Trip to Uppermustang

For my own enjoyment and to have more fun with my friends, I decided to travel to the northern part of Nepal, specifically Upper Mustang. The trip was originally planned by my college, and it was only supposed to be a visit to Mustang. However, due to a lot of pressure, they decided to include Upper Mustang as well. Perfect summer called us to Mustang !!

We started our journey by bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and I can honestly say that Pokhara has stolen my heart. It's the perfect place to visit with friends, full of fun activities and unforgettable memories. The day became even more special as it happened to be my birthday when we arrived in Pokhara. We spent the time at the carnival, getting soaked in a heavy downpour while laughing and running back to the hotel. My small birthday celebration was so meaningful, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off my 21st year. After freshening up, we enjoyed the night to the fullest.

The next day, we continued our journey by bus, traveling from Pokhara to the heart of Mustang, Jomsom. It was a long drive, with several stops at stations where we enjoyed the best dal bhat along the way. As we got closer to Mustang, the rocky roads, dust, and stunning landscapes made it clear we were nearing our destination. Despite the rough roads, the beauty surrounding us made it all worth it. As the saying goes, "To reach a beautiful place, you must endure some struggles," and I definitely felt that. Along the way, we stopped at Rupse Fall, which felt like a surreal, heavenly spot, with its breathtaking nature and surroundings. We arrived in Jomsom late in the evening and immediately planned to head to Muktinath. On the way there, everyone on the bus was asleep, but I was enjoying the quiet, listening to pleasant music on my earbuds and taking in the beautiful scenery. We were headed toward Muktinath, passing the left mountain of Upper Mustang, slowly climbing up the next mountain. The air was chilly, and despite wearing a warm sweatshirt and half-shorts, the coolness was noticeable. We still had to walk to the Muktinath Temple, but I decided to ride a horse—it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. By the time we reached the temple, it was already evening. There's a tradition of bathing under 108 dharas, but the water, coming straight from the mountain, was freezing, so I just sprinkled some around myself. The evening view from the top of the mountain was so stunning, I could have stayed there forever, admiring the beauty. For the return journey, I decided to walk back. I’d developed a bit of an obsession with bracelets, so when I saw a cute third-eye charm bracelet, I decided to buy it. We then reached the parking area where our bus was waiting. After sipping some hot tea, we headed to our hotel in Jomsom. By this time, it was night, and everyone was asleep on the way back. The darkness around us was a bit intimidating, and I was nervous about how the driver would handle the rough roads. Thankfully, we made it safely to our rooms in Jomsom. After freshening up—since Mustang’s dust can leave you pretty grimy—we had dinner and settled in. We decided to take it easy that night, as the road to Upper Mustang was expected to be tough, as the driver had warned us. I took my altitude sickness medicine and drifted off to sleep.