Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Highlight
- Enjoy the Tiji Festival in the beautiful and naturally secluded city of Lo-Mangthan.
- Explore the beautiful surroundings and gorges of Kaligandaki.
- Enjoy delicious cultural and ritual cake Torma made by local monks.
- Pokhara valley, Fewa lake, and apple vineyard.
- Breathtaking views of mountains like Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and others.
Document and Paperwork Required For This Package
If you are on course to experience the Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour you must be aware that you need special permits and documents to reach Upper Mustang. Since 1992, tourists are always welcomed to visit Upper Mustang but a special permit is necessary.
Despite coming across one of the most restricted areas in history, nowadays Upper Mustang is seeing more local and foreign tourists each year. The Jeep Tour of the region is gaining more attention but first, you need to get a special permit from ACAP and the office of Nepal Immigration.
You must also always keep your necessary travel documents like Visa, Passport, Photo, and Travel Insurance with you all the time so you can show them whenever it is necessary. As mentioned earlier Upper Mustang slightly restricted area so there is considerably tighter security than in other places but if you have a permit and other necessary paperwork, you can enjoy the amazing Tiji Festival without any worry.
Food and Accommodation During Trip
Many tourists are often concerned about the food they might get on the Upper Mustang Trip however the best part is the food is exceptional even in the restricted area. Since the region is one of the best tourist spots you can get all kinds of international foods like Thai, Continental, and Italian and can also enjoy local cuisines like Dhido, Dal Bhat, Roti, etc.
You will get three meal options during the trip which contains breakfast. Breakfast is the common meal option for tourists during the trip. The Breakfast menu includes Tibetian Bread, French Toast, cornflakes, Chapati, Eggs, porridge, pancakes, and vegetable soups.
After breakfast, you will be sorted for a few hours before diving into lunch. There are a variety of lunch options that you can choose from as well. You can either choose Western lunch options such as Momos or Dumplings, Pizzas, Soups, Breads, Steak, Noodles, and Potatoes or indulge yourself in local cuisines.
Some of the popular local cuisines for lunch are sherpa stew, Dal Bhat, Local meat and fish, Dindo, Fried Rice, and other local specials that are very good for cold climates. After a long day trek, you are now ready for dinner.
Some of the options for dinner are Dal Bhat, Chapati, Roti, Thukpa (Noodles) Spaghetti, Macaroni, Yak Steaks, Local Meats and Fish, different kinds of soups and stew, local drinks, etc.
Regarding accommodation, you will stay at three-star hotels when you are in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and when you are in Upper Mustang, you along with your local guide will stay at local guesthouses that provide impressive services. Each hotel has a twin bed and an attached bathroom along with a hot water facility.
However, it is essential to understand that guesthouses don’t have the luxury of several-star hotels so some guest houses may have shared bathrooms and sinks. It might also be difficult to find a single room for each guest in upper-altitude hotels or guest houses. You can find excellent accommodation facilities till Kagbeni and also in some hotels in Mustang but in many hotels the services are limited.
In the case of internet facilities, there is no problem even after Kagbeni as many teahouses do have WIFI connection. However, when the altitude increases towards Upper Mustang it becomes unreliable and erratic.
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour Difficulty Level
The Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Jeep Tour falls under easy to moderate difficulty level. Since the Jeep will take you to different places, there is little walking involved. However, you must be in excellent physical condition to completely enjoy the trip.
You don’t need any kind of mountain climbing skills or any other skills to complete the excursion and there are no technical obstacles that might halt your trip completely. You will most likely be going on a slightly difficult trek to see monasteries, and caves and will also walk on terrains however the biggest challenge that you will likely face might be from the altitude.
Altitude Sickness
Although the difficulty level of the Upper Mustang Tiji Jeep Tour is described to be easy to moderate there is always one factor that can make your trip a very difficult task and that is altitude sickness. Although it has been noted that altitude sickness only occurs at a level above 4000 meters, it is safe to assume in some rare cases, people still suffer from the sickness despite being at over 3000 m altitude which is the altitude we will tour in during the jeep tour.
In case of altitude sickness, it is essential to drop down a level of altitude to calm your body. You can also be prepared for the higher altitude by taking as much rest and getting acclimatized so that the sudden increase in altitude won’t cause any sickness. You can also be equipped with some medicine like Diamax or others in case of emergency.
However it is better to prevent altitude sickness than get ready for his treatment, so here is some advice that you can follow to prevent altitude sickness overall.
- Keep eating a healthy and local diet that gives stamina and avoid eating extra chilly or oily foods.
- Purchase necessary medicinal items like Diamax, bandages, etc for any kind of emergency.
- You have to walk slowly and carefully while walking in higher terrains. Avoid walking faster which can cause you to tire fast and can make your body weaker.
- Keep yourself hydrated all the time as it is a very necessary step in preventing altitude sickness. Do not consume alcohol which causes severe dehydration at the time of walking.
- You must lower your altitude or stop immediately if you feel the symptoms of altitude sickness. Although altitude sickness is not extremely dangerous failure to cope with the situation can make it worse.
The Mustang Tiji festival is an annual three-day celebration held in the Kingdom of Mustang, Nepal, also known as “The Chasing of the Demons.” The festival is based on the story of Tiji, which tells the tale of the god Dorje Jono who battles against his demon father to save the people of Mustang from destruction. The demon father, who is enraged and wreaking havoc, causes a severe water shortage by blocking off the only water source in the dry and arid land of Mustang. To end the suffering of his people, Dorje Jono defeats the demon and restores the water supply, bringing prosperity and peace to the region.
Reaffirming the Myth
The Tiji festival celebrates and reaffirms this ancient myth. During the festival, the story and events of the myth are dramatically re-enacted through dance, music, and colorful performances. The festival takes place at the end of the dry season, in late winter or early spring, just before the monsoon season, when the land is parched and the water supply is dwindling.
Tiji comes from the words “Ten Che,” which means “the hope that Buddha’s teachings will win out in every world.” It’s a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of water, which is a scarce resource in this region.
Michel Peissel, a French ethnologist and explorer, was the first Westerner to witness the Mustang Tiji festival in 1964. At the time, foreigners were not allowed to enter the Mustang region without special permission from the government of Nepal. Peissel arrived on the last day of the festival, not knowing what to expect, and was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds he encountered. He described the experience as “strange and unexpected,” and even now, he still finds it hard to believe that what he saw was real.
The Significance of the Mustang Tiji Festival
The Mustang Tiji festival is significant not only for its mythological story but also for its cultural and historical importance. It is an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate the triumph of good over evil, and it highlights the importance of water as a precious resource in a region where it’s scarce. The festival has become a major tourist attraction and brings much-needed revenue to the region.
The Mustang Tiji festival is also an excellent way to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Nepal and its people. It is a celebration of their history, traditions, and way of life, and it gives visitors a chance to experience the unique customs and practices of the Mustang region. The festival features vibrant dances, colorful costumes, and intricate rituals that are steeped in centuries of tradition. Through this festival, the people of Mustang have preserved their culture and history and ensured that it will be passed down to future generations.
Final Say
In conclusion, the Mustang Tiji festival is an essential event in Nepal that celebrates the triumph of good over evil, highlights the importance of water, and showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Mustang region. People have to come together and celebrate their history, traditions, and way of life, and it has become a significant tourist attraction that brings much-needed revenue to the region. The festival’s continued existence ensures that the people of Mustang will continue to preserve and pass down their culture and history to future generations.
Route Highlights for Mustang Tiji Festival:
- Duration: 18 days
- Best season: Oct-May
- Jeep Tour: B (Moderate )
- Altitude: 3,800 m.(Lomanthang)
- Trek starting Point: Jeep drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara
- Ending Point: Pokhara drive to Kathmandu
- Culture: Different communities with a majority of Thakali, Tibetan Lobas, and their unique culture.
- Mode of Jeep Tour: Fully Organized Jeep, Lodge Tour.
- Himalayan Sights: Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri ranges, Nilgiri, Tibetan plateau, etc. the most isolated and unexplored corners of the Himalayas.