The walled capital of the old Kingdom of Lo, founded in 1380 and barely changed: whitewashed houses pressed inside mud-brick walls, four great gompas, and a royal palace still owned by the raja's line.
Inside the wall, life moves at the pace of goat herds and morning prayers. The painted chapels of Thubchen and Jampa hold some of the finest medieval Buddhist murals anywhere — restored, but never modernised.
Founded
1380
Altitude
3,840 m
Access
Restricted-area permit
Insider tip
Stay two nights — the evening light on the walls and the morning gompa prayers are worth the unhurried pace.
Look for
1The six-metre gilded Jampa (Maitreya) filling its three-storey chapel
2Mani walls of carved prayer stones ringing the city walls
3The royal palace — the old king's family still keeps rooms there
More in Upper Mustang
Visit with a private guide
Add to your journey