Mount Kailash is the holy abode of Lord
Shiva and it stands tall as high as at 22,000 feet. This is one of the
places that feature high on the bucket list of most senior citizens.
Mount Kailash is an integral part of the Transhimalaya in Tibet. This is
not an easy journey to make thanks to exceptionally rough terrain and
high altitude, not to forget ensconced amidst the remote surroundings of
Tibet. Many desire to make the trip to this holy and much-reverred
land, however very few are able to make the journey of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra every year.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
The yatra comprises of two things: doing
a circle around the steep Mount Kailash and then enjoying a holy dip in
the Mansarovar Lake. Manasarovar Lake is not merely a tourist
destination for senior citizens or for people but it also helps pilgrims
wash away their sins and achieve salvation in the process.
Manasarovar does not only attract the
senior citizens only but it attracts pilgrims from an as varied an age
group as 18 to 70. There are options galore the yatra can be done on
foot or you can also use luxury buses, 4500 CC Land Cruisers, take the
aerial route with helicopters.
The booking is usually done via the
Ministry of External Affairs (yes, you have to undergo a selection
process for it). There is another way to conduct the tour via a private
tour operator in either Nepal or Tibet. You will have to begin the
journey by undergoing a medical check-up (in Delhi).
Routes as Declared by the Ministry of External Affairs for 2017
The journey to Kailash Manas Sarovar is a
chequered one, including trekking through routes such as Lipulekh Pass
in Uttarakhand and the expenditure amounts to Rs.1.6 lakh per person. It
conducts around 18 batches consisting of 60 pilgrims each.
The duration of the yatra is almost a
month, 24 days to be exact and that includes a 3-day preparatory
schedule in Delhi. This route includes passing through some important
pilgrimage sites such as Narayan Ashram and Patal Bhuvaneshwar. Besides
these places, pilgrims can visit places such as the Chialekh Valley or
the ‘Om Parvat.’ This place offers a unique experience for the pilgrims
as the shape of the snow formation resembles that of an “Om,” on this
mountain.
The route is arduous but senior citizens
can take heart from the fact that they can chart the course of their
journey through Nathu La Pass (Sikkim) as it is motorable. When you
reach Gangtok, the route conjures up some pristine, beautiful places
such as the Hangu lake, and cross the vast landscape of the Tibetan
plateau.
The expenditure per person amounts to Rs.2
lakh and the duration extends to 21 days and the mandatory 3 days stay
at Delhi for extra preparations. Private tours and pilgrimages also
offer wonderful options for this amazing trip.
Circle through the Kailash
Once you trek through the strenuous Mount
Kailash, pilgrims then walk around the peak of the mountain. This
circling clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction is better known
as parikrama. For senior citizens, if the journey turns to be too
difficult to carry out on foot, they can hire a yak or pony.
Key Mythological Significance
The Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon
regard Mount Kailash as a sacred place. According to the Hindu belief,
Lord Shiva, along with his wife Parvati, lives at the peak of Mount
Kailash meditating in a higher state of consciousness. The Jains regard
the Kailash Mountain holy as the first Jain Tirthankara attained Nirvana
over here.
The Buddhists believe that the Buddha resided in the Kailasa. The Bons believed that the place depicts spiritual power.
Lake Mansarovar – The Picturesque Freshwater Lake
At a height of 4500 meters, it is the
highest freshwater lake in the world and is located in the foothills of
the Mount Kailash. It is one of the chief attractions as it is one of
the holiest lakes in Asia. It is breathtakingly beautiful and changes
colors, the center part takes the hue of emerald green while it is blue
near the shores. It is quite a sight for sore eyes in the moonlight.
Visit the Other Attractions of Lake Manasarovar
The other must-visit attractions of the
trip are Tirthapuri– it is a place where pilgrims bathe in the spring
pools. Other significant places include Gauri Kund, Yam Dwar, and
Asthapad and so on.
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