Manasa Sarovar

Manasarovar is a mysterious area in Himalayas and all Hindu deities believed to be residing here. Sages, Naga Sadhus and Aghoras performs hermit in the mountains of Himalayas for thousands of years with breathing and without having any food or shelter. The age of such Sages and Aghoras could be imagine. These Sages, Naga Sadhus and Aghoras comedown to plain areas to pilgrim places viz., Varanasi, Allahabad, Haridwar for Kumbha Melas. They live for thousands of years and the reason could not find in scientific knowledge.

Yogis live longer as they do not want to enjoy life but they want to gain more knowledge about life until they attain moksha. The Hatha yoga performed by the Yogis overcomes old age by reducing their heartbeat and breathing process. Some Yogis have the power to control the five elements. We are living with a life style of joy, happiness, sadness, which helps us do everything in our day to day life and live for 70 to 80 years and then die. There are three main channels the physical channel, the emotional channel and the evolutionary channel into which the life force supplies its energy.

The Sadhus have no interest in material life. They use energy for concentration which is an intellectual process. They don’t need even food to live because they meditate straight for hundreds of years with little gaps and continue this until they achieve Moksha. Anthills, trees or snow may get deposited on them, but they don’t die. The energy is required only for one mental concentration and for keeping them alive. They mostly concentrate on their third eye region and the energy required only for concentration. Free from normal tensions helps them live for a much longer period as the process of attaining Moksha is very slow. Ram Bahadur Bomjon aged 21 years in Nepal reported to be meditated straight for months without any food water etc. Sahaja yoga allow them to flow all three channels equal balance in the distribution of energy.

Manasa Sarovar was first created by Lord Brahma and came on earth as image of purity. It is believed that drinking of the water from the lake cleaned from all the sins committed hundred life times and will go to the home of Shiva after death. Mansarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar and Pushkar Sarovar are the five holy lakes mentioned in Bhagavath Purana.

Buddhists believed to be Anavatapta and Maya has conceived Buddha here. There are many teachings and stories in Buddhist literatures about this lake. Buddha stayed here and take meditation several times.

Rishabha, the first Tirthankara of Jains is associated with the lake and had attained nirvana on the Ashtapad Mountain. His son Chakravati Bharat, had built a palace decorated with gems on the Ashtapad Mountain.

Kailash Manasarovar yatra is a dream of every one. But the permission of Lord Shiva is necessary to enter into the holy place of Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. Lord Shiva was not permitted to enter into the holy place up to 2001 because of its immense Grace and a group planned to take up yatra from Kathmandu and succeeded in 2001 with lot of hurdles in the Yatra.

Manasa Sarovar Yatra

In Manasa Sarovar Yatra there are two circuits or tracks. Outer track and inner track. The outer track is long as 52km starts from and ends at Darchen with stays at Dirapuk Monastery, Drolma-la and Zutulpuk Monastery as the physical strength varies on different people. The pilgrims may spend one day, two days or three days in Mount Kailash Yatra.

To complete the yatra on one day, physical strength, energy with superior stamina required to complete the yatra in one day. Local pilgrims and experienced trekkers can only complete the yeatra with powerful structure  Pilgrims must start at 05-00Am in the morning to reach Dirapuk Monastery at 12-00PM and in continuation Drolma-la at 16-00PM and back to Darchen at 22-00PM The whole Yatra takes about 15~18 hours. In Ngari, the day breaks at about 7:00am and it becomes dark at around 22:00.

To complete the yatra in two days also, somehow easier to finish, Pilgrims must possess good energy and sound body free from High Altitude Sickness. The yatra starts from Darchen at 9:00 on day one, and  take about 1 hour to get to the peak to enjoy the colourful prayer flags, and another 1 hour to get to the pagoda. Then trek along with the up-and-down road, and get to Dirapuk Monastery after 3 to 4 hours. On the second day, Pilgrims climb to Droma-la between 8.00 to 12.00 am, and then go down to the camp to have lunch. After lunch, 2~3 hours to reach Zutulpuk Monastery and another 3~4 hours back to Darchen.

To complete the yatra in three days, all Pilgrims with good health can get to Dirapuk Monastery and accommodate there on 1st day, On the 2nd day they go to Zutulpuk and return to Darchen on the 3rd day. Many tourists take this route to have a lifetime long trekking.

Mount Kailash Yatra

Mount Kailash is 21,778 feet and reported to be unclimbed. Hugh Ruttledge studied the north face in 1926 estimating 6,000 feet high and the northeast point is fit to climb, and Colonel R. C. Wilson along with a Sherpa named Tseten tried on the other side of the mountain as the South Eastern edge is a feasible route to the peak. Wilson’s show that he was serious about climbing Kailash, and when he discovered an easy walk to the summit of the mountain, heavy snow began to fall, making the ascent impossible. Herbert Tichy in 1936, attempting to climb Gurla Mandhata he came to know that a man entirely free of sin could climb Kailash. Reinhold Messner was given the opportunity by the Chinese government to climb in 1980 but he declined. The Chinese had given permission in 2001 to a Spanish team to climb the peak, which caused an international criticism and the Chinese authorities Strictly prohibited the climbing activities on Mt Kailash.

Mount Kailash is nothing but the place where Lord Shiva resides. Several scientists and foreign The pilgrims can like a more wonderful sight of the Mount Kailash. Very fewer people undertake mount Kailash Yatra. The road is very sharp and verfical and full of stone riprap. The weather will hour to hour change and pilgrims face strong sunshine, heavily snow, and strong winds. The circile is about 30km and may complete in one day. At the foot of Mount Kailash where you may see a big icy swastika on its south face. The yatra starts and ends with Darchan.

Tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

1. Pilgrims are advised to walk in clock-wise diretction.
2. The road is always covered with snow from November to march and record lowest temperature, it is suggested to go on the yatra from April to October, when the temperature is suitable. Among April to October months July and August are rainy season and strong winds occur in some time and is better to wear and pack accordingly.
3. There are basic amenities and accommodation in the yatra in the guest houses at monasteries and nomads’ tents. Pilgrims have to carry out sleeping kit and night dress as there will not be beds in guest houses in peak seasons and the pilgrims may make own arrangements for their own camps in the absence of guest houses. Simple and basic food only available to the pilgrims. Pilgrims have to carry snakes and light food along with them.
4. Tibet Travel Permit is the most important, and pilgrims can’t travel in the train or flight to Tibet without Tibet Travel Permit. Pilgrims need an Alient Travel Permit to visit Ngari region and Border Pass including Military Permit. The Travel Agency will apply for all permits on behalf of Pilgrims.
5. Formal, comfortable and warm clothes and strong water proof shoes are required for Kailash Mansa Sarovar Yatra. Pilgrims are advised to travel with light and less luggage for comfort in yatra. Horses are available to carry luggage.

 There are several travel agencies for this yatra and charging Rs.1,50,000/- per head from Katmandhoo for journey by helicopter.