Mount Kailash – The Crown On The Snow

Nestled on the roof of the world, Tibet, Mount Kailash has four faces, or scientifically speaking, four entry points. Two from Nepal, and one from India and the other one from Tibet, now in People’s Republic of China. It is a magnificent mountain with four great features. Often known as mouths of the mountain radiating exquisite resplendence.

The mount is the epitome of sacredness and spiritual centre for four of the world’s most populous religions – Hinduism, Budhism, Jainism and Bon faith. Bon Faith is an indigenous religion which prevailed in Tibet before Buddhism spread there. Bon Faith is highly developed and ritual-based followed even by millions of Tibetan Buddhists. Indeed the Bon Faith embraced much of Buddhist pantheons and practices and the Mansarovar, which is His Conscience

For Hindus it is the ultimate destination, by embarking upon a pilgrimage there one reconciles with the Lord Maheshwara in the sacred exclusivity of two massive lakes — Mansarovar and Rakshas Tal.

In Tibetan, it is known as Gang Rinpoche. The mount is the source of four longest rivers of Asian subcontinent all of which India are considered sacred and life-generating. These are Indus, the Sutlej, a tributary of Indus, the Karnali, and Brahmaputra.

Tibetans worship the mount as Khang Rimpoche (Precious Jewel of Snow). According to their rituals, the mount is the holy navel of the world. A stream flows down the Mount Kailash and falls into the lakes from where have emerged rivers in “four cardinal directions”. They named the each direction as, 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.

Tibetans revere the mount as the abode of Demchog, a fierce deity, and his wife Dorje Phagmo. It is the sanctum sanctorum for the Tibetans for the reason that their poet sage, Milarepa, meditated in a cave in the mount to attain enlightenment. Considered off-limit even to the daring climbers with the Hindus and the Biddhists guarding it assiduously, the mount is still the unconquered pristine glory from time immeorial. They revere the sanctum sanctorum (peak) as the Lord Shiva’s abode.

According to records, there never been any attempt climb this mountain peak from any group of mountanineers of the world, as that would be sacrilegious to and hurt sentiments of trillions of people world over.

Another mythological faith explains, the mount is Lord Shiva’s linga and below lies the lake considered the yoni of the Lord’s consort. The Vishnu Purana has it that the four faces of the mount consist of Crystal, Ruby, Gold and Lapis Lazuli. Hence all these three stones and the yellow metal are sacred to the four religions, devouts of whom covet these all their lives, particularly during the special archanas.

UNIQUE  CREATION  OF  NATURE

(i) The Mount Kailash, 6,638 metre (21,778 ft, of which 1,319 metre is prominently visible in human eyes.

(ii) As it is located in the middle of the similar six mountain ranges, said to be “in the centre of the world mandala”, and is symbolically Lotus in form. This shape gives the flower, ‘Lotus’, certain divinity in the four religions and is considered the seat of all gods and goddesses.

(iii) The region is extremely remote and uninhabited.

(iv) Out of bounds for all kinds of vehicles, including aeroplanes, the range is extremely pure, its eco-systems untampered and inexplicably serene.

(v) Ecstasy prevails there, as Vishnu Purana has it, the land around this mountainous region comprises the ‘Vaikuntha’, where everything is all placid, glorious and divine.

(vi) The two mythological lakes are the purest sources of fresh water to the Himalayan rivers.

(vii) A steep descent of 5,608 metres down the Dolma pass is the Gauri Kund, another freshwater lake famous for healing effects. The Gauri Kund is also the highest of all mountainous lakes world over. According to Shiva Purana, it is called the Lake of Compassion. The backdrop was the setting of the legend relating to Goddess Parvati and her son Ganesha. The waters of the Lake is known as emerald waters.

(viii) It is situated at 31°04’00? N and a longitude of 81°18’45?E

(ix) Pilgrimage of Mount Kailash and Mansarovar is under taken through the trekking terrains known to be the most difficult among the continents. In hostile and fluctuating weather conditions, it’s a long trekking terrain where even certain highly acclimatised bandits lurk. The 52-km Parikrama circuit starts and ends at Tarchen. The pilgrims begin the Parikrama by entering the Lha Chhu valley. This valley is indeed a canyon below the Mount Kailash’ western flanks. The trekking trail climbs Dolma Pass (18,600 ft.), where afar is a large lake Gauri Kund, in the northern mouth of the Mount, climbs down into Lham Chhu Khyer valley to return to Tarchen.

Parikrama of Mansarovar is 75 kms long. It covers Huore, Chugu and Zaidi. Rakshas Tal is 10 kms away from Mansarovar, at a high of 14,9000 ft and 150 ft deep. These two world’s highest freshwater bodies, Mansarovar and Rakshas Tal, are jointed by Gangu Chu, a deep channel.

EXQUISITE SCENERY

• Mansarovar Lake exists at the foothill of the Mount Kailash. The lake is 4,560 metres above the sea level. It covers about 320 square kms. The circumference of the lake is 90 kms.
• It takes over three hours to cover the Parikrama by a 4WD jeep. (circumambulation)
• The Hindus believe that the First Sight of the Holy Lake removes all human ailments and torment. A dip in the Holy Mansarovar gives one the Moksha, the ultimate goal of all humans.

FACTS A PILGRIM MUST KNOW

• Ideal months for visit – June to August, though the dare-devil may try to trek from May to Mid – October.

• Distance from New Delhi – About 650 kms.

• Temperature – Varies from 15° C to sub-0° C.

• Distance on trekking – Over 300 kms in totality to reach the sanctum sanctorum.

How To Reach Mount Kailash

• By Air to Simikot via Kathmandu
• By air to Lhasa, the world’s highest capital township, and from Lhasa by road to Kailash Mansarovar vicinity.
• By road reach Kodai Pass (Nepal) and from there to Kailash Mansarovar region.
• Another route by road is from Kathmandu on the low Himalayan Highway through Pokhara.
• From Sikkim region there is another road route known as historic Kalimpong to Lhasa Silk route passing through Gangtok.
• From New Delhi the tour can also be embarked upon a two-stop bus service and thereafter high-altitude trekking. The route in such cases would ideally be as under :

1. Bus: New Delhi to Tawaghat via Gajraula, Kathgodam, Nainital, Bhowali, Almora, Kasauni, Bageshwar, Chowakari, Didihat, Dharchula through Jaulibi. The bus will stop first at Kasauni, the exquisite spot for a vibrant sunrise, and then at Dharchula.
2. Trekking: It would be an exquisite experience through such resplendent spots of Nature as Tawaghat, Thanidar, Pangu, Sosa, Narayan Ashram, Sirka, Rungling Top, Simkhola, Gala, Jipti, Malpa, Gudi, Guji, Garbhyang, Kalapani, Avidhag, Lipu, Leh Pass, Pala, Taklakot.