Map of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and its Route

Map of Mansarovar:-

How to reach Mansarovar:-

There are 4 ways to reach Mount Kailash from India.

 1) By road from India. The Government of India organises tours to Lake Manasarovar. This is a 28-30 day trek but the disadvantage is that it has to be booked well in advance and there is no certainty that one can go despite being in physical shape, because the number of seats is limited and participants are chosen by a draw by MInistry of External Affairs, India. About 400 people make it from the 6000 that apply each year.

  2) By air to Kathmandu and from there by road to Lake Manasarovar at the base of Mount Kailash. One may fly to Kathmandu from Delhi, Varanasi, Kolkata & Mumbai. Banglore flight is suspended as of now. This has become the most popular route.

 3) Helicopter tours of Kailash for those who are short of time or cannot take the rigours of a grueling high altitude road journey. The tour uses fixed wing aircraft for the flight from Kathmandu to Nepalganj and from there to Simikot. From Simikot a helicopter flies to Hilsa. Landcruisers are then used to reach Manasarovar.

 4) Tour via Lhasa wherein one will fly to Kathmandu and then to Lhasa by China Air and from there one will visit various towns in Tibet like Shigatse, Gyantse, Lhatse, Prayang etc. and will reach Mansarovar. On the way back, there are three options a) drive back to Lhasa and fly back to Kathmandu b) drive to Hilsa and fly via Helicopter and fixed wing aircraft to Kathmandu c) Drive back to Kathmandu via Kodari Border (Friendship Bridge).

 Map of Kailash Parivar:-

A High Risk Journey

Kailash Manasarovar Yatra Yatra is extremely arduous (more so than the Vaishnodevi / Amarnath routes), involves trekking at high altitudes up to 19,500 feet, under inhospitable conditions including extreme cold and rugged terrain and may prove hazardous for those who are not physically or medically fit. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation has recognized the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra as a trekking expedition. There is a considerable element of risk to life and property.


The primary purpose of one's pilgrimage to the Kailash region is the ritual circumambulation of the sacred mountain and lake. Called parikrama in Sanskrit or kora in Tibetan, this is an ancient ritual of devotion. Pilgrims to Kailash believe that spiritual merit is gained by circumnavigating its 53 km path. A single circuit wipes out a lifetime's worth of sins while 108 circuits bring enlightenment or nirvana. The parikrama is done either on foot, horses or yaks. Most pilgrims prefer to perform 3 parikramas while for the hardy ascetics, 13 is considered an auspicious number.

Maps of Mansarovar and rashas Tal:-

Places to see in Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Tirthapuri:-

Tirthapuri, positioned northwest of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet are intimately associated with Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). It is one of the interesting places near Kailash, pilgrims particularly come here after completing their kailash pilgrimage. They bathe in the pools fed by the holy springs and also pay a visit to the cave and monastery which is connected with Guru Pinpoche and has his footprints. The barren landscape around the Tirthapuri hot spring is filled with steam and colorful prayer flags stretched across the river gorge makes this spot a scenic & magical view for all.


Gauri Kund:-

Gauri Kund, a water body that is also known as the Lake of Compassion, lies on the way while going on downwards from Dolma - La (Dolma Pass). This steep descent from Dolma Pass is a wonderful lake which is at an altitude of 5608m. As per Hindu mythology, there is a fascinating tale about Gauri Kund and has been described in legend “Shiva Purana”. The lake is also famous as “Parvati Sarovar” as this was the place where goddess Parvati had acquired her son Ganesha (Elephant headed God).


Yam Dwar:-

Yam Dwar is situated in Tarboche which is approximately 30 minutes drive from Darchen. The exact meaning of the Yam Dwar in Hindi lingo is “the gateway of the God of Death”. It is the initial point of circumambulation of Mount Kailash. Known as Chorten Kang Ngyi which means two legged Stupa in Tibet.

Asthapad:-

Located at a height of 17000 ft, Asthapad is the bottom of Mt. Kailash and one of the main holy places for the Hindus and Buddhists. It is also considered a major Jain Tirths as the first of the 24 Jain Tirthankara “Shri Adinath Bhagwan” had attained salvation (Nirvana) at this place. The literal meaning of  SiwasthalAsthapad
is “Eight Steps” as Astha means Eight and Pad means Steps in Sanskrit and that’s how the place derived its name.


Siwasthal:-

Just around 2 hours walk from Deraphuk Gomba situated on the way to Dolma – La is Siwastal. Many pilgrims visit this place as it is known a duplication of the magical funeral ground at Bodh Gaya. Pilgrims here experience ritual death and enter into the dreadful presence of Yama, before being reborn on top of the Drolma La.

 Above the burial ground is a red foot print of Milareppa (Tibetan yogi & poet) on the surface of a rock.

Tarboche:-

Tarboche flagpole, is one of the most important aspect of Tibetan spirituality. On “Saga Dawa” Tarbochewhich is an impressive and capturing annual festival of Mt. Kailash this giant flagpole which has
numerous prayer flags on it is brought down and replaced. This annual festival or one can also mention it as a carnival attracts Tibetans from all over along with other tourists and pilgrims. This ritual is performed every year on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, to celebrate Sakyamuni's enlightenment”.

Stupas of Chortens:-

Along the paths of regions under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism the traveller is often confronted with Mani walls. These stone structures are a compilation intricately carved stone tablets, most with the inscription "Om Mani Padme Hum" which loosely translates to "Hail to the jewel in the lotus". These walls should be passed or circumvented from the left side, the clockwise direction in which the earth and the universe revolve, according to Buddhist doctrine.

They are sometimes close to a temple or chorten, sometimes completely isolated and range from a few metres to a kilometre long and one to two metres high. They are built of rubble and sand and faced with mani stones engraved in the elegant Tibetan script.

The Dalai Lama is said to be an incarnation of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara, so the mantra is especially revered by his devotees and it is commonly carved onto rocks and written on paper which is then inserted into prayer wheels to increase its effects.

Chiu Gompa:-

The monastery is built right into the cliffs. There is an ancient shrine in a cave here dating back to the 8th Century. It is a very interesting monastery and an important stop for many pilgrims. Most Tibetan Pilgrims will come to this area for two very important pilgrimages; 1) to circumnavigate Lake Manarsarovar and visit the several monasteries around the lake, and 2) to circumnavigate holy Mt. Kailash.


Rakshas Tal:-

Rakshas Tal East of Mansarovar lies Rakshas Tal, also called Ravan Kund. Rakshas Tal is the lake where Ravana is said to have done penance to invoke Lord Shiva. The legend associated with its creation goes like this - Ravana, the Demon King, practiced austerities and asked a boon of Lord Shiva. Ravana asked that the Lord should come and reside in his kingdom, Lanka, leaving the Kailash valley. The Lord agreed and offered Himself to Ravana as a Lingam (sacred phallus) subject to one condition - that Ravana could not keep Him down on the earth anywhere on the way.

The Gods in the heavens were worried. How could they let the Lord leave His Abode? They instructed the God of Water, Varuna, to enter Ravana's stomach. When he started walking with the heavy Siva Lingam, Ravana felt that he had to ease himself urgently. But how could he do so without putting down the heavy lingam? He searched for someone to carry it for him for a time. He spotted a young Brahmin and requested him to hold the lingam. The Brahmin lad, who was none other than Lord Ganesha, agreed. But since the God of Water himself had inhabited Ravana's belly there was a continuous flow of water out of Ravana, which formed the lake Rakhsas Tal. Since Ravana was delaying his return, the Brahmin could not hold the lingam any longer and put it down. Thus the Holy Lingam in the form of Kailash remained in its original place. Perhaps this legend is good reason for the locals to believe that the water from this lake should never be drunk!

Charansparsha:-
It is the closest view of Lord Kailash.

Also there is a Ganesh like Mountain near to Charasparsha.