Yoga Trek & Soul Pilgrimage
to the
sacred land of Mustang
 

Scenically and ethnologically, the region Mustang with its barren high valleys looks more like a part of Tibet. Here, the landscape has hardly changed its face for centuries. The visits to the ancient places Kagbeni and Muktinath as well as to the surrounding caves, monasteries, chortens and stupas provide intensive insights into a deeply Buddhist cultural landscape that seems almost medieval. The numerous pass crossings are rewarded by breathtaking views of Dhaulagiri (8167 m), Annapurna (8091 m), Nilgiri (7061 m) and other mountain giants. In Muktinath, we find a temple complex which belongs to the most important pilgrimage site of the Nepalese Himalayas. It is said to be The Place of Liberation: by visiting this temple and by bathing in the ice-cold water of its 108 holy stone faucets one gets completely purified and liberated.

Reaching Kagbeni, we find another village that maintains the characteristic appearance of a fortress town and is culturally very rich.  Kagbeni offers breathtaking landscapes over the Kali Gandaki River Valley and Upper Mustang. Alongside the river, we can find numerous ancient caves, where for centuries Buddhist lamas used to meditate. Here, we can move on to another rare and unique experience: try finding some Shaligram - a sacred stone, that it’s said is the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu itself and has strong power. In Kagbeni, yogis, monks and visitors meditate inside of the ancient monastery Kag Chode Thupten Samphel Ling Gompa, that was founded in 1429. Surrounded by fine woodwork, precious statues, and holy scriptures, the monastery offers the opportunity to learn about the ancient practices of the monks that live there and find inner stillness.