Mustang Tiji Festival Tour – 13 Days

Mustang Tiji Festival Tour takes you to one of the most isolated regions of the country. An opportunity to explore the realm lost to the world, except to the monks and the gods. The Tiji festival brings you to the back roads of Nepal’s Inner Himalayan region, nestled between the Border Himalaya to the south and greater Himalayan towards the north. Also, known as the high mountain valley a semi-deserted region of Nepal.

The unique culture, lifestyle, traditions, and great hospitality of people shows you the different face of Nepal, discovering unique landscapes, climate conditions, and stories along the trail capturing your imagination. The trail traverse through High Mountain passes with views of mighty snowcapped Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Bhrikuti, and Annapurna, ancient caves of primeval settlers and settlements lost in time. Mustang Tiji Festival Trek is an unbelievable and unique mixture of cultural adventure.

This tour of Mustang Tiji Festival is the most auspicious festival in the Upper Mustang at the foothills of the Himalayas, vast territory and very few inhabitants, the people living in this region are very respectful of the world around them, and has invented ways to protect nature with wisdom and harmony.

This tour of Mustang Tiji Festival reflects the lives of the people living here, according to ancient mythology, a demon attacked the region spreading plague and blocking the water channels around the region when a Buddhist practitioner named Dorje Jono killed the demon and saved the land from its evil control, thus his victory is celebrated as the Tiji festival.

Dorje Jono, also known as Dorje Phurba, Vajrakila, and Vajrakumar is a deity in Vajrayana Buddhism, and many practitioners and masters spared this practice to Tibet during the 8th century C.E. Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra, and Shilamnju were some of the masters who spared the practices into the northern part of Nepal and Tibet. Samye Monastery in Tibet and Chhode Monastery at Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang are famous for their performance of Vajrakila practice and ritual.

The Tiji Festival in Upper Mustang was started in the 17th century, by King Samdup Rabten, when he invited Sakya Trizin Ngawang Kunga Sinam, the practitioners performed a special Vajrakila ritual for the wellbeing of all sentient beings, and also to dispel all negative elements in Mustang. Since then, the monks of Chhode Monastery have been performing these religious practices every year, over three days in the Mustang Royal Palace courtyard. Originally it was performed at the end of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, but nowadays it is performed during the third Tibetan month (May).

Tiji festival 2023 will be celebrated from 16th 2023 to 18th May 2023:

Mustang Tiji Festival Trek in the Upper Mustang of Nepal introduces you to the chronicles of traditional dance and rituals performances by the monks to spread world peace. The festival is celebrated from 27th to 29th May 2022.

The ancient walled capital of Lo Manthang hosts this annual 3-day Tiji Festival in the courtyards of the Royal Palace in the presence of local inhabitants, monks, tourists, and the Royal family. In a world where culture and tradition are vanishing so quickly, here you’ll experience a community of rare beauty and great strength.

The traditional dances narrate mythological folklore of how Dorjee Sonam, got victory over a demon who brought destruction to Mustang. Tiji Festival takes place at the start of every harvest season, as a purification ritual. The word Tiji originates from the word “Ten Che” which means “hope of Buddhism prevailing in the world for peace” and celebrates the triumph of God over the demon.

Fees and Permits:

Foreigners need to obtain a special permit to enter this region. Mustang is one of the restricted regions in Nepal and can be entered with a permit only.

Permits and entry fees for Tiji Festival Trek:

To attend the Tiji Festival, you must obtain two permits.

• Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP)
• Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit (ACAP).

The Upper Mustang Restricted Area Permit (RAP) costs USD 500 for the first 10 days and USD 50 per person per day after that.

For outsiders, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project Permit (ACAP) costs USD 30 per person, while SAARC nationals pay USD 10.

You won’t have to worry about permissions as Alpine Club of Himalaya will handle them.

How is the Festival Celebrated?

The Chode Monastery monks perform a traditional dance known as Tsa Chham on the first day of the festival, a narrative of

Buddha’s reincarnation as Dorjee Sonam triumphed against an evil demon who is said to have wreaked havoc in Mustang. The performers are dressed in variant attire and elaborate headgear and display massive works of art on Thangka portraying spiritual leader Guru Rimpoche on the walls of Mustang’s Royal Palace.

On the second day, The Nga Chham dance is performed which depicts Dorjee Sonam returning the demon to the land of Buddha. The Royal Palace’s courtyards are surrounded by masses of locals and tourists who have gathered to see this wonder. On, the third day, The Rha Chham dance will be performed, portraying the third part of the narrative, in which Dorjee Sonam casts the demon out of Mustang.

Travel Insurance:

All clients engaging in any activity must have smart travel insurance or emergency evacuation insurance. Alpine Club of Himalaya highly suggests you obtain a comprehensive insurance plan from a reliable insurance firm that covers emergency evacuation insurance in high altitudes, personal injury, hospital expenditures, repatriation fees, helicopter rescue, and any other misfortune.

Passport and Visa:

Each client must be issued a valid visa with a six-month validity from the date of return by the Nepalese embassy in your country or the immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Meals and drinking water:

Along the Annapurna Region Trek, you’ll be provided with various Nepali, Tibetan ethnic cuisines and varieties of continental as well as western meals. The region has a number of tea-house along the trail and is run by local inhabitants providing basic and minimal facilities to luxury ones, where you’ll have an opportunity to taste various cuisines which you’ll miss it most of the trekking trails of Nepal.

Annapurna Region is a plastic-free zone and has banned the use of bottled Mineral Water. However, drinking water taps are accessible with natural water supplies all along the trekking trail which are untreated, so direct use of the water is not recommended, you may refill boiling water or cold filter water from any of the teahouses along the trail.

If you buy a water purification tablet, chlorine drops or utilize SODIS (sunlight assisted) filtration procedures for further assurance, saving money, and reducing plastic pollution.

Accommodation:

Tourist-friendly hotels, lodges, and local accommodations are available on trekking trails and, providing with basic accommodation to luxury and grandeur ones. Luxury hotels and teahouse are situated along the trail that suits your budgets providing comfortable beds with a pillow, electric blankets, hot and cold shower, free WIFI, and many more.

Teahouse along Annapurna region provides you with hot shower, western attached bathrooms and the rooms mostly include twin sharing beds as well as a single bed, with hygienic and clean atmosphere, good mattresses, a pillow, and blankets.

Campsites are also available along the trail providing a special opportunity for campers to sleep under the stars.