Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra starts when you arrive in Kathmandu, which is the capital of Nepal, at an altitude of 1,320 meters (4,330 feet). When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will immediately be greeted by a representative of Glory Adventures and transferred to your hotel, which is only 20 minutes away. After the check-in, you have the time to relax, and the days that you will spend are going to be significant both spiritually and physically.

Kathmandu is a living, cultural and worshipping city. It is important to mention that the spiritual atmosphere can be felt in the air even on the first day of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Towards evening, we will conduct a brief orientation session during which you will be enlightened on the overall itinerary of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the rules, health tips, and what to expect during the journey. This meeting will make you feel confident and well prepared.

When you are feeling active, you can go on a stroll around the local streets and those of Thamel in particular, which is full of shops and cafes to offer you a warm welcome. The day is concluded with a classic Nepali welcome dinner, wherein you have an opportunity to interact with other pilgrims. In Kathmandu, you have a good sleep, and it is a preparation for the holy trip.

The second day of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is spent on spiritual sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley. You then start a guided journey of the most holy and ancient religious places in Nepal after having breakfast. The day is significant as it is an opportunity to prepare your soul and mind before you go to the high Himalayas and Tibet.

The first one is Pashupatinath Temple, which is one of the most sacred Hindu temples worldwide and is directly related to Lord Shiva, who is inseparably related to Mount Kailash. You can see old processes on the Bagmati River and experience a strong sense of piety.

Then the next place to see is Budhanilkantha, which houses the serene Sleeping Vishnu sculpture, which lies on a stone bed in a pond, a representation of serenity and harmony.

The sightseeing site is then followed by Boudhanath Stupa, which is the biggest Buddhist stupa in the world. Taking a stroll out in the stupa, watching the monks and pilgrims, turning the prayer wheels, and listening to mellow chants, gives one a relaxed and spiritual atmosphere.

These are the experiences that got the ideal setup of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Upon coming back to the hotel, you can rest and pack up your equipment and then get ready to take the road trip.

On the third day, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra starts officially on the overland journey. You leave Kathmandu after an early breakfast and head northwards to Syabrubesi, a small town near the Nepal-China border, at an elevation of about 1,450 meters (4,757 feet). It is approximately 150 kilometres and takes approximately 7 to 8 hours.

The landscape gradually transforms as you leave the crowded city. Through green hills and terraced farms, rivers and small villages, you pass on that demonstrate the simple country life of Nepal.

The route passes through the Trishuli River and then proceeds to the Rasuwa district. When one gets into Langtang National Park, the environment is more natural and serene. During clear days, one can view faraway mountains that are covered with snow, such as Ganesh Himal.

The road may be bumpy and circuitous, but the journey is pleasant due to the natural beauty. On the way, you have lunch and proceed to Syabrubesi.

In the late afternoon, you come and get into a local lodge. The new mountain air is refreshing. The evening is at liberty to rest or take a brief walk along the river. This day will take you more to Tibet and further into the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

The fourth day is one milestone during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra because you leave Nepal and enter Tibet. You can drive to the Nepal-China border, Rasuwagadhi, after an early breakfast. You complete the Nepal immigration formalities and cross the Friendship Bridge to Tibet. On the Chinese side, you are greeted by your Tibetan guide, who helps with the immigration and permit check.

After all the formalities are over, you get into a Tibetan vehicle and proceed with the journey to Kerung, also referred to as Kyirong. It is a short drive, two hours or so, and the road is smooth. Kerung is approximately 2800 (9186 feet) in altitude, rendering it a significant acclimatisation point during the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

When you are driving by, you can see a shift in the landscape; green valleys are replaced by a more open landscape with high altitudes. Once at Kerung, you are checked into a local hotel.

The remainder of the day is made easy, so as to allow your body to adapt to the altitude. It is recommended that you take lots of water and sleep. In your own free time, you should walk around the town and learn about Tibetan culture, prayer flags, and life.

The fifth day of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a significant rest and acclimatisation day in Kerung, which is at an altitude of 2,900 meters (9,514 feet). The day is highly scheduled to allow your body to acclimatise to a rise in height before proceeding to higher areas in the Tibetan Plateau. With an appropriate acclimatisation day, the chance of altitude sickness is significantly minimized and the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a safer adventure.

Then, you have a stroll in Kerung, or Gyirong as it is alternatively called, after having taken a good breakfast. It is commonly referred to as the Valley of Happiness, as this town is green and pleasant compared to most other regions of Tibet. It is a great place to rest in, surrounded by hills, clean air, and a quiet environment.

On the walk, you see the Pakpa monastery, a historic Buddhist building which was constructed in the 7^th century. The monastery is of good cultural significance and portrays popular Nepal-inspired architecture, which reminds pilgrims of a profound spiritual interrelationship between Nepal and Tibet.

After that, you can visit the local market, meet nice locals, and have a taste of basic Tibetan cuisine such as butter tea or noodle soup. The afternoons are reserved for rest. Your guide examines the health of all of you in the evening.

On the seventh day, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra would be a scenic drive starting at Kerung up to Saga, which is 4,450 meters (14, 600 feet). It is a very long journey of 6-7 hours, yet one of the most picturesque days of the Mount Kailash tour. The scenery gradually transforms from green valleys to wide open plains as you turn Kerung into the past.

The road takes you right into the Tibetan Plateau, where the sky seems infinite, and the earth appears untravelled. On the route, you pass through mountain peaks, including Tong La with an altitude of approximately 5,100 meters (16,732 feet). The prayer flags are waving in the wind, and they bring with them the dreams of pilgrims. When the weather is clear, you can even see Mount Shishapangma, which is 8,013 metres (26,289 feet) tall, among the highest mountains in Tibet.

There is also a nomadic life as you see yaks and sheep wandering freely on the plain. On the other side of the Brahmaputra River, there is Saga, a bustling town in comparison with some of the previous destinations. The elevation is so high that you should take your time and sleep well.

One of the most interesting and touching days of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is day seven, when you go to Saga to the sacred Lake Mansarovar, which is located at 4,558 meters (14,954 feet). The journey is as long as 7-8 hours, yet the spiritual payoff upon accomplishments makes it all worth the time.

The ride will lead you through expansive and silent sceneries with minimal traffic and will leave you feeling very isolated and serene. At 5,216 meters (17,113 feet), you pass the high Mayum-La Pass, and many pilgrims come to pray. Here, you can very likely have the first distant view of Kailash Mountain at 6,714 meters (22,027 feet), which fills the heart with excitement and devotion.

You can see as you go down that it is beginning to open up to the blue waters of Lake Mansarovar, and in the background, you can see Mount Gurla Mandhata at 7,694 meters (25,243 feet). The lake is regarded as one of the sacred places on Earth.

Towards the end of the afternoon, you arrive at the lakeside and get into a very simple guesthouse. The sunset on the lake is very soothing to watch.

The eight-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra starts early with a serene sunrise in Lake Mansarovar. The cool morning colours are reflected in the pristine water, and they produce a very spiritual effect. A ritual bath or sprinkling of the holy water by pilgrims is a purification ritual among many. The water is only too icy cold, though the experience is very meaningful.

Upon the bath, a Puja or prayer festival is held on the shores of the lake. This is a moment that usually stands out as the emotional climax of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, and is enveloped in silence, mountains and prayer flags. Following prayers, you set off on a short journey to Darchen, which is the base town of Mount Kailash.

You can also pay a visit to Chiu Gompa, a small monastery that has beautiful scenery of the lake and Mount Kailash. It is not long before you reach Darchen, at 4,660 meters (15,289 feet).

Darchen is a small town that is small and yet active during the pilgrimage period. The remaining day is to rest and get prepared for the Kailash Parikrama trek. You shuffle up your equipment and prepare to take the holy walk.

Day nine of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a very special day because you will start with the holy Mount Kailash Parikrama. Following an early and light breakfast, you make a short drive to the beginning point of the Kora, which is Tarboche.

At this point, you go through Yam Dwar, which is also the Gate of Salvation, where pilgrims make their prayer before the circumambulation starts officially. You get the strongest spiritual impression as you enter the trail because of colourful prayer flags that fly in the wind.

The journey to Dirapuk starts with Tarboche. The distance covered on foot is approximately 12 kilometers and it takes a period of 5 to 6 hours. The path goes along the Lha Chu River and is not in a hurry, but the elevation will make it appear difficult.

As you pass by, there are nomads with their yaks, other pilgrims reciting prayers, and some of them are doing full-body prostration as a sign of faith. The atmosphere is rough and strong, which gives significance to each Kailash Mansarovar Yatra step.

In the afternoon, you arrive at Dirapuk 4,900 meters (16,076 feet). This location is the one that is directly facing the beautiful north face of Mount Kailash. The guesthouse is extremely simple, yet the sight of the holy mountain is unforgettable. It is a silent and thoughtful evening.

The most challenging and the most fulfilling day of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is day ten. You get up early in the morning before the sun rises and set out on the journey to cross the Dolma-La Pass. It is a steep and exhausting climb, and breathing is more difficult due to the thin air; walking slowly is highly significant. Nevertheless, the spiritual power on the path is extremely high, in spite of the physical difficulty.

With hours of continuous climbing, you then arrive at Dolma-La Pass with 5,630 meters (18,471 feet), the highest point of the whole journey. The prayer flags, offerings and deep feelings cover the pass. Pilgrims usually place some personal object here as a symbol of leaving behind the past loads. This is the point of the spiritual renaissance of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

On the way down the pass, Gauri Kund, a blessed lake associated with Goddess Parvati, appears at approximately 5,600 meters (18,373 feet) on the way. The slope then leads down into a broad valley, and the breathing becomes slow and easy. It is 4,750 meters (15,584 ft) to Zuthulpuk by late afternoon. The region is called the cave of meditation of Milarepa, which is a place which can be visited.

The eleventh day is the eleventh day of a big achievement of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the completion of the Mount Kailash Parikrama. The last and least difficult part of the trek starts after breakfast. The path is along the river through the colourful canyons and soft land formations, which makes the stroll serene and thought-provoking.

In about 2 -3 hours of walking, you come to Chongdo, and the Kora is officially completed. It is a touching experience for most pilgrims. Around the mountain Kailash, it is a difficult feat to complete the 52-kilometre circuit. Most of them are silent in their prayers, thankful, or celebrate in silence with others who are also travelling.

At Chongdo, you get into the bus and start the long journey back to Saga. En route, Lake Mansarovar is visited to give one a final glimpse of the holy waters and Mount Kailash in the far distance.

The road is expansive, but comfortable, and the lower altitude makes you feel better. You reach Saga in the evening, at 4,640 meters (15,223 feet). Upon arrival, have a warm meal and get a good sleep.

The twelfth day of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a back journey from Saga to Kerung. Then the scenic drive across the Tibetan Plateau starts after breakfast. The road cuts across open landscapes and dunes, rivers, and grazing yaks, the last opportunity of taking in Tibet.

As the vehicle drives down and down, you might find that your energy is improving as the levels of oxygen are enhanced. Travel is not as difficult as it used to be. Short pauses can be made along the route, and some of the viewpoints and access roads are taken to scale, or photographs are taken. The scenery is no longer new, and you look back and see how much you have changed physically and spiritually.

You are in Kerung at 2,800 meters in the afternoon (9,186 feet). Once you get to the hotel, you can rest, have a warm shower, or you can take a stroll in town. And this is your last night in Tibet. The meal is eaten with the people, and this is usually accompanied by narrations and gratitude for the trip.

The thirteenth day is the way back to Kathmandu after having visited Kerung, and this is the completion of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. You can take a drive to the border after having breakfast and perform the Chinese exit procedures. Going over the bridge of the border, you get into Nepal again at Rasuwagadhi, where Nepali personnel make you feel very welcome.

The road goes down to the border through the dramatic mountain roads along the Bhote Koski River. The landscape gradually turns from dry highland to green hills and villages. At noon, you settle down to have lunch in a nearby restaurant, where you have Nepali cuisine.

The road then takes you on smoother roads as you come near Kathmandu. By late afternoon or evening, you come back to the city 1,400 meters (4,593 feet). When the hotel is checked in, the farewell dinner will then be planned in order to celebrate the successful completion of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

On day fourteen, your memorable Kailash Mansarovar Yatra comes to an end. You will have some free time after breakfast to either relax, pack or purchase last-minute souvenirs. You are then taken to the Tribhuvan International Airport at the time scheduled.

When you leave, you take with you the blessings of Kailash Mountain and Lake Mansarovar, as well as the recollections of a trip that is spiritually intense and transformative. End of the tour and safe travels.