Mount Kailash Full Moon holiday

A great mass of black rock soaring to over 22,000 feet, Mt. Kailash has the unique distinction of being the world's most venerated holy place at the same time that it is the least visited.

The supremely sacred site of four religions and billions of people, Kailash is seen by no more than a few thousand pilgrims each year. This curious fact is explained by the mountain's remote location in far western Tibet. No planes, trains or buses journey anywhere near the region and even with rugged over-land vehicles the journey still requires weeks of travel.

Mt Kailash (6741 m) is the most sacred of Holy Mountains in Tibet. Together with the two lakes of Manasovar & Rakas, the region is one of the few truly nature wonders of the world.

Three of the orient's greatest rivers; the Bramaputra, the Sutlej, and the Indus, all take their sources within a hundred kilometers of this "snow capped jewel" which has attracted Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bon-po’s from the four corners of Asia for centuries. Mt Kailash - also known as Tise or Khang Rimposhe (Jewel of the snow), has since the time immemorial been celebrated in many eastern cosmologies as Mt Meru, the axis mundi (the center of the physical and metaphysical universe). For the Hindus, it represents the abode of Lord Shiva and for the Buddhists, a terrestrial projection of the cosmic Mandala of the Fiva Dhyani Buddha & The Wheel of life.

Buddhists believe that a single Kora or Parikrama washes away the sins of a lifetime and that 108 circuits secure Nirvana in this life. On the trek, one may encounter Bon Pilgrims circling the route counter clockwise or the very devoted continually prostrate themselves along the whole 32.5 miles loop. There is also the ‘inner Kora’ that passes two lakes to the south of Mt. Kailash. Tradition dictates that only those who have made 13 circumambulation of Kailash may follow this inner route. The mouth of the four great rivers are within 100 Km of the mountain-the Indus, The Brahamaputra, The Sutlej and the Karnali, a major tributaries of The Ganges. Mt. Kailash circuit is 32.5 miles of strenuous trails which crosses the Dolma La. This pass is the route highest point at 18525 ft. At a large boulder is a collection of offerings where pilgrims traditionally deposit one item and take another.

Although the journey entails long rides by Land cruisers over Tibet’s great western plateau through a region inhabited by few wild animals, holy lakes and the occasional nomad, this existing tour involving a four day trek with yaks in the remotest part around Mt Kailash and offers the most fascinating experience.