History
Charang (also spelled Tsarang) was historically the second most important town in the Kingdom of Lo after Lo Manthang, and briefly served as a royal residence. Its Choedhe Gompa is one of the largest active monasteries in Upper Mustang, with a sizeable community of monks and an important collection of manuscripts and statuary. The ruined five-story dzong beside it, built on a dramatic red-cliff promontory above a gorge, once served as both fort and royal residence.
Stories & Legends
Villagers point to relics kept within the Choedhe Gompa — including, according to local tradition, ceremonial items associated with a preserved elephant hide said to have been a royal gift generations ago — as evidence of the town's former status and its trade and diplomatic links reaching well beyond the immediate valley.
Practical Tips
Worth a half-day stop even on a fast itinerary: the dzong ruins and gorge views are among the most dramatic on the route, and the gompa is usually less crowded than those in Lo Manthang itself.