Mustang Tiji Festival Trek
Tiji Festival, a three-day ritual known as “The chasing of the Demons” and it is centered on the Tiji myth. Tiji tells the story of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaks havoc on Mustang by creating a water shortage which, in this extremely arid land, is the most precious life-sustaining resource. Dorje Jono eventually defeats the demon and banishes him from the land. This festival falls in the end of May. We, Guide in Himalaya (affiliated with Shree Adventure Club operate Tiji Festival Trekking tour in Lo Manthang of upper Mustang every year with best service and most competitive package cost. The official date of Tiji Festival celebration for the year 2024 is 5th. 6th and 7th May.
During this trip you will be also rewarded with lifetime experience of Himalayan holidays in last the Forbidden ancient Buddhist Kingdom of Mustang known as ‘Mini Tibet of Nepal’, northern Nepal surrounded on three sides by Chinese held Tibet, one of the oldest civilizations on the earth, mediaeval world uniquely preserved from modern technology. A land covered with small villages, ancient monasteries, friendly people and breathtaking scenery. Mustang´s wealth was derived from being a major trading hub on the Kali Gandaki / Thak Khola trade route between Tibet and Nepal, which reflects the rich Buddhist culture, history, laws and customs.
The upcoming Tiji Festival Trek of 2024 is scheduled to fall on 5th May-7th May 2024.
Highlights
History of the Tiji Festival
Upper Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is one of the most fabulous trekking itineraries, which is compiled with two programs at a time. Travelers can trek to the Upper Mustang region throughout the year but to witness the Tiji festival is something different. Tiji is a 3-day festival that is observed in Lo-Manthang the capital city of Upper Mustang.
The history of the Tiji Festival can be traced back to Tibet and is related to Vajrayana Buddhism also known as Tibetan Buddhism introduced by Guru Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche in Tibet in the 8th century AD. He is the founding father of to spread of Tantric Buddhism in Tibet and the Himalayas of Nepal. So, Vajrayana followers refer to him as the second Buddha after Shakyamuni Buddha.
The history of the Tiji festival can be traced back to the time when myths were more popular and universal than modern science. It was the time when people believed in tantric practice and meditation, through tantric gurus tried to find out the cause-effect and solution of their common suffering.
According to a famous myth, once a very powerful man-eating demon created havoc in the Mustang region due to a lack of live human flesh. This was so because tantric gurus were protecting the inhabited areas through their spells.
Tantric gurus were creating trouble for the demon through their powerful practice of tantrism, to take revenge demon created a shortage of water and spread unknown diseases in the valley of Mustang and the surrounding areas. Water is very important for human civilization and in the Mustang region, the main source of snow-melted water was limited due to its remoteness and the massif Himalayas surrounding the villages.
This incident led to trouble, and the death of animals and humans due to lack of water and diseases started increasing. Even the main gurus (spiritual teachers) were not able to stop the damage created by the demon.
Finally, they invited Dorje Jono who was a very powerful tantric spiritual teacher to chase the demon from the region through his powerful spell of spiritual practice. Dorje Jono guarded the whole valley through his spell and the demon was not able to enter the region. This made the demon keep away from entering the valley and still does and the lifestyle remained normal to date.
To mark the victory over evil Tiji Festival is celebrated every year. It has now been observed in a broader sense, it is now a ritual ceremony for World Peace and Victory of Good over Evil. Native believe the ritual 3-day ceremony will bring eternal blessing to all sentient beings.
Time Schedule of Tiji Festival 2024
Tiji Festival is a very popular festival in the Upper Mustang region which includes seven villages in the region. The main 3-day festival is observed with colorful ceremonies, dances, and ritual songs by the monks of the monastery in Lo-Manthang.
The festival is guided by the royal family members of the kingdom along with the villages. It is a tantric dance by the monks, the main dancer/performers are chosen before three months of the festival and do all the training and ritual ceremonies until the final day of the festival.
Royal family members, villagers, and travelers from around the globe join to observe the colorful festival. It is believed being part of the ceremony will lead one to eternal bliss.
The date for the Tiji Festival is not predictable. It is celebrated according to the Tibetan calendar and the main monks of the surrounding monastery decide the date through ritual techniques. This year the 3-day Tiji Festival 2024 will be celebrated from 5th-7th May 2024.
After hot breakfast drive 200km to Pokhara and it takes about around 7 hours from Kathmandu by tourist bus. It is an exciting and romantic drive that we can enjoy beautiful scenic view of terraced rice field, eye catching landscape, Trisuli and Marshyangdi Rivers and spectacular panoramic view of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Lamjung Himal and most of Annapurna Himalayan Range are seen. The tourist coach stops for breakfast at 09:00 am and at around 12:00 for lunch on the way to Pokhara.
Fly to Jomson by early morning flight & meet the trekking crew at the Jomsom airport. After a short prepatarion, the trek starts along the bank of Kaligandaki River to the little pretty village of Kagbeni which is North of Jomsom. The walking duration is Three to Four hours.
At the Police Check Post at the north end of Kagbeni Village, you have to clear the formalities to enter the Upper Mustang area. The trail continues the east bank of the Kaligandaki that climbs over many ridges as it heads north. You can see Gompa Kang & some caves on the west bank of the river. The village of Tangbe is situated alongside the east bank trail above the river at an elevation of 2930m. Nilgiri Peak, which dominated the southern skyline at Kagbeni continues to loom massively at the foot of the valley. Chhuksang village is about hours a half beyond Tangbe at the confluence of the arshang Khola and the Kaligandaki 2920m elevation. Continue north; wither wading the river or climbing. The trek now leaves the Kaligandaki Valley and climbs steeply up a rocky gully to and Chele at 3030m.
The climb from Chele is up a steep spur to a cairn at 3130m. Here there is a view of the village of Gyagar across a huge canyon. You will see some Chortens on a ridge, then descends further on a pleasant trail to Samar (3290m). The Annapurna Himal, still dominated by Nilgiri, is visible far to the south. Shyangmochen is the lunch place for today. The trail climbs gently from Shyangmochen to a pass at 3770m & enters another huge east-west valley. There is a trail junction, take the right fork and descend to Geling with its extensive fields of barley at 3600m.
From Geling, the trail climbs gently through fields up the center of the valley, passing below the settlement of Tama Gung and an Chorten. It rejoins the direct trail and then becomes an unrelenting climb across the head of the valley to the Nyi La pass at 3950m, the highest point reached on the trek. The descent from the Nyi La is gentle; the valley to a steel bridge across the Tangmar Chu then climbs past what is perhaps the longest and most spectacular stretch of mani wall in Nepal. Climbing over another pass at 3600m, the route makes long gentle descent to Charang at 3520m.
LO MANTHANG The trail descend about 100m from Charang crosses the Charang Chu and climbs steeply up a rocky trail to cairn on a ridge opposite the valley at 3580m, then enter the Tholung valley. The trails turn north and climb gently as the valley climbs to a large isolated chorten that marks the boundary between Charang and Lo. Still climbing, the trail crosses a stream, and then becomes a grand wide through fare traveling across a desert like landscape painted in every hue of gray and yellow. Cross a stream, then climb up onto the plateau of Lo Manthang. In Lo Manthang the Raja´s palace is an imposing 4-story building in the center of the city. It is the home of the present Raja, Jigme Parbal Bista and the queen who is from an aristocratic family of Lhasa. The Raja is an active horse men and keeps a stable of the best horses in Lo. He also breeds Lhasa Apso dogs and several monstrous Tibetan Mastiffs that can be hear barking angrily on the second story of the palace. We enjoy the festival in the afternoon upon arrival.
There is an opportunity of vary the return route, visiting tow villages that you did not see on the trek northwards. From Lo Mangthng the trail to Charang heads south; to reach Lo Gekar, turn east along an indistict trail that passes the irrigated fields of the city. The tail to Lo Gekar is not a main trading route and the area is cirsscrossed with herders trails. The trail climbs steadily to a pass market by a cairn, offering a last glimpse of Lo Manthang. After descending to the valley floor, the route heads to the right up the centre of the valley to its head. Cross the bridge at 4070m and traverse across the heads of two more valleys to an indistinct pass. Cross the pass to some meadows and a stream. The trail then makes a long rocky descent down a ravine to a grassy valley where Lo Gekar is situated in a grove of large trees alongside a stream.Lo Gekar(which means” pure of virtue of Lo”) is also known as Ghar Gompa.”House Temple” because the structure is built like a house with small separate rooms. There is no village nearby, you can see Marang and below that Charang. Climb to a ridge, then across a valley to a cairn and a pass 200m above Lo Gekar. The trail descends now alongside the stone walls and fields of the extensive village, and then climbs to a ridge, It is a short descent to Ghami at 3440m. Ghami is a large village of whitewashed houses.
From Ghami, follow the direct route to the Nyi La, climbing to a cairn on a ridge and then contouring upwards to meet the trail from Charang, Continue to the pass and descend steeply into the Geling valley. Follow the trail that by passes Geling to an isolated tea house and descends gently to the three houses of Tama Gung, A steep set of switchbacks leads to a stream, thenthe trail climbs to a huge painted Chorten, The trail rejoins the Geling near the ride, just below a Chorten and the remainder of the day is on already travelled trails back to Samar.
Retrace the upward trail back to the Kaligandaki and downstream to Kagbeni. From Kagbeni take a Jeep ride to Jomsom for the night.
Fly to Pokhara from Jomsom. Relax and enjoy in Lake Side of Pokhara in the main tourist hub of beautiful city. Stay overnight in hotel.
Drive to Kathmandu 200km from Pokhara. Transfer to hotel by your guide.
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