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 Mt. Kailash, at 6714 m also known as Tise, Kailasa and Kang Rinpoche (Jewel of the Snows), has since time immemorial been celebrated in many Eastern cosmologies as Mt. Meru, the axis mundi. And as the center of the physical and metaphysical universe, Mt. Meru is sacred to the Buddhist, Jains, the Hindus and the Bonpos. For the Hindus, the mountain represents the seat of Lord Shiva; for the Buddhists, a terrestrial projection of the cosmic mandala of Dhyani-Buddhas and Bodhisattvas..The Wheel of Life; for the Bonpos, Kailash was the sacred nine storey Swastika Mountain, upon which the Bonpo founder Sherab alighted from heaven.
Four of the great rivers of the Indian subcontinent originates from here: the Karnali, which feeds into the Ganges (south); the Indus (north); the Sutlez (west) and the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo, east).
After a decade successful operation the trips in Nepal, now Holiday Mountain Treks offers special fixed trips to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasorovar to facilitate pilgrims and foreign tourists. It's has been a few years that central and western Tibet has been open for the region exploration to foreigners since then we have expanded our service to this wonderful part of the world. We are few of one outfits that provide Nepali Sherpa staff support for all of our treks in Tibet so as to ensure similar high quality trek services that exist in Nepal. All our departures are planned to arrive at Kailash on a full-moon day to obtain total and unhindered view of the holy mountain Mt. KAILASH.
The best combination of the sights and for those with long adventure sprit. This trip explores the forbidden Lhasa and the historical towns of Gyangtse, Shigatse, Dingri in Central Tibet and the villages and nomadic life across the vast expanse of the Jangthang plain to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasorovar. After the 3 days sacred parikrama of the holy mountain we continue further west to Tirdapuri, Purang and the Khojarnath Monastery. To the devout Buddhists and Hindus, pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasorovar is not complete without visiting the holy sites of Tirdapuri and Khojarnath Monastery. Thus we start our adventure journey from Lhasa to Mt. Kailash and exit from Ghangmu crossing friendship bridge. |
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Day
1: Kathmandu - Lhasa 3650m, 90 kms.
Transfer to airport to fly Lhasa. Upon arrival at Gonggar
airport, you will be met by our Tibet representative and
transfer to Hotel.
Day 2-3: Lhasa
We will have two full days in Lhasa to make excursions to the
following places:
The Jokhang-The Jokhang is the principal and holiest Buddhist
temple in Lhasa, as well as all of Tibet. It is the focus of
devotion of hundreds of Tibetans from near and far who circle it
to gain spiritual merit. The Jokhang was first constructed in
the 7th century and has a large gold image of Sakyamuni Buddha.
Sera and Drepung-Sera, founded in 1419, is a monastery of the
Gelugpa order. Its many white buildings sit at the base of a
rocky hill. Gilded, bell-shaped gyamtschens grace the roofs of
many of the larger buildings. Drepung used to have 8,000 monks
who were taught in the traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana, and
Sutrayana, the three vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism.
Potala Palace-The 13-story Potala Palace is reputed to contain
1,000 rooms and hundreds upon hundreds of brilliant thangkas,
frescoes, and images built in an era when religious art was
created anonymously as a means of gaining merit for future
lives. It's one of the world's most extraordinary buildings and
completely covers the mountain it stands upon.
Day 4: Lhasa - Gyangtse 3990m, 275 kms, 8-9 hrs
Drive via Yamdrok, the Turquoise Lake to Gyangtse across Kampa
la pass 5050 m and Karo la (5045 m)passes. Visit Kubum stupa and
Pelkor Chode Monastery.
Day 5: Gyangtse - Shigatse 3860m, 90 kms, 2 hrs
Drive to Shigatse. En route visit Shalu Monastery. Visit
Tashilhunpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama who is the 2nd
in the Buddhist religious hierachy and Shigatse Market.
Day 6: Shigatse - Ngamring 5220m, 160 kms, 6-7 hrs
Drive to Ngamring. En route visit Sakya Monastery.
Day 7: Saga 4280m, 190 kms, 7-8 hrs
The road follows south of the Pelgu-Tso, continues across the
plain with stunning Himalayan views. The route then follows a
narrow gorge before climbing to a pass and dropping steeply down
to a ferry crossing over the Yarlung Tsangpo.
Day 8: Paryang 750m, 250 kms, 8-9 hrs
From Saga it is 145 km to Zhongba. The road is good and the trip
can be completed in 4-5 hrs. There is also a small monastery at
the western end of town on a hill. >From Zhongba onwards the
southern road deteriorates. There is also danger of vehicles
getting stuck. But this section of the road has panoramic views
of mountains on either side of the road.
Day 9: Lake Manasorovar 4560m, 260 kms, 10 hrs
From Paryang to Lake Mansorovar is a long drive of 10 hrs or
more. There will be several river crossings and we drive past
Mayum la pass (4600 M). The scenery is stunningly beautiful with
panoramic views of the Himalayas.
Day 10: Darchen 4560m, 30 km
About 30 kms north of Lake Manasorovar is Darchen, the main
gateway and the village. The monastery at Darchen, Darchen Gon,
is a part of the Drukpa sect. The two-story monastery structure
in the center of the town serves as a trading post and shelter
for pilgrims. Within the dukhang assembly hall are new and old
thangka paintings and some statues, the main image being
Sakyamuni. West of the gompa is the Mani Lhakhang that has a
large, new mani prayer wheel. This is the site where the
original old flagpole (a darchen is a flagpole for prayer flags)
of Darchen was located. When beginning their kora pilgrimage
around Kailash, many pilgrims often circumambulate the Darchen
Gon monastery and the Mani Lhakhang before setting out.
We organize yaks or ponies for the Kailash circuit trek at
Darchen.
Day 11: Kailash Circuit Trek - Diraphuk 6 hrs
This Kailash circuit covers 53 kms and can be done in 3 days. We
head west in clockwise direction and after a few kilometers the
trail climbs up to a cairn at 4730 m from where the southern
face of Mt. Kailash comes to view. En route visit Tarboche where
annual flagpole raising ceremony takes place during Saga Dawa.
Day 12: Diraphuk - Zutruphuk 4790, 6 hrs
Toady we cross Drolma la pass (5630 M) and Gauri Kund Lake (5608
m) where Hindus worship and immerse themselves in the icy waters
of the lake.
Day 13: Darchen - Tirdapuri
The final end of the parikrama is an easy 2-3 hrs walk down to
where the river emerges on to the Barga plain. We complete the 3
day circuit trek of Mt. Kailash and drive to Tirdapuri where
there is a hot spring. Pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash is not complete
without visiting Tirdapuri for the Tibetan Buddhists.
Day 14: Tirdapuri - Purang
Visit Tirdapuri Monastery and the pilgrim circuit and drive to
Purang. En route visit Khojarnath Monastery.
Day 15-16: Purang - Lake Manasorovar (Chiu Gompa) and Lake Manasorovar
Rest day and excursion around the Lake.
Day16: Drive to Paryang (4700 meters). (292 kms / 08 to 09 hrs). Camp
Overnight.
Day17: Drive to Saga (4600 meters). (252 kms / 07 to 08 hrs). Camp
Overnight.
Day18: Drive to Nyalam (3750m) 240 Kms / 6-7 Hrs. Guest house
Day19: Drive downhill to Friendship Bridge where transportation
awaits for
the Groups final leg of journey to Kathmandu (1300m) 150 Kms /
8-9 Hrs. |
