Mustang, 18 Jul: Over 750,000 tourists visited Mustang in the span of one year. According to data collected by the District Police Office, a total of 705,779 domestic and foreign tourists entered Mustang in the fiscal year 2081/082 (2024/2025) via the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road, the Pokhara–Jomsom air route, and the world-renowned Annapurna trekking trail through Thorong La Pass.
According to Police Inspector and Information Officer Bishal Adhikari of the District Police Office, Mustang, a total of 705,779 tourists visited Mustang during the fiscal year 2081/082 (2024/2025), including 150,453 foreign tourists and 555,326 domestic tourists.
The highest number of foreign tourists, 13,115, arrived in Baisakh (April–May), while the lowest, only 1,208, visited in Shrawan (July–August). Among foreign tourists, there were 82,539 men, 67,908 women, and 6 individuals identifying as third gender. Of the domestic tourists, 377,857 were men and 177,469 were women. The month of Kartik (October–November) recorded the highest number of domestic tourists, with 99,176 visitors.
Compared to the previous fiscal year 2080/081, during which 99,399 foreign tourists visited Mustang, the number increased by 51,054 this year. Likewise, domestic tourism saw a rise of 200,399 visitors.
Domestic tourists generally travel across the district from Ghasa up to the Korala border with China, whereas most foreign tourists tend to return from Lower Mustang. Both domestic and international visitors explore religious and tourism sites in rural municipalities such as Thasang, Gharapjhong, Baragung Muktikshetra, Lomanthang, and Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda.
According to Rinzin Gurung, Chairperson of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, the majority of tourists visit the famous pilgrimage site Muktinath Temple. Some also make their way from Mustang to Tilicho Lake, located in Ward No. 9 of Ngisyang Rural Municipality in neighboring Manang District—the world’s highest lake at an altitude of 4,919 meters. The route to Tilicho via Mustang is relatively easy, attracting a large number of domestic tourists annually.
Mustang’s major attractions include ancient caves, man-made dwellings away from settlements, monasteries, barren cliffs, Mustangi art and culture, unique climate, and other scenic destinations. In recent years, with the blacktopping of the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road, the number of tourists traveling on two-wheelers has seen a significant rise, according to the District Police Office, Mustang.
