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Festival date – May 17, 18, 19 2012

Arrival date in Katmandu May 9 and departure date from Kathmandu May 28

The Tiji festival trek is a cultural/history and scenery experience journey to forbidden kingdom. Holiday Mountain Treks has made journey for all average people and fixed the date of the trip at an affordable price. Please reserve your place on time since there will be allowed only limited numbers of people to visit this wonderful place.

A short brief of the Tiji festival

The Tiji festival is a three-day ritual known as “The chasing of the Demons” that centers on the Tiji myth. The myth tells of a deity named Dorje Jono who must battle against his demon father to save the Kingdom of Mustang from destruction. The demon father wreaked havoc on Mustang by bringing a shortage of water (a highly precious resource in this very dry land) and causing many resulting disasters from famine to animal loss. Dorje Jono eventually beats the demon and banishes him from the land. Tiji is a celebration and reaffirmation of this myth and throughout the festival the various scenes of the myth will be enacted. The festical normally helds at the ned of dry winter/spring season effectively a spring renewal festival.and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang).

The Tiji festival is celebrated for three days in Lo-Manthang. First day, horns resounded, announcing the two twelve-foot copper dunchens, with their elephantine blurting, followed by two double-reeled horns, all accompanied by drum and cymbals then an ancient and enormous thanka three stories high was unrolled down the entire south wall of the square. Late afternoon, in high wind and blowing dust, eleven lamas in maroon and gold, wearing high red hats, came from the palace and took their places along the wall beneath the thanka, with Tashi Tenzing on the elevated seat just in the center. The masked dancers start the portrayal of the Tiji myth then Dorje Jono repels the demon through the power of his magical dancing. As the dances end, Dorje Jono kills the demon, after which his people are relieved of their plague of misfortunes, water becomes plentiful once more, and the balance and harmony of existence are restored.

On the second day, numbers of Loba arrive from the outlying hamlets, and the small square is thronged with wild beautiful people, with all of the women and children, at least, in traditional dress. The King of Mustang, “wears a whole crown of tiny river pearls set off by dozens of large red coralline tones interspersed with matched ornaments of turquoise. The costumes and masks, the twelve-foot horns, the gold cups of wheat, the butter cakes, the snow peaks and wind and dust and sun, the mehti, snow leopard, snow pigeons, saligrams, the dying glacier and the desert ruins, the drunks and rajas and foreigners, the dogs and yaks. Tantra!

The Tiji festival ends with the ceremonial destruction of the evil remains, represented by some long black yak hair and red torma cakes minced to a dark red gurry. The demons red remnants are set out on an old tiger skin, where-upon they are attacked by bow and arrow, slings, and the old guns. The poor devils remains are over- turned upon the ground, each time to a wild cannonade from the old muzzle-loaders and a wave of cheers and smoke.

Introduction of Mustang-a forbidden kingdom
Mustang a Kingdom within a Kingdom and it’s wealth was derived from its position on the Kali Gandaki / Thak Khola trade route to Tibet, the region still retains its own King is a fantastic square-walled town. Forbidden to foreigners until 1992 Mustang remains a controlled region which very few people visit, a deliberate policy of cultural and environmental preservation. Mustang with an average elevation of 13,600ft, remains almost entirely Tibetan in character and appearance. A trek into this fabled Kingdom of Mustang takes us to a kingdom of vast high arid valleys, eroded canyons, stratified rock formations, yak caravans, colorfully-painted mud-brick houses, a barren desert-like appearance and ancient salt-trade routes linked to the high passes of Tibet. Not only beautiful landscape, unique culture but panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and other soaring peaks, a remote route southeast of Lo Manthang is to explore. A limited number of permits are issued to trekkers each year in order to protect the local Tibetan traditions and the fragile ecosystem. Mustang is a rugged mysterious arid and haunting wilderness region set amid a lunar landscape of wind eroded hills and cliffs. Trekker’s destination is the exotic walled city of Lo Manthang the seat of the King. The Kings Palace is surrounded by maize of gompas and private houses all enshrined within the city boundary walls. Unmolested Mustang is frozen in time it remains one of the ultimate journeys ever likely to be made in one lifetime. Although fierce winds, exposed terrain, high altitude and the rigors of the Tibetan plateau make this region a challenging one, the rewards for venturing deep into the Kingdom of Mustang are immense!

Trek Facts

Trek Style: Tented Camp (full organize)

Group size: minimum 2 person

Grade: Medium-Hard

Walking hrs: 4-9hrs.

Seasons: May-Oct.

Max alt: 4265m.

Min alt: 2720m.

Trek schedule
Day 01 (May 09) : Welcome to Kathmandu 1300m
Arrive Kathmandu airport; welcome and transfer to hotel.

Day 02 (May 10): Kathmandu Sightseeing
Sightseeing tour of the interesting surrounding sights of Kathmandu valley.

Day 03 (May 11): Kathmandu – Pokhara 975m. drive 6hrs.
Transferred to Pokhara by tourist bus for about 6 -hour drive. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy either doing last minute shopping for the trek or packing your kitty bag for the trek.

Day 04 (May 12): Pokhara – Jomsom 2720m. – Kagbeni 2900m. trek 3-4 hrs.
Fly to Jomsom and gentle walk to Kagnebi, the checkpoint of entry to Upper Mustang The Kaligandaki valley here is called the Thakkhola, after the native Thakalis, who are distantly related to the Tibetans.

Day 05 (May 13): From Kagbeni trek to Chele 3200m. 6hrs.
Day 06 (May 14): From Chele trek to Geling 3510m. 6hrs.
Day 07 (May 15): From Geling trek to Charang 3650m. 5-6hrs.
Day 08 (May 16): From Charang trek to Lo Manthang 3910m. 5hrs.
Day 09 (May 17): Tiji festival starts and witness of the day first of Tiji and sight visits around
Day 10 (May 18): Witness of the day second of Tiji and sight visits around
Day 11 (May 19): Witness of the day third of Tiji festival and sight visits around.
Day 12 (May 20): Return trek from Lo Manthang to Surkhan 3460m. 5-6hrs.
Day 13 (May 21): Trek from Surkhan – Tange 2640m. 6-7hrs.
Day 14 (May 22): Trek from Tange – Tetang 3160m. 5-6hrs.
Day 15 (May 23): Trek from Tetang- Muktinath 3750m. 6hrs.
Day 15 (May 24): Trek from Muktinath – Jomosom 2720m. 5hrs.
Day 16 (May 25): Fly back from Jomosom-Pokhara. Rest of the is free for own activities.
Day 17 (May 26): Drive Back to Kathmandu .
Day 18: Rest day at leisure or final souvenir shopping. Join the farewell dinner in the evening with live cultural program hosted by Holiday Mountain Treks.

Day 19: Departure transfer to airport for return flight to home.

Cost:

Trekking organize USD 1870 per person group joining basis

Special permit fee USD 500 per person

ACAP fee USD 32 per person

Flight fares (Pokhara-Jomsom-Pokhara) USD 164 for foreigner and USD 64 for Nepali per person

Trek cost includes: Full board basis tented camp trekking, hot drinks, ground transportation, guide, sherpa, cook, kitchen helpers, porters, insurance, equipments and other facilities for the staffs, arrival/departure transfer, taxes and other logistic support etc.

Trek cost excludes: Personal wears & gears, personal nature expenses, emergency rescue cost, cold beverage, mineral water, alcoholic drinks, tips etc.