Mustang welcomed a total of 51,896 foreign tourists between January and April 2025, marking a 36.66 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) office in Jomsom.
Rajesh Gupta, Chief of ACAP Jomsom, said the rise in foreign tourist arrivals has been “unexpectedly high,” with 83 percent (43,151 tourists) arriving from SAARC countries and 17 percent (8,745 tourists) from other nations.
Monthly arrivals during the period were 4,346 in January, 5,330 in February, 19,095 in March, and 23,152 in April. In comparison, Mustang recorded 37,974 foreign visitors in the same period last year.
Hotel entrepreneur Suraj Gurung of Muktinath attributed the increase to the region’s religious, cultural, and historical significance. A large number of Indian tourists travel to Mustang to visit the Muktinath Temple—a shared pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists.
In addition to Muktinath, tourists are also drawn to Upper Mustang destinations such as Korlanaka, Choser Cave, Lo Manthang Palace, Luri Gumba, Damodar Kunda, and the scenic villages and lakes of Jomsom, Marpha, Dhumba Taal, and Titi Taal, solidifying Mustang’s position as a key destination for both domestic and international visitors.
