SYANG - Frozen in time

Syang is a quaint little village that will require a little climb away from the road. There are two tiers of settlemt in Syang. The one alongside the road down below is not the main settlement. The one that is on a elevated land is the original settlement of Syang. And like Marpha, almost all the houses are painted white except for the two gompas. You will also see wood logs on top of the houses which show how wealthy you are. Again, this is characteristic to the Thakali houses in Mustang region. The story so goes that more the wooden logs on top of your houses the more well off you are. Syang is an endogamous community so don't even try to woo a girl here. The same goes to all the women.

The Tashi Lakhang gompa and a Ani gompa is well worth a visit and if you go towards the northwest of the village then you will see a big black Juniper tree and a temple surrounded by white and red walls secluded away from the settlement of Syang. It is quite peaceful and windy up here. So if you wish to spend some quite time then go on. Syang also has its own apple orchards, although nowhere near to the grandeur of Marpha's apple orchards. To put it all together Syang is quite little village aloof from the dusty roads and honking jeeps and buses.