Mugu

Fast facts

• Mugu is one of Nepal’s most remote areas and remains relatively unexplored by foreign travellers and mysterious even to Nepali people (see map).
• Mugu was part of the ancient Malla Kingdom of the Karnali River basin
• Fascinating blend of religious practices with Buddhist and Hindu practices borrowing from Shamanism and the ancient Bonpo religion
• The majority of Mugu lies in the rain shadow of the Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himal (ranges) and is very arid. It is the least developed district of Nepal
• Rara Lake is Nepal’s largest lake with a circumference of approximately 13km. it is home to otters and fish and is an important resting place for migrating water fowl
• Mugu has many different wild herbs used in traditional herbal medicine such as the highly valuable ‘Caterpillar Fungi’ (yachargumba) used in the treatment of amoebic dysentery among other things, guchi chyau which has an anti-spasmodic effect, panchaunle which is used as a tonic, satuwa a poison antidote as well as bhutkesh, kutki and keshar