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Introduction
Mt. Kailash, 6,740 m. is situated to the north of the Himalayan barrier,
wholly within Tibet. It is the perfect mountain with awesome beauty,
with 4 great faces. It is the spiritual centre for four great religions:
Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain religion and the pre-Buddhist
animistic religion - Bonpo. To Tibetans it is known as Khang Rimpoche
(Precious Jewel of Snow) and they see it as the navel of the world. It
is said that a stream from the mountain pours into a nearby lake and
from here rivers flow in the four cardinal directions. The River of the
Lion Mouth to the North, the River of the Horse Mouth to the east, the
River of the Peacock Mouth to the south and the River of the Elephant
Mouth to the West. Strangely enough, four major rivers do indeed
originate near Kailash, the Indus, the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra),
the Karnali and the Sutlej. Tibetans believe that it is the residence of
Demchog, a fierce looking tantric deity who lives there with his
consort, Dorje Phagmo. For the Tibetans also, it is a particularly
special place in that their poet saint Milarepa, spent several years
here meditating in a cave. |
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A Shiva-linga
shaped Mt. Kailash from the Northern Face
For the Hindus Mount Kailash is the earthly manifestation of Mt. Meru,
their spritual centre 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 lives
their most revered God, Shiva, and his consort Parvati.
For the Jains, an Indian religious group, Kailash is the site where
their first prophet achieved enlightenment. For the older, more ancient
religion of Bon, it is the site where its founder Shanrab is said to
have descended from heaven. It was formerly the spiritual centre of
Zhang Zung, the ancient Bon Empire that once included all of western
Tibet. Bon people walk around the mountain in a counter clockwise
manner, unlike the other religions.
Over the centuries pilgrims have constantly journeyed immense distances
to achieve enlightenment or cleanse themselves of sin, braving enormous
distances, particularly harsh weather and bandit attacks. |
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Day 01
Arrive
Kathmandu. Meet and transfer to hotel. |
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Day
02
At
leisure in Kathmandu. Obtain Chinese Visa. |
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Day
03
Morning
drive to the frontier town of Nepal at Kodari. From here, a short walk
to the friendship bridge for the drive on a local available vehicle to
Zhangmu, the main entrance of Tibet, China at the height of 2,300 m.
which is about 145 kms from Kathmandu. In Zhangmu, you will be received
by guide from our Tibetan counterpart. After all the formalities at the
check post here, our journey continues for another 35 kms which can take
almost 3 hours through the up-winding road to Nyalam with beautiful
scenery as the drive brings us for the overnight stay at Nyalam(3,700
m.). The lodges and guest houses here are very simple and basic. You can
expect the unexpected as the China Tourism in Tibet is slowly picking up
since last 7-8 years. |
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Day
04
Rest day for acclimatization and local hikes around. |
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Day 05
Morning drive to the first pass of Lelung La at 5,050 m. From here a
superb view of the high himalayas can be seen from Gaurishanker,
Shisapangma to Langtang Himal. From here the road diverts towards near
Shisapangma on the trail to Saga on the absolute windswept landscape on
the rough dirt road. Saga, one of the large village enroute to Kailash.
The drive can take approximate 5-6 hours depending upon the road
condition. We will be camping near the village for the overnight.Rest
day for acclimatization and local hikes around. |
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Day 06
Another morning drive through the windswept territory passing many
villages and camps of Yak herders with the distance view of snow capped
mountains. After 5-6 hours of drive brings us to Paryang for the
overnight stay. |
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Day
07
From Paryang, our journey continues to Darchen, the start of our
Parikrama or Kora. The drive passes through open territory with a view
of distant mountains, Yak herders camp, if lucky you might come across a
herd of Kang (Wild Ass). The drive takes us to a high pass of over 5,000
m. before we arrive at Darchen (4,480 m). Darchen is located beneath the
majestic holy Mount Kailash, a small village with couple of guest
houses. During the auspicious pilgrimage time, this place will be
flooded with Pilgrims with hundreds of tents all around. Darchen,the
beginning and end point of the Kora.
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Day 08
The first day of our Kora is a gradual walk with multitudes of other
local pilgrims chanting and praying. The trail leads us to few ups and
downs till we reach our camp at Dirapuk (4,750 m.), after 5-6 hours
walk. Camping on the nice grassy meadows with a view of Kailash, north
west face. |
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Day 09
Today our circumbulation (Kora) leads to much higher side of the holy
path just beneath the Mount Kailash. The walk will bring us to one of
the highest point at Drolma La, 5,200 m. before descending to the
gradual field towards Zuthulphuk for the overnight camp after 5-6 hours
walk. Zuthulphuk has a small monastery. |
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Day
10
The winding gradual tracks finally ends our holy pilgrimage walk (5
hours) at Darchen for the overnight. |
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Day 11
After completing the holy Kora at Darchen, our next spiritual
destination takes to Lake Mansarovar for the holy bath. It is believed a
ritual bath delivers a pilgrims to paradise and drink of its holy water
relinquishes the sins of a hundred lifetimes. The drive from Darchen
takes a little over 2 hours on the dirt road. Lake Mansarovar, one of
the largest salt lake in Tibet. We will be camping at the shore of the
lake very close to the monastery and its village. |
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Day 12
Rest day at Lake Mansarovar for dip in the Lake and local hikes around. |
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Day
13
Retrace the journey back to Paryang, appr 5-6 hrs. of drive. |
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Day 14
Continue drive back to Saga. |
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Day 15
Drive back to Nyalam.
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Day
16
Drive to Zhangmu and continue towards Kathmandu after the holy memorable
journey of a lifetime. Transfer to Hotel.
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Day 17
Free for souvenir shopping and other independent activities. |
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Day 18
Transfer to Airport for International departure. |
India
will sideswipe you with its size, clamour and diversity but if you
enjoy delving in to convoluted cosmologies and thrive on sensual
overload, then it is one of the most intricate and rewarding dramas
unfolding on earth, and you'll quickly develop an abiding passion
for it.
"If
there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of
living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man
began the dream of existence,