Mustang has an estimated 10,000 man-made caves cut into its soft cliffs. Archaeologists have found burials over 2,000 years old, Buddhist manuscripts and painted shrines inside some of them. Many are unreachable, high on vertical faces, but at Chhoser, about 20 km north of Lo Manthang, a cluster is open to visitors. We go by jeep (around 1 hour) or on horseback (2–2.5 hours each way) through the Nhichung valley.
The highlight is Jhong Cave, a complex of more than 40 rooms on five levels, linked by narrow tunnels and wooden ladders. The rooms were used as homes, storage and refuges, with soot-blackened ceilings and niches for lamps. A caretaker collects a small fee. Nearby, Nyiphu Gompa is built into the cliff itself, with a tiny prayer hall, and Garphu Gompa sits across the river.
On the way back we stop in the village of Chhoser and, if time allows, at the Namgyal Gompa on its ridge above Lo Manthang. The ladders inside Jhong Cave are steep and the tunnels low, so this suits reasonably agile visitors; others can explore the lower rooms. Bring a torch, a scarf for dust and a packed lunch, as there are few places to eat.
Good for
- Photographers
- Couples
- Solo
- Families
Questions travellers ask
Are the Mustang caves safe to climb?
The open rooms at Jhong Cave are reached by fixed ladders and narrow tunnels and are safe if you move carefully. They are not suitable for anyone with poor balance, knee problems or claustrophobia. Children must be supervised closely. Most other cliff caves in Mustang are off limits and dangerous to attempt.
How far is Chhoser from Lo Manthang?
Chhoser is about 20 km north of Lo Manthang. By jeep it takes about one hour each way on a dirt road. On horseback it takes 2–2.5 hours each way through the Nhichung valley. Walking is possible but long, around 4–5 hours each way, so most visitors ride.
Who built the Mustang sky caves?
No one knows for certain. Archaeological work since the 1990s shows people used the caves from at least 2,500 years ago as tombs, then later as homes, meditation cells and storage. Some contain Buddhist murals and texts from the 12th–15th centuries. Many were dug by communities seeking refuge during conflicts.
