Mt. Kailash

Mount Kailash, located in Burang County, is the highest peak of Gangdise Mountain, which are part of the Himalayas in Tibet, with an altitude of 6,638 meters (2,177 feet). Mt. Kailash has been considered the 'sacred mountain' in Tibetan and 'Heaven of Siva' in Sanskrit (Siva is the god of Hinduism) since thousands years ago. Mt Kailash is considered a sacred place in four religions: Bon, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism. According to the Indian epics Lomoyana and the Tibetan historic epics History of Gangdise, people began to worship Mt Kailash as early as in 1000 B.C. It is said that Mt. Kailash is the Sumeru Hill in Buddhism. Sumeru means the center of the world. Indians also think Mt. Kailash is the center of the world. They believe that Siva, the god with highest supernatural power and the highest rank among the three gods of Hinduism, lives in the mountain. Mt Kailash has been a lodestone to pilgrims and adventurous travelers for centuries. In recent years, the improved roads, new bridges and telephone lines make it more accessible. Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. Hindus and Buddhists make the peregrination in a clockwise direction and followers of the Jain and Bonpo religions circumambulate the mountain in a counterclockwise direction.

Revolving around Mt Kailash is the most frequent activity in Ngari region for the pilgrims from different places. It is said that as Buddha Sakyamuni was born in the year of horse. In this year circumambulating mountain one circle is equivalent to 13 circles in other years and it is more efficacious and can accumulate more merits. So much more pilgrims come to r circumambulate Mt. Kailash every Tibetan horse year. If there is an opportunity to visit Mt. Kailash, it is quite worthwhile to circumambulate the mountain, though you are not a Buddhist, as its feeling is totally different from a rough look of Mt Kailash. There are two circle paths for the Buddhists to circumambulate Mt Kailash, an inner circle and an outer circle. The path around Mount Kailash is 52km long. Usually it will take three days for the devout to accomplish this feat in the outer circle. If performing body-length prostrations over the entire length of the circumambulation, 15 to 20 days are needed. However, in the process the devout will face the uneven terrain, altitude sickness and harsh conditions. But upon the accomplishment, the happiness is far beyond description. Here is some guide information for your tour to Mt Kailash: Fee for circumambulation: CNY100 (it may change with the increasing number of people); There is no time limit for circumambulation.