Mt.+Kailash

=**Mt. Kailash! **=

 
 * What World Religion is this Pilgrimage a part of?**

It is a pilgrimage for more than one religion. The pilgrimage is for Hindus, Tibetan Buddhists, Jainism, and Bon.
=**What is the History of the Pilgrimage? **=  For Hindus, Mt. Kailash is a sacred place because the god Shiva lives in the part of the mountain of Kailasa. Shiva is the god of destruction and regeneration. He is also know as the divine master of Tantra and thinks that sexual union is the way to spiritual enlightenment. Mt. Kailash has four faces one face is made out of crystal ruby, gold, and lapis lazuli. It is located at the center it is has four rivers that flow from it and it is a part of the six mountain ranges. It is 84,000 leagues high and divides the four religions. It is the place where they think that Shiva resides. They think he lives in the mountain where he makes love with his partner Parvati and smoke. When Hindus come here they hope that by seeing Shiva he will release them from ignorance and delusion. The Tibetan Buddhist believes that Mt. Kailash is where Buddha Demchok lives. Buddha Demchok is also known as Demchog or Charkrasamvara. He represents bliss. This is where Milarepa had a battle with Naro-Bonchung and got Bon to be displaced as the religion in Tibet. The competition between the two was to see who could get to the mountain the top first. Naro-Bonchung did it by using a magic drum while Milarepa did it by meditating and when Naro-Bonchung was almost at the top Milarepa beat him by riding the sunrays.The Bon, the religion that Tibetans first believed in, think of the mountain is the Sky Goddess Sipaimen Jainism believes that the mountain represents the beginning of their faith. The mountain to them is known as Mount Ashtapada and is where the founder of their faith Rishabhadeva got liberation. Buddha is said to have visited the mountain in the 5th century. He rooted the mountains with four footprints imprinted in the rocks around the Kora.  Kallas- "luminous crystal" in Sanskrit ** Gangs Rin-po-che - Tibetan name for the mountain meaning "precious jewel of snow" =**Who goes on the Pilgrimage? **= Thousands of pilgrims visit Mt. Kailash in the Himalayan region of Tibet every year. Like mentioned above, there are several religions associated with the pilgrimage on the mountain. The two prime religions associated with Mt. Kailash are Hinduism and Buddhism. The path that Hindus and Buddhists take is the clockwise path around the mountain. (Bonpos walk in the counterclockwise direction.) Walking around the mountain is known as a **//Kora//**  or //**Parikrama.**// It takes about three days to complete a Kora, and two to three weeks to complete it if pilgrims are performing fully body prostrations (defined below.) The path is 32 miles long. For all religions that respect Mt. Kailash, it is considered a sin to climb the mountain, and it is claimed that those who have tried to step foot on the slope have died. Some believe that the pilgrimage around the mountain should be made in one day. Others believe that it should be done only through //**prostrations **, which is when a pilgrim bends down, kneels, stretches his arms and legs completely, makes marks in the ground with his fingers, // <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">rises to his knees, prays, and then crawls forward to the mark made by his fingers. He repeats the process. Because Tibet is so difficult to get to, the pilgrims are usually from Tibet or neighboring regions like India and Nepal. For those in the religions in the aforementioned question, going to Mt. Kailash is a privilege. Those who are able to go must be in extremely good shape (elevation of mountain is 6,638 meters) because of the high altitudes and rigorous path. =<span style="color: #ec83e3; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">What does the pilgrimage entail? Where do they go? What do they do? = <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 16pt;">
 * The Different Meanings
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 01: Kathmandu arrival: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Guests will be picked up from the airport and driven to the hotel. Tour Guide will take guests around the city during Arati time to have dinner.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 02: Kathmandu: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Breakfast, trip to temples and back to Hotel for lunch. After lunch, final preparation for //**Yatra- holy journey (pilgrimage!) **//(checking and demonstration of equipments which will be used during Yatra.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 03: Drive to Nylam : **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Morning after breakfast leave Kathmandu to commence Yatra to Nyalam . First stop is the Friendship Bridge in Nepal. Chinese guides will will give a brief information session regarding the further trip then you will proceed the journey to Zangmu, where all the immigration and custom formalities will be completed. After, we will proceed to Nyalam. Arrival at Nyalam and overnight stay at guesthouse.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 04: Rest Day at Nylam: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">A day of tourism and adjustment to the city.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 05 Saga: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Long driving day over the sandy and rocky land of Tibet, You will be able to enjoy the lake and nomads chasing thousands of yaks and sheep. By the late afternoon you will cross Bhramha Purtra River to reach typical Chinese and Tibetan town, Saga for night. (form of meditation)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 06 Paryang 7-8 hrs: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Jeeps and trucks roll on the wide valley following rivers and grazing land of yaks and sheep. Far south you can see snow covered peaks lots of rocky peaks and sand dunes. Depends on season, nomads and other mobile shopkeepers are attired by beautiful traditional costume, awaiting your arrival with hot tea and other supplies along with big smile.



<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 07 Drive Paryang to Manasarover 8 hours: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The longest driving day begins with a morning full of excitement! By the late afternoon you can have the first sight of Holy Kailash Parbat and Manasarovara, a small village near Lake Manasarover, we will spend a night there..
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 08 Holy-Manasarovara: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> You will see a beautiful turquoise fresh water lake full of many different fish and beautiful swans. Holy Mt. Kailash, and Lake Rashekshi surround this lake. This region is considered rich in gold and other mines, hot springs and hundreds of wild living creatures.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 09 Puja and drive to Tarchen: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Manasarovara is the lake of compassion, tranquility and bliss. After completing the memorable morning Bath at Puja we will be heading towards Tarchen. It is considered as a base camp for the Holy Kailash Parikrama. <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 10 Trek to Dehara: **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Today is a wonderful and exciting day of walking along the beautifully rocky cliffs! I The surrounding waterfalls surrounded by clear blue sky leave you feeling that Great God Shiva is everywhere with an abundance of blessing to give to you. Time to time the glorious face of Kailash Parbat will keep on appearing. For 15 km trail it takes almost 7 hrs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 11 Hardest but Holiest day of your pilgrimage Yatra with Dolma-La (pass) of 18600ft **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> You will cross between two valleys: Yamasthal should be crossed to reach the Shiva while your steps grow closer to the pass. Once you reach the top, do the holiest offering and sit down for meditation to forget all your troubles and concentrate on your surroundings. While you continue walking, you will reach Parvati-stal and Gauri Kunda. By the late afternoon you will arrive at Zuthal Puk (the cave of Miracles. The great ascetic Milerappa is supposed to have performed miracles here).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Day 12 End of Kailash Parikrama and drive to Takla Kot : **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> Over night stay Guest house.




 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">DAY 13 Early morning drive to Sera via Khojarnath Temple **<span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[an ancient temple of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita]. From Sera, we walk back to the Hilsa helipad to wait for our flight back to Simikot. After immigration, we will continue to. We will arrive to Nepalgunj & further proceed to Kathmandu by flight [fixed wing]. Overnight stay at Kathmandu.

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">**Lake Manasarovar Lake Manasarovar, near Mt. Kailash is part of the pilgrimage for many. For Hindus, touching the earth around the lake <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">will bring them to paradise. Those who drink the water from the lake will go to the heaven of Lord Shiva. ** Chiu-gompa Buddhist Monastery <span style="color: #ec83e3; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 15pt; text-align: left;"> Why do people go? <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;"> For pilgrims, Mt. Kailash is the center of the world. For Buddhists, its image is that of a //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;">stupa //<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 10pt;"> (dome-shaped Buddhist structure). Though it is the sacred space for people of four different religions and is arguably the holiest and most respected mountain in the world, it is visited only by thousands each year. Because getting there is such a challenge, pilgrims find more appreciation for what the mountain is. Besides its history and the legends that come with it, pilgrims travel to see the pure nature of the region. Though many holy journeys focus on the now and not on the past, the openness and simple surroundings are said to let the mind wander on the past and its memories. Mt. Kailash challenges pilgrims; it forces people to take their bodies to their limits and to find their center being (reflects back to Mt. Kailash being the center of the world! It does stand at the highest peak of the Himalayas--it is also framed by two lakes (the one mentioned above shaped like the sun and the lower lake shaped like a crescent moon--Lake Rakastal.) For Buddhists, a person who has done 108 Koras around the mountain will gain enlightenment at death.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Georgia','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">DAY 14 Departure **

For all four religions (particularly Hinduism and Buddhism), Mt. Kailash reflects the faith. It is deeply rooted in self, and it is up to the individual person to keep persevering around the mountain and keep control of his mind and body, or to turn back. It is at the center of the world for the four main religions. It connects Indians, Tibetans, Chinese etc. - all who have different beliefs but believe in the profound nature of the mountain and its reflection on self. For any pilgrim, the mountain keeps him grounded. It is immovable with nothing but land around it (with the exception of nearby monasteries and few kiosks for pilgrims.)



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