MODE OF TRANSPORT

From Kathmandu to Nepal China border we travel in luxury coach this journey is just about 130 km. From border to right up to base camp of Kailash and up to shore of Mansarovar we travel in Japanese Land cruisers hence there is NO TREKKING INVOLVES through out tour.

The journey starts from Kathmandu early morning drive to the frontier town of Nepal at Kodari. From here, a short walks to the Friendship Bridge for the drive. This is about 145kms from Kathmandu.

At Zhangmu, guide from the Tibet counterpart receives us and all the formalities at the check post are completed.

We stayed at Zhangmu as it was late completing all our formalities. 35kms drive down is Nyalam, which takes 3 hours to drive through the up-winding roads.

Nyalam -3750m has lodges and guesthouses. Here one can rest and get acclimatized. The sun sets here at 9.00pm so the days are longer.

Saga is the next important halt to reach, which takes one day. Morning we drive through the first pass Lelung La at 5050m. From here a superb view of the high Himalayas can be seen from Gaurishankar, Shisapangma to Langtang Himal. From here the road diverts towards Shishapangma on the trial to Saga on the absolute windswept landscape on the rough dirt road. Saga is one of the large village enroute to Kailash. The drive takes approximately 6-7 hours depending upon the road condition. Night halt is camping near the village. Here there is a military camp.

Paryang another morning drive through the windswept territory passing many villages and camps of Yak herders with the distance view of snow capped mountains. After 5-6 hours of drive brings us to Paryang for the over night stay in tents.

Lake Mansarovar from Paryang we drive 5-6 hours to Mansarovar. When we reach Mansarovar i.e. the first darshan you have Mt. Kailash you come to the site where stone houses are kept. The belief is everyone who wishes to have his own house should pick up stones and make a house and his wish is fulfilled.

The best place to camp at Mansarovar is near the monastery. We can do the parikrama of Mansarovar by car as we go around for the camping site. It is believed a ritual bath delivers a pilgrim to paradise and drink of its holy water relinquishes the sins of a hundred lifetimes.The best bathing time is 5.00pm as the sun is up and the water is not cold at that time. Mansarovar has cystral clear water and as the evening passes on one can watch the different moods of the Lake - early morning we have the swans flying close to our Camp sipping the water from the Lake.

Those not in a condition to do the Parikrama of Mt. Kailash rest here till the others go and come back - so this is a base camp for Kailash. Here on Mansarovar we performed the Havan and I also did a Pooja by sitting continuos for more than 8 hours facing the Mt. Kailash making 108 Shiv Lingas of clay - we did the pooja of these Shiv Lingas with Silver Bhil Leaves, Rudraksha brought from Pashupathinath temple - Kathmandu, Silver Trishul, Snake, Nandi and did the Parikrama of these Lingas then carried it on our head and immersed it in the Lake into Kuber's wealth. According to the mythology this has high significance which was explained to me later but I had done this on impulse from the inner voice to perform this pooja.

Dharchen is the staring point for the Parikrama of Mt. Kailash from where you perform your pooja and pick up yaks and start the tedious journey. Darchen is 4480m and is a base camp as it is located beneath the majestic holy Mount Kailash, a small village with couple of guesthouses. It is 1-hour drive to Darchen from Manasarovar Lake.

First day of the Parikrama is a gradual walk with multitudes of other pilgrims chanting and praying. The trial leads us to few ups and downs till we reach our camp at Dirapuk -4750m after 6-7 hours of walk. Camping on the nice grassy meadows with a view of Kailash, northwest face.

Next day our circumbulation leads too much higher side of the holy path just beneath the Mount Kailash. The walk brings us to one of the highest point Drolma La, 5490m before descending gradually towards Zuthulphuk for the overnight camp after 6-7 hours of walk. Here there is a small monastery.

Next day the winding gradual tracks finally ends our holy pilgrimage walk [5 hours] at Darchen for taking the vehicle back to Lake Mansarovar for the holy bath after the pilgrimage.

Rest day next whole day at Lake Mansarovar to enjoy the panoramic view and get ready for the return journey.
Retrace the journey back to Paryang, approximately 6-7 hours drive.
Next day drive back to Saga. 6-7 hours drive
Next day drive back to Nyalam 6-7 hours drive
Next day drive to Zhangmu and continue towards Kathmandu after the holy memorable journey of a lifetime.

On our return our vehicle got stuck twice in the river and had to be towed out. The last stretch was worse as there was a landslide and the roads were washed away, the vehicles could not pass and we had to walk over to Zhangmu. I decided to stay back as I could not walk on uneven ground. Then I took the services of a sherpa and started crossing, it was very frightful and uttering the Lord's name we were crossing the landslide. At one stage another sherpa from no where suddenly came and held my hand He directed me to put my feet in his foot print and walk along - He was none other than my Guru - Sai Baba and He crossed me over the uneven ground to the other side where the bus was waiting- He made me sit in the bus and sent a glass of hot tea for me to drink as I was trembling with fear and exhaustion and He himself vanished the same way as He suddenly came to his devotee's rescue. So it is a fact that the Kailash pilgrimage is tough but then Heaven is different.

MOODS OF MANSAROVAR