What is it that pulls people to the Kailash Parikrama?

Kailash Parikrama

To the religious amongst the Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bons, the place calls you. The Almight commands and you HAVE to go! Period. To the rest, it the sheer sense of adventure which brings them to Kailash Mansarovar. Doing the Kailash Parikrama tests one’s endurance to its limits as also the sense of devotion!

 

Those of you who intend to make this journey, there are varied tour operators in India as also Pune. Try doing a reliability test on these before committing yourself. This is no walk-in-the-park activity and needs a humongous amount of preparation what with the entire area of Kaliash Manasarovar and Kailesh Parikrama being in a disputed territory and that too in a country sharing not exactly very friendly relations with India. Raghukul Holidays of Pune is one such reliable tour operator with requisite experience. 

Location of Mount Kailash is also very interesting. Mt Kailash stands at 6638 meters above sea level in a plateau region of Tibet Autonomous Region coming under China. Its location on the map shows its proximity with India being about 200 kilometers by foot. The Kailash Parikrama itself is another 55-60 kms. In itself, Mt Kailash is quite a quirk of nature. It stands tallest on a high, windy, dry and desolate plateau which is devoid of any kind of vegetation. No trees for miles together. On the plateau, you get to see two things, rugged mountains….and Mt Kailash standing majestically in the backdrop. It does have a weird pyramid-like shape with all kinds of theories about its origins. 

The circumambulation of this mountain known in India as “Kailash Parikrama” takes 55-60 kilometers and has to be done only on foot. Means like vehicles, ponies, yak etc do not figure- at least as far as the parikrama goes. It takes approximately 3 days of walking/ trekking to make one round of Mt Kailash. Starting from a height of approx 15,000 ft (4,600 m) past the Tarboche (flagpole) to cross the Drölma pass at 18,200 ft (5,500 m), and encamping for two nights en route. First, near the meadow of Dirapuk gompa, some 2 to 3 km (1.2 to 1.9 mi) before the pass and second, after crossing the pass and going downhill as far as possible.

One thing everyone should know clearly is that doing this parikrama is very, very touch and challenging. One is pitted against nature’s worst in terms of extreme climate, thin air and treacherous terrain. You can reach the base of the mountain by mechanized means such as jeeps but to be able to go around it is another story. There are no roads and one has to trek through high mountain passes situated at a great height making breathing an excruciatingly difficult exercise. But then, to gain the presence of the almighty, you have to give up something which may be your precious time, efforts and resources. 

Go right ahead. Plan, execute and be blessed because it happens only once in a lifetime that you get to visit the almighty- ALIVE! 

Sources :-

1) Wikipedia

                                            --------------------x---------------------- 

Please feel free to post your comments below.

About Author :- Amit Kulkarni is the founder of Raghukul Holidays.

Read More

Where is Kailash Mansarovar situated ???

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

The Kailash-Mansarovar area is part of in the south-western tip of the Tibetean Plateau. In a way, it is on the leeway side of the himalayas on the other side. If one were to put a straight line from New Delhi to Kailash Manasarovar, it would be just 550 kms! But then, only crows and eagles would be able to tread this path. For us humans, given the tough terrain, heights and frosty political climate, the distance is much more- approx 900 kms. These days, though there are organizations which take guided tours for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra taking good care of the participants.

 

The kailash parikrama or circumambulation of the Kailas Parvat is about 54 kms.

Mt Kailash, revered amongst Hindus as the abode of Rudra, the angry though benevolent and his consort Devi Parvati, overlooks the Mansarovar at a distance of 32 kms with the Rakshas Tal to its south. 

Mount Kailash is a peak in the Kailash Range, part of the Trans-himalaya in Tibet.

With its four facades facing north, east, south, and west, Mount Kailash looks like an enormous diamond. Seventy-five percent as high as Mount Everest, the mountain is one of the tallest peaks in the Himalayas. On its southern face, a vertical gash crosses horizontal layers, creating the image of a swastika. The word comes from svastika, Sanskrit for well-being and good fortune. Buddhists regard the mountain as a mandala -— the sacred circle from which the sacred rivers flow like the spokes of the eternal wheel. At sunset the whole of the Kailash range on the north becomes a fiery region all of a sudden, throwing an observer into a trance, and by the time he returns to consciousness he sees only the Silvery Peak in front.

 

Manasa-sarovara is probably the holiest, most enchanting amongst lakes, water bodies and pilgrimages. For its size, it is majestically calm and dignified with hues of bluish green emerald color. It is set between two mighty and equally majestic mountains, the Kailash to the north and the Gurla Mandhata to the south. To its west is its sister lake Rakshas-Tal with some hills to the east. Manasarovar is located at an impossible height of approx 46000 meters (14950 feet). above sea level. Its vast expanse covers an area close to 90 kms in circumference and an are close to 320 sq kms with a crazy depth of approx 90 meters! Ie approx 300 feet!! Winters turns this whole water body into a solid block of ice. Come spring and it melts to reveal clear blue waters. It has the distinction of being the highest fresh water lake in the world. By the side of it, there are caves and areas where one can set camp. 

         During the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, weather overall is unpredictable most of the year round. One moment you have scorching Sun, the next moment it begins to hail and snow and shortly after having a nap and coming out of your camp, you will see a clear blue sky and bright Sun above and a bed of pearl-like hail and white snow on the ground.

·          

 Summers (May to August) are very pleasant with moderate climate, with average around 15°C.

·          Monsoons (September to November) are accompanied with little rain falls and also             temperature drops down to 10°C.

·         Winters (December to April) are chilly days with average minimum touching near 5°C. Minimum can touch sub zero levels to -15°C. Snow falls often during winters.

In winter all mountains and river lakes are frozen and covered with snow, so the time of yatra is from May to September. Indian pilgrims visit from June to September in 16 batches. (30-40 in every batch). In Pune, there are but a few seasoned operators Raghukul Holidays which take regular batches for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Selected people go through medical tests and other formalities before they do yatra in their batches.

Sources :-

1) Wikipedia

2) Adishakti

                                              --------------------x---------------------- 

Please feel free to post your comments below.

About Author :- Amit Kulkarni is the founder of Raghukul Holidays.

Read More

Mount Kailash - Rudra's Abode

Mount Kailash

An Arabic saying goes - Muhammad (the Prophet) does not go to the mountain. The mountain goes to Muhammad. 

In a weirdly similar way, one does not go to Mt Kailash. It calls you. Standing at a majestic 6,638 meters above sea level on the western-most fringe of the Tibetean plateau, this is one mountain with no comparison in the entire Himalayan range starting from the steamy forests of Burma in the east to the dry, freezing heights of the Karakoram Ranges in Central Asia. It is almost as though a great force (not certainly human!) thought of building a near-perfect pyramid on top of a plateau! This fact has been validated by Russian Geologists who opine that given its dimensions, someone has actually made a pyramid-shaped mountain! Beat it!! And that too with sides perfectly aligned to the four corners of the earth! Wow! And to top it all, it is also called “Svayambhu” ie that which has developed on its own! Food for thoughts? 

At first sight what seems most conspicuous is that this mountain stands not in the usual setting of snow and ice all around but on a rugged, dry moon-like surfaced plateau making its presence even more formidable. On a clear full moon night, the sight of a single peak in white against a backdrop of darkness makes it look ethereal. A perfect setting then for the abode of “Rudra” the Angry though Benevolent One! It evokes near-similar sentiments in parts amongst the Buddhists, Jains and local communities here.

People who visit Mt Kailash can broadly be segregated into die-hard ie pilgrims or rock-hard ie the adventure seekers. If reports are to be believed, the Chinese Government intends to add another category shortly. The softies ie couch potatoes! They intend to open this hitherto secluded sector to tourists and exploit it to the extent possible. Imagine the plight of die-hard pilgrims mingling with camera totting, cola-sipping, pot-bellied tourists! For the pilgrim, grim indeed. Hope the project takes a loooong time to fructify. Let the sanctity of the place remain. To only a few, the idea permeates that it is not only the place but the journey that makes it what it is. From time immemorial, people have been visiting this sacred, awe-inspiring place and gone back with insights branded into their subconscious.   

Most pilgrims come with long-standing issues which seems unsolvable by earthly means. At this juncture, the gods are expected step in. It is said that the presiding deity “Shankara” or “Shiva” converses with his pilgrims by means of insights and visions which end-up remaining in one’s conscience for all times to come. The lessons learnt over the course of the arduous journey and the sights here seem to bring new insights for most pilgrims with relation to life and its challenges. 

Most pilgrims tend to circumambulate (called kora) around the base of the mountain which is a distance of 32 miles. Mind it, this is no walk-to-the-mall stuff with a mountain pass en-route going upto 18000 feet!! Local Tibetians are said to be able to complete this in under a day but for most outsiders given the prevailing weather conditions, it takes upto 2-3 days.

Well, after reading this if you feel breathless, try going to the park next door and building some stamina. Who know, the sights of Mt Kailash just might take your breath away!

Sources :-

1) Wikipedia

2) Yowangdu

3)  VedicEmpire

                                           --------------------x---------------------- 

Please feel free to post your comments below.

About Author :- Amit Kulkarni is the founder of Raghukul Holidays.

Read More

Lake Mansarovar : Serenity at its Peak

Mansarovar Lake

Derived from the words “Manas” meaning the mind and “Sarovar” the lake, Manasarovar does imbibe peace in those determined enough to have gone close to it. It is not only the Hindus who revere it; Buddhists, Jains and some local communities too share religious beliefs about the lake and have entire legends devoted to it.

Situated at the foothills to the south of the revered Mount Kailash or Meru, Manasarovar along with Rakshas Tal or Ravan Harda form the reservoir of one of the biggest watersheds in Asia and is home to some of the biggest river systems known like the Indus, Satluj and the Brahmaputra. Located on a high plateau with the backdrop of mountains including the Mt Kailash, Manasarovar is the embodiment of beauty and tranquility. Its bluish-green hue adds to the aura of mystique.

Legend has it that Brahma (of the Hindu trinity of gods) created it for his progeny to cleanse themselves when the latter visited these parts to pay obeisance to Shiva and his consort Parvati. Another mentions its connect with the Nagas who resided in the lake and ate from the Jambu tree growing therein. It is said that fruits of the Jambul tree turned into gold when they fell into the lake! Coincidentally, there is an unused gold mine close-by! This also happens to be the final resting place of some of the mortal remains of the one we call the Father of our Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

In times gone by, surrounding the lake were eight Buddhist gompas of Trugo, Gotsuk (Gossul), Chiu, Cherkip, Langpona, Bönri, Seralung, and Yerngo representative in Buddhism of the spokes in the Wheel of Life with the lake itself being the hub. The circumference of the lake is about 54 miles though for Buddhist pilgrims visiting the eight shrines, it stretches to 64. For the Buddhists, the lake is also a representation of the Lake Anotta where the Buddha’s mother bathed and had a vision of him appearing from the direction of Mt Kailash on a white elephant before he was born.

Being close to 4600 meters from mean sea level, getting there is anything but easy. Besides the arduous walk over varied and often challenging terrain, the altitude makes it a strict no-no for most faint-hearted sedentary folks. This then is the stuff for the tough who may include seasoned trekkers, soul searchers and die-hard pilgrims and yogis.

If you think you have it in you, this is the place to be at least once in this lifetime. Be warned, this is no idyllic picnic spot or carefully preserved garden. This is the modern equivalent of tapasya where nothing other than hardships comes easy.

Sources :-
1) Wikipedia
2) University of Colorado Boulder 

                                           --------------------x---------------------- 

Please feel free to post your comments below.

About Author :- Amit Kulkarni is the founder of Raghukul Holidays.

Read More