Also known as the Kingdom of Lo, Mustang existed as an independent state as early as the 5th century but later absorbed into Tibet in the 7th century. Later it achieved a degree of independence and became an important centre of the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Ame Pal (1380-1450) founded a dynasty that has survived until the present day, even if the country got integrated into Nepal in the 18th century. The recently abolished king, Jigme Palbar Bista, the 25th after Gyalpo Ame Pal, was born in 1930 and is still regarded as the king by the Mustangi population, which consists of about 6,000 people. The inhabitants of Mustang are culturally a Tibetan people, speaking the Tibetan language and following Tibetan Buddhism. Until 1992 Mustang was closed except for to a few royal guests. The first legal trekkers were allowed in only in March 1992, upon payment of a high royalty, minimum $700 for ten days, which is changed now ($500 for a ten days permit).