Tucked away in the remote corner of exotic west of Tibet, sacred Mount Kailash (6714m) dominates the entire region’s landscapes. This revered mountain is holiest of all the holy mountain and considered as a spiritual junction for Hindus, Buddhist, Jain and Bon regions. Every year thousands of pilgrim flocks here to make pilgrimage tour to Mt. Kailash for their spiritual purification.
According to local myth, Mt. Kailash is the center of world. The four major river system drains from the glacier of Mt. Kailash – Indus (also known as Sindhu in India), Stulej, Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsang-po in Tibet) and Karnali (longest river in Nepal) and all originates within 30-miles radius around this site.
Religious Importance
Hindus believe it as the abode of Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. Jains call it Astapada (eight-stepped mountain) who believes that the first of the 24 Tirthankaras got enlightened here. Likewise, for Buddhist it is mountain of precious snow and consider it be an abode of Demchok, the angry manifestation of the Sakyamuni Buddha and his partner Dorje Phagmo. Bon follower calls this mountain Tise and believe this mountain as a holy seat of sky Goddess Sipaimen.
After difficult overland journey to Mt. Kailash, Pilgrims are confronted with more challenging task of circumambulating the sacred peak. The circular journey around Mt. Kailash is called as a Kora, or Parikarma and normally takes 3 days to complete the trek. Hindus and Buddhist make clockwise Kora while the Bon adherents make counter-clockwise Kora. It is believed that one Kora around Mt. Kailash cleanses all the sin attained in lifetime and 108 kora gives the way of salvation.
Most pilgrims visiting Kailash takes a short journey to highly sacred Lake Mansarovar, the seat of Lord Brahma. Lake Mansarovar is sparkling blue water spread over several miles and is the highest body of fresh water in the world. Hindus believes that Lake Mansarovar is the first creation of Lord Brahma (creator of universe) on earth. Adjacent to Mansoravas is Rakas Tal or Rakshas, the lake of Demons.
The Mount Kailash Manasarovar tour may open to Indian passport holders from May 2025. 