“Paramramya Girivar Kailasu Sadajahan Shiva Uma Nivasu”
It is on this most beautiful and prominent mountain Kailash that Lord Shiva resides with Parvati.

STHALA PURAN:

    
           Mount Kailash                                   Lake Mansarovar

For centuries Mt Kailash and Lake Mansarovar have played a significant role in the collective consciousness not only of Hindus, but also of Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Bon’s.

– For Hindus, Lord Shiva, the destroyer of ignorance and illusion resides at the summit of the legendary mountain named Kailasa, where he sits in a state of perpetual meditation along with his wife, Parvati.

-According to Charles Allen, one description in the Vishnu Purana of the mountain states that its four faces are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. It is a pillar of the world and is located at the heart of six mountain ranges symbolizing a lotus.

– For Buddhists, Kailash is the manifestation of Sakyamuni, the Buddha.

– Tantric Buddhists believe that Mount Kailash is the home of the Buddha Demchok also known as Demchog/Chakrasamvara,who represents supreme bliss.

– The Jains revere it as the site of their first saint Adinath’s emancipation. Kailash is also known as Meru Parvat or Sumeru. Ashtapada, the mountain next to Mt.Kailash is the site where the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, attained Nirvana/Moksa (Liberation). The authenticity of Mount Kailash being Mount Ashtapada is highly debated.

– Followers of Bon, the oldest religion of Tibet worship it as the sacred 9 stones Swastik Mountain. Shenrad, their founder Saint, is said to have descended on this peak.

– The Bon, a religion which predates Buddhism in Tibet, maintains that the entire mystical region and the nine-story Swastika Mountain is the seat of all spiritual power.

Mt.Kailash is locally called Kang Rinpoche or “the precious jewel of the snow”. It is also known as Mt Meruand and is referred to as the navel of the earth from which four legendry rivers flow within a radius of 50 km.

Created by Brahma, Sacred Lake Mansarovar or Maphan-Yum-Tso is itself also considered the source of all creation. The sister Lake Rakshasthal is divided from Mansarovar by a narrow isthmus. Here in a moment of ecstasy, Ravana the ruler of Lanka stood on one foot, performed tapasya and invoked Lord Shiva.
Mansarovar and Rakshastal are associated with Sun and Moon.

According to a Legend, Queen Maya was bathed by the Gods in the waters of Mansarovar before giving birth to Buddha

A. Elevation:

Mt.Kailash, 6638 meters above sea level

Mansarovar, 4590 meters above sea level

B. Location : Tibet, China

C. Best time to visit : May to September

Getting There:

A. FROM INDIA: The yatra is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs of India. This is a 30 day trek. It has to be booked well in advance. A group visa is required for a minimum of 5 people. Day to day schedule has to be submitted. Entry and exit date has to be fixed. One should reserve about approx one month for obtaining the Visa.

B. FROM NEPAL: Yatra to Mt.Kailash from Nepal is preferred due to easy access and favorable terrain. Tourists go up to Kathmandu and proceed to Mt Kailash through the following options:

• FROM LHASA BY ROAD:

Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa 325.87 nautical miles. Stay in Lhasa for 3-4 days for climate acclimatization. Drive to Shigatse 3900 meters via Gyantse 3950 meters, which is a distance of 370 kms and takes about 8 hours of driving time. there are many check points along the way. Drive to Borang also known as Porang/Taklokat about 3800 meters via the Lake Mansarovar. Borang is at a lower altitude than the Lake 4560 meters which is better for acclimatization. Stay at Mansarovar Lake. Stay at Darchen base camp for Mt.Kailash Kora.

• FROM LHASA BY FLIGHT:

Fly from Kathmandu to Nagari airport near Mt Kailash. Stay at Gere 4300 meters; about 50 kms drive from the airport at Lhasa. If you are flying from Ngari to Gere you have to send your vehicle in advance to meet you at the airport as there won’t be any vehicles available there. From Gere, Lake Mansarovar is about 300 kms and Darchen is about 250 kms.

• FROM KHATMANDU TO ZHANGMU BY ROAD:

Drive from Kathmandu via border town of Zhangmu on to Nyalam. Drive from Nyalam via Lake Mansarovar and stay at Borang/Taklakot as its altitude about 3800 meters is easy for acclimatization. Stay at Darchen Base camp for Kailash Kora. Drive to Lake Mansarovar – stay either at guest house or Chiu Monastary.

• VIA HELICOPTER:

Take a flight from Lucknow to Kathmandu. And from Nepalgunj a helicopter ride on to Hilsa.

THE KAILASH:PARIKRAMA

• PARIKRAMA
  Mt Kailash Kora is of 53 kms; usually takes 2½ to 3 days. In case you want to do Mt Kailash kora ask in advance to organize horses as they are few in number. Horses are more comfortable than yaks to sit on and are less stubborn.

• The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and Bönpo religions circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 53 kms long.

• The Parikrama of the lake Manasarovar covering the distance of 110 km can be done with a vehicle in a few hours.

• Some pilgrims believe that the entire walk around Kailash should be made in a single day, which is not considered an easy task. A person in good shape walking fast would take perhaps 15 hours to complete the 52 km trek. Some of the devout do accomplish this feat, little daunted by the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions faced in the process. Indeed, other pilgrims venture a much more demanding regimen, performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation: The pilgrim bends down, kneels, prostrates full-length, makes a mark with his fingers, rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward on hands and knees to the mark made by his/her fingers before repeating the process. It requires at least four weeks of physical endurance to perform the circumambulation while following this regimen.

Special Timings: It is advisable to plan the trip in such a way that one is at the Holy Lake at the time of full moon (to enjoy the brilliance of the moon reflection on the water) or Amavasya (to enjoy the splendor of stars at mid-night sky).

ITINERARY 1

Drive from Kathmandu via border town of Zhangmu to Mt.Kailash

Day 1

Kathmandu drive to Zhangmu – Drive up to 6 hours – 2-3 hrs taken for custom clearance. (Good hotels available)

Day 2,3 Nyalam (3750 m) – Stay here for acclimatization – Not much to see.

Day 4,5,6,7,8

(No good hotels available)

Drive from Nyalam via Lake Mansarovar and stay at Borang (Taklakot) as altitude about (3800) easy for acclimatization. Drive to Lake Mansarovar – stay either at guest house or Chiu Monastary.

Day 8

Day 9,10 Camping at Kailash while doing the kora

Day 11 Stay at Lake Manasarovar

Day 12 Drive up to Tingri – spectacular view of Mt Everest

Day 13 Night halt at Zhangmu

Day 14 Custom clearance and drive back to Kathmandu

Stay at Darchen Base camp for Kailash kora

ITINERARY 2

Fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa and drive to Mt.kailash

Day 1,2,3

Stay in Lhasa for 3-4 days for acclimatization. Fly from Kathmandu via Air China (one hour flight tickets are expensive. Flights 4 times a week.)

Airport to city drive – 1 hour

Exchange only a small amount of currency at the airport as rates are better at banks.

Sightseeing Potala Palace, Norbulingka (Summer Palace), Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Square.

Day 4,5 Drive to Shigatse (3900 m) via Gyantse (3950 m). About 370kms takes about 8 hours of driving time. Lots of check points.Shigatse has the famous Tashi Humpo Monastry, the largest functioning monastic institution in contemporary Tibet of Panchem Mt.Kailashand Holy Lake Mansarovar.

MEDICAL FACILITIES:

• Medical facilities in Tibet are not adequate.

• Start taking preventive medicines from one day before you start your trip and continue till your last day of the trip.

• Symptoms of altitude sickness are being sleepy, dizzy, headache,discomfort.

• As soon as you feel unwell please inform your travelling companions, don’t think about spoiling others’ trip – please inform.

• A Sick person should be given oxygen and taken down to a lower altitude immediately.

• Doctors who are not from this region are unable to understand the gravity of the situation so take heed.

Intriguing facts:

One Parikrama of Mt Kailash is said to erase the accumulated sins of a life time, while 108 of these will ensure Nirvana or liberation from the circle of life and death.

Manassarovar is among the highest body of fresh water in the world. The water is considered to have healing powers. It has a circumference of 110 km, depth of 300 ft and covers an area of 350 km.

Mansarovar and Rakshastal are associated with Sun and Moon, powerful symbols of Tantric Buddhism. The symbol of the sun signifies the ultimate divine; the moon reflects love and compassion.

SOME ADVICE FOR THE TRAVELERS:

• Start exercising a minimum of 3 months in advance.

• If you are planning to climb Mt Kailash, it is advisable to go on a couple of hikes as practice, preferably on hilly terrains.

• Advisable to go to a doctor for checkup for high blood pressure and heart conditions as health risks are involved at higher altitudes.

• In case you have a cold, do not undertake the journey as the flare of cold can damage the lungs which could be fatal.

• Be vocal if you feel discomfort. Do not hide any sickness in consideration that you might spoil the trip for your companions. Symptoms are drowsiness, headache and dizziness.

• Medical facilities are very poor. If one falls sick, initial first aid of oxygen should be given.Bring them to a Lower altitude immediately so that the oxygen availability improves. They should be brought down in Gammon bags (pressurized bags) and the patient should be bought down to a altitude lower by 5000 ft.

• As soon as you reach the lake do not go for a dip. Allow the body to get used to the cold temperature of the lake area otherwise you could catch a cold which is a common occurrence. Preferably take a dip the next day. When you first land in Lhasa or Zhangmu, conserve your body heat by not taking a shower and take a nap.

• The day prior to the trip start taking high altitude medicines. You could ask your travel agent to get you some local Tibetan medicines like – Ratnasampil, Gewmar Thunchu, Gao Yaunan. Please continue taking the medicines till the time you are back at Kathmandu

• In Dharamshala, a medicine out of pearls and 70 herbs (Moti Janju) is
  also helpful.
  PREPARATION: You could consult any good trekking book and take tips as what to take. A few brief suggestions.

• Walking stick – Two preferable – light and foldable. Please obtain from Kathmandu trekking store.

• Torches; it gets dark early. Guest houses have power for 3 to 4 hours only.

• One warm down jacket.

• Cap which can cover the ears plus ear muffs.

• Pair of gloves.

• Rain coat if doing the kora. It should not be one piece i.e. should include pant + top + cap so it is easy while trekking or riding a horse.

• Good walking shoes. You should not take brand new shoes as you might get shoe bites. Be sure to carry socks.

• Bright colored clothes with thermals. One should be dressed in layers of clothing as the temperature changes from very hot to very cold.

• Good quality sunglasses as sun rays are very direct and sharp.

• Sunblock cream.

• Some precooked food, which you could take to a local restaurant and ask them to add local vegetables and hot water. Japanese travelers do this very often. This way if your support truck is late in arriving you can nourish yourself.

• On high altitudes, liquids tend to spill out of the bottles so take shampoo or oils in cream form.

• Personal can of oxygen and medicines. Oxygen pillows are also a good option as they last a lot longer.

• Some camphor in a cotton hankerchief for inhalation since it helps when you feel dizzy or sick.

• Toilet tissue rolls and room fresheners.

• Lots more socks and inner wears as you don’t get tume to do laundry so far personal hygiene best to take one set per day.

• Sleeping bag if you are doing the Kailash kora.

• One loose garment which can be removed easily to take dip in the lake. Please ask your travel agent to organize a tent near the lake for changing your clothes after your dip in the lake.

• In case you want to do Mt Kailash kora ask in advance to organize horses as they are few in number. Horses are more comfortable than yaks to sit on and less stubborn.

TELEPHONE:

• Get a local chip from the point of entry at Zhangmu or Lhasa. There are various types of phone chips available.

• Take extra battery for your phone as adequate charging points may not be available.

• If possible carry battery operated charger as well as regular operated charger. Most of the guest houses and hotels have electricity for 3-4 hours only.

En route:

• Lhasa: Sightseeing Potala Palace, Norbulingka (Summer Palace), Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Square.

• Shigatse: It has the famous Tashi Humpo Monastry, the largest functioning monastic institution in contemporary Tibet of Panchem Liamas.

• Kathmandu: Pashupati-Nath Temple.

Yak Adventure Travel

Royal Palace North Gate
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Kathmandu, Nepal
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Contact: Mr. A. Lateef
HAPPY TREKKING!
HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY!