Damodar Kunda with Upper Mustang Valley takes you through Mustang, which is a remote and semi-independent Tibetan Kingdom. It lies in the northern part of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Mountains and is one of the last fortresses of undisturbed Tibetan culture in the world. Only opened to westerners in 1992, the Damodar kunda with upper mustang valley trek takes you to the capital Lo-Manthang in the fascinating upper Mustang region. It is indeed a challenging trek due to the high altitude, exposed terrain, and continuous strong winds. Lo-Mangthang- a walled city is the capital of Mustang situated at an elevation of nearly 3800 meters. It lies in the central part of northern Nepal and at the top of the Kali Gandaki River. The entire region is famous for its inaccessible caves, Chortens, monasteries, and barren desert-like conditions. Hidden behind the majestic Himalayan ranges, Mustang is a truly beautiful trekking zone. Special Area trekking permits are required for the trekkers to visit this region.
Highlights of Damodar Kunda with Upper Mustang Valley are:
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The Damodar Kunda with Upper Mustang Valley trek starts in Pokhara, from where you take a flight to Jomsom before trekking through Kagbeni, Chuksang, Syanbochen, Dhakmar, Lo-Manthang, Yara, Baskhola, Damodar Kunda, Tyange, Chhusang, and Mukitnath.
In the morning, you will start your day with a 25 minutes flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. The early part of the flight to Jomsom is extremely breathtaking. Under clear weather conditions, one can witness the Annapurna (8091m), the Dhaulagiri (8167m) and many more radiant peaks peeking out from the clouds. After landing in Jomsom, you can have your Breakfast and begin your trek. The trek heads towards Kagbeni following the Kali Gandaki River, the trail is rough and barren but is mostly flat. You will enjoy lovely views of mountains such as Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna’s. A medieval looking town, Kagbeni, which lies at the bank of two rivers, is an interesting windswept village which is situated on the main age-old Trans Himalayan salt trade route to Tibet via Upper Mustang area. The Mustang district has the oldest monastery which houses secrets which have still yet to be unveiled.
accommodation: a Local Lodge
Today you will commence your trek from Kagbeni. After walking for some time you will see the caves on the west hand side and the Gompa Kang. You will have a good climb to Tangebe (3060m), a labyrinth of narrow alleyways; here you will find the typical Mustang chortens painted in black, white and red colors. Now, Chuksang is just one hour walking from here. The value of Chuksang has increased because of the presence of its three separate parts and ruined castle walls on the nearby cliffs, which is the center of attraction for the people arriving in this place.
accommodation: a Local Lodge
With the dream of reaching to the extremely new world near Nepal – the Tibet border, you will start trekking from Chuksang for the beautiful Place Syangbochen via chelle. You will pass through summer pass on the way where at the end you will find two walking paths, the upper path leads to syangbochen via Vena and the lower pass leads to Milarepa cave. The more adventurous path will be the lower one as you will find the herds of the Himalayan transportation i.e. ponies, horses and donkeys carrying heavy loads on their back which are supported by ropes on their body. You will reach Syangbochen walking for the whole day. Syangbochen is a tiny Tibetan style village with some small shops and houses.
accommodation: a local Lodge
In the early morning, you can have a beautiful view of Dhaulagiri (8167m) standing with other surrounding mountains from Syangbochen. After having Breakfast, you will start walking for Dhakmar to the beautiful village named Ghami passing Syangmochen Pass at 3850 m altitude. You will have a lunch break in Ghami followed by some sightseeing involving the local monastery, the people, their cultures and their traditions. From Ghami you continue walking to Dhakmar. Dhakmar is the Himalayan village with the different landscape. The place is surrounded by red muddy rocks all around with the Buddhists Prayer flags fluttering due to the gushing wind.
accommodation: a Local Lodge
Today, After Breakfast Your trek for Lo-manthang starts. On the way, you have to walk through Dhakmar pass. The pass is magnificent as there are natural rocks looking like frozen ice and architectures that look like they were made by human beings. From the pass, you will reach the Ghar Monastery, which has a red color, and stands with a 1200 years old historical importance. After lunch in Ghar, you will continue your trekking to Lo Manthang. Lo Manthang was formerly a walled capital of the Lo Kingdom. Lo is culturally and linguistically Tibetan covering two-thirds of northern Mustang District. This is the homeland of the Thakali people, who speak a different language and have a synthesis of Tibetan and Nepalese culture. The village is noted for its tall whitewashed mud-brick walls, gompas and the King’s Palace, a nine-cornered, five-story structure built around 1400. There are four major temples: Jampa Lhakhang or Jampa Gompa; the oldest, built in the early 15th century and also known as the “God house”, Thubchen Gompa; a huge, red assembly hall and gompa built in the late 15th century and located just southwest of Jampa Gompa, Chodey Gompa; now the main city gompa and the Choprang Gompa; which is popularly known as the “New Gompa”. The presence of the architectures in the almost treeless barren landscape combined presents a colorful mosaic made up principally of earthen reds, yellows, and brown color. The mosaic has increased the value of this destination.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
Today is your sightseeing day in and around Lo-Manthang. The city contains about 150 houses, as well as residences for many lamas. You will start your day for Zhong cave and Tshosher Monastery (a 1000 years old Tibetan Monastery) by hiring either a Horse or by Jeep. After returning from these places, you will start the local sightseeing which includes the King’s palace, monastery, local surroundings and the village. The King’s palace is an imposing building in the center of the city and is occupied by the current King and Queen. Although his duties are largely ceremonial, the King is respected by the people. Throughout the kingdom, the villagers continue to seek his advice regarding many issues.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
After having locally available Breakfast, you will leave the beautiful Lo-manthang and commence walking for Yara. The trail steadily climbs two small passes before plunging through a spectacular canyon to Dhi village. You will have your lunch here. From Dhi, you continue walking along the riverbed to Yara.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
Today, your trekking starts for Baskhola. The environment of Baskhola is very panoramic with sandy brown colored rocks. This place is today’s destination. Our staffs will manage tents for Overnight stay and the cook cooks Nepali food for you and other staffs.
accommodation: will be in a camp.
You will have Breakfast prepared by our cook, and continue your trekking for the sacred place “Damodar Kunda”. Damodar Kunda is located in the remote Himalayan district in the lap of high Himalayas of Upper Mustang in western Nepal. In the column of Barah Puran; Lord Krishna has said that who pays a visit to this Kunda and takes a deep-bath, they will be freed from all their sins. It is also mentioned in Puran that two sons of Kubers were suffering from their wrongdoing & sins, which they did in their previous birth, but Lord Krishna suggested them to take a bath in this Kunda and immediately after taking the bath they were released from all their sins. A common name for the three lakes Brahma Kunda, Rudra Kunda and Ananta Kunda is Damodar Kunda. There is also a large meadow of kusha. As a motherland of shaligram, this shrine is of utmost importance for all Hindus on the earth; Gandaki River is believed to originate from this holy lake.
accommodation: will be in a camp.
After having Breakfast in the camp, you will go for local sightseeing and to view the panoramic beauty of the Lake. Return to the Camp and have your Lunch before you start trekking down to Baskhola. Today is your last camping day.
accommodation: will be in a camp.
After having your Breakfast, you commence your trekking to Yara.
accommodation: a local Lodge.
When leaving the beautiful Yara, you will start walking for Tyange. You will walk on a long plateau before descending to a river crossing and climbing up to a pass at 3860m. After that, you have to ascend and then descend before meeting another plateau to reach the Tyange Village. This village is outstanding for its chortens alignment.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
While trekking from Tyange to Chhusang, you will start walking down to a river crossing before climbing up to a pass at 4,100m named Pa. The views on the north are increasingly fantastic as the panorama unfolds between Tsarang, Lo, and the northern border. Finally, the summit of the pass is reached at 4050m. To the south is the first stunning view of Dhaulagiri while Prayer flags adorn the pass. Half an hour from the pass is the only water source on this section, known by the locals as Ba Ha. After some rest, you will continue walking. The trail opens out and to the south, one can see the impressive V-shaped Kali Gandaki valley as it cuts between the Annapurnas, Nilgiris, and Dhaulagiri. From here a spectacular descent begins, and after that, the path flattens out on a plateau and splints in two. The right fork leads to Chuksang whereas the left one leads to Tetang. You will choose the right one and reach Chhusang.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
The trail goes up the Narsing chu, to the nice village of Tetang. The village has two parts and the walls of the outer houses are over 10m high with few windows, giving it a fortress-like appearance. The nearby second part of the village has the remains of a fort, again with high fortress-like walls. The trail heads up, across a plateau area and turns east into a narrow river valley, eventually reaching a pass at 4030m where superb views of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges can be seen. Then, we go down to Jhong and cross the Jhong River before climbing up to Muktinath. After ascending for some hours we reach to Muktinath.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
In the morning, you will have a sightseeing tour of the very famous Hindu temple Muktinath, where lots of pilgrims come to worship their god. You will start descending towards Jomsom to catch the flight to Pokhara, the next morning.
accommodation: a Local Lodge.
You will have early breakfast in the lodge and you will head towards the airport to catch the flight to Pokhara, a lake paradise city. It will take about 30 minutes to reach Pokhara. During the flight, you can see many mountains as well as the trail down to Tatopani /Ghorepani. Check in to Hotel in Pokhara and have a full day to stroll around the city of Pokhara. you can enjoy roaming around the lakeside as well as you can have fun by boating on the Phewa lake and witness the view and shadow of Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri Mountains on the water of Phewa lake. This marks the end of Damodar Kunda with Upper Mustang Valley trek.
accommodation: a hotel.
