Mount Kailash - A Trekkers' and Visitors' Guide

The 3–4 day trek in this guidebook follows the pilgrims’ route around the isolated Mount Kailash in western Tibet, sacred to several world religions. Also included is a visit to the lost kingdom of Guge, still almost unknown in the west.

Introduction

Hidden and isolated for centuries behind the nearly impenetrable barrier of the Himalayas is a mysterious and mythical mountain. Kailash has been variously called the centre of the universe, the navel of the earth, a resting place for the Gods and ‘the precious snow mountain’; for more than a thousand years it has been a central pilgrimage site for some of the world’s major religions.

Kailash is 6714m (22,028ft) high and lies just northwest of the western Nepal, Indian and Tibetan border. It is sacred to Hindus because Shiva, the god of destruction, sits here. Buddhists revere it as Kang Rinpoche, ‘precious jewel of the snows’, like a vast chorten, a pyramid of nature that can cleanse the sins of a lifetime. For the Bonpo, the first religious people of Tibet, it is Yungdrung Gutse or ‘the nine-storied swastika mountain’. And finally, for the Jain pilgrims from India, it is the sacred peak of Asthapada, where the first Jain prophet gained enlightenment.

For the western visitor, Kailash is a mountain that equates to adventure; one of the wonders of the world, a landmark of inspirational beauty, a place to seek spiritual peace. It is a mountain that captures the imagination and breathes sheer excitement into the soul. A visit to Kailash will take one’s breath away in many ways. A circuit of its mighty parapets is not to be lightly entertained. Kailash is, for many people, the spiritual centre of the universe, and for a few short days it will enthral and capture even the most atheistic of souls.

Tibet is a magical place. Today it is blessed with resurgent monasteries, myriad spectacular mountains and some fantastic hidden gems. The road to Kailash is studded with these jewels; stupendous scenery, clear luminescent light, crumbling history and vast rolling plains. Tibet is a harsh land with quaint villages and large yak herds set in a timeless landscape. Its curious, lively and friendly people and its ancient religion make it a very special place.