2014 SPECIAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRIP - UPPER MUSTANG TIJI FESTIVAL

We have written May words before about the simple awesomeness of mountain biking in the Upper Mustang Region. This natural desert like area abounds with trails, single tracks and challenging passes with some very very spectacular scenery along the way. But to make it even more special, in the month of May, during the Full Moon the local people celebrate the Tiji Festival.  Tiji is one of the most colorful and authentic Buddhist Festivals in Nepal and it makes a special trip in Upper Mustang even more spectacular and memorable.

Its 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. It is of course timed to coincide with the end of the dry winter / spring season and will usher in the wetter monsoon season (the growing season for Mustang).

Tiji comes from the word "ten che" meaning the hope of Buddha Dharma prevailing in all worlds and is effectively a spring renewal festival. Its a colourful festvvial of dancing demons, horse back riding and racing and many other local tradition, surely an added highlight to any mountain bike trip in the Upper Mustang Region.

ITINERARY

17^th May - ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU- Accom: Hotel Courtyard

18^th May - KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING & WARM UP RIDE- Accom: Hotel Courtyard

19^th May - DRIVE TO POKHARA- Accom: Attiti Resort

20^th May -  POKHARA FLY TO JOMSOM & BIKE TO JHONG (3550 meters)-  Accom: Teahouse

21^st May - JHONG TO SAMAR (3660 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

22^nd May - SAMAR TO GHAMI (3520 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

23^rd May - GHAMI TO CHARANG (3560 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

24^th May - CHARANG TO LO-MANTHANG (3810 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

25^th May - LO-MANTHANG – Full Moon and Start of the Tiji Festival

26^th May - LO-MANTHANG – Tiji Festival

27^th May - LO-MANTHANG – Tiji Festival

28^th May - LO-MANTHANG TO GAMI (3520 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

29^th May - GAMI TO SAMAR (3660 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

30^th May - SAMAR TO JOMSOM (2980 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

31^st May - JOMSOM TO TATOPANI (1190 meters)- Accom: Teahouse

1^st Jun - TATOPANI TO POKHARA- Accom: Attiti Resort

2^nd Jun - POKHARA TO KATHMANDU- Accom: Hotel Courtyard

3^rd Jun - DEPARTURE- TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT