Namaste! Welcome to Thini Village.
You are 2,862 meters above sea level, overlooking the historic village of Thini. To the south, the
Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri, and Manapathi mountain ranges rise majestically. You are located in the rain shadow region, also known as the “other side” of the mountains.
Thini is one of the oldest villages in the Lower Mustang region and was once the capital of an
ancient kingdom. The kings of that era ruled from Garabdzong, a fort situated atop a small hill
to the south of Thini. The ruins of Garabdzong stand as a testament to its former glory. The
indigenous people of Thini are known as the ‘Yulkasummis Thakali’ or ‘Tingaule Thakali.’ In
addition to Thini, this group is the dominant ethnic group in the nearby villages of Syang and
Chimang. Other minority groups in the area include Nepali, Bishwakarma, and various other
ethnic communities.
Thini was once home to four monasteries and many retreats, making it one of the most
culturally rich villages in the Lower Mustang. The Tingaule Thakali practice the Aayulama
tradition, and in the past, Thini was the center for training and approving Aayulamas. Several
sacred temples and monuments associated with this tradition are scattered throughout the
village.
From this starting point, you can embark on three different trail routes. The first is the ‘Thakali
Cultural Heritage Trail,’ which will take you through Thini village, Garabdzong fort, Somle
village, Dhumba Lake, Kutsuo Teregna Monastery, Dhumba village, and Phyangthang. Within
Thini, you can visit Yutu Monastery (a Bon monastery), the community hall (Hyulthim), the
Thakali Museum, and Thagi Karpo, a sacred Aayulama monastery that houses a goddess
displayed for worship and blessings once every 12 years for a month. Thini also has the Snow
Leopard Cave, a popular site to learn about snow leopards.
This is an easy trail, suitable for all age groups, and will take approximately 2.63 hours to
complete. You will start from zero point and cover a total distance of 9.09km(5.65 miles) and
end at the same point. The trail offers stunning landscapes and village views and is
recommended as an acclimatization route for those planning to tackle the other two, more
challenging trails.
