20 Day Tour May 18 - June 7, 2010
Tour the Sacred Mt. Kailash while helping Tibetan & Nepalese People
Come with us to the beautiful, ancient and blessed land of Tibet to experience a fascinating and rich culture. An 18 day jeep tour to Mt. Kailash (22,207 ft) is the most sacred mountain in Asia. It is believed to be the physical embodiment of the mythical Mt. Meru, said to be the center of the universe or ‘navel of the world'. Mt. Meru is depicted as a mandala, and its image occurs throughout both Buddhista and Hindu parts of Asia. Mt. Kailash is holy to followers of four religions. To Hindus, Kailas is the abode of Shiva and nearby Manasarobar Lake is the means or soul of Brahma. Tibetans call Kailash Kang Rimpoche. Jains worship it as Mt. Ashtapada, the peak from which the religion's founder, Rishabanatha, achieved spiritual liberation. Followers of Bon-Po, the ancient pre- Buddhist shamanistic religion of Tibet, revere Kailash as the soul of Tibet.
Another geographical factor that contributes to the mystical aspect of Kailas is that nearby are the headwaters of four major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, the Sutlej, Karnili (a major tributary of the Ganges), Brahmaputra and Indus. The mouths of these rivers ate more than 2,000 km apart, yet they all have their source within 100 km on Mt Kailash.
The circumbulation of Mt Kailash is an important pilgrimage for Hindus, Brddhistats and Jains. Hindus perforn a parikarama, Buddhistas call it a Kira. Iou are welcome to do either of these, or simply make a trek around the peak. Tibetan Buddhists believe that a single kora washes away the sins of one life and that 108 circuits secure nirvana in this life. Devout Tibetans often make the 52 km circuit in a singles day. Indian Pilgrms make the circuit in three days, but this also is rushed, particularly since the circuit, though mostly level, involves the crossing of a 5630m pass. A four-day trek is for more enjoyable and rewarding.Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims make a clockwise circuit of the peak. Bon-Po tradition is to circumambulate in the opposite direction. As you circle Kailash by the traditional rout, you will meet followers of Bon-Po making a Kora in the opposite direction. When I was at Kailash there was a large contimgent of Bon-Po pilgrims from faraway Kham and Nakchu. We were astounded at the huge number of adherents to what has been described as an ‘ancient pre-Buddhist' religion making the counterclockwise circuit.There is also an ‘inner Kora' that passes two lakes to the south of kailash. Tradition dictates that only those who have made 13 circumambulations of Kailash may follow this inner route. This tradition is so important to Tibetans that we were required to assure our hosts that we would not violate the sanctity of this route before they allowed us to proceed to Darchan.
Lake Manasarovar
At an elevation of 14,796 ft. is one of the highest lakes in the world. Hindu pilgrims make an 52 mile circuit around Manasarovar that is made longer and more difficult by marshes and complicated stream crossings. The Tibetans often make a circuit of the lake in the winter when the streams are frozen and the route is shorter. This is a place of pilgrimage, attracting religious people from India, Tibet and the neighboring countries. Bathing in the Manasa Sarovar and drinking its water is believed to cleanse all sins. Pilgrimage tours are organized regularly, especially from India, the most famous of which is the Kailash Manasa Sarovar Yatra which takes place every year. Pilgrims come to take ceremonial baths in the cleansing waters of the lake. Manasarovar lake has long been viewed by the pilgrims as the source of four of the greatest rivers of Asia namely Brahmaputra, Karnali, Indus and Sutlej. So it is an axial point which has been thronged by pilgrims for thousands of years.
Trithapuri
It is situated 43 miles west of Kailash which on the bank of River Satlaj. It is very beautiful and colorful area with Hot springs. The area is made from red and white mountains.
Circumambulating is considered to render spiritual power and knowledge for the spiritual seeker. We will visit a very important monastery built in 1447 of the Geluk tradition which is the lineage the 14th Dalai Lama practices (heʼs also the spiritual leader for all 4 schools of Tibetan Buddhism). It was built by the first Dalai Lama Genden Zhuba.
The capital city Lhasa holds the Palace, Potala, where the 14th Dalai Lama lived as a child before going into exile and many more historically significant and fascinating places in this beautiful land. It is important for people to witness and experience this culture as it is rapidly changing since the Chinese invasion of the 1950s. Spiritual and non religious people alike will feel the tangible sacredness of the “land of snows” as the Tibetans call it. Below is an itinerary of our tour:
Mt. Kailash with Guge
01: Arrive Kathmandu – transfer hotel
02: Kathmandu (visa service), visit sites afternoon/evening
03: Kathmandu-Kodari-Nyalam
04: drive to Saga via Paiku Tso
05: drive to Menshi
06: drive to Tsada
07: visit Guge (Tholing & Tsaparang)
08: drive to Darchen
09: Kailash kora
10: Kailash kora
11: complete Kailash kora – drive to Chiu Gompa (Lake Manasarovar)
12: drive to Saga
13: drive to Shigatse
14: visit Tashilumpo – drive to Gyantse – visit Pelkor Choede
15: drive to Lhasa via Yamdrok
16: Lhasa Sightseeing: Drepung and Sera
17: Lhasa sightseeing: Potala, Jokhang and Norbulinka
18: Drive to Lake Namtso and see hermitage caves
19: transfer to airport & depart Kathmandu
*Proceeds from trekking to to our Tibetan Medicine Project. Please see home page for more information.
Land cost is $2400 including guides, transportation, lodging, food, permits & fees. Traveler's insurance recommended.