One-day trek from Thini leads to Tilicho

By Hari Krishna Sharma

Mustang, May 21 : Tilicho Lake, the world’s highest-altitude lake located in Nesyang Rural Municipality-9 of Manang district, is now accessible from Thini Village in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality-5 of Mustang in a one-day trek.

Tilicho, a popular destination among both domestic and international tourists, has become more accessible thanks to road connectivity up to Bhraspso in Mustang. From there, a trekking route leads to the lake.

According to Niraj Thakali, a local youth from Thini, it takes about 16 kilometres by vehicle to reach Bhraspso, followed by a roughly 7-hour trek to Tilicho Lake.

"Now it's much easier to reach Tilicho from Mustang. Many trekkers are making the round trip to Tilicho in a single day using a combination of vehicles and hiking routes," said Thakali.

Despite the ease of access, Asim Thakali, another local youth, advises first-time travellers to prepare accordingly due to possible altitude sickness. For a short-distance trek, a one-day trip is possible, while those coming from farther away may benefit from a 3-day itinerary.

To support returning tourists after visiting Tilicho, the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) in Jomsom recently established a tourist shelter at an elevation of 4,545 metres above sea level. These shelters, built to offer a peaceful retreat nestled in the lap of the Himalayas, have been growing in popularity.

According to Mohan Singh Lalchan, Chairman of Gharapjhong Rural Municipality, infrastructure expansion efforts by the municipality, the provincial government, and ACAP have made the journey easy for tourists. “We are focused on building infrastructure to ensure visitors from Mustang to Tilicho face no difficulties. The current tourist turnout is very encouraging,” he said.

Information boards with directional signs, distance markers and helpful tips have also been installed along the route to make the journey more convenient.

In recent times, even religious pilgrims have started visiting Tilicho from Mustang. There’s a legend that Lord Shiva meditated in this area and that sage Kagbesini gained wisdom here. Pilgrims who come to visit the Muktinath Temple also go to Tilicho to collect its sacred water.

The route from Mustang to Tilicho passes through several scenic and cultural attractions, including Thini Village, the Snow Leopard Cave, glimpses into farmers’ lives, herds of mountain sheep and yaks, the historic Gharpajhong Fort, Kaishyang Camp, Namkha, Hyarjhu View Point, as well as views of the Nilgiri and other Himalayan peaks. It also offers a rich experience of Thakali art and culture.

The ideal months to explore Tilicho are September to November and March to May. A large number of tourists travel through Mustang to reach this breathtaking lake.