To the Hindus, the Himalayas are central to their cosmology. The peaks are the petals of the Golden Lotus which lord Vishnu created as a first step in the formation of the universe. On one of these peaks – Mount Kailash, sits Shiva in a state of perpetual meditation, generating the spiritual force that sustains the cosmos. Of the three worlds–patala (netherworld), prithvi (earth) and swargalok (heaven)–only Shiva lives on this planet and Mount Kailash is his abode.
Apparently Mount Kailash was discovered by king Gurlamandhata, after whom the highest Mt. Gurula (Mamonani) is named. At 22,027 ft, is said to have been formed 30 million years ago during the early stages of the formation of the Himalayan chain. In geological terms, Kailash stands alone, the world’s largest deposit of tertiary conglomerate.
The Vishnu Purana (approx 200 BCE) described how the world is made up of seven continents ringed by seven oceans — “The central continent has Meru at its core, bounded by three mountain ranges to the north and three to the south. One of these ranges is the Himalayan barrier, interposed between Meru and ‘Bharatha’, the Indian subcontinent. Meru, the center, is Mount Kailash.
Mount Kailash has been one of the greatest mysteries for cartographers till about 1800. All they knew was that there stood a sacred mountain, an Asian Olympus of cosmic proportions. This mountain was said to be the navel of the earth and the axis of the universe and from its summit flowed a mighty river that fell into a lake, and then divided to form four of the great rivers of Asia.The earliest European record dates to 1715, from an Italian Jesuit called Ippolito Desideri, who passed Kailash on the way to Lhasa. John Rennell, the ‘Father of Indian Geography’, in his 1782 map of Hindustan, followed the Hindu belief that the Ganga had its fountainhead beyond the Himalaya at the sacred Manasarovar Lake, that the Ganga flowed south till the “great chain of mount Himmaleh” and forced its way through a trans-Himalayan tunnel. It was only in 1812 when Hyder Jung Hearsey and Dr William Moorcroft crossed over the Niti Pass and surveyed the Manasarovar area that this geographical inaccuracy was corrected.
Mount Kailash is situated in Tibet where it is given the dignified title of Kang Rampoche meaning ‘Precious Jewel’. Near Mount Kailash, during the geological shift in the initial stages of the formation of the Himalayan mountain chain four rivers arose from the area, flowing in four different directions : the Indus flowed north, the Karnali south, the Yarlung Tsangpo flowed east and Sutlej traveled west.
“Man likes to be at his best, but often nothing short of a Himalaya peak can extract it from him–can compel him to be fittest in body, alertest in mind and firmest in soul. So he is drawn to the mountain and the mountain makes a man out of him,” wrote Sir Francis Younghusband who had subjugated Tibet for the British and conquered the peak of Kamet.
Mansarovar was first created in the mind of Brahma. Both Kailash and Manasarovar find mention in the Skanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Mansarovar, at 14,950 feet and area of 320 km is one of the highest and largest fresh water lakes in the world.
The lake is majestically calm and dignified like a huge bluish green emerald or a pure turquoise set between the two mighty and equally majestic silver mountains, the Kailash on the north and the Gurla Mandhata on the south and between the sister lake Rakshas Tal or Ravan Harda on the west and some hills on the east.
Parikrama of Mansarovar and Mount Kailash are not just an athletic feat. It is said that after its parikrama, one is freed from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. In the parikrama of Kailash (Kongrigpoke) one has to walk 55 kms. and its highest point is Dolmapass at 19000 ft. This pilgrimage has been undertaken for centuries, and was only briefly stopped between 1959-1980.
“There are no mountains like the
Himalaya, for in them are Kailas
and Mansarovar. As the dew is
dried up by the morning Sun, so
are the sins of mankind dried up
by the sight of the Himalaya.”
-Skanda Puran
Next to Mansarovar, there is another lake called Rakshas Tal. It is spread over the area of 225 sq. km. Here demon king Ravana worshipped Ashutosh Shambhu, that is why it is called Rakshas Tal or Ravanhrid. There are two beautiful islands within Rakshas Tal. A narrow hill separates Mansarovar and Rakshas Tal. A small river called Ganga-Chu joins both the lakes. Satlaj, Sindha Brahmputra etc. famous rivers originate from this region.
There are eight Buddha Gompas situated on the banks of Mansarovar. There is a vast Plane called Barkha on the north side of Mansarovar. Darchen is on the North side of Barkha. Kailash Parikrama starts from Darchen.
The journey to abode of Shiva is 1,800 km from Delhi and back, of which over 400 km are done on foot or ponyback. Mount Kailash and Mansarovar are called Kangrinboque (The Sacred Mountain) and Mapam Yumco (The Sacred Lake) respectively by the Buddhists. The Jains claim that Adinath Rishabhdeva, their first Tirthankara, attained his nirvana here. Padmasambhava, who took Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century, spent the last seven years of his life in this region. Bonpa, the ancient Tibetans, see a nine story ‘swastik’ in it and consider it an abode of Damchauk and Dorge Phangmo. For believers of Hinduism, Jainism, Tibetan, Bongboism and Buddhism it is center of the world.
The management of this yatra is done by Ministry of External Affairs in Indian region through Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, and Tibetan tourism agency in Tibet respectively. It can cost you around Rs 35,000. You can undertake this pilgrimage only after you have cleared all medical exams. It is a 26 day trip.
Today you even have the option of ‘Quick Kailash’ or ‘heli-Kailash’. Yes, aerial parikrama!
Update: I came across this wonderful video on Kailash Mansarovar Yatra which I would like to share with you here-
Wow….Thanks for the…
Great facts….
Tamkin Riaz
London
Very nice, I hope I can purify my sins and regenerate there one day.
Thanks for such a nice piece of information. I am enlightened 🙂
[…] is one of my unfulfilled travel wishes in the Indian subcontinent. FabbiGabby at Chat & Chai share informative background tales of a land that has not scenic beauty but also spiritual […]
Japan has strongly influenced by India in the area of spiritual and religious world, from more than two thousand years ago. Some day, I want to travel India.
helicopter tours there soon, modern life. macdonald’s not far behind, owned by an nri
I will start looking for deals to travel to Mount Kailash now
i m really happy after going through the informations…how ever the cost factor should be there in detail….
nice information on Kailash, Pl provide detail of procedure for journey to this place both by traditional as well as via Kathmandu routes.Also provide detail of Helicopter charges.
Thanks for information, when did you went there ?
thanx for the artical and i really love to go and research about our relegius i am waiting about my right time
Hello, Thanks for providing so much valuable information about the great Kailash..
I have a passion to visit such nice places on earth and will like to visit this place in my life.
the photos and the texts are very good… i heard that we can go through govt of nepal tourism… anyone give this info.i shall be obliged..thanks
If God give me blessing its mine dream to go to darshan of kailash parbet so please pray for me I beleave in lord GANESHJI & its his parents place so with all his respects
Once upon a time a British writer has said that i have seen a heaven i.e. Kailash Mansarovar. TRUE.. Nothing is better then that and should proud on that as we are Indian.
I have placed my request with lord Siva. I am waiting for his call to visit Kailash. Hope he will call me soon.
really nice !
Iam Rajachidambaram Age 55 a central government employee working in railways. I have visited Amarnath, Bathrinatrh, Ketharnath. I want to visit Mountkailash. My ambition in life. Please advise easy way to fullfill my wish.
I pray oneday i can visit this wonderful place in earth
@ Nozaki,
I as an Indian am honored to hear what you say. But I believe that spirituality is the heritage of mankind.
You are most welcome in India. I live in the North-East part of India currently. If you want to communicate further you can communicate on:dorjestep@gmail.com
I have been to Mansarovar in 2001 and in Aug 2009. Believe it by God’s grace I did parikrama. The people , sherpas are living Gods throughout the special, spiritual yatra. Best wishes to all.
Thank you for wonderful yatra. I have visited Mansarovar with my daughter in 2001. By the grace of Lord Rama I visited in August 2009 and did the parikrama. Believe me this was again by the grace of the God. I have visited Mukinath twice and also Janakpur. Now I have wish to visit Tilochi Lake.
Best wishes to all
Niru
At the feet of the Mt. Kailash there is supposed to be one Shakti Peetha known as Dakshyani. Have you seen it? If it is so please show us also by a photo. May God bless you.
Lord Shiva is the only ultimate truth.
First of all..Thanks for what you have did…
Secondly I wish to register my view that ”’those who are blessed at least a micron part by Lord Shiva , only gets this chance read this article…thanks …thanks… hoping enormously that whether I get blessed to step in Mansarovar soil….On NAMA SHIVAYA….SAMBO SIVA SAMBO
i want to visit at kailash mansarover in july 2011 pl provide the detail and procedure and also expenses detail in total
i want to visit kailash mansarovar in july 2011 plz provide me the detail and procedure and all the expences detail in total thanks
want to visit kailash mansarovar in july 2011 plz provide me the detail and procedure and all the expences detail in total