Once in a lifetime experience

By Sunjuli Singh Kunwar

Mount Kailash (6714m) the famed holy peak in western Tibet has its own grandeur. Mt. Kailash is a very popular mountain peak of Tibet. It is also known by the name of Tise, Kailash or Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the Snows). Since time immemorial it has been celebrated in many eastern cosmologies as Mt. Meru. It is believed to have been formed 30 million years ago when Himalayas were in their early stage of formation.

 Mt. Kailash is one of the most revered mountains. Sprawling below Mount Kailash is the sacred Lake Manasarovar (4560m). Mt. Kailash and Lake Mansarovar holds its significance for its Mysticism, Isolation, Beauty and Prominence. Religiously the place has been an object of worship for four major religions, to the Hindus, the Buddhists, the Jains, & the Bonpos. Tibetans believe that it is the residence of Demchog, a fierce looking tantric deity who lives there with his consort, Dorje Phagmo. They also adore it believing that Saint Milarepa, spent several years there meditating in a cave. For the Hindus, it is the domain of Shiva. They believe that it is the earthly manifestation of Mt. Meru , their spiritual center of the universe, described as a fantastic ‘world pillar’ 84,000 miles high, around which all else revolves, its roots in the lowest hell and its summit kissing the heavens. On the top live their most revered God, Shiva, and his consort Parvati. Jains revere the mountain as the site at which the first of their saints emancipated. And in the ancient Bon religion of Tibet, Kailash was the sacred nine storeys Swastika Mountain, upon which the Bonpo founder Shenrab alighted from heaven. Bon people walk around the mountain in a counter clockwise manner, unlike the other religions

Lake Mansarovar is a sacred lake where pilgrims take ritual bath at. The circumference of Mansarovar is 88-km, its depth is 90m and total area is 320-sq-kms. The lake freezes in the winters and melts only in spring. It looks unbelievably fascinating on moonlit nights when an ethereal ambience pervades the atmosphere. Once Pilgrimage journey made to this holy Mount Kailash and three-day circumambulation (Parikrama or Kora) around Mt. Kailash, which is also considered as the navel of the earth, involves crossing 5630 meter Dolma La (pass) that is believed to belong to Devi Parvati. Completing a Kora (Parikrama) is believed the free from the sins of a lifetime. Bath in the Mansarovar is believed to bring about salvation (Moksha). It is said that a single paricarma erases the accumulated sins of a lifetime, while 108 circumbulation will achieve Salvation Or Nirvana.

The trip to Kailash offers rigorous overland driving, trekking and camping, passing the remote and wild western Tibet, in altitudes between 2,745m/9,000ft and 4,880m / 16,000ft and hiking to a maximum of 5600m / 18,400ft. The best time to travel there is May, June, July, August, and September.

Trips can be made from Nepal by land which takes about 13-17 days. Mostly, the trip begins with a drive from Kathmandu to China friendship bridge and then to Nyalam Acclimatization day at Nyalam with an excursion to Milarepa’s Cave. Drive to Saga (4450m) via Lalung La Pass (5050m), Paiku Tso and cross the Brahmaputra River (known as the YarlungTsangpo).

Next day drive to Paryang (4610m) then to Manasarovar Lake(4560m). reaching the lake begins the Manosarovar Lake Parikrama by jeep and if time permitting visit to Chiu gompa and proceed to Darchen (4570m).From there the 3 day Parikarma starts with first  to Drira-Puk (4765m), from where you have superb views of Mt. Kailash. From there proceed to Drolma-la Pass (5610m) to Zuthul-Puk (4700m). Just below the Dolma La is the Gauri Kund. The next day begins with crossing of third and fourth prostration point, Zutul-Puk monastery & trek back to near Darchen and drive to Hore (Hor Qu) at 4560m near Lake Manasarovar then continue the parikarma or drive back to Paryang then back to Kathmandu following the same route as before.

The trip to Kailash is undoubtedly the toughest and most rewarding of all such journeys known to man. En route you can see the world’s highest mountains, travel on the world’s highest plains, meet nomadic Tibetan pilgrims and walk amidst burning butter lamps and chanting monks of Tibet’s ancient and legendary Buddhist monasteries. Rivers and streams are crossed and re-crossed, treacherous passes are climbed and conquered.

Helicopter trip can also be made as one can choose to fly from Kathmandu to Nepalganj and then to Simikot. From there one can charter a helicopter flight to Hilsa and drive to the Lake Manasarovar.