Celebrate Tiji Festival 2024 at Upper Mustang

Celebrate Tiji Festival 2024 at Upper Mustang. Unexpected components of a regular trek include color, splendor, chanting, and dancing. You will, however, get to experience all of these and more on the Mustang Tiji Festival trek. Tenpa Chirim is the local term for the Tiji celebration, also known as the Tenchi festival. Tiji is a much-anticipated celebration that consists of prayers for a plentiful crop and commemorates the end of a protracted drought. It is thought that a demon that caused sickness and drought once afflicted the historic walled kingdom of Lo Manthang. According to mythology, Lo experienced prosperity after the Buddhist god Vajrakila, often referred to as Dorje Jono, slew the demon.

One of Nepal’s most intriguing bordering regions with Tibet is Mustang, which is mostly populated by people of Tibetan ancestry. The whole Mustang region has been divided into Lower Mustang and Upper Mustang due to its sensitivity. Visitors must get a special permit to enter the Upper Mustang region, which has been designated as a restricted area. Natural resources, especially uranium, and scenic beauty are abundant across the region. Aside from this, the main draws of Mustang include the Himalayas, the source of the Kaligandaki River, which is well-known for fossils and ammonite and is considered sacred to both Buddhists and Hindus, as well as a plethora of monasteries and caves.

Upper Mustang, commonly referred to as the last forbidden kingdom of Nepal, is a desolate region in the Himalayas and the oldest route for commerce with Tibet. With awe-inspiring views of the massif Himalayas, including Dhaulagiri (8091m/26545ft), Annapurna (8091m/26545ft), and Nilgiri (7061m/23166ft), Mustang is a highly sought-after destination for trekkers.

What makes the Tiji festival trek worthwhile?

The monks of Chhode monastery perform a unique Vajrakila rite in commemoration of a Buddhist miracle, which is intended to remove all bad aspects in Mustang and promote the well-being of all sentient creatures. Thus, sacred dances are presented annually in the Mustang Royal Palace courtyard over three days in the third month of the Tibetan calendar.

About three months in advance, festival preparations begin. On the other hand, you will witness the once-forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang uniting to celebrate this magnificent Buddhist festival whilst on your Tiji festival trip. You’ll be enthralled by the three days of festivities and Mustang’s distinct terrain.

Dates of the Tiji Festival in 2024

Nepal uses a lunar calendar; hence, the dates of religious or traditional celebrations might change based on the moon cycle of that particular year. It is customary to celebrate the event on the 27th, 28th, and 29th day of the third Tibetan month. These are the approximate dates, converted to the Gregorian calendar:

05 May 2024: First Day of the Tiji Festival
06 May 2024: Second day of the Tiji Festival
07 May 2024: Third day of the Tiji Festival

How do get there?

Located in the Gandaki area of western Nepal, Lo Manthang is nestled in the northernmost corner of Mustang.

1. Take a ride on the bus.

Rumbling over the dusty countryside, the glorious Himalayas are always in the background. Currently, there is an even more affordable and enlightening option available: bus transportation to Upper Mustang. Opt for the ease of direct bus travel from Kathmandu to Muktinath, located around 45km south of Lo Manthang, and immerse yourself in the stunning sceneries along the route.

Making the trip in two halves would be far more comfortable.

  • Travel to Pokhara by bus from Kathmandu (approximately 6-7 hours)
  • Jomsom to Pokhara (about 7 hours)
  • Travel through Ghami for around 7-8 hours to get from Jomsom to Lo Manthang.

2. Take a Jeep ride

Hiring a vehicle would be a more comfortable and pleasant way to get to Lo Manthang. There are also public jeeps available, but a little bit busier. Still, it’s among the easiest routes to reach the barren and rocky Upper Mustang.

The jeep trip will take many days to complete. This is a general synopsis of the Jeep trip:

Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara (6-7 hrs drive).
Drive from Pokhara to Jomsom  (6-7 hrs drive).
Chuksang to Jomsom  6-hour drive)
Chuksang to Lo Manthang  via Samar and Tsarang (about a 6-hour drive)

Combine the best of both worlds by flying and trekking.

Trek across the parched valleys and discover the captivating enchantment of the Upper Mustang Trek. Take in the expansiveness of the Himalayas, which makes it possible to thoroughly explore Upper Mustang, Nepal’s final Forbidden Kingdom. This is a sample of what to anticipate from these incredible treks:

Flying to Pokhara from Kathmandu  (30-minute flight)
Jomsom to Pokhara flight (approx. 30 min)
Trek for around 4 hours from Jomsom to Kagbeni
Chele to Kagbeni (around a 6-hour trek)
Syanbochen to Chele (about a seven-hour trek)
Syanbochen hikes to Ghami, around six hours.
Ghami to Tsarang (approx. 6-hour trek)
Lo-Manthang to Tsarang (about a 4-hour trek)

Things to be aware of before traveling for the Tiji festival:

Technicalities, delays, and ways to prepare.

Flights to Mustang are known to be often delayed due to topographical and climate-related challenges. Still, it is preferable to take off a bit later than to have an unfavorable outcome. Be careful to pack light food and comfy clothing in case you have to wait longer than you anticipated at the airport.

Discover more about Mustang

The majority of people in Upper Mustang are Thakali and Tibetan in origin. They belong to one of the rare groups of people who practice authentic Tibetan Buddhism. Aside from religious rites, certain antiquated societal rituals are still in place. Specifically, there is the custom of fraternal polyandry, which involves brothers from the same family getting married to the same female. It’s still a widely accepted tradition.

Make a friendship with locals!

The majority of people living in the dry valley speak Nepali, while there are few forgotten dialects. To get to know the people, you may use any of the following greeting expressions:

Namastey: Hello/Greetings
Dhanyabaad: Thank you 
Kasto cha?:  How are you?
Huncha / Hudaina: Yes/no
Mitho cha:  It’s tasty
Vetera khusee laagyo: nice to meet you
maaf garnu hos:  Sorry

Climb to breathtaking altitudes

In your desire to see the festival, don’t rush to get to Lo! At 3,730 meters (12,238 feet) above sea level, Lo Manthang is located in Upper Mustang. If you have never trekked at a high altitude in Nepal, make sure you take the appropriate safety measures. Remember to take your time while you soar! Acclimatize well!

The Hidden Kingdom’s mystery

Founded in 1380 AD, Lo Mathang is regarded as Nepal’s secret kingdom. Lo remained off-limits to tourists until the early 1990s. Replete with the enchantment of Tibetan Buddhism and the mystery of its people, it continues to be one of Nepal’s most exclusive trekking destinations even now. Just about 1,000 individuals are allowed to visit Lo Manthang every year due to the admission permission requirement only being granted to small, planned parties.

The Tiji Festival’s highlights

Walk through white-washed mountain towns and past vibrant Buddhist shrines and temples as you make your way to Mustang Pass in the shadows of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna along the Kali Gandaki River.
After five days of trekking, arrive to Mustang’s renowned walled city, Lo Manthang.
Attend the Tije Festival, a colorful Buddhist event with dance and traditional music, for three days while in Lo Manthang.
Discover other people’s lifestyles.

OUTLINE ITINERARY BY DRIVE/FLIGHT

01 May 2024: Fly or Drive to Pokhara - 30 min / 8 hrs

02 May 2024: 4WD Jeep Drive to Tatopani 1,341m (4,400 feet) – 5 hours

03 May 2024: Jeep Drive to Muktinath to Kagbeni 2,804m (9,199 ft) -5 hours

04 May 2024: Morning drive to ( Tsarang) Charang 3,570 m (11,710 ft) -6.5 hours

05 May 2024: Drive to LOMANTHANG and explore the day-first TIJI Festival. (FESTIVAL BEGINNING) 3,840 m (12,600 ft) -

06 May 2024: Observe and experience a full-day TIJI Festival.

07 May 2024: Day 3rd of TIJI Festival. (officially festival closing ceremony).

08 May 2024: Drive back to Jomsom 2,736 m (8,976 feet) - 5 hours

09 May 2024: Drive back to Pokhara - 7 hours

10 May 2024: Fly / Drive back to Kathmandu - 30 min / 8 hours

Would you want further information about visiting Mustang and attending the Tiji festival? Do contact us via email or WhatsApp for more information. You can also fill up the form below to reach out.

Tiji festival

Introduction:

Festival expression ‘Tempa Chirrim’, refers ‘world peace’, back on the 17th century, when the Mustangi King Samdup Rabten welcomed Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga Sinam to come to Lo Manthang for attending out the exceptional Vajrakila ritual for the well-being. Ancient mythology relates that Tiji festival was held to mark the victory of good over evil while orderly celebrating three days, Tiji Festival is declared as a focal festival of Mustang people communities. Enchant with colorful flags makes you feel the sense of peace along dance performed displays trouble caused by demons and victory of Buddha.

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Attractions of Tiji festival trip:

  • Sightseeing and investigation tour throughout Kathmandu valley (1,300 m) and Pokhara valley (820 m).
  • Magnificent landscapes of Upper Mustang (kingdom of heaven) territory.
  • The glimpse of towering peaks including Mt. Annapurna (8,091 m), Mt. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Mt. Nilgiri (2,637 m) on a route.
  • Scanning Tiji festival is mind-blowing in Lo Manthang with multiple Buddhist monasteries and mini walls.
  • Experiences of high pass trekking via Marang La pass (4,300 m), Ghami La pass (3,520 m) and Nyi La pass (3,840 m).

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Outline Itinerary of Tiji festival trip:

Day 1: Kathmandu (1,300 m) sightseeing:

Day 2: Kathmandu (1,300 m) – Pokhara (820 m)

Day 3: Pokhara (820 m) – Kagbeni (2,810 m)

Day 4: Kagbeni (2,810 m) – Chaile (3050 m)

Day 5: Chale (3050 m) – (Syangboche 3,800 m)

Day 6: (Syangboche 3,800 m) – Ghami (3,520 m)

Day 7: Ghami (3,520 m) – Charang (3,570 m)

Day 8: Charang (3,570 m) – Lo Manthang (3,820 m)

Day 9: Tiji Festival (Day 1)

Day 10: Tiji Festival (Day 2)

Day 11: Tiji Festival (Day 3)

Day 12: Lo Manthang (3,820 m) – Ghami (3,520 m) via Marang La (4,300 m), and Nyi La (3,840 m)

Day 13: Ghami (3,520 m) – Jomsom (2,720 m)

Day 14: Jomsom (2,720 m) – Pokhara (820 m)

Day 15: Pokhara (820 m) – Kathmandu (1,300 m)

Tiji festival 2018:

According to Tibetan calendar, Tiji festival 2018 is declared on 12th, 13th and 14th May of English calendar. As, usual various trekking course and trail, organizations are depicting contrast short to long packages for closing the outing likewise booking the trip has already been started from the beginning of the year which remains opened till 1st week of May. Besides, remember that none of the Tiji festival packages are permanent, entire packages can be customized according to your hinds and desire.

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Packing list:

Headscarf, headlamp with an alternative, sunglasses, half and long sleeves upper wears, windcheater jackets, waterproof jacket, light thermal tops and pair of normal, gloves, Inner wears, trekking shorts, trekking trousers, waterproof pants, normal socks, and comfortable trekking shoes.

Sleeping bag, large travel bag, compact personal carry bag, a camera with extra batteries, binoculars, mini folding knife, anti-bacterial hand wash, guidebooks, pocket travel games, power bank. First aid box including band-aids, anti-loose motion pills, anti-headache pills, cold and cough medicine, anti-altitude sickness pills, water purification tablets, stomach antibiotic and toiletries.

Besides, requirements can vary according to seasons and conditions so don’t neglect to argue with trekking agency once before emerging a trek.

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