Mustang, Historical region and tourist site in Himalayas, Nepal.
Mustang is a historical region in the Himalayas in Nepal with deep valleys, high desert plateaus, and traditional settlements between snow-covered mountains. The landscape varies from rocky terrain to sparse vegetation, with elevations reaching above 8,000 meters in the highest peaks.
It was an independent kingdom from around 1380 until 2008, controlling trade routes between India and Tibet through mountain passes. The kingdom eventually merged into Nepal's administrative structure in the early 2000s.
Lo Manthang, the walled capital, is home to Buddhist monasteries where monks continue their daily practices and maintain old Tibetan manuscripts. You can sometimes see monks going about their routines in courtyards or walking between the monastery buildings.
You need special permits and must hire a professional guide to visit this region. Travel is best during the drier months when weather conditions are more stable and mountain passages remain accessible.
The region contains thousands of hand-carved caves cut into cliff faces, holding archaeological artifacts and ancient burial sites. These caves also display Buddhist religious paintings that have survived for centuries on their walls.
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