Lo Manthang – The Forbidden Kingdom

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Lo Manthang The Forbidden Kingdom
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Nepal is nestled in the lap of the Himalayas and
contains eight of the worlds ten highest peaks.
This alone is reason enough for the world to
flock to the little country. It is also a land
of great diversity its cultures, religions,
geography, wildlife and ethnic groups fascinating
and absorbing.
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The people that inhabit the region around Mt
Everest, the Sherpas, are the most easily
recognizable ethnic group of Nepal. Very often,
because of the popularity of climbing expeditions
to Everest, Nepalese tend to get typecast as
Sherpas. A traveler just has to head in a
different direction to discover other ethnic
groups. One of the most interesting would be the
Tibetan Buddhist culture prevalent in Lo
Manthang. This little kingdoms culture, totally
unadulterated over the centuries, is so well
preserved in its original form that a visitor is
left wondering whether this is Nepal or Tibet!
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In the north of Nepal, near the Tibetan border,
is Lo Manthang. It is an unspoiled Tibetan-style
Buddhist walled city in the Kingdom of Lo in the
restricted area of Mustang. Until very recently
there were no roads and this area was closed to
foreigners. The only way to get there was a
5-day trek in and out. Now with a new Chinese
road in the offing, things have changed. This is
where you can see distinctly Tibetan culture and
hints of traditional life as it would have been
centuries ago. By taking the help of a travel
guide from Nepal, a visitor can get a wonderful
opportunity to see the undulating mountains and
picturesque valleys, all the way to the enchanted
capital city of Lo Manthang.
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Mustang is also called the Forbidden Kingdom.
The historic villages of the valley are located
at altitudes between 3,300 m and 4,000 m.  This
region was once an important salt trading centre
in the trans-Himalayan belt.  From Kagbeni to
Tzug as you walk north to the Kali Gandaki
Valley, the valley grows broader. Walking towards
Samar, a traveler is surrounded by ruins of
temples and fortresses. It is about here that
one notices the switch to Tibetan culture and
ethnicity.
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Further along the way, visit the famous cave at
Rongbyoung Chorten with its various stone carved
deities, most prominent being the figure of
Padmasambhava, (the Indian Guru who brought
Buddhism to Tibet).  On the journey from Giling
to Tsarang, you will pass through important ruins
at Gemi.  After crossing the passes while
approaching Tsarang, a large monastery is clearly
visible. The monastery houses fresco paintings,
hanging thankas as well as other sacred objects,
reminders of the regions rich cultural past.
After Tsarang, the walk to Lo Manthang is short.
Visitors cross houses and monasteries enclosed
within fortress walls. While this route has been
used for centuries by traders and a few scholars,
only now are tourists being allowed to walk these
historic paths.
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The walls of the city are an impressive sight,
standing proud on a plateau that is surrounded by
barren slopes. The ramparts that surround the
city are really striking too, standing some 5 m
high and interspersed by lookout turrets.
Colorful strings of prayer flags hang along the
tops of the wall adding a festive air to the
forbidding sight. Once inside Lo Manthang, visit
its temples. Every temple has a fascinating
history and beautifully done up interiors.
Temple walls are covered with intricate and
colorful murals, each more engaging than the
last. Another landmark that really stands out is
the palace, since it is the only three-storey
building in the city. The unofficial king still
resides here and has been known to meet travelers
on occasion.
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After exploring Lo Manthang, ask the Nepal
tourist guide to take you back using a different
route than what was used to reach the city. Cover
as much of this remote area as you possibly can,
once the road is fully functional, who knows how
the area might change.