Kailas Manasarovar Yatra via Lhasa

For Hindus, Kailas is the throne of Shiva and for Buddhists it’s a gigantic natural mandala: for both it is the epicentre of Tantric forces. Tibetans know it by the name of “Ghang Ringpohe” (Jewel of Snow). In its shadow lies the holy lake, ‘Manasarovar’, born from the mind of Brahma. Even to non-believers, the mountain and the lake are the crowning jewels of a magical land of pure light and intense colour, in the rarefied atmosphere of 15,000 ft. and above.
To the Hindu pilgrims who walk the thirty-two-mile path around it, Kailas is Meru embodied in ice and stone, and even a single circuit erases the sins of lifetime. A holy land made doubly sacrosanct by the presence of nearby Lake Manasarovar, a fifteen-mile-wide circle of deepest blue which is amongst man’s most ancient holy site. Hindus believe that by taking a dip in the holy waters of Manasarovar all the sins in this life are washed away. Even Buddhists believe that Queen Maya bathed in these holy waters before giving birth to Lord Buddha.
The Ramayana says: ‘There is no mountain like Himalchal [Himalaya], for in it is Kailas and Manasarovar. As the dew is dried up by the morning sun, so are the sins of mankind by the sight of Himalchal.’ The Indus, the Sutlej, the Brahmaputra and the Karnali all have their sources in this small corner of Western Tibet dominated by Kailas – a geographic reality with uncanny parallels to Mount Meru, from whose summit are said to flow four great rivers which water Asia. Kailas’ four faces are oriented to four directions: the eastern is of crystal, the western is of ruby, the southern of lapis lazuli and the northern of gold. Atop its summit the sacred River Ganges falls from the heavens, and divides into four great rivers which water four quarters of the earth.
Due to the devastating earthquake which hit Nepal twice in May 2015, the road via Kodari and Zhangmu is badly damaged and has been closed down. The Chinese have till now only allowed the yatra through Simikot – Hilsa – Sher – Taklakot route, Kerung route and Lhasa route. So, we have decided to take the route via Lhasa, which the Chinese are trying to promote, for whatever reason. After spending two nights in Kathmandu, we will take a flight to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. We will spend two nights at this scenic place. We will visit the world famous Norbulinka Palace, Jokhang Temple and Sera Monastery. Then we will drive towards Kailas Manasarovar area. En-route we will halt at Shigatse and Saga. This journey will take us across many small & big rivulets; high passes, dusty roads and the great Brahmaputra or Tsangpo River. Driving through this cold desert we will reach the shores of Manasarovar on 7th day. After the Pooja on the shores of Manasarovar the next day, we will proceed to the base of Kailas Parikrama at Darchen. The Parikrama takes three days and can be done on foot or on the horseback. During the Parikrama we will have night halts at Dirapuk and Zuthul Puk. This trek will take us across Dolma La at around 19,000 ft. After completing the circumambulation around Mount Kailas, we will drive to Kerung via Saga. Then we will cross the border into Nepal to stay at Syabrubesi. Then we will drive to Kathmandu to end the Yatra.