Who was on Mount Kailash. Mount Kailash is the heart of the world. Tibet. China. May. Long road to Manasarovar

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The most interesting facts and secrets of Mount Kailash

“Foreigners rarely visited this wild land. In some places we could look across the border of Tibet and see Mount Kailash. Although Kailash is only 6666 meters high, it is considered by Hindus and Buddhists to be the most sacred of all Himalayan peaks. Near it there is a large lake Manasarovar, also sacred, and a famous monastery. At all times, pilgrims came here from the most remote parts of Asia. " Tenzing Nogrey, the conqueror of Everest.

Fact number 1. Many names

Mount Kailash (Kailash) is one of the most mysterious places on our planet. It is also known by other names: Europeans call it Kailash, the Chinese call it Gandisyshan (冈底斯 山) or Ganzhenboci (冈仁波齐), in the Bon tradition its name is Yundrung Guceg, in ancient texts in Tibetan it is called Kang Rinpoche ( གངས་ རིན་ པོ་ ཆེ; gangs rin po che) - "Precious Snow". Many interesting secrets and legends about Kailash do not leave indifferent people, both pilgrims and researchers.

Fact number 2. Center for 4 religions

Mount Kailash is the sacred center of 4 religions: Hinduism, Jainism, the Tibetan religion of Bon and Buddhism. The dream of every Hindu is to see Kailash with his own eyes at least once in his life. This desire is associated with serious restrictions on the visa plan issued by China for Indians wishing to visit these places. In the Vedas (ancient texts of this religion), Mount Kailash is the favorite place of Shiva (cosmic consciousness, personifying the masculine principle of the Universe).

The ancient Tibetan religion Bon considers Mount Kailash to be the origin of life in the universe and the focus of power. According to their legends, it is here that the mystical land of Shangshung (Shambhala) is located, and the first Jain master Tongpa Shenrab descended into the world from Kailash.

Buddhists revere this mountain as the abode of the Buddha in one of the main incarnations - Samvara. Therefore, every year during the Buddhist religious holiday Vesak (other names are Saga Dawa, Vishakha Puja, Donchod Khural), dedicated to the enlightenment of Buddha Gautama, thousands of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world gather at the foot of Mount Kailash.

Fact number 3. The beginning of 4 rivers

According to Hindu mythology, the four main rivers of Tibet, India and Nepal originate on the slopes of Mount Kailash: the Indus, Brahmaputra, Sutlej and Karnali. The Jains believe that at Mount Kailash, their first saint, Jina Mahavira, attained enlightenment, after which he founded his own doctrine - Jainism.

Fact number 4. Swastika symbol from shadow

Swastika mountain - another name for Kailash. The appearance of this name is associated with a pattern that is formed by two cracks on its southern side. In the evening, the shadow cast by the rock ledges draws on it a huge swastika image. The swastika is a sacred symbol for many peoples of the world. In India, for example, the swastika is seen as a solar sign - a symbol of life, light, generosity and abundance, closely associated with the cult of the god Agni. In the form of a swastika, a wooden instrument was made for obtaining the sacred fire. They laid him flat on the ground; the recess in the middle served for the rod, which was rotated until the appearance of fire, kindled on the altar of the deity. The swastika was carved in many temples, on the rocks, on the ancient monuments of India. The swastika is one of the symbols of Jainism.

Fact number 5. Orientation to the cardinal points

Mount Kailash has a pyramidal shape, strictly oriented to the cardinal points. There is also evidence to suggest the presence of voids both in the mountain itself and at its foot. Some researchers who have studied the mountain and its secrets claim: Kailash is an unnatural artificial formation, erected in distant antiquity by someone unknown and for what purpose. It is possible that this is some kind of complex, pyramids.

Fact number 6. Release from sins

In the Bon religion and Hinduism, there is a legend that says: bypassing around Kailash (kora) allows you to cleanse yourself of all sins committed in a given life. If the kora is performed 13 times, the pilgrim who performed it is guaranteed not to go to Hell, who committed the kora 108 times - breaks out of the circle of rebirth and reaches the level of Buddha's enlightenment. A bark perfect on a full moon counts as two. That is why today there are always many pilgrims around the mountain, making their way of atonement for sins.

Fact number 6. Climbing Kailash is impossible

Mount Kailash is closed for climbers: not a single person has ever visited its top. This is due not only to the fact that officially climbing it is prohibited. There are legends that Kailash is able in an incomprehensible way to change the desire of climbers to ascend, thereby not allowing anyone to visit him. Those who get too close to it, and those who intend to climb to its top, are suddenly instructed to go in the opposite direction.

Whether it is true or not, the top of the mountain still remains unconquered. In 1985, the famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner received permission from the Chinese authorities to climb, but refused at the last moment.

In 2000, a Spanish expedition acquired a permit (permit) for the conquest of Kailash from the Chinese authorities for a fairly significant amount. The team set up a base camp at the foot, but could not set foot on the mountain. Thousands of pilgrims blocked the path of the expedition. The Dalai Lama, the UN, a number of large international organizations, millions of believers around the world expressed their protest against the conquest of Kailash and the Spaniards had to retreat.

Fact number 7. Mirrors of Time on the surface of Kailash

Another mystery of Kailash, around which there are numerous disputes and judgments, is the mirrors of time. They mean a lot of rocks located near Kailash, with a smooth or concave surface. Whether these surfaces were created artificially in ancient times or are the play of nature is still not known.

There is an assumption that these formations are a kind of "Kozyrev's mirrors" - concave mirrors, in the focus of which the speed of time can change. A person who falls into the focus of such a mirror can experience various abnormal and psychophysical sensations. According to Muldashev, the mirrors around Kailash are placed in a certain system in relation to each other, which creates something like a "time machine" capable of transferring the initiate not only to different time eras, but also to other worlds.

Fact number 8. Lakes Manasarovar and Rakshas Tal - so close, but so different

Two lakes located at the foot of Mount Rakshas Tal and Manasarovar are located nearby and are separated by only a small isthmus. However, both of these lakes are strikingly different from each other, which is another mystery of Kailash.

The waters of Lake Manasarovar, revered by the Tibetans as sacred, are fresh. According to legend, Lake Manasarovar was the first object created in the mind of Brahma. This is where its name came from: in Sanskrit, “Manas sarovara” means “Lake of Consciousness” from the words manas (consciousness) and sarovara (lake). According to one of the Buddhist legends, this lake is the legendary Anavatapta lake, where the Mayan queen conceived the Buddha. Manasarovar, as well as Kailash, is a place of pilgrimage, around which a ritual circumambulation is also performed - kora in order to purify karma. Pilgrims come here to take ceremonial baths in the purifying waters of Manasarovar. It is believed that this lake is a place where "purity" lives, in its bottom layer, near the north-western coast, the water is alive. Anyone who touches the sacred land of Manasarovar or bathes in this lake will definitely go to heaven. The one who drinks the water from the lake will ascend to heaven to God Shiva and be cleansed of his sins. Therefore, Manasarovar is considered the most sacred, revered and famous lake in all of Asia. The bark around the sacred lake is 100 km away.

Near Manasarovar is the salty dead lake Rakshas tal (also Langak, Rakas, Langa Tso (Chinese: 拉昂 错, pinyin: Lā'áng Cuò). In Hindu mythology, this lake was created by the ruler of the Rakshasas demon Ravana and on this lake was a special island where Ravana sacrificed one of his heads every day to Shiva.On the tenth day Shiva gave Ravana superpowers.Langa Tso lake is opposed to the lake Manasarovar created by the gods.Manasarovar has a round shape, and Langa-Tso is elongated in the form of a month, which symbolizes light and darkness, respectively.To touch the water of the dead lake according to local customs is prohibited, because it can bring misfortune.

The number of legends, stories and various legends associated with this place is simply enormous: hardly any other place on our planet can boast so many secrets and mysteries.

There are many unique places in the world with unusual properties. One of such "places of power" is Mount Kailash in the high-mountain valley of Tibet. Pilgrims come here to the southwest of China to make a ritual walk around the mountain - koru

Until now, scientists argue about the history of this amazing mountain. Is Kailash an artificial pyramid or a mountain of natural origin? Today there is no reliable information about this, as well as how many years ago Kailash was born and why it has the shape of a pyramid, the edges of which accurately point to the parts of the world. It is also surprising and inexplicable that the height of the mountain is 6666 m, the distance from Kailash to the Stonehenge monument is 6666 km, and the same is to the North Pole, and to the South Pole - 13 332 km (6666 * 2).

Kailash is a place shrouded in thousands of secrets and legends. And until now, no one has conquered the top of the sacred mountain. Kailash does not allow mere mortals to the summit, where, according to legend, the gods live. Many tried to climb there against all odds. But no one was able to overcome the invisible wall, which, as would-be travelers assure, arose on their way, preventing them from following to the sacred peak. Kailash seems to repulse them, allowing only those who really believe - to perform ritual kora.

The 4 greatest rivers of Asia, possessing powerful energies, originate from Kailash. It is believed that when a person walks around Kailash, he comes into contact with this power. Kailash is a very powerful center of power. It carries within itself the energy of dissolving everything old. The performer of the bark is filled with energy and vitality to help people.

Walking around Kailash is a custom. The custom of faith, containing tremendous power. It is said in Kailash that one who passes the crust with faith and a feeling of union with God gains special divine power here.

The large crust around Kailash takes 2-3 days. Throughout the entire path, a person passes through the strongest energy centers, where divine currents are felt. Kailash is like a temple. All stones on the way have a certain charge. Pilgrims believe that demigods or higher souls live in stones. According to ancient legends, many divine beings who once visited here turned into stones. And now these stones have a special divine power.

The first day of the bark is anticipation, lightness, elation. On the second day, the highest and most difficult pass passes - Death Pass. It is said that during this period one can experience death. For example, a person may fall and go into a trance. Many say that during such a trance, they felt their body at the very top of Kailash.

The Drolma-la pass symbolizes a new birth. People try to leave something personal in this place. It is believed that this is how a person clears his karma. This is a symbol of leaving the past, a certain dark, negative part of the soul. Having dropped everything unnecessary on this pass, it becomes easier and freer to go further.

Around Kailash, you can walk either along the outer circle - the big one, or along the small - the inner one. Only those who walked around the outer 13 times are allowed to enter the inner one. They say that if you immediately go there, then the high divine energy will block the person's path.

On the inner crust there are beautiful lakes, the water in them is sacred. A monastery is located on the banks of these lakes. People believe that the enlightened ones still live there. And if someone is lucky enough to meet them, he will be blessed.

When a pilgrim passes the bark, he turns to the higher powers and turns to them with prayer. Kailash is a symbol of the highest deity. And the outer journey to Kailash is actually an inner journey to your deity.

There is a belief that the god Shiva lives on Kailash. For Hindus, Shiva is a force and energy capable of creating and destroying worlds. They believe that there are three main forces in the universe: creation, maintenance and destruction. The power of Shiva is the connection with the universal energy.

On the way of the wanderer, obstacles often appear, both physical and spiritual. Kailash tests a person for strength and indicates weakness. Overcoming all the hardships of the pilgrimage is the best way to purify and change.

When a pilgrim leaves Kailash, sinks lower - he realizes that much is not needed for happiness. We have air that we can breathe, we have food, a roof over our heads - and this is enough for the happiness of the external material, everything else must be sought inside.

For millions of years people have been coming here and bringing prayer in their hearts. Lake Manasarovar, like Kailash, is revered as sacred. To the right of it is the Gurla Mandhata peak. According to legend, she was a king in a past life. Then there was no water and the king began to pray. One day, God heard his prayers and created a lake out of his mind. This lake is the sacred lake Manasarovar.

Another lake near Kailash, called Rakshas Tal, is considered cursed. It is separated from the sacred lake by a narrow isthmus. Surprisingly, with such a close location, these two bodies of water have huge differences. You can plunge into the sacred lake, there are fish and water from it you can drink. The water in this lake is fresh and is considered curative. Lake Rakshas Tal, on the other hand, is salty and you cannot dip into it. And places where a source with dead and living water is located nearby are considered places of power since ancient times.

Kailash also has another sacred lake - Gaurikund. According to legend, it was created by Shiva for his wife Parvati. She helped people a lot, because of which her body was severely exhausted. After swimming in this lake, Parvati gained a new body, and since then no one else can touch its sacred waters. There are many legends about the death of people who touched Lake Gaurikund.

There are 4 caves in the vicinity of Kailash. One of them, Milarepa Cave, is located southeast of Kailash next to the sacred path. According to legend, the great yogi Milarepa laid two boulders at the entrance of the cave, on which he installed a huge granite slab. This slab cannot be moved by hundreds and even thousands of people. And Milarepa hewed it out of granite and laid it with his spiritual strength. And it was in this place that he attained his enlightenment.

There is a legend that Milarepa and Bonn priest Naro Bonchung fought for power over Kailash. During the first confrontation of supernatural forces on Lake Manasarovar, Milarepa stretched his body along the surface of the lake, and Naro Bonchung stood on the water surface from above. Not satisfied with the results, they continued the fight, running around Kailash. Milarepa moved clockwise and Naro Bonchung against. Having met at the top of the Dolma-la pass, they continued their magical battle, but again to no avail. Then Naro Bonchung proposed to climb to the top of Kailash on the full moon day immediately after dawn. The one who rises first will win. On the appointed day, Naro Bonchung, riding on his shamanic drum, flew to the top. Milarepa was quietly resting below. And as soon as the first rays of the sun reached the peak of Kailash, Milarepa grabbed one of the rays and instantly reached the top, gaining power over the sacred mountain.

Kailash has prayer flags everywhere. These are protective symbols. People hang them up to succeed in some kind of good endeavors. These flags are also called "Horses of the Wind". The symbol of prayer flags is a horse carrying a jewel on its back. It is believed that it grants wishes, brings well-being and prosperity. The flags are made in five primary colors, symbolizing the five elements of the human body. Mantras are applied to them, which are activated upon contact with the wind and carry encrypted messages around the world.

Kailash is a place of spiritual power that awakens believers, purifies their minds. People come here to say the prayer that everyone carries in their hearts. It is believed that those who make this pilgrimage will be cleansed of all their sins and will learn the secret of the universe.

Mount Kailash (6714 m) is the most sacred peak in Asia. It is shrouded in the mystery of ancient legends and mystical teachings, and for many centuries has been a place of worship and a center of pilgrimage for the followers of the four great religions - Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and the Bon-Po religion, and recently attracts more and more tourists from all over the world. We go there in order to understand and feel from our own experience what this unique place on the geographical map can give to an ordinary person from a metropolis, sacredly revered by mystics, yogis and saints.

Believers of four religions - Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon adherents consider this extraordinary mountain "the heart of the world", "the axis of the earth." Kailash is Mount Meru, located in the center of the Himalayas, with a special geographic location in the center of the Tibetan plateau, on which the Karnali (flowing into the Ganges), Indu, Sutlezh and Brahmaputra rivers originate. Pilgrimage to the mountain and its sacred detour - bark around Kailash - is one of the main pilgrimages in Tibet.

The mountain is known by many names: among the Europeans - Kailash, among the Chinese - Gandisyshan or Ganzhenboci, in the Bon tradition - Yundrung Guceg, in ancient texts in Tibetan it is called Kang Rimpoche - "Precious Snow Mountain" or "Great Snow Mountain".

Topped with a shining ice dome, this strikingly beautiful peak is a grandiose rock pyramid of perfect proportions. The four edges of the mountain almost exactly correspond to the main cardinal points, and the cracks on its southern side are shaped like a swastika - a Buddhist symbol of spiritual strength. Neither geographically nor geologically, Kailash does not belong to the main Himalayan ridge. According to the official version of geologists, it rose from the plateau from the ocean floor, and existed long before the Himalayas appeared. The top of the mountain still remains unconquered.

The main event during the pilgrimage to Kailash is the ritual circumambulation of the mountain clockwise, which Tibetan Buddhists call "kora", and the followers of Hinduism and Jainism - "parikrama". The highest point of the crust around Kailash - the Drolma La Pass (5640m) - marks the culmination of the journey, liberation from the negative consequences of previous actions and a new birth.

But in our journey we will try to go even a little further ... Those who feel the need and readiness to approach the Mountain will be able to do this by approaching its slopes as far as possible. Despite the fact that in all traditional religions there is a ban on direct contact of the mountain slopes with the hands of pilgrims, such a bark has received the unofficial name "face touching bark".

This trip to Mount Kailash is designed in such a way as to ensure the most gentle acclimatization and the most comfortable passage of the route, which passes at heights that a person from the ordinary Western world is not adapted to.

If you would like to learn more about how to prepare for such a journey physically and mentally, as well as about what Tibet is today, watch the transcript of my lecture.

How to join the trip

1. Fill out the application so that the guide can contact you for a short conversation and an answer to all your questions (by the way, there are already answers to general questions in).
2. After confirming your participation, you buy air tickets and make an advance payment to the guide. The rest of the amount is transferred to the guide upon arrival at the destination.
3. In the future, communicate with the guide directly, since he is also the organizer of the trip.

April 30. Departure to Guangzhou (PRC)

May 1. Seeing Guangzhou

Arrival in Guangzhou (transfer with overnight stay). Guangzhou is not the purpose of our trip, nevertheless, it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in Asia and the whole world, one of the main industrial and commercial centers of the PRC.

Therefore, with those who do not want to waste time and just stay at the hotel for relaxation, we will make a small panoramic promenade along the most interesting places of this city: we will see the historical and new quarters of Guangdong, the ultra-modern building of the Cantonese opera, skyscrapers, a museum where ancient carvings are kept. masterpieces in the Chaozhou style, well, and maybe something else ...

May 2. Yarlung river valley

Flight to Lhasa (3600 m above sea level). Transfer to Yarlung Valley. Cradle of Tibetan civilization: visit to the palace of the ancient kings of Tibet - Yambulangang - and one of the most ancient temples / monasteries in Tibet - Trandruk - where a pearl tanka is kept, embroidered by the hands of the bride of the first great king of Tibet Songtsengambo - Princess Wenchen.

Transfer to Samye. After settling in the guesthouse, if we have enough strength, we will try to climb to the top of the Hepo Ri hill, where, according to tradition, the great Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava), the founder of the monastery in Samye, defeated the demons of Tibet in order to establish the Buddhist faith here. From here you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding valley and monastery.

May 3rd. Samye and Jokhang monasteries

In the morning, we will visit the oldest monastery in Tibet - Samye, which is still under restoration after the destruction that was perpetrated by the Chinese Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution. The monastery is a mandala, and its architecture combines three styles: Tibetan, Nepali and Chinese.

Moving to Lhasa. Check into a hotel. In the afternoon, visit the most sacred temple in Lhasa - Jokanga. Here, where the statue of Jowo, Buddha Shakyamuni at the age of 12, is located, Tibetan pilgrims from the farthest corners of the Land of Snows create a stunning atmosphere of piety and reverence. In the evening, a walk in the Barkor and Kora area around the Jokhang temple, as well as photographs against the backdrop of the night Potala.

May 4th. Potala, Ganden and Drag Yerpa

Lhasa. We begin our program with a visit to the most photographed and popular place in Tibet - the Potala Dalai Lamas Palace, although we cannot know in advance the time of visiting this UNESCO-protected masterpiece of architecture.

Next, we head to the Ganden monastery - one of the six main monasteries of the Tibetan school of Gelug Buddhism. Historically, it was he who was its center. It is located very picturesquely on the top of a hill, 47 kilometers east of Lhasa.

Drak Yerpa, or simply Yerpa, is a monastery and retreat center located in a mountainous area at an altitude of almost 4900 m above sea level. From ancient times to the present day, it has remained one of the main meditation sites for generations of great lamas and monks. Founded in the 11th century by Atisha's student and founder of the Kadampa school Guru Drontompoi, despite all the upheavals of the 20th century, as well as its proximity to Lhasa, this place has tremendous energy and still maintains an amazing atmosphere of transparency and sublime harmony. Besides that in this place you will almost inevitably overtake a feeling of deep peace ... Moving slowly and carefully, we will be able to acclimatize well, which will greatly help us in the future ... Return to Lhasa.

5 May. Yamdrok lake, Ralung monastery, glaciers and plateaus

Today a very beautiful road awaits us: moving from Lhasa to Gyantse.

The first stopover point is the Kamba La pass (4800 m) - from here a stunning view opens up to the valley of the Yarlung River and further to the Yamodrok Lake lying below the fabulous beauty, one of the four most sacred lakes in Tibet and, shining with eternal snows, the Nodjing Kangtsang ridge, the main the top of which rises into the sky to a height of 7191 m. At the pass you can take a picture with a dozen huge Tibetan mastiffs, which the locals bring here specifically to amuse tourists.

After descending from the pass, we will wash our hands and face in the sacred waters and, in about half an hour, we will find ourselves in the town of Nagartse, where we will have lunch. After lunch we will ascend to the Karo La Pass (5036 m), where in 1904 the highest-altitude battle in the history of colonial wars between the Tibetans and the Sipai of Colonel Yanghusband took place. Usually there are many Chinese tourists here, who are photographed against the backdrop of a massive glacier sliding from the southern edge of Nojing Kangtsang (7191 m).

Behind the pass, travelers open up vast plateaus and high-mountainous pastures, which most often come up in the imagination of those who have traveled a lot in Tibet. Here, if we have enough time, we can visit the famous Ralung Monastery, the main monastery of the famous Drukpa Kagyu school, which is one of the main branches of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. We will see both the ruins of the old monastery and the monastery that has been recreated in recent years. This place is especially interesting for those who go towards Kailash, because most of the monasteries in the area of \u200b\u200bthe sacred mountain belong to the name of this branch of Tibetan Buddhism.

The last stop on our way to Gyantze will be the small pass Simi La (4330 m). The main attraction here is a small artificial lake created by the construction of a dam and power plant in Gyantse. From here to the city no more than half an hour's drive. In the evening we can stroll through the streets of the old city and dine at a Nepalese restaurant.

the 6th of May. Kumbum and Shalu

In the morning, the Pelkor Chode monastery will amaze you with the splendor of the famous Kumbum stupa. The monastery was created at the beginning of the 15th century and is famous for the fact that three schools of Tibetan Buddhism coexisted within its walls at once: the Gelug, Kadam and Sakya schools. However, the monastery is best known for the 32-meter Kumbum stupa, which is a nine-tiered mandala symbolizing the full path of human spiritual realization.

Our next stop is Shalu Monastery, located 25 kilometers from Shigatse. His fame spread throughout Tibet in the 14th century thanks to the work of the tantric master and Buddhist historian Budon Rinchen Dub. For several centuries, it was Shalu that was considered the main school, where lungompa runners were trained, who, having put themselves into a state of trance, could cover huge distances at high speed almost without stopping.

May 7. Tashilhunpo and Sakya

Shigatze. Tashilhunpo Monastery is another major Gelug monastery and one of the largest in Tibet. It was he who was and is the residence of the Panchen Lama - the second most important person in the Tibetan spiritual and secular hierarchy. Here is the world's largest gilded statue - a 26-meter statue of the future Buddha - Maitreya.

We will make one more stop on the way to Tingri in order to see the Sakya monastery, the center of the school of the same name, one of the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Filled with stupas and Buddha statues, the huge general meeting hall, the ceiling of which is supported by ancient solid wood columns from the 13th century (one of which is considered a gift from Emperor Kublai Khan) and a huge library of ancient texts 16 meters high, will hardly leave any of you indifferent.

In the evening we will arrive for the night in the small village of Tingri (4348 m) - the place where all climbers make their first stop ... Or rather, those who are on their way to the base camp of Everest.

May 8. Everest, Shishapangma and Peiku Lake

Today we will need to rise very early, around 5 am. For what? ... In order to catch the first rays of dawn on the shining ice of the northern wall of the Top of the World - Chomolungma (8848m). A walk towards Everest Base Camp will be a good preparation for the crust for us. On the way, we will also be able to see other peaks of the Main Himalayan Range. The highest mountain monastery in the world, Rongbuk, is also located here.

In the afternoon we will move to Saga. On the way, we will see the beautiful Lake Peiku Tso and a view of another "smallest" eight-thousander - Shishapangma (8021m). Almost all the way we will be accompanied by stunning views of the Main Himalayan Range. Overnight in Saga (4640 m).

9th May. Long road to Manasarovar

Transfer to Chu Gompa on the Manasarovar lake. On the way, we will visit a small Dargyeling monastery and a very interesting and lively Sakya school monastery - Zongba. The sand dunes in the Paryanga region have recently been covered with fabric and they have lost some of their charm, but the views that open from here to the traveler are still pleasing to the eye.

In the evening, if we have time, we will swim in hot springs near Lake Manasarovar.

May 10. Manasarovar and Rakshastal, Kunlung and Gurugyam

Early in the morning we meet the sunrise on a hill above Manasarovar, from where a circular view of the lake and the surrounding mountains opens.

After breakfast, we will visit the Chiu Gompa monastery - a place associated with the activities of Padmasambhava. Here in a small cave, he meditated for a week after visiting Kailash and here is also his miraculous statue of sandalwood. Further we will see Lake Rakshastal and the great sacred Lake Manasarovar, the most important of the lakes of Tibet.

In the afternoon we will drive to Gurugyam, the monastery of the ancient Bon religion of the Tibetans. A few kilometers further, in the valley of the Sutlej River, we will visit the ruins of the ancient capital of the Shangshung kingdom - Kyunglung or the Silver Palace of Garuda. Moving to Darchen. Preparing for the bark.

May 11. Chuku Gompa and West Face

First day of the bark. Today we have to overcome 20 km along the valley of the Lha River. On the way, we will inevitably make stops near the Chorten Kangni, as well as places of worship for the South and West Faces, we can visit the Chuku Gompa monastery and the cemetery of 84 mahasiddhas. On the way, we will definitely approach the West Face of the Mountain.

In the evening we will stay in a guesthouse in the town of Dira Puk, opposite the North Face of Kailash at an altitude of more than 5000 m. Here is also one of the three most important monasteries on the kora with the same name - Dira Puk Gompa.

12 May. Dira Pook and North Face

The main goal of today is the ascent and approach to the North Face of the Mountain. A one-way trip to an altitude of about 5400m will take 2-3 hours. Everyone comes to this place with their own thoughts and goals, so we will all have enough time and space to ask our questions and get the answers we need. We will spend in this blessed place exactly as long as necessary, after which we will return to Dira Puk.

In the afternoon, those who wish can visit the Dira Puk monastery and the "Yachitsa cave", where the great Tibetan master Gotsanpa Gonpo Dorje meditated in the 13th century, who opened the path of the crust around Kailash.

may 13. Drolma La pass

The main day of the bark, which will begin for us at 6 in the morning. After a few hours of continuous movement, we will climb the Drolma La pass (5640 m), which in the Kailash mandala symbolizes a new birth and purification from attachments and obscurations of the previous life.

Not far from the pass there is another small heavenly cemetery - Shiva Tsal, where pilgrims going to the pass leave their hair, clothes, photographs and other things that symbolically help them to get rid of their former attachments. After the pass, we will have a long descent to the Zutrul Puk monastery.

May 14. Completion of the cortex, move to Saga

It was here, in a small cave of the Zutrul Puk monastery, that the great yogi and poet of Tibet, Milarepa, waited for the morning to fly to the top of the sacred mountain with the first ray of light and thus put an end to his competition with the Bon master Naro Bonchung. From here we are only 11 kilometers away from Darchen, where we will complete the sacred walk around the Mountain. Lunch and transfer to Saga.

May 15. Long road to Shigatse

Transfer to Shigatse through 8 passes.

16th of May. Reserve day in case of travel delays

May 17. Home

Transfer to Lhasa airport and flight home via Guangzhou.

Note: the route and the program can be adjusted by the guide depending on the weather and transport conditions, the condition and wishes of the group members.

* Tickets are purchased independently, while the guide will help you choose the most optimal and cheapest flight. Please, coordinate the purchase of tickets with the guide in advance!

In Asia, a myth is spread about a sacred mountain, the center of the world, on the slopes of which four great rivers originate, giving life to the lands along which they flow. The source of this myth is found in the Indian epic about Mount Meru, the abode of the gods. Its height is immeasurable, the top rests against the heavens, the slopes sparkle with gold, rubies, crystal and lapis lazuli. According to Indian sources, this mountain is located somewhere in the Himalayas, but over time, the legend of the mythical Mount Meru was increasingly associated with Mount Kailash.

On the territory closed to foreigners until the middle of the last century, once, according to legends, there were saints who had the ability to fly and be in several places at the same time, not to mention clairvoyance, immunity to cold and the ability to materialize objects literally out of thin air.

Somewhere in the mountains of Tibet, invisible forces guard the entrance to Shambhala - a mysterious country where the True Knowledge is kept and where the holy Forces of the Earth are concentrated.

Mount Kailash in Western Tibet is called the "navel of the Earth". For the followers of four religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Bonpo and Jainism, and this is about half of the world's population), it is the center of the Earth and the Universe.

Mount Kailash is located in the west of the Tibetan Plateau, 200 km from the border with Nepal. Neither geographically nor geologically it belongs to the main Himalayan ridge. According to the official version of geologists, it rose along with the plateau from the bottom of the ocean, and then water and wind sharpened its edges, giving it a pyramidal shape.

Mount Kailash, which is 6,714 meters above sea level, is not the highest in the region, however, due to its outstanding shape and location, many legends associated with it, it is of great importance in the worldview of the Tibetans. The four edges of Mount Kailash almost exactly correspond to the main cardinal points, and the cracks on its southern side are shaped like a swastika, a Buddhist symbol of spiritual strength. In Tibetan, Kailash is known as Kang Rinpoche, meaning "The Jewel of Snows."

According to Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, Demchok lives on Kailash - the wrathful component of Buddha Shakyamuni. Hindus believe that Kailash is a manifestation of the spiritual center of the Universe around which the world revolves, and that this is the habitat of Shiva the destroyer (this was written in the ancient Indian Vedas several millennia ago). In addition, it is believed that Kailash is one of the 32 main occult places on earth, from where a certain mystical radiation emanates, which accelerates the spiritual development of a person and contributes to the establishment of telepathic communication with higher beings. This energy center of our planet, despite its inaccessibility, has attracted seekers of truth for thousands of years.

None of the people have ever climbed the reserved mountain - the abode of the gods. Pilgrims go around it in a circle. 4 roads from different directions of the world lead to the most sacred mountain on Earth. The oldest and shortest path to places of amazing beauty and spiritual power was reopened for pilgrims only a few years ago.

The remoteness of Mount Kailash from the inhabited central part of Tibet, high altitude and poor roads, leave Kailash still difficult to access for tourists.

The sacred lake Manosarovar is located near Kailasem - the source of 4 of the greatest rivers of Asia (Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra and Sutleja). Tibetans believe that Buddha himself consecrated him, therefore, walking around him is able not only to nourish with positive energy, but also to remove sins from a person literally for several lifetimes ahead. Hindus believe that the lake is the soul of the god Brahma, as well as the place where the god Shiva and his wife Parvati bathed. By the way, part of the ashes of the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi was scattered on its shores. The lake, more than 70 meters deep, resembles an eight-petal lotus in shape and lies in a valley at an altitude of 4600 meters above sea level.

Kora (stress on the first syllable) is a Tibetan word for pilgrimage, expressed in a clockwise tour of a holy place, be it a monastery, stupa, temple or mountain.

Unlike Western travelers, Tibetans usually walk through the kora in one day. It is said that as a result of one crust around Kailash, sins accumulated during real life are erased, while 108 circles provide full enlightenment.

As for visiting holy places during the passage of the crust, then, perhaps, every centimeter of the path, every element of the surrounding landscape, is sacred and full of philosophical and religious meaning. In general, the route itself bypassing the mountain is a deeply philosophical expression of the Buddhist worldview and personifies the circle of birth, life, death and new rebirth, while each of the above stages of human existence is correlated with certain stages of the passage of the crust.

A special rite of veneration - nendra - is designed to especially deeply purify the karma of the prayer. This ritual includes reciting mantras (one circle - 108 times) and prostration - bowing to the ground, at the end of which a person lies down on the ground at full height. Bypassing in this way the shrine, the believer measures the path of worship with his body. Some lamas make prostrations from Lhasa itself. According to the Tibetans, such a pilgrimage lasts 800 days.

The kora, 53 km long, usually lasts 3 days. Tibetans usually sleep in the open, covered with a blanket or yak skin. Pilgrims from other countries and tourists stay in shelters (guest houses), where mattresses are placed directly on the stone floor or in tents, which, along with other cargo, are transported by yaks. Some Tibetans walk the entire journey in one day, while those who prostrate take 15-20 days. The adherents of the pre-Buddhist Bon religion walk around the mountain counterclockwise. According to the Bon lamas, this difference is not fundamental, it all depends from where to look at the process: from the inside or from the outside.

In the morning, after worshiping the snow-white peak in Darchen, the pilgrims begin Kora. All points of the route from which the view of Kailash opens are marked with prayer flags and chorten - masonry of stones and yak skulls with sacred mantras engraved on them.

For tourists, it takes 5 days to walk around the most sacred mountain on Earth. The track runs at an altitude of 4500m to 5100m. No special training or climbing equipment is required to complete the route. All you need is good physical shape and, most importantly, determination. You will meet Indian and Tibetan pilgrims who have traveled hundreds of kilometers on foot to reach their cherished goal.

Mount Kailash Map

To view the map in a larger size, click on it.

Tibet is characterized by a great difference in the climate of different regions, unique natural phenomena associated with the action of wind, clouds, rain, frost and fog, as well as unusually remarkable sunrises and sunsets.

The special climate of Tibet is due to the peculiarities of its relief and atmospheric circulation. The general tendency is a dry, cold climate in the northwestern part of the region and a humid, warm one in the southeastern part. In addition, the pattern in the change of climatic zones along the height of the relief is clearly making itself felt.

How to get there

The total length of the path to the mountain is 53 km (2-4 days). The trek to Kailash requires preparation and equipment. You can get to Mount Kailash from Lhasa by jeep with experienced escorts during the week, visiting monasteries and scenic spots along the way. The trip to Kailash is of a pilgrimage nature, so it is simply not suitable for curiosity, since this place is very strong in terms of energy.

Short video overview

Publication 2017-12-04 Liked 13 Views 1012

Sacred bark: 13 + 1 around Kailash

Myths about Mount Kailash

There are many legends and stories around this mysterious mountain. Kailash or Kailash is one of the highest mountains in the Gangdis ridge, which is located mostly in China, in the Tibetan plateau.

4 main mysteries of Kailash

It was easier for the ancestors looking at the mountain - they saw the divine will in everything. In the age of scientific and technological progress, the riddles of Kailash haunt rational and inquisitive minds. Perhaps descendants can find all the answers.

1. No one has ever conquered this mountain. Although it is not the highest point in the world, not a single climber has managed to climb its summit. According to Buddhist legends, not a single living being has the right to ascend to the abode of the gods. Otherwise, he will have to die.
2. The sides of Kailash are facing the four cardinal directions. As if it were not a mountain, but a man-made pyramid. Was nature really so accurate in its measurements, and why? There is no answer to this question.
3. On the southern side of the pyramidal peak of Kailash, you can see the swastika sign - a sacred symbol of many peoples of the world. In fact, these are two cracks or depressions intersected at almost right angles, deepened by watercourses. And then the human consciousness decides whether to see inexplicable signs in this or not.
4. The height of Kailash is 6666 meters. Scientists continue to argue about the accuracy of this data, according to some sources, the height of Kailash is slightly less. You can find a dark beginning in this figure, but it is worth translating the measure of measurement from meters to feet and all mysticism dissolves.

Sacred Bark: 13 + 1

Pilgrims come to Mount Kailash to make a ritual tour around it. During the tour, they recite the sacred mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum". Religious texts say that one who circumambulates Kailash 108 times will forever gain liberation and achieve nirvana. Nevertheless, even one or several detours around the mountain are the most powerful worship of the deity in which the visitor believes.

Walking tour or detour around Kailash is called "kora". There are several trails, but the most popular are the outer crust and the inner crust. It is believed that the inner crust can only be performed by one who has completed the 13 outer cortex around Kailash.

Why Kailash is a universal shrine

Mount Kailash is considered a sacred site for several believers. Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and others aspire here. Hindus believe that Shiva lives on Kailash with his family. The mountain is the center of the universe, the most energetically strong point of the earth, from where the deeds and blessings of Shiva diverge.

Buddhists believe that Buddha dwells on Kailash. He sits here for centuries in a state of samadhi and can only be seen by those who himself attain this state. Followers of the Buddha perform prostrations near Kailash as a sign of curbing their own rushing mind and in order to acquire good merit.

Spiritual asceticism in the form of a difficult and long journey burns karma, purifies the mind and body, connects a person with higher forces. This is a kind of challenge to yourself, your comfort zone and mental limitations that do not allow self-realization. If you leave at Mount Kailash what you are most attached to, even mentally, after the pilgrimage your life can change dramatically.

The entrance to Shambhala, the invisible land of great teachers and knowledge, is located at the foot of Kailash. This is how Buddhists and Hindus think, Helena Blavatsky, Helena and Nicholas Roerich wrote about this.

Myths about Kailash

Some pseudoscientists are convinced that the mountains of Tibet are the work of ancient civilizations, and all the peaks of the Himalayas line up in a single chain of mysterious pyramids. Some "wise men" have calculated that there are exactly 6666 kilometers from Kailash to Stonehenge. This is certainly not the case. And no living beings could build the Himalayas.

Information about anomalous "Tibetan mirrors", the theory of Nikolai Kozyrev, is also woven into the myths about the man-made Mount Kailash. Allegedly, at Mount Kailash, time can slow down and speed up, it can flow in the opposite direction, and so on. All this is very interesting, but extremely uninformative and unconvincing - there is no scientific evidence for these theories yet.

Tours to Tibet, to Mount Kailash and to the sights of this officially unrecognized country are organized by many tour operators. The Chinese authorities opened Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, to visit as recently as 2008 after the Beijing Olympics. From now on, the tour to Mount Kailash can be done from Nepal by car or plane, or from China by train or plane. Visa and entry permit are issued in travel agencies.