 In the far west of Tibet is Mt Kailash, the most sacred mountain in Asia, which is venerated by Buddhists, Hindus, Jains and the ancient Bon religion of Tibet. From it flow four great rivers the Karnali, the Indus, the Sutlej and the Brahmaputra which drain the vast Tibetan Plateau. It is an important site for Tibetan and Indian pilgrims who make a 53km circuit, or kora, of the mountain. This circumambulation, clockwise for Buddhists and Hindus and anti-clockwise for Bon followers, is said to erase the sins of a lifetime. The mountain itself is 6714m high and with its four sheer walls and snow capped peak is an awe-inspiring sight.
Only 30km from Mt Kailash is another important pilgrimage site, the beautiful and serene Lake Manasarovar. According to mythology it was formed in the mind of Brahma, and Indian and Tibetan pilgrims can also be seen circumambulating this lake, a distance of 90km.
On this trip, we trek from the remote Humla region of Nepal, across the Tibetan border to visit Lake Manasarovar, before completing a kora around Mt Kailash. We then drive across the vast open spaces of the Tibetan Plateau to Zhangmu on the Nepalese border and continue through the lush forests of Nepal to Kathmandu. This is truly the trip of a lifetime with its remote trekking, stunning scenery and cultural highlights. |
