Titi Lake awaiting tourists

MYAGDI, DECEMBER 17: Titi Lake, located in Thasang Rural Municipality-5 of Mustang district, remains largely unexplored due to poor road infrastructure and insufficient promotion.

Situated at an altitude of 2,679 meters above sea level, the elongated lake holds significant religious, ecological, and tourism value. Dhirendra Bishwakarma, a local resident, stated that less than five per cent of tourists visiting Mustang make it to Titi Lake. “Although over 400,000 tourists visit Mustang annually, very few come to Titi Lake,” he said. “If developed properly as a tourist destination, it could encourage longer tourist stays and boost the local economy.”

Despite its proximity—just five kilometres from Lethe and Kokhethati along the busy Beni-Jomsom road, which sees thousands of tourists daily—Titi Lake remains largely neglected. Bishwakarma emphasized that the construction of a 10-kilometer road connecting Lethe–Kunjo–Titi–Dhampu–Sirkhum and motorable bridges over the Kaligandaki River at Dhampu and Lethe would greatly increase tourist flow. Currently, visitors must either trek or transport motorcycles across suspension bridges from Lethe, Chhoyo, Dhampu, or Sirkhum to reach the lake.

Nestled between the Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri mountain ranges, Titi Lake is surrounded by dense forests of pine and juniper trees. The serene environment, diverse bird species, and breathtaking mountain views make it a unique natural destination. Titi Lake is also the largest lake in Mustang.

Sagar Pariyar, a resident of Beni Municipality-10, shared that he has visited Titi Lake three times in the past year. “The views of sunrise over Dhaulagiri and sunset over Nilgiri are truly mesmerizing,” he said. “You can also see flocks of ducks swimming peacefully in the lake, with Dhaulagiri on one side and Nilgiri on the other—making it an unforgettable experience.”

According to a study by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), Titi Lake is home to 186 species of birds, including the mallard duck, which is unique to this region in Nepal. Manoj Ranabhat, Chief of the Mustang Division Forest Office, explained that the lake’s biological importance lies in its isolation. Ducks nest on small mounds in the center of the lake, which are inaccessible to humans and animals.

Every year, a religious fair is held near the lake during Janai Purnima, as locals believe that worshiping at Titi Lake on this occasion fulfills wishes.

Somal Hirachan, Vice-Chairperson of Thasang Rural Municipality, highlighted ongoing efforts to conserve the lake, develop infrastructure, and promote it as a tourist destination. Collaborating with the Gandaki Province Government, Federal Tourism Board, and ACAP, infrastructure projects such as railed walking trails, waiting shelters, and public restrooms have been completed. Similar developments have also been carried out at Bhuchharto, Sekung Lake, and Guru Sampuk Cave in Ward 2 of Kowang.

A dam has been constructed to expand the lake’s water area, while ACAP has installed benches and waste management bins for visitors. Titi Village, located nearby, is home to 20 households of Thakali and Dalit communities. To accommodate visitors, the area has three hotels and restaurants offering local hospitality.

Dipak Gauchan, operator of the Himalayan Paradise Hotel in Tejodada, shared that they serve organic vegetables and traditional delicacies to guests. Kunjo, considered Mustang’s most fertile land, is regarded as the origin of the Gurung community, many of whom later migrated to Kaski, Lamjung, and Gorkha.

Local residents have called for further initiatives, including listing Titi Lake as a wetland site, clearing weeds from its center, and completing the Chhoyo–Kunjo–Taklu–Titi–Dhampu–Sirkhum road project. Additionally, they have urged the construction of motorable bridges over the Kaligandaki River at Chhoyo and Kokhethati to improve access.