Kagbeni, at 2,800 meters above sea level, is a hidden gem of a village and the gateway to Upper Mustang. Foreign tourists are limited in what they may see without a specific authorization. Remains that surround the village and the dwellings which are made of mud and stone, show signs of deterioration here in Kagbeni. Each morning, brooms made of reeds and sticks sweep the cracked, crumbling soil away. Before years, the traders from Lo Manthang, Manang, and Dolpo used to meet at Kagbeni’s main courtyard to exchange commodities and relax before continuing on to other places. Kagbeni is located north of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges, along the Kali Gandaki River. Visitors may now walk from Jomsom to this location in less than 3 hours, despite the fact that getting there used to be a major endeavor before some years.
Kagbeni is heavily place influenced by Tibetan culture. Chortens and prayer wheels lend color to the sandy landscape, while Tibetan flags in blue, white, red, green, and yellow flap in the breeze. Rock faces above the town hold a number of caves where monks used to meditate and pray. The village’s most prominent structure is the red monastery, which is an imposing square construction.Monks will meet you and provide you a tour of the grounds.
The most magnificent view, however, comes towards the village’s end: a breathtaking panoramic view overlooking Lo Manthang and the Upper Mustang plains. You won’t need to buy any additional licenses to enjoy this breathtaking location; most international visitors will be covered by an ACAP and TIMS registration.At this point, where rivers and lands meet, time appears to stand still. Returning my gaze to the village, it is humbling to be in a place with so much apparent history and the stories of those who have passed through. For every traveler, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Things to do while in Kagbeni
- Cafe Apple Bee’s can be discovered by wandering the streets. It’s one of the last structures you’ll see before heading to Upper Mustang from the settlement. Enjoy the sights while sipping an Illy latte.
- Dal bhat, like each other village along the Annapurna Circuit, takes on the tastes of the region. Because of the flames over which it was cooked, the dal is smokey and silky. Chefs are very welcoming and would happily invite you inside their kitchens to share a dish that you can take home with you.
- You can also go for fossil hunting and let your inner scientist unleash. Shaligram, or spherical shell-like fossils, are revered as holy reminders of Vishnu, the Hindu god.
- Learn about Tibetan culture and traditions by visiting a local monastery. Tibetan antiques and devotional rites (puja) may still be seen at the place, which now primarily functions as a learning center for elementary school pupils.
- Before visiting Kagbeni, View Kagbeni, a 2008 Nepali film based on the horror story “The Monkey’s Paw,” to fire your curiosity for the location and your trip adventure.
In Kagbeni, you’ll discover a variety of guesthouses, the majority of which provide wonderful coffee and baked goods. However, book early because peak seasons attract large crowds, and tour operators and travel companies secure the most popular lodgings months in advance.
The village of Kagbeni welcomes you with its daring beauty, far away from the busy town squares, temples, and dance festivals of Nepal’s towns and cities. Officially, Kagbeni is a hamlet that connects Lower and Upper Mustang by the River Kali Gandaki, situated at the foot of Muktinath Valley. But spiritually, Kagbeni is a Tibetan hamlet lost in the middle of nowhere.The windy barrens of the upper Himalayas have an alluring allure. When you go inside Kagbeni, you won’t find any showy frills or frivolity to hide behind. The chilling beauty of Kagbeni’s stark wildness smacks you in the face for all of its unabashed brilliance, and you’ll be left wanting more and more and you won’t regret visiting this wonderland with the magnificient panoramas tst least once in life.
By: Saru Niraula for Land Nepal
