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Lower Mustang has experienced its first significant snowfall in nearly four years, as snow fell across settlements in Thasang, Gharapjhong and Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, marking a rare winter event for the region below Kagbeni.
The snowfall, which began overnight on January 23, triggered a sharp drop in temperatures, disrupting daily routines and slowing tourist movement in Jomsom, including areas surrounding Puthang Airport. Residents were largely confined indoors due to the cold, though vehicular movement along the Beni–Jomsom road remains unaffected, allowing continued access for travellers and essential supplies.
What the Snowfall Means for Travellers and Local Communities
While Upper Mustang and the Muktinath region had received snowfall earlier during Kartik, Lower Mustang had remained unusually dry in recent winters. This makes the current snowfall especially significant - both environmentally and culturally - offering travellers a rare glimpse of Lower Mustang’s desert landscapes transformed by snow.
Despite the immediate challenges, local farmers have welcomed the snowfall. According to the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, Mustang, melting snow helps improve soil moisture and reduce harmful insects, benefiting crops such as apples, barley, wheat, buckwheat and naked barley, which form the backbone of Mustang’s high-altitude agriculture.
Meanwhile, as temperatures continue to fall in Upper Mustang, seasonal migration to lower elevations has resumed, bringing development work and government services in the region to a temporary winter halt.
For visitors, the snowfall adds a dramatic seasonal layer to Mustang winter travel, though careful planning, warm gear and weather awareness are essential.
PC: Wikimedia Commons
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