The Upper Mustang region welcomed more than 4,000 foreign tourists in 2024, marking a 14.2% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Lomanthang office of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
Office Chief Umesh Poudel told the state-owned national news agency RSS that 4,061 foreign tourists visited Upper Mustang in 2024, up from 3,484 in 2023.
Poudel attributed the rise in tourist numbers to improved road and transportation facilities, increased publicity, the operation of luxury hotels, and the inclusion of the Annapurna Circuit Trek as one of the world’s top 10 tourism destinations.
Historical data shows fluctuating tourist arrivals in Upper Mustang, with 3,112 visitors recorded in 2022, 332 in 2021, 62 in 2020, and 3,918 in 2019, RSS further reported.
The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in September last year established a tourist information centre at its office in Lo Manthang, Mustang.
The centre has been providing tourists with information on historical, religious, and cultural sites, as well as details about the area's biodiversity, wildlife, birds, and geographical features, ACAP Lo Manthang Ranger Madan Poudel told RSS.
Staff at the centre have been assisting tourists with maps of Lo Manthang and its surrounding areas, and offer information on historical, religious, and tourist sites, including caves, monasteries, artworks, and cultural significance. The information centre also displays details of travel times, available lodging, and other relevant information. They also provide advice on trekking routes, helping to clarify uncertainties and coordinate tourist activities.
Lo Manthang's key attractions include its ancient walled settlement, palace, monasteries, and traditional headman system, which closely mirrors Tibetan culture. The town, home to around 200 households, is approximately 600 years old, according to Ward Chairman Dhuduke Bista.
King Ame Pal constructed the five-storey Lo Manthang Palace in 1440 AD, which still stands within the walled settlement. Ceremonial kings remain in Lo Manthang and Lho-Ghekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipality. Additionally, the Thubten, Chodey, and Jampa monasteries, built in the 15th century, are significant cultural and religious landmarks, housing intricate thangkas and sculptures.
Since 1992, the government has required foreign nationals to obtain special permits and pay fees to visit Upper Mustang for a limited time. Lo Manthang, Lho-Ghekar Damodar Kunda, and parts of Baragung Mukti Kshetra Rural Municipality-3 and Chhusang VDC are designated restricted areas. Foreign nationals, except for Nepalis, must pay a $500 fee to the Department of Immigration for a 10-day permit, with an additional $50 fee per day for visits exceeding 10 days.
