The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a well-known and highly respected pilgrimage route for the devotees of Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Bon. It is often regarded as the ultimate holy site to obtain spiritual experiences.
Mount Kailash, standing proudly at 6,714 meters (22,027 feet) in the remote western region of Tibet, is more than a simple mountain that symbolize profound spiritual importance.
It is honoured as the earthy manifestation of Mount Meru, the axis mundi (world axis), and is believed to be the centre of the cosmos as per the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain cosmologies.
The distinctive black granite contour of the mountain is often compared to a Shiva lingam, which represents the most dwelling form of Lord Shiva in Hinduism.
The sacred mountain is also referred to by Buddhists as the home of a powerful tantric deity. For Jains, it is the place where their first Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, achieves liberation or Nirvana.
As the holiest peak on Earth, Mount Kailash attracts yogis, pilgrims, and devotees from all over the world who seek to connect with the divine and achieve spiritual transformation.
Unlike other mountains, it has never been summited because setting foot on its slopes is deemed a sin. Instead, devotees perform a “Kora,” or circumambulation, which involves walking around mountains either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending upon their religion and faith.
It has faith in cleansing the soul, atoning for sins, and leading to enlightenment by completing this 52-kilometer (32-mile) circuit on foot or sometimes prostrating along the way.
Performing a single Kora is said to wash away one’s sins of a lifetime, while 108 Kora are believed to lead straight to Nirvana or ultimate liberation.
Though the Kailash Mansarovar tour is regarded as one of the sacred places in the world, the journey is not as easy as it seems. It can range from moderately to extremely challenging.
The tour demands a high level of physical fitness, proper preparation, and experience with high-altitude trekking.
When you plan to embark on a religious tour to Kailash Mansarovar, you will inevitably consider the challenges this tour presents. This blog discusses how difficult is the Kailash Mansarovar tour.
Here, we put an effort to give as much information and suggestions as possible for the committed travellers. This enables you to plan the trip confidently and have the most enjoyable trip of your lifetime.
Altitude and Acclimatization
The Kailash Mansarovar area is located at a high elevation, with Mount Kailash standing at around 6,714 meters (22,027 feet) and Lake Mansarover located at around 4,590 meters (15,060 feet).
At these altitudes, there is significantly less oxygen level at the thinner altitude, which leads to altitude sickness. The symptoms such as nausea, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue may occur.
To avoid these risks, it is crucial to acclimatize appropriately by walking gradually and spending many days at intermediate altitudes. Proper acclimatization allows the body to adapt to the lower oxygen levels.
Similarly, taking enough acclimatization reduces the risks of developing serious altitude-related complications. It makes the trip somehow easy, especially for those who are beginner trekkers in high altitudes.
Physical Fitness
The Kailash Mansarovar tour has considerable physical demands, especially when walking around Mount Kailash known as the “Kora.”
This 52-kilometer (32-mile) circular trek typically takes 2-3 days to complete and entails navigating rough and uneven terrain having many steep ascents and descents.
Crossing Dolma La Pass at 5,600 m (18,373 ft) above sea level is the most challenging point of the Kora. It is both physically demanding and potentially dangerous because of its steepness and the possibility of altitude sickness.
Adequate training programs such as building cardiovascular endurance, leg strength, and boosting stamina are necessary to manage the long walking hours in challenging environments.
Weather Conditions
The weather in the Kailash Mansarovar region is so unpredictable, and frequently changing, which adds to the challenges of the journey.
Temperature can fluctuate dramatically even during the ideal months to visit, from May to September. During this time, temperature ranges from 20°C (68°F) during the day to below freezing at night.
Additionally, the region is prone to abrupt weather variations, including rain, strong winds, and snow. It can make the trek more hazardous and taxing. Travelers should be alert and aware before embarking on the journey.
Travelers need to pack appropriate clothing and gear for all types of weather such as cold and rainy weather. Mental preparedness is also necessary to face potential harsh environmental obstacles.
Remote and Rugged Terrain
The Kailash Mansarovar area is one of the most isolated and least accessible locations in the world. The trip involves a long hour walk on unpaved, bumpy roads, traversing on challenging terrain through basic vehicles.
The route to Kailash Mansarovar includes steep inclines, river crossings, and rocky paths. Moreover, the place lacks infrastructure, and amenities such as hotels, hospitals, and shops are limited or even non-existent in many areas.
Don’t expect luxurious services and accommodation, as the travellers will get to stay in simple lodges having basic facilities. They must learn to adjust without hot water, power, or communication networks.
In addition to posing logistical challenges, this remoteness requires a certain level of self-sufficiency and flexibility from travellers.
Permit and Logistics Challenges
Traveling the Kailash Mansarovar from the Tibetan side necessities multiple permits, including Chinese visa-specific permits to enter Tibet and the restricted region surrounding Mount Kailash.
These permits can be difficult to obtain and time-consuming, typically requiring help from authorized agencies. The remote nature of the region makes the journey more challenging to organize the logistics, such as food supplies, lodging, and transportation.
Group tours, which are often required of foreign travellers, can help in overcoming these logistical hurdles. However, they come with their challenges, such as adjusting to a fixed itinerary and traveling with a group.
Mental Preparedness
Embarking on the Kailash Mansarovar tour requires both physical strength and strong mental fortitude. The combination of physical exertion, high altitude, frequently changeable weather, basic lodges, and limited accommodation choices along with long-distance walking hours can be mentally draining.
Therefore, it is significant for visitors to prepare for the potential risks like fatigue, altitude sickness, and discomfort. The journey also requires preservation and persistence, as the route often entails waiting for weather clearance, dealing with permit delays, and making last-minute adjustments to the itinerary.
The ability to remain calm and focused, having a positive mindset and adaptability skills are essential to complete the journey successfully.
Overall, the Kailash Mansarovar tour is not as difficult as people think but it is a challenging adventure in some routes, which needs much physical and mental preparation.
For those who are determined and well prepared, visiting this sacred and awe-inspiring site is a worthy endeavour despite the tremendous challenges due to spiritual and natural rewards.
