After flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara, I took the 20 minute flight to Jomsom in lower Mustang. The flight is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
So far, I’ve lucked out three times. The flight path is directly between two large mountains that causes very changeable weather.
In Jomsom, I met a driver and we drove his Jeep 4 1/2 hours up to upper mustang to the capital, Lo Manthang. It’s a pretty rocky road.
The landscape and the small village we passed through are stunningly beautiful. It’s hard to know where to look. Mustang only opened to the world in 1991, so culture, food, language, and general way of life is unchanged since time immemorial. This deep sense of history, rich culture, and mountain wildness generate a flow of energy that enchants most visitors.
This is my third visit to Mustang. I am staying at a luxurious resort called the Royal Mustang hotel. I know the Crown Prince, now, King of Mustang. He is Jigme Bista. He is a kind and engaging man, whose focus is on the good of his people.
Six years ago when I came here the first time, there was no electricity, no, running water, no flush toilets, no Wi-Fi, and no phone. Oh, and no heat! I hope development does not mean loss of culture, tradition, and language. We’ve seen this with Native American tribes in New Mexico.
