Upper Mustang is the restricted northern part of Nepal’s Mustang district. It consist of seven village development Committees (Nepal’s smallest democratic units) with 31 settlements.

The restricted area Includes the historic kingdom of Lo Tsho Dyun which translates as ‘Seven Districts of Lo’ in the local Tibetan dialect (Loke) . The area of Bahragaon, meaning ‘Twelve Villages’ in Nepali, extends from south of Ghiling to North of Jomsom and also falls largely inside Upper Mustang. Tibetan dialect (Pheke) prevails here, too. However, the people of Tangbe, Chhuksang, Tetang, Tsaile and Ghyaker instead speak Seke, a language closely related to Thakali.

The Buddhist society of Upper Mustang is divided into groups comparable to the castes of Hindu culture. The occupational castes, regarded as the lowest , comprise the Ghara, Shemba and Emeta (Blacksmiths, butchers and musicians respectively). The highland nomads, called Dropka , take an outsider’s position of slightly higher status . The middle class consists of The Phalwa, who now often prefer to call  themselves Gurung . The Kudek, who have adopted the Nepali name Bista for their clan, make up the nobility and family of Lo Tsho Dyun.