Welcome all, in this unique three day vibrant cultural festival in Lo-Manthang, Upper Mustang known as Tiji Festival which will be observed during the month of 24th, 25th and 26th May 2025. The theme of this festival is based on the legend of Dorje Jono, a goddess who battle with evil forces to bring peace, prosperity and harmony among the people Lo-Manthang. The festival honors the victory of ‘Dorje Jono’ who ultimately vanquished over the demon Man ‘Tam Ru’. Here, we would like to clear the meaning of ‘Tiji’, is the short form of ‘Tenpa Chirim’ which means ‘Prayer for the World Peace’. Inhabitant of Lo-Manthang prays to almighty god to drive the devil away for the well-being of the World by offering variety of dance ceremonies.
Although Lo-Manthang is the capital of Mustang the legendary walled city and is the only one in entire World has tempted bold adventures since visitors were allowed to enter the forbidden kingdom of Mustang. This remote area was prohibited by the government since it was open for all foreigners after 1992. However, only limited tourist can get the permit to enter in this area.
Since the government has opened this route to the tourists from all around the world, tourists from different nationalities showed the interest to participate in this main religion festival in Lo-Manthang. Now, with the start of a rough and jeep road that extends up through the spectacular Kali Gandaki Valley, between Annapurna and Dhaulagiri, it is possible to travel between and beyond the Himalayas onto the Tibetan Plateau and reach Lo-Manthang by 4WD vehicle.
As we are participating in this unique festival, our jeep will be ready from Pokhara to take you to explore the hidden gems of Upper Mustang. Once you leave Pokhara and crossing few kilometers the road condition is deteriorating in some of the places however our vehicle will run smoothly. Your jeep makes extreme ascents and descents would not be a concern for you because you will on safe hand and will be traveling in a comfortable private jeep.
In the itinerary of Tiji Festival, we are trying our best to give you all the possible avail. Once you reach at the domestic airport in Kathmandu on day 02, you will board the flight to Pokhara smoothly. However, some time flight may be delay due to weather but assure that may not cancel. It is only 25 minutes flight to/from Kathmandu. Once you reach in Pokhara International airport, you will be meet, greet by our representative and escorted you to Hotel. At the hotel room check-in procedures follow.
On the very next day you will board the Jeep for your lovely and life memorable tour to Upper Mustang. We will pack all the necessary gears in the jeep. You will cross the river Seti and heading towards Jomsom. Until you reach Jomsom you cannot enjoy the breath taking scenery however, there is one lovely fall known as ‘Rupsay fall’ which is more noticeable.
Once you reach in Jomsom, a lovely tiny mountain town which stands at an altitude of 2743 meter from sea level genuinely astonishes you, a pristine town where Kali Gandaki River flows side by side and on top of this you may feel that sharp peak of Nilgiri South welcome you (if the weather is clear). The arid landscape of the Mustang region is stretched out before you in the form of the upper reach of the Kali Gandaki. Not only has the landscape changed, the culture has changed too and the villages from now on have a distinctly Tibetan flavor to them. From Jomsom, an hour or so beyond, your overnight halt tonight is in Kagbeni. This is a very typical of village in the Mustang region in terms of architecture, along with Tibetan Buddhist monuments and symbols, from Kagbeni where Upper Mustang begins and to further require we need to show special permits which we have already issued from the Trekking Agencies of Association of Nepal (TAAN).
Due to geographical condition flights take off only early morning from Jomsom because from afternoon there is strong wind blow from upvalley some time you may notice pebble also blowing. We should be very couscous as these pebbles may harm you or may suffer from minor injuries.
Our main concern is to attend Upper Mustang Colorful Tiji Festival, so will have breakfast and start to drive to Muktinath temple if you prefer otherwise we head onward destination covering Chhusang, Ghiling and Ghami on the way. You can take a walk onto the river bed and you may just hear water flowing underneath. You could also look for fossils too as evidence that this now high altitude region was once the sea bed of the Tethys Ocean. You will cross couple of high passes approximately 4000 meters today and descent in around 1 hour you will reach at the extraordinary city of Lo-Manthang. Once you reach in Lo-Manthang we will check in at the local lodge. Weather is very cold will have a cup of butter tea made by local people or local lodge owner. Today is the beginning of Tiji Festival; so most of the people are very excited to witness the only festival in a year. The monk performed a dance known as “Tso Chham” in which they fill the harassment of the demon, Tam Ru. This is the sacred dance part of the meditation practice based on the Tantra text related to Vijra Kumar. His original name was Tenpa Chirim confers the benefits of Boddha’s teaching to all emotional beings.
On the second day of the festival are called Na-Cham that has different meaning. It marks the birth of Dorje Sonam, where demon father was under the blanket in the middle of the square and watching the event. The birth is actually a rebirth that goes through a Bardo (changeover of Death and Birth) and the dances are completed first by the same dancers as in the first day, followed by frightening appearances that are meeting the soul in his way through the Bardo till its rebirth. The dances have a sense of comic on occasions to be pleasing to the audience that cheers when they feel that the demon would be further challenged.
Today you will notice many dances including some frightening mask dance similar the guardian divinities of the royal families who try to guard the soul in its travel through Bardo. On the last day of the ceremonies the entire setup has changed. The place for the drummers was in the middle of the square. All the villagers of Upper Mustang regions surrounds in the assembly tiny hall. The melancholy music of the telescoping trumpets and drums gave way to the Tsowo, who mimicking Dorje Sonam was keen to destroy once and for all the demon. Tsowo use different Buddhist tools such as a three colored rope, Tibetan bell, the Purbhu (sacrificial knife) or Dorje that is carried by all lamas. Then the entire team of performers walks outside the ancient wall with chanting and spiritual music. You will see how the local people are mesmerized by the sounds and the elements of the entire show the monks were able to put together. This will end up in an open field at edge of the town.
In the field, Tsowo does his final spiel (or spell). He start his dance by the incessant drumming and haunting horns and took a bow and hit somewhere in the field, symbolizing that he hit the demon, or remaining demons, right in the middle of the forehead. He took after that a slingshot (used by Tibetan cattle herders) and sent two stones in the same direction hitting symbolically the demon again. All was done on the background of gun power fired from old muskets by the many locals in charge with this task, probably about 10 shots at a time. The noise was terrifying and was supposed to scare any other demons that may have had any ideas to come on this realm.
Tsowo’s last act was to recites prayers and dispose of each of the demons’ food, a process done with the same noise of gun powder muskets. The job completed, Tsowo and his entire monk retinue started to get back in town with all the audience following in pursuit and all passed together inside the walled city, now cleansed of all evil, stepping at the main gate over a hay fire where we were supposed to spit out all our evil left in each of them. Then all the mask dancers including the Tsowo return to the palace square and the king and locals offers Tibetan scarf (Khatak) to all the performers as thanks giving way.
After observing this last performance, our Tiji Festival for the year 2025 is over. Next day in the morning we give bit farewell to organizer and we drive back to Jomsom by same route will take approximately 7-8 hours.
All the way back we will be taking same route back to Pokhara. This is hassle free tour and any one can join in the date. This tour is designed in such a way so that everyone feels comfortable and enjoy thoroughly. For your safety, will provide experience English speaking guide and driver so that you do not face any problem while on the tour. Our vehicle carry required all gears and mineral water in the jeep.
We sincerely hope that you have understood the back ground of this tour after going through it, if you have any questions or suggestion then please feel free to write to us. Please kindly send us the email ([email protected]) or visit our web page www.tourrealnepal.com for more information. Every step has taken to modify the itinerary or you can tailor it as per your wish but keeping on the point it should be viable.
For your safety and relaxation, we will carry the following…
- Mineral water throughout the trip.
- Free airport transfers on international (as per your flight timing) and domestic.
- Free trip map.
- Oxygen cylinder and Oximeter in the each jeep.
- First Aid Kit box in the vehicle.
- Sleeping bag.
- Down jacket (can hire at reasonable rate).
