Mi Adventures'23

Kailash Mansarovar Parikrma - [ॐ नमः शिवाय] - Aug’24

Kailash Mansarovar Parikrama has been on our bucket list for a long time. With the blessings of Lord Shiva, 39 of us embarked on this divine journey from the 9th to the 26th of August. We began our pilgrimage at Kathmandu, Neapl with the blessings of Pashupatinath and a Rudrabhishek ceremony before traveling to the Nepal-China border. The journey to Timure (Last town in Nepal at Nepal China Border), filled with winding roads, breathtaking waterfalls, and delicious food. Crossing the border on foot was challenging but offered a rare and “Enriching” experience.

We journeyed through Keyrung, where we had our first stay in China, and then reached Saga, our second stop in China, after crossing a pass at 5,236 meters (17,178 feet). Saga, situated at an altitude of ~4,400 meters (14,435 feet), introduced us to the reality of altitude sickness, a humbling reminder of our body’s limitations and the importance of oxygen, which was only about 60% of sea level. We learned the value of taking "one step at a time."

After acclimatizing in Saga, stopping at the sacred Mansarovar and stayed at Darchen at 4,575 meters (15,000 feet), the base of Mount Kailash. Our first glimpse of the mighty Mount Kailash filled us with childlike excitement. Every view of this holy mountain felt like a divine gift. The next day, we began the Mansarovar Parikrama, spending hours by its sacred shores. The glacier-capped mountains surrounding Mansarovar left us speechless, in awe of Mother Nature’s beauty. During the Parikrama, we witnessed a rare "Shiv Dhanush" (a rainbow following a tiny cloud), a sight none of us had seen before. We performed Rudrabhishek and Havan rituals at Mansarovar, and some of us rose early to catch a glimpse of the full moon over Mansarovar even though it was cloudy at night. By this time, most of us had adjusted to the altitude.

The first day of the Mt. Kailash Parikrama arrived with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Starting at Yam Dwar, we walked in the sacred shadow of Mount Kailash and arrived at Diraphuk, at 4,890 meters (16,000 feet). The looming challenge of crossing Dolma La Pass at ~5,600 meters (18,400 feet) was on everyone's mind. On the second day, it took about five hours to reach the Dolma La, but the breathtaking sight of the sacred Gauri Kund greeted us once we crossed. The trek from Dolma La to Zuthulphuk was grueling, but the beauty of nature left us content and grateful. The third day’s final stretch, from Zuthulphuk to Chongdu, was comparatively easier. Though the three-day parikrama was 34km on paper but clocked but clocked 40km at higher altitude.

The Kailash Mansarovar Parikrama cleanses your mind, filling you with an overwhelming sense of peace. Standing at the foothills of Mount Kailash brings a joy that is unparalleled, leaving nothing but the sacred chant "Har Har Mahadev" in your heart.

Out of the 39 members, 29 completed the Parikrama — about 80%. By Lord Shiva’s grace, no one became seriously ill. Spending 7 days at altitudes between 14,400 to 18,400 feet was an experience for everyone. There were many testing moments during the journey, but blessings of divine, we were guided through every difficulty. The return journey from Saga to Kathmandu was quite an adventure in itself; landslides, washed-out roads due to flash floods, and navigating immigration chaos before catching flights. Yet, through it all, we all felt the blissfulness, blessings of divine and safely returned home. Despite of all the odds, the rugged beauty of the Tibetan plateau, blend of spirituality with physical endurance, Kailash Mansarovar Parikrama remained unforgettable.

Last but not least, all porters, guides and Milind Bhide-Countryside organized the trip well and helped the group throughout the KMP trip.

Upon our return to Kathmandu, we visited the Pashupatinath Temple once again, offering prayers of gratitude for the success of our journey and asking for Lord Shiva's blessings to return someday.