The journey to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar is not just a pilgrimage, it is a profound soul-calling. This is a path that crosses borders, mountains, and lifetimes, weaving together myth, devotion, and transformation.
Your sacred yatra begins in the Himalayan cradle of Nepal, a land of temples and gods. From the spiritual heart of Kathmandu, you fly to the serene town of Pokhara and ascend through the Kali Gandaki Valley to reach Muktinath, one of the holiest shrines for both Hindus and Buddhists.
Nestled at 3,800 meters in the Mustang region, Muktinath is known as the place of moksha (liberation). Here, the eternal flame and the 108 ice-cold water spouts remind pilgrims of purification and detachment. A visit to this sacred site before entering Tibet symbolizes a spiritual preparation, washing away attachments, surrendering the past, and opening the heart.
From there, the journey flows back through Pokhara and Kathmandu, and then turns northward toward the Tibetan Plateau via Syabrubesi and Kerung. The landscape transforms, lush hills give way to wide, wind-swept valleys and endless skies. At every step, the air grows thinner, and your thoughts become quieter.
As you travel through Saga and into the spiritual sanctum of Lake Mansarovar, the presence of Mount Kailash begins to emerge, majestic, still, and silently watching. It is here, on the banks of the holy lake, that pilgrims bathe in icy waters, perform puja and homa, and catch the first glimpse of the mountain believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
Then comes the heart of the pilgrimage, the three-day Kailash Parikrama, starting at Yamadwar, passing beneath the sacred north face, climbing over the mighty Dolma La Pass (5,645 m), and finally descending through the mystical lands of Zuthulpuk. The terrain is tough, the cold is biting, but the spiritual energy carries you forward.
Along the way, pilgrims recite mantras, offer prayers, and walk in deep silence, each footstep an act of surrender. At Dolma La, you leave behind your ego, and by the end of the kora, you are no longer the same. The return journey brings you back through the familiar paths of Tibet and Nepal, with hearts full and minds still.
This pilgrimage is not simply about visiting sacred places. It is about meeting the sacred within yourself, through mountains, rivers, stones, silence, and surrender. You return to Kathmandu with dusty boots, tired limbs, and a glowing heart. The outer journey ends, but the inner journey has only just begun.
