Life in Upper Mustang During Winter Closure: What Locals Do

Have you ever visited Nepal’s trans-Himalayan region, Upper Mustang? Life in Upper Mustang during winter closure becomes very dramatic, as the ancient monasteries, the thousand-year-old cliffs, and caves, secluded and deserted landscapes, get covered by a heavy layer of snow.

Trekkers will experience the deeper Tibetan-influenced culture in the peak trekking season, such as Spring and Autumn. It offers a better view of the Himalayan ranges, and one can even be a part of the Tiji festivals and the windswept valleys of the Kali Gandaki basin. But during winter, the heavy snowfall makes the temperature drop below freezing points, along with heavy wind, which makes the lively community almost into quiet and deserted landscapes.

The local communities of Upper Mustang can withstand these extreme climatic conditions, as they have been living here for many generations, and everyone who are planning to explore in the upcoming winter season should read this blog in detail, as you should know all about the fascinating seasonal rhythm of migration, survival, and resilience.

Understanding Life in Upper Mustang During Winter Closure

Upper Mustang also popular as Kingdom of Lo is situated above 3,500 m elevation. This makes the Upper Mustang trek cold, and the locals experience extreme cold during winter, which generally starts from December and ends in February, but sometimes it even last till early March.

The temperatures of winter in Upper Mustang often fall below freezing points, and you will encounter solid ice in water sources like taps, irrigation canals, and streams. Also, the strong winds from the Tibetan Plateau even add more cold during winter.

Due to the extreme cold, locals stop their farming and agricultural activities, and there is less flow of tourism. Locals have to face many difficulties, even for cooking and fetching water, so they stop their hospitality business until the warmer seasons.

As for trekking and travel enthusiast, it seems quite unusual that the idea of an entire region being closed or slowed down but for locals, it is the way their lives have been running for centuries.

Local’s Seasonal Migrations to Lower Regions

Winter migration in Upper Mustang is one of the most common traditions. The freezing temperatures around November make many families leave their villages and move to lower and warmer places such as Pokhara, Kusma, Taragaun, Dharapani, Danakui, Kathmandu, or nearby districts.

Among 80% of the total population leave their village just to escape the harsh winter season and return in spring as the weather improves and they can begin their agricultural work again. When locals move to a lower region of Upper Mustang during winter closure, they get engaged in:

• Small businesses or shops
• Work in tourism or hospitality
• Stay with relatives
• Enroll children in temporary schools

This migration allows families to stay productive during the months when farming and tourism are almost impossible in Upper Mustang during winter closure.

Closure of Schools in Upper Mustang During Winter Closure

Education is another important part of this seasonal migration of Upper Mustang during winter closure. When families migrate temporarily to lower region from Upper Mustang, many schools in also get temporarily close, as there are no students in the regions.

Parents make sure that their children do not miss classes, so they either teach them at home or enroll them in temporary schools where they have migrated. For students, this seasonal schooling becomes a unique part of growing up in Mustang as they spend summers in the mountains and winters in warmer places like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Kusma, etc.

Who Stay Behind in Upper Mustang During Closure

Although many people migrate, not everyone leaves the villages in winter. Some villagers remain in the villages in the Upper Mustang during the winter closure. People who stay behind are usually:

• Elderly residents
• Caretakers of houses and livestock
• A few hotel or lodge operators
• Local officials or monks maintaining monasteries.

Life for those who stay behind in Upper Mustang during the winter closure becomes slow and quiet. As in every closed shop and house, there are only a handful of people who live in the villages, which makes it almost empty. Those who stay behind in Upper Mustang during the winter closure, focus on being warm, raising their animals like Yak, Nak, and Sheep, along with preparation for the supplies until the warmer season returns.

Livestock Care

Animal husbandry is the most important part of the lives of the locals of Upper Mustang, and they raise Sheep, goats, yaks, horses, and cattle for milk, wool, and other sources of protein. The snowy and frozen landscape makes grazing difficult during the Upper Mustang during Winter Closure.

So, locals collect and store large amounts of dried grass and crop leftovers during the warmer season. They keep their livestock very close to their house and make sure that they won’t suffer from cold and extreme winds by covering the barn with heavy blankets.

Spiritual Life

Locals continue doing the daily prayers and spiritual practices as monasteries remain active in Upper Mustang During Winter Closure. Monks continue their routines of meditation, chanting, and rituals, preserving centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist traditions even in the extreme weather conditions of winter.

As it is the off-season for trekking to the Himalayas, there will be fewer tourists, which offer more peaceful environment for spiritual practices in the long winter months.

Maintaining Homes

The villages of Upper Mustang is made up of mud-brick houses, which may get damaged due to the harsh weather conditions like snow accumulation and strong winds of Upper Mustang During Winter Closure. So, maintenance is needed regularly, and those who stay behind during Upper Mustang During Winter Closure spend time clearing snow from rooftops and repairing small structural problems.

While protecting and maintaining their own property, they make sure that their neighbor’s houses are also free from snow accumulation, which results in a sense of shared responsibility that helps protect the village community throughout Upper Mustang During Winter Closure.

Economic Activities

Just because tourism is slow in winter, it doesn’t mean all the activities will stop. Locals who stay there become engaged in transportation and logistics for the Korala border between Nepal and China, along with other cross-border trade activities. This is their income source when tourism is halted during winter.

Changing Winter Patterns in Recent Years

Traditionally, winter migration was almost universal in Upper Mustang. However, in recent years, economic changes are slowly altering this pattern of migration. Recently, in 2023, the trade routes near the Korala border has opened which created new employment opportunities for the locals of the Upper Mustang during winter closure. This shift means that while winter still remains harsh, but it is no longer completely deserted as it once was.

Final Thoughts

Winter closure in Upper Mustang reflects the resilience and adaptability of mountain communities. Locals stopped fighting the harsh climate by learning to move with it and migrating temporarily to warmer lowland towns. This rhythm of migration, preparation, and return has shaped Mustang’s culture for generations.

However, if you are preparing to visit Upper Mustang during winter closure make sure you will be compromising on limited food availability and facilities, along with proper packing of warm layered clothing. Also, don’t forget to contact Awesome Holidays Nepal for booking a memorable trek to Upper Mustang as we will manage all the necessary permits and documents in 2026.