JHONG - Fortress with a view

Also spelled Dzong, this village is historically important primarily because of the fort that used to stand here on the edge of a ridge. The ruins of this fort are still there and accessible. This ruins that goes by the name of Rab Rgyal was once a stronghold of the king of Jhong (Gunthang dynasty). But since the land was more fertile on the other side of the Jhong river (Jharkot) and the only means of transportation were horses the king decided to shift to Jharkot on a permanent basis. Besides this ruined fort that sits as a reminder of the illustrious past of Jhong are man-made caves collectively known as Mebrak caves. Although to see these caves clearly, you will need to cross the Jhong river and see it from Jharkot. From there you will see caves on the large rock massif some 90 m high above the Jhong river.

There is a very old gompa just beside the ruins which is worth a visit. This gompa is one of the few which still has lama residents living inside. And if you are an admirer of scenic beauty then Jhong will not disappoint. The view from the ridge where the ruins stand is absolutely amazing. You will get a fabulous view of the Thorung-la and the two mountains guarding it: Yakawa Kang and Khatung Kang. Other beautiful mountains like Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri will also be visible overlooking the Muktinath valley. And if you are really lucky you might even find some ammonite fossils.