Mustang, which has become synonymous with natural beauty and tourism, is currently experiencing a traffic jam.

The day after Bhai Tika, a record-breaking nearly seven thousand tourists arrived, and the roads from Ghansa, Marfa, Jomsom to the Muktinath area were packed with vehicles, making it extremely difficult for tourists to find a hotel.

This is an example of the growing Mustang craze every year.

Out of the seven thousand tourists who reached Mustang in a single day, 6,500 were domestic and the rest were foreign.

A decade or two ago, Mustang was a remote place beyond the Himalayas for many Nepalis.

Either foreigners going for trekking or Nepali pilgrims visiting for religious purposes used to come here after walking for weeks.

In the last decade, the number of domestic tourists coming to Mustang has increased sharply after road travel became easy.

Since social media began to be used as a medium for promotion, Mustang has become a must-visit destination on the bucket list of every Nepali.

Tourists looking at the Himalayas

Mustang, which has attracted foreigners for decades, has gained further attention after the American magazine The New York Times included it in its list of 52 destinations to visit in 2024.

The New York Times had placed Mustang at the 37th position in its list of tourist places with a brief description of its natural wealth and historical importance.

Before that, CNN recommended Mustang in 2023 as one of the 23 must-visit destinations in the world.

A view seen while heading towards Muktinath from Jomsom

The role of films and music is also special in increasing Mustang’s popularity.

Actor Anmol KC, who reached Mustang during the shooting of the movie Jerry on Top, which is currently running in theaters, wrote on social media, “It has been more than 10 years, but the love and respect shown to Jerry feels like yesterday. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire Mustang Valley. This moment is truly amazing.”

Since Jerry was shot in Marfa, Mustang, a street there was even named ‘Jerry Galli’ (Jerry Street).

Anmol wrote the post while visiting Jerry Gali.

The street of Kagbeni

Jerry is just one example; many domestic and foreign films and documentaries have been shot in the unique geography of Mustang.

Among them, Kagbeni and the Kabaddi series, which tell stories centered around Mustang, are particularly famous.

Currently, Kabaddi 5 is being shot in Mustang. Some scenes of the 1992 Bollywood film Khuda Gawah, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Sridevi, were shot in Mustang, as well as Hollywood films up to Tashi.

The Nepathya group’s song ‘Jomsomai Bazar Ma 12 Baje Hawa Sarara’ (The wind blows lightly at 12 o’clock in Jomsom market) is a favorite song of many Nepalis.

Mustang, situated between the two high peaks Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri, was the main trade route between Nepal and Tibet.

Mustang’s apples, lakes, monasteries, plateaus, and Himalayan lifestyle, which contain three-thousand-year-old remnants, have attracted many tourists.

Stairs leading to Muktinath Temple

When you reach Marfa, Jomsom, and Kagbeni, viewing hills, waterfalls, rivers, and the Himalayas from the Beni-Jomsom highway, you begin to feel as if you have reached the entrance to a new geography and culture.

Selfie Hill on the way to Muktinath

The picturesque scenes and experiences felt during the subsequent journey are indescribable.

I have tried to capture the scenes I saw during this trip to Muktinath in photographs.

The 108 water sprouts (dhara) of Muktinath Temple

Muktinath Temple and pond

Monastery in Kagbeni

Ancestral rituals being performed in Kagbeni

Shaligrams and other worship materials for sale in Kagbeni

Horses carrying passengers in Muktinath

Himalayan range seen from Muktinath

Herds of sheep seen on the way to Jomsom

Tourists and pilgrims heading towards Muktinath Temple

Collage of Kagbeni and locals