Kailash Yatra through overland

Journey To Kailash & Manasarovar
A journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar offers a lifetime experience to pilgrims, nature lovers and adventurers as these sacred places are regarded as the most important spiritually. Lying to the western part of the Tibet Plateau near the western trijunction among China, Nepal and India, these pilgrimage sites welcome a lot of devotees having faith in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, and Bon religion every year. Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar have remained opened to pilgrims and other travellers since the early 1990s. The distance between Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar is 45-km. It needs no reiteration that Mount Kailash (6,638m) and its nearby areas are a dream destination for many pilgrims as
well as explorers because of their incomparable landscape and the local people’s distinctive traditions and culture. Visitors can see mystical monasteries, shrines and amazing sceneries during their trip.The blessed Kailash region, which also includes Lake Manasarovar and Rakshash Tal, is the source of the four longest rivers in Asia-- Brahmaputra, Karnali, Indus and Sutlej. Located at an elevation of 4,590 metres above sea level, Manasarovar is a freshwater lake fed by Kailash Glaciers. This is one of the highest freshwater lakes in Asia. A maximum depth of Manasarovar is about 90 metres. Comparativelynround in shape with a circumference of 88 kilometres, the lake’s surface area is about 320 square kilometres. It is believed that one will be free from all the sins and diseases once s/he drinks its holy water. The lake is linked with Rakshash Tal by a natural channel. As a repository of mysticism, Kailash is revered as a legend by millions of people worldwide. According to some Hindu legends, Lord Shiva, who is known as the god of devastation and rebirth, lives at the pinnacle of Mount Kailash. Numerous sects of Hinduism consider this famous mountain as the heavenm and the holy centre of the world. The mountain’s four faces are made of crystal, ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. Likewise, Tibetan Buddhists believe that this mountain is the abode the Buddha Demchok who stands for supreme harmony. Their view is that it was this mountain where Buddhism relocated Bon as the
primary religion of Tibet. They believe that having a bath by using the water of Manasarovar will drive off one’s avaricious desires, troubled thoughts and past sins. Similarly, the followers of Bon religion respect Mount Kailash as the residence of the sky goddess Sipaimen. However, in Jainism, Kailash is known as Mount Ashtapada where the architect of their faith, Rishabhadeva, had attained salvation fromnrebirth. While getting to the eastern shore of Manasarovar from Saga County in Tibet, visitors will have an unrivaled view of the lake as well as Mount Kailash if the weather is clear. The incredible Manasarovar Lake seems to have been surrounded by Mount Kailash, Mount Gurula Mandata and Rakshash Tal. There are also few beautiful monasteries around the lake. Numerous species of mountain wildlife as well as Buddhist prayer flags can be seen during the drive in this scenic valley. Besides, visitors can receive a warm welcome from the nomad community people there. Walking around Mount Kailash on foot is a very popular religious practice. This persistent sacred walk is known as kora. Generally, it takes three days for pilgrims to complete the 52-km Kailash parikrama (circumambulation). As the trail around this mountain passes through high-altitude areas, the walk is regarded as one of the most difficult religious rituals in the world. In Tibetan language, this mysterious mountain is known as Kang Rinpoche (the ‘Precious Jewel of Snow’). Though Kailash is smaller than
numerous other mountains in the Himalayas, it is prominent for its mysterious shape and radio-active energies radiated by pyramids around it. A blacktopped road links Manasarovar with Darchen City. As the biggest city of the area, Darchen is home to various good hotels and some big shopping malls. Situated in the foothills of Mount Kailash, the city offers a close view of the southern face of the mountain. The city is considered as the best place for Kailash pilgrims to acclimatise. A general belief is that visiting Mount Kailash and walking around the mountain on foot may bring in good fortune and wash away sins in one's lifetime. One needs to be fit physically and medically to make this rare achievement. Hindus and Buddhists walk around the mountain in a clockwise direction while followers of Jainism and Bonism wander around it anticlockwise. Many Tibetan Buddhists are seen constantly prostrating themselves on the ground to complete the kora. Some get involved in such pilgrimage for spiritual salvation while some for escape and others for parents. However, many do this for the blessings of all living beings. The sacred walk around the mountain begins from Yamadwar (4,800m). Located just five kilometres away from Darchen, Yamadwar provides an amazing view of Kailash. This is the place from where the pilgrims at risk of altitude-related illnesses to return to Darchen while the others advance to Dirapuk (5,200m). It takes a few hours for them to reach Dirapuk where they can explore the ruins of the famous Dirapuk Monastery. Dirapuk is about 15-km away from Yamadwar. This small settlement also offers a close view of the western part of Mount Kailash. There are lodges for visitors to stay overnight. Visitors start their sojourn to Drol Mala Pass (5,640m), the highest point of Kailash parikrama, the next morning. One can hire a horse and porter to ease the journey. This is the most challenging part of the entire trip because the steeper route goes through higher altitude areas. Many pilgrims use oxygen while going up. A lot of Buddhist prayer flags are found fluttering along the Drol Mala Pass. While descending
down for Zuthul Puk, visitors need to cross Parvatisthal and Gauri Kunda. It takes around 10-12 hours for pilgrims to reach Zuthul Puk from Dirapuk. This is the place for them to stay overnight. They need to move to Bharka near Darchen the next morning. The distance between Zuthul Puk and Bharka is eight kilometres. Vehicles are available at Bharka for pilgrims to travel to Darchen. Then, the buses will drive back to Dongba for returning to Saga through Manasarovar.