JOURNEY
TO HOLY MT.KAILASH
Duration: See Itinerary A&B below
Itinerary A: 21 days
(5 days Kathmandu, 16 days motor tour and sightseeing
in Tibet)
Itinerary B: 25 days
(5 days Kathmandu, 17 days motor tour and sightseeing
in Tibet, 3 days Lhasa)
The visit to Mt. Kailash
and lake Mansarobar in western Tibet from Kathmandu
is both a sacred pilgrimage and a spectacular journey.
Mt. Kailashthe pyramid
shaped, 6714m peak breathes magic into the legend of
the Hindu and the Buddhist people. For Hindus this is
the home of Lord Shiva, the greatest among Gods and
the most essentric. For Tibetan Buddhists, Kailash is
the home of Rimpoche, the "Jewel in the Snow".
Every year from the hot plains of India, from the cold
hills of Nepal, and the snowy west-lands of Tibet, pilgrims
travel to this great monument of Himalayan culture.
The greatest rivers of Asia originate here. The Indus,
Sutlej, tsangpo (also called the Brahmaputra), Karnali,
and the Ganges find their sources nearby. Kailash and
Mansarobar lake feed the spiritual and the physical
fabric of the Himalayan world. It is said that the great
spiritual powers are gathered around Mt. Kailash and
you will perhaps circumambulate the mountain. If you
talk to the Sadhus and the Tibetan Buddhist, they will
tell you that a single circumambulation of the mountain
sweeps away the sins of a lifetime and 108 guarantees
enlightment.
Our trip begins with a drive to Zhangmu. Nyelam Valley
and the Shishapangma Massif are on the way and lake
Mansarobar is emerald blue and sparking by daylight.
After a dip in the holy lake, it is time to pay homage
to the holy Mt. Kailash. From here you have an option
of talking the circumbulation that takes you on a hike
around Mt. Kailash and brings you to 4 monasteries and
the Drolma La Pass at 5636 meters or drive to Tirthapuri
and relax in natural hot springs. Tirthapuri is known
for it
s medical hot springs believed to have powerful healing
properties.
Mt. Kailash Parikrama trek begins and ends at Darchen.
On our four day trek around Kailash you will come across
excellent view of south, west, east and north face of
Kailash. You will pass through places of numerous religiously
significant nature-formed icons.
You may visit Chuku Gompa and see the monks at pray,
you will reach the source of the Indus river, nomads
tent herds of goats and yaks, and at 5210 meters, you
will camp on a pleasant meadow before seeing the foot
print of the Buddha at Lham-Chhukhir and visiting holy
cave. You will climb up Dolma La Pass at more than 5600
meters. This short trek will bring you closer to the
people, places, and the culture of the region.
From here those going to Lhasa will drive east across
the Tibetan Plateau admiring splendid views of the northern
face of the Himalaya. Retracing the ancient caravan
trail, we pass through Shigatse and Gyantse on the way
to the fabled Tibetan Capital. The flight back to Kathmandu
from Lhasa over the Himalaya is simply spectacular.
But for those with limited time will be returning back
to Kathmandu `from Saga following the same route back.
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