna glacier also provides the breathtaking views of mountains. Some of you may be interested in going to Manang by vehicle. But Some of you maynot. If you are not travelling, you can hike.There are many places you can go hiking in Manang. One of the best places is Gangapurna Glacier, as it is very famous for hiking. It falls near the Manang Valley. Gangapurna Lake has a height of 7455 meters, which can be found at the Gangapurna peaks. The spectacular view seen after the reflection of the peak in the lake was so satisfying that people could see it for a longer period of time.
After hiking Gangapurna lake, you might feel exhausted and sit there taking some rest while putting your feet on the cold water. The lake is so considered holy that people come there to conduct rituals and seek blessings.
On the Annapurna circuit, Gangapurna glacier comes after Thorong La pass.Thorong La is a trail to reach a certain place. By the means of local terms, Throng La is called Thorung La. It is a mountain pass having a height of 5416 meters from the sea level. It is formed with the help of two mountains(Khatung Kang and Yakawa Kang). The pass is located on a small paved road that connects the village of Manang and Mustang along with the Muktinath temple. The local traders and the trekkers usually use the small paved road because it is the path that is safe to go from Manang to Mustang.
The safest time to pass is March-May and September-November. From December to February, the pass is filled with snow, and the temperature during those months remains between 3 to 7 degrees Celsius. During this period, it is very dangerous because of increased avalanches, frostbite and whiteouts.
If you have already visited Thorong La, then your next station can be the Annapurna conservation area because you can enjoy the view of animals. This conservation area is situated near Manang. The conservation area is rich in the Himalayan wildlife. In this area, you can see rare animals found in Nepal. Some of them are listed below:-
Furthermore, we can find blue sheep, golden jackals, golden eagles and Himalayan griffon. These are the animals that are only found in the Himalayan region of Nepal.
As local culture not only contains the animals, festivals. It also contains the foods and attire. Therefore, Manang culture is greatly unique and influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. Their tradition includes their local dishes ranging from dal bhat (lentils and rice) to momos (dumplings) and thukpa (noodle soup). Besides this, local culture includes
Furthermore, there are various cultures which they celebrate. Because of these cultures and natural beauty, Manang is rich in diversity.
Like Manang, Mustang is also one of the best places to visit. It is located in the northern part of Nepal, which extends up to the Tibetan plateau. Similar to Manang, Mustang is also situated in the uppermost part of Nepal and has a cold climate. It is a remote area that is divided into two parts: Upper Mustang and Lower Mustang. Upper Mustang has a very cold climate with rocky hills and is famous for trekking. Simultaneously, Lower Mustang is very famous for its unusual dry landscape with greenery and diverse wildlife. The best time to visit the places is from June to September. Mustang is the fifth largest district in Nepal in terms of area and the second least populated district of Nepal. Due to the large area the main occupation of that place is agriculture and animal husbandry.
Most of the Himalayan region has Agriculture, animal husbandry and tourism as their preferred occupation. Among them, Tourism is the most famous one. Due to the beautiful scenario of the Mustang, tourists want to visit there. Here are some of the reasons people need to visit Mustang:-
Furthermore, Mustang is famous for the local apple wines, thakali and Newari food. There can be other reasons for visiting the Mustang, but the above lists are some of the best purposes to visit the place.
For some understanding, Mustang is well known in terms of culture and monasteries, as shown above; it will certainly help you to go there. According to the saying, people go to Mustang to visit Muktinath temple.But a question can arise: How to reach there? Which are the places we need to cross to get into Manang?
From Kathmandu, we have to pass Pokhara and Jomson to attain Mustang, but there can be other alternative ways, too. As usual, most people prefer these places to get into Mustang. Likewise in Manang, we can reach Mustang by crossing all those places by plane, road(bike, jeep and bus), and Helicopter.
There are three means of traveling, as mentioned above. By plane, you need to reach Pokhara. Through road(bike, bus and jeep) and helicopter, you can directly reach Mustang for the rest of your journey.
You get several experiences reaching Mustang, like you feel flying if you travel through an aircraft; many new places can be viewed on the road. So, by these experiences, one gets into Mustang.After reaching Mustang, you can do various activities like trekking, visiting places and enjoying the places. Hereafter, these are some of the things people should do after getting into Mustang are as follows:-
One of the most important things the tourists/trekkers should do is to visit a place called Kagbeni. Kagbeni is the place to go to the upper Mustang. It is also considered the stop for trekkers to go to the upper Mustang, and it is known for its stunning view of the mountains. Most of the houses of Kagbeni look like an ancient building which can recall our memory of the past.
Kagbeni is a charming village which is surrounded by mountains. So, this place is famous for the view of mountains and festivals called Pitri-Puja. Pitri-Puja is done to remove the lost souls of ancestors from hell and help them to reach heaven.
Nilgiri is a mountain peak that lies just behind the Kagbeni village of Upper Mustang. It is one of the best visiting spots for all travelers who travel to Mustang. It rises majestically, proudly providing the finest panoramic vista of the nearby scenery.Most of the people/Tourists come to this place to see the sunrise and the sunset.
Nilgiri presents the best view of sunrise and sunset from Annapurna Himal in Nepal. Nilgiri Himal is the range of three peaks in the Annapurna massifs in Nepal.
Most of the Thakali people live in the Mustang district of Nepal. Moreover, in Mustang district many of them live near the Nilgiri to see the sunrise and sunset. The people who live in Mustang, particularly in the Thak Khola region by birth, are known as Thakali people. They have a very good culture. The Thakali community is recognized for its vibrant culture and economic success.The rich culture contains the festivals such as Lhafewa, Toranlha, and Falo festival. Furthermore, the earthing festival is the most popular festival among other festivals of the Thakali People.
In those festivals, people often play the instruments such as madal, khaprang, and thamken. Because of this culture of the Thakali people and the great scenario created by the mountains, people are mostly attracted to visit Mustang.
Most of the thakali people worship at Muktinath temple as it holds spiritual and cultural significance for them. Muktinath temple is one of the famous temples in Nepal. So, many people from Nepal as well as from other countries come to visit this temple. People believe that Muktinath temple is the biggest temple of Lord Vishnu. In Hinduism, this is the location where Lord Vishnu attained liberation from Brinda’s curse.To honour lord vishnu, devotees need to climb around 114 stairs to worship in the temple.
If you get tired by climbing the staircase, you can sit in many places and can go slowly to worship lord Vishnu in Muktinath temple. A stunning view of Mt Dhaulagiri can be seen from this temple. Many people go to Muktinath for the excitement and view. However, some people visit the temple for spiritual enlightenment, inner awakening, and salvation.
If you have gone to Muktinath temple, then you can visit Lo Manthang, which is also situated in the upper Mustang. Lo Manthang is famous for its whitewashed mud-brick walls, gumbas, and royal palace. Additionally, Lo Manthang is also famous for its rich cultural heritage, historical significance, and breathtaking landscapes.
Moreover, there are multiple reasons people take interest in knowing the details of Lo Manthang and the Mustang’s unique family culture. Some of them can be Ancient Kingdom and History, Unique Family Structure, Unique Way of Life and Adventure and Mystique.
The scene of the Mustang easily attracts tourists and outsiders. One of the places of Mustang is Marpha Valley, which is popular for its apple farming and infrastructure. One of the sweetest apples found in the Mustang is very famous all over the world. In this place, most of the things we eat / drink are made up of apples. Some of them include apple wine, apple juice, apple and ginger mojito and toffee apple sour cocktail.
Apple is famous as well as the main source of income for the Marpha valley. There are Other things that are also famous in Marpha Valley. Some of them are a nearby Tibetan refugee camp, a Buddhist monastery situated on the hill, and a Jomsom trek.
The distance between Chhoser Cave to Marpha Valley is about 61.4km. So, it can be great to stay in Chhoser cave and go to Marphy valley along with the beautiful memories. This cave is also called the Jhong cave. It is an amazing man-made cave that holds the secret of the sky and takes the attention of every archaeologist. It has a height of 5 story buildings and has more than 40 different rooms.
Chhoser Cave contains great ventilation, and through that ventilation, people can see the mesmerizing view of Mustang Valley. This cave shows the perfect example of the Stone Age, where it shows the human activities of the past.
So far, We have already talked about Manang and Mustang. Now, we look for some differences. There are many differences between Manang and Mustang. Some of these differences lie in location, altitude, topography, climate, famous treks, the best time to visit, and unique attractions. To make it easier for you, we have presented these differences in the tabular form below.
| Aspect | Manang | Mustang |
| Location | Northeast of the Annapurna range, along the Annapurna Circuit. | Northwest, near the border with Tibet, encompassing Lower and Upper Mustang. |
| Altitude | 3,500m to 5,000m, including high passes like Thorong La. | 2,800m to 4,000m in Lower Mustang, with areas in Upper Mustang exceeding 4,500m. |
| Topography | Verdant valleys, snow-capped peaks, and glacial rivers. | Desert-like landscapes with canyons and rock formations. |
| Climate | Alpine and temperate, colder with substantial snowfall in winter. | Semi-arid due to the rain shadow effect of the Himalayas. |
| Famous Treks | Annapurna Circuit, Tilicho Lake trek. | Upper Mustang trek, Jomsom trek. |
| Best Time to Visit | March to May, September to November | May to September |
| Unique Attraction | Tilicho Lake, Gangapurna Glacier, and Ice Lake. | Kali Gandaki Gorge, Lo Manthang, and caves with ancient murals. |
In this blog, We provide you with information about What are the travel tips for visiting Manang and Mustang, Why to visit Manang and Mustang, How to reach Manang and Mustang and the things people have to do in Mustang and Manang.
For further information regarding the various aspects of websites and travel tips, feel free to check some of our other blogs. Similarly, if you are in search of the best travel tips company, do check out A2ztips Nepal. Find more tips like these for treaking
No, Manang and Mustang are not the same. They are different in terms of geographical location, cultural differences, landscape and climate, accessibility, and key attractions. They are distinct with their own unique identities, landscapes, and attractions.
The best time to visit Mustang is from May to September, which has the best climate and is able to see the vegetation of Himalayan arid plateau. During this time, It is very safe to visit and almost no chance of occurring calamities.
Mustang is very famous all over the world. It is popular for its rich culture, natural beauty and many other attractions like Religious sites, Trekking, Apple farming, Wildlife, plants, Damodar Kunda, Protected city, and Lake Tum.
It costs around NPR. 3400 per person on flight and NPR. 1235 on public buses, NPR 2745 per person on tourist buses and NPR. 178490 for each individual to travel to Mustang by Helicopter.. If the person is added on the trip, the price will be reduced a little bit for the second person and so on.
The best time to visit Manang is from March, April, May and September, October, November. It is the time where there is a low chance of a huge disaster occurring(flood, landslides, and snowstorm).
The place that passes between Mustang and Manang is called Thorong La(also called Thorung La), which is a mountain pass that was formed with the help of Khatung Kang and Yakawa Kang.
The Specialities of Manang are stunning scenery, Tibetan Buddhist culture, Trekking, Festivals and ceremonies and Geography which makes Manang a very beautiful destination for all the tourists.
Manang gets the least amount of rainfall due to lying on the north of the Himalayas, which block monsoon winds. This geographical and climatic combination makes Manang a desert-like region.
We can get a tour package of Manang, which costs around NPR 75515, and decrease the price when the number of people is increased for 4 days and 3 nights to visit the Mustang by means of road.
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