Kailash and Manasarovar Yatra / Mt Kailash and Manasarovar Yatra/ கைலாயமலை & மானசரோவர் யாத்திரை.

  24, June 2012

Aimed to do the darshan of all the 276 Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalangal. Would like to make yatra to Kailash and Manasarovar, before getting too old. From the website, learned that most of the travel operators and Govt restrict the age limit to 60 years. After seeing the advertisement of M/s Samrat Holidays, decided to join their June Tour to Kailash. Since it was suggested that June month is an ideal period to have a darshan of Mt Kailash without rain and cold, paid Rs 10001 as an advance and booked for the June 9^th batch.

PREPARATION.

While preparing for the yatra,  I thought it might be simple. The travel agency has given a list of materials to be carried and the amount of money to be carried. Already paid Rs 16500 towards an air ticket from Chennai to Delhi and Delhi to Kathmandu and back. And the balance amount of Rs 60000.00.   Skipped Muktinath yatra since I have to take 5 more days leave. So decided not to opt for the same. Consulted the Dr and bought the medicines. For the high altitude sickness, we have to take the Diamox tablet. Dr. Aravind, at EB colony, advised me to take a sulfur content tablet to watch the reaction (A Test dose). Since there was no symptom of reaction Dr advised me to take a Diamox tablet if required. Slowly purchased the required materials. For the shirt and pants planned to use my old shirts and pants and purchased trekking suits from Rex Fashions.

Prepared the eatables like chocolates, cashew nuts, Badam nuts, and dry grapes and packed them in small sealed packets. Winter clothes like monkey caps, thermal wear, and woolen socks are bought from the flower bazaar market. After getting ironed my pants and shirt were weighed for the actual weight ( allowed. 20 kg and 6 kg for the handbag). To carry Manasarovar water thought of taking one-liter bottles 3 nos instead of carrying 5-litre cans, as advised.

When I searched on the website about altitude sickness, it was threatening. Then comes the trekking. Mr. Velusamy who is coming for the second time gives me hope. Planned to trek parikrama by walk without hiring the yak or the pony (From the e-mail from Samrat Holidays,  that we have to pay 2000 Yuvans towards that- it was threatening news). Hope Lord Shiva only has to give me the courage to face the hurdles. After the initial preparation, I was eagerly waiting for Saturday morning ie 9^th June 2012 to come. (Supposed to start from Chennai).

When Saturday was nearing my heart was functioning at a faster rate due to an increase in anxiety. The news from the past year and website information increases my anxiety level further.

One Tuesday 5^th June 2012 was also an important day for me. Our Sr. Chairman Dr AC Muthiah and Achi called me to their residence and blessed me for my yathra. It gave me more energy and strength to make this Yathra.

On Wednesday afternoon 6^th June 2012 weighed the bags and it was about 15 Kg and the back bag was about 6 Kg. I made a minor adjustment to reduce the weight of the back bag to 5 kg.

The day of stating the yathra came to true on 09^th June 2012, when I boarded the plane to New Delhi.

09-06-2012. SATURDAY

The flight to Delhi took off at 06.50  Hrs from Chennai airport, for which we had checked in around 04.00 hrs and I could meet Mr. Vasu who came to the airport to see off me. Since we have to go up to Kathmandu, we have booked the luggage up to Kathmandu and obtained two boarding passes through Jet Airways. The e-ticket was booked in advance. The flight to Delhi landed at 09.45 Hrs. After immigration boarded the flight to Kathmandu around 12.00 Hrs and reached 13.45 hrs. After Passport verification landed in the Star Hotel Park Village, which is about an hour's journey from the airport. A briefing session was conducted for the benefit of Yatris at night.

10-06-2012. SUNDAY

As per the schedule, today is the local visit day. We had been to Mountain Flight Service, Sri Pashupatinath Temple, Jala Narayana Temple, and Swayambhunath, a Buddhist temple. (Details with Photographs are uploaded in a separate post)

11-06-2012. MONDAY

Since the hotel room was booked up to 12.00 Hrs, we have to vacate and stay in a hotel at Kailash Mansarovar Guest House, at Kodari near the border. We deposited our belongings and Indian money at the hotel locker and exchanged Indian rupee for Chinese Yuan for Rs 25000.00. Packed the clothes required for Yathra and other materials in the big bags.  Reached Kodari a place near the border. It has become uncertain, to cross the border today as scheduled, due to the nonreceipt of Group VISA. During our journey from Kodari to Kathmandu, we observed landslides occurred in many places. The river Bada Koshi was flowing along the bus route.

12-06-2012. TUESDAY

Rest day at Kodari. The morning went to walk up to Tatopani Hot Springs and many Yathris took taken bath, and some took a dip in the Bada Koshi river. Spend evening time in the guest house and participated in bhajans.

13-06-2012. WEDNESDAY

We have not received any information about visas. In the morning Sherpas with cooking vessels arrived at Kodari. The morning went to Tatopani Hot Springs again. After breakfast undertook a trekking to a Buddhist monastery above Kodari village. The pictures painted on the walls were very colorful. Returned to the Guest house and waited for the good news from  Mr. Srinivasan about his VISA, he had personally gone to Delhi to get the Group Visa. At last, around 20.00 Hrs it was happy news that Visa has been issued and we will be starting 09.00 Hrs on 14-06-2012.

The friendship bridge between Nepal and Tibet (China) - From here we have to cross the border when we go through the Kathmandu - Nepal route

 Chinese Lasa Port at the border  after Friendship Bridge

14-06-2012. THURSDAY

It was a great day for us. After breakfast and early lunch, we crossed the border around 11.50 Hrs. After verification of our visa and passport at Chinese Lasa Port, boarded the bus to Nyalam. The road to Nyalam was very good and passed through two tunnels. It was interesting to see the precautions taken to avoid landslides by the Chinese Govt. In some places, roadside stone portions were sprayed with concrete. The bus journey was pleasant.

Hotel at Nyalam where we stayed

15-06-2012. FRIDAY

During morning hours we went for a trekking to the nearby mountain for two hours. It was a different experience to see the snow-capped mountains from the top of the small hill. After breakfast around 10.00 hrs, we started our journey to SAGA. The half of the distance was not good. From Nyalam to Saga there were no trees on the hills. It changed to desert. On the way, we could find many villages with mud houses. After 5 hours of travel, we reached SAGA, which is on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. Accommodated in a star hotel.

Beautiful snow-capped mountains between Nyalam to Saga

16-06-2012. SATURDAY

Started our journey around 06-00 hrs to Manasarovar Lake. Had the first darshan of Mount KAILASH's southeast face from the banks of Manasarovar Lake around 19.30 hrs and took a bath. Collected holy water and some stones. On the way, we had our lunch in one of the roadside Rest houses at Old Tompha. Spend time from 00.00 hours to 5.30 hrs morning waiting on the banks of Manasarovar Lake to watch the wonderful sight of Rishis and Devars taking a bath and worshiping Mt. Kailash. It was too cold to sit on the banks of the lake Manasarovar. Around 03.49 hours my camera clicked mysterious photos of stars, which I had uploaded in this post.

The first sight of Mt Kailash from the bank of Manasarovar lake 

These mystery Photos were taken around 3.49 Hours from the banks of Manasarovar Lake - There was nothing before and after the photos were taken.

17-06-2012. SUNDAY

Morning Homam and Pooja were conducted through the Kumbakonam group which brought the Sivachariyar. All participated. Started from Manasarovar and reached the hotel at  Dharchan. After a brief rest went to Astapath. The land cruiser (Charged us 75 Yuvans per head and 4 persons were accommodated) dropped us off before 2.5 km. Trekked through the ice river and went to Astapath. We had the darshan of Mt. Kailash - the south face very close. Some of us collected the Holy Mt. Kailash water which flowed from the melted ice).

 The South face  of Mt Kailash -The photo was taken  during Astapath

              The South face  of Mt Kailash -The photo was taken  during Astapath

         Self and Mr Kumar. Both used to travel together - The south face of Mt. Kailash, during Astapath

The South face  of Mt Kailash -The photo was taken  during Astapath 

 

18-06-2012. MONDAY. ( First day of our PARIKRAMA )

Started from the Darshan Hotel and reached Yamadwar. It is believed that one who came through the Yamadwar will not have the fear of Yama. The trek distance was 12 km. It took us 4 hours to complete. We (Self and Mr. Kumar) have not hired the Horse, but only the porter for which we had paid 600 yuans. The trek was pleasant and we had the darshan on south west and West sides of Mt Kailash. Our sherpa was helpful and he always made us reach the next destination before others arrived. Stayed in hotel Parmarth Ashram maintained by Richa Tours at DIRAPUK. The altitude was 4860 meters above sea level. We had the darshan on the North face of Mt Kailash from the Hotel.

Yamadwar- It is believed that those who go through this Yamadwar after Circumambulation 3 times will not have the fear of Yama.

Yamadwar

The west face of Mt Kailash after Yamadwar

                                      The west face of Mt Kailash after Yamadwar

                                   The west face of Mt Kailash after Yamadwar

 The North face of Mt Kailash - The photo was taken in the evening hours

19-06-2012. TUESDAY  ( Second day of PARIKRAMA)

Started our second day of our Parikrama. The trek was 22 km. After crossing the frozen river hired a horse to cross the DOLMA PASS, which is again 850 meters above DIRAPUK, and also the Oxygen level was very very low. Since we did not want to strain our hearts, we hired a horse up to Dolma Pass (4 km) and the horseman charged us 600 Yuvans. It is to be noted that the horseman and the horse did not stop in the middle. After reaching the top everybody was asked to descend quickly to avoid breathing problems due to less oxygen. On the way, we had the darshan of Gaurikund and collected water from Gaurikund for which I had paid 100 Yuvans for one litre.  (Rs 1000 in Indian currency). The rest of the stretch was not so difficult. The sky was very clear, with some clouds here and there. Hills with rocks and mud no tree or grass. We have noticed that the Chinese govt has installed some mobile repeater stations for communications with solar energy. Reached the Camp at Zithulpak which took us approximately 8 Hours and accommodated in a tent.

The North face of Mt Kailash - The photo was  taken during early hours  - பொ ன்னார் மேனீ யனே

 Gauri Kund- The green color water frozen to ice- It is believed that Sri Parvathi takes a bath every day, that's why the color of the water is green color- when we take it  will be colorless 

 Materials are being transported to the next camp through yak

                           The Sherpa who escorted us throughout the parikrama

20-06-2012. WEDNESDAY.  ( Third day of PARIKRAMA)

Started our third day of our Parikrama. The distance was about 8 KM and took us approximately 2 hours to reach the Zircon hill point from where we boarded the bus and reached Darshan. The journey was a little risky and walked through a steep valley and a river was flowing below us. In the valley, everybody was asked to walk even though they hired a horse. We could see the hills with different colors of rocks.

After lunch at the Darchan Hotel, proceeded to Pariyang around 14.00 hours. Accommodated in a hotel at Pariyang. En route, we could see small villages and sand hills.

                                                      Yathris are traveling on a horse 

                                                          ( View of desert/sand hills )

21-06-2012. THURSDAY

To complete our schedule we have to travel at least 500 KM. to reach Neyalam.  After breakfast started from Pariyang and our next halt was at Nyalam. Half of the distance the road was very bad and we were diverted  (Town Shann young Lu) in the mud road which took us more than 2 hours to cross. We had our lunch under the hot sun in an open space. The total journey time was around 9 hours and reached Nyalam.  Accommodated in the Nyalam Hotel 2^nd floor.

22-06-2012. FRIDAY

Started from Nyalam to Kathmandu. Reached Lasa Port where we completed the formalities crossed the friendship bridge and entered Nepal. It was observed that landslides occurred in three places between Neyalam and Lhasa port which were cleared by the Chinese Govt (Due to rain in the previous night). After crossing the friendship bridge, we had our lunch at Kodari, Kailash Manasarovar Guest House (With the usual menu of Chapati, dal, fried bitter guard, and vegetables). After 2 2-hour delay (due to a landslip, – there was rain the previous night) we proceeded to Kathmandu by bus and reached around 17.30 Hrs.

23-06-2012. SATURDAY

Since we had enough time to leave for the airport around 11.00 hrs, thought of visiting Kukke Eswari Temple, one of the Sakthi Peedam. Four of us went to the temple (Hired a Taxi - Rs 500 Indian currency) and had a nice darshan. After breakfast left the hotel for the airport to Chennai. Boarded the flight to New Delhi after completing the formalities of immigration & check out etc. At New Delhi airport transferred the luggage to the Jet Airways counter from the international and boarded flight to Chennai at the domestic terminal. Reached safely to Chennai around 20.45 Hrs and home at 23.30 Hrs.

We are really very happy that the Lord Shiva showered his blessings on us for making this yathra a successful and memorable one through clear sky and good weather.

I extend my sincere thanks to My Chairman & Achi, Samrat Holidays, Mr. Srinivasan, Mr. Kumar, and the co-Yathris for helping me complete this lifetime ambition of doing this Mt Kailash & Mansarovar Yatra.

GENERAL INFORMATION AND TIPS

“If you have a strong desire with Lord Shiva’s blessings you can make this Kailash and Manasarovar Yatra a pleasant one.” 

  This is the dangerous plant - also called the chedi ( தேள் செடி )- when you touch it, the thorns will hide and the pain will last at least 4 hours- experience the same- so care to be taken not to come in contact with your body 

 View of the snow-capped mountains 

                                       Very few flowering plants also in the hills  

                                   Paddy fields between Neyalam and Tibet border 

 The Vaal berry tree in the Park Village Hotel - view from the room  window

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---