By Hari Krishna Sharma,Muktinath, Oct. 25: Tourist arrivals in Mustang, which had been deserted following floods and landslides, have begun to pick up immediately after the Dashain festival. The number of domestic tourists visiting the district started increasing from the day after Dashami (the day of Tika).
In recent years, Mustang has been a top choice for people travelling during festival holidays. However, floods in the Bhotekoshi and Kaligandaki rivers kept domestic tourist arrivals low from mid-August to mid-October this year.
According to data from the Ghansa checkpoint of the District Police Office, 1,609 people entered Mustang via the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road section on October 16, about 1,539 on October 17 and 1,692 on October 19. On Thursday, the day after Dashain, a total of 3,033 people entered Mustang, including 2,108 men and 925 women.
Information officer at the District Police Office in Myagdi, Inspector Santosh Basyal, said that the details of domestic and foreign tourists entering Mustang were recorded at the Ghansa checkpoint, the district's entry point. Records were also maintained at the checkpoint at Chhusang in Ward 3 of Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality, a semi-restricted area, while the Lete Police Post recorded the number of tourists leaving the district. “Tourist arrivals by road have improved immediately after Dashain. This is also a favourable time to visit Mustang,” Basyal said.
According to him, 69,403 tourists entered Mustang in the first three months of the current Fiscal Year (mid-July to mid-October) 2026/27, compared with 118,685 during the same period in 2025/26.
Last year, 19,000 tourists visited Mustang in Saun (mid-July to mid-August), 23,205 in Bhadau (mid-August to mid-September) and 75,599 in Asoj (mid-September to mid-October). This year, the district received 30,534 tourists in Saun, 20,268 in Bhadau and 18,601 in Asoj. More than 20,000 domestic tourists visited Mustang in a single day immediately after Dashain and Tihar last year.
Raju Lalchan, President of the Mustang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said floods and landslides had affected the district's tourism sector. However, activities are gradually recovering.
“Damage to road links has made tourists apprehensive. The roads have now been repaired, and people can visit Mustang without worries,” he said. Most domestic tourists visiting Mustang travel to the famous religious site of Muktinath Temple. Other major attractions include ancient caves, man-made caves located far from settlements, monasteries, barren mountains, Mustang's art and culture, its climate and scenic tourist destinations.
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