Lo Manthang was founded in the early 15th century by Ame Pal, the first king of the unified Kingdom of Lo. The walled city was built as both a military stronghold and an administrative centre for the Mustang plateau. The walls were designed to protect against raids from the north and to consolidate the scattered Tibetan-speaking communities of the region under a single polity.
For the next six centuries, Lo Manthang functioned as a virtually independent kingdom, maintaining cultural and trade ties with Tibet while nominally accepting Nepali sovereignty from the mid-18th century onward. Nepal formally abolished royal titles in 2008, though the current Mustang Raja, Jigme Dorje Palbar Bista, remains a highly respected community leader. The city's physical form has changed very little since the 15th century – the walls, the palace, and the four major monasteries all date from the early period of the kingdom.
Thubchen Gompa – The largest monastery in Lo Manthang, built in the 15th century, with wall frescoes of extraordinary quality. Restoration work funded by the American Himalayan Foundation has brought these paintings back to vivid life.
Jhampa Gompa – Across the lane from Thubchen, containing a colossal standing Buddha figure. The courtyard is where masked dances are occasionally performed for smaller festivals.
Chodey Monastery (Chode Gompa) – The spiritual home of the Tiji Festival. The monks of Chodey perform the Vajrakila masked dances that are the ceremonial core of Tiji. The monastery maintains the famous 400-year-old embroidered thangka unveiled only during Tiji.
The Royal Palace – The five-storey palace of the King of Mustang dominates the centre of Lo Manthang. During the Tiji Festival, the palace courtyard and roof become the main stage for the closing procession and tsampa offering.
The City Walls – Walk the perimeter for an overview of the city's layout and the vast empty plateau beyond.
Lo Manthang's population roughly doubles during the Tiji Festival. Villagers from across the Mustang plateau – from Ghiling, Charang, Tsarang, Drakmar, and beyond – make the journey for the three-day ceremony. The palace square fills with spectators. The monastery courtyards overflow. The streets that are normally quiet with yaks and elderly residents become crowded with families in traditional dress.
The festival reveals Lo Manthang as a functioning community centre, not a museum. The dances performed in the palace square during Tiji are the same dances performed in roughly the same place for four centuries. That continuity is palpable on the ground.
Our Tiji Festival Group Trek and Private Trek both allow three full days in Lo Manthang to cover all three festival days plus exploration of the city's monasteries and surroundings.
From Kathmandu: fly or drive to Pokhara, then fly (35 minutes) or drive (7–8 hours) to Jomsom. From Jomsom, trekkers walk north through the Kali Gandaki gorge to Lo Manthang in about 5–6 days, passing through Kagbeni, Chuksang, Ghiling, Drakmar, and Tsarang. The 4WD Overland Tour covers the same route by jeep in 2–3 days. The Helicopter Tour reaches Lo Manthang from Pokhara directly in about 45 minutes.
All routes require an Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (USD 500 per person). See our full guide to Upper Mustang trekking permits for details, and our permit guide blog for step-by-step information.
Questions about availability, pricing, or building a custom itinerary for the 2027 Tiji Festival? We reply within 24 hours.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
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