Kagbeni-Nepal

Kagbeni is one of the oldest villages in the Himalayas.

It lies at the fork in the road to the important pilgrimage site of Muktinath and the capital of the Upper Mustang Kingdom, Lo Manthang. Because of this location, it was an important station for trade.

Kagbeni is one of the most famous religious places for Hindu pilgrims . Kagbeni is known for pitri puja , performed to retrieve the lost souls of ancestors from hell and help them reach heaven. Therefore, many Hindu pilgrims stop at Kagbeni, usually the day before they leave for Muktinath , to perform the final ritual for the deceased soul of their ancestors.

According to Tibetan Buddhism, the middle child in the family becomes a monk (Lama). That explains why there are more girls than boys.

North of Kagbeni is Upper Mustang , an off-limits area for foreigners . Because of its proximity, it still has many ancient Tibetan traditions. But even so, there's a Yak Donalds , internet cafes, apple pie, and other western necessities. It has its own popularity and renown around the world for its natural beauty, culture, tradition and scenery, and especially for its location on the Annapurna Circuit.

Kagbeni draws electricity from a hydroelectric power station on the nearby Kali Gandaki River.

Willem Vandenameele