Nestled amidst the world’s highest mountain ranges of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, lies the once “Forbidden Kingdom” of Mustang. Stretching towards the Tibetan plateau, the region’s wondrous landscape is characterised by barren cliffs, vast prehistoric rock formations, and dramatic boulder-strewn riverbeds, that are simultaneously beautiful and terrifying.
Once part of a historically significant trade route for caravans transporting precious Himalayan salt, rice, spices, and tea through its harsh terrain, Mustang was closed off to tourists until the early 1990s. Still requiring special permits for entry, the remoteness has rendered it relatively untouched by tourists and modernity. Although technically part of Nepal, today, Mustang remains culturally Tibetan and spiritually Buddhist, with Chortens and ribbons of streaming prayer flags scattered throughout the desert environment.
As the first luxury hotel in Jomsom, Shinta Mani…
