Nila Kanzaria
Nov 6, 2023
Om Nama Shivaya
Here we are sharing some of the photos from our recent September/early October 2023 yatra of Lake Mansarovar & Mount Kailash. It would be fair to say this yatra was spiritual, challenging and provided us with great lifelong memories and would say is the best thing that has happened in our life.
Our yatra was organized by Bashidev Thapaliya of Himalayan Glory Travels & Tours.
He had a team of 12 to 15 staff who took care of us (transfers, visa requirements, sightseeing, luggage, preparing and serving delicious food, being our guide, etc.) from day one arrival to Kathmandu to our departure. Tour was 16 days in total.
First couple of days were spent sightseeing in Kathmandu. Group participated for Rudraabhishek & havan at Pashupatinath Temple for success of our yatra.
Soon it was time for our road trip (there was an option to take helicopter ride which we did not opt for) to Nepal & Tibet/China border. From there we continued driving and gained elevations, enjoying incredible Tibetan landscape, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, flowing rivers and beautiful towns, monasteries, colorful prayer flags at all the high passes and above all interacting with Tibetan people. Nights were spent on route at the Nepal border town, Kerung, Saga and Lake Mansarovar. From Mansarovar, for the first time we were able to see Mount Kailash in the Himalayan Mountains and were fascinated with mountain’s beauty! Mount Kailash feed number of rivers in Asia.
After holy bath with Mansarovar water we did puja on the bank of Mansarovar. Puja location also provided us with a view of Kailash. We then headed to Darchen and spent a night and made our final preparations for our Kailash Parikrama.
Day one of Kailash Kora was to drive up to Yamadwar and start holy walk to Derapuk monastery at elevation of 16,043 ft. Spent two nights there. Next day some of us walked up to “Charan Sparsh” at 17,000 ft elevation where we touch the feet of Kailash and got blessed from Lord Shiva. Third day of Parikrama is the longest approximately 22 km. and hardest day of our yatra going to Dolma-La Pass elevation of approximately 18,500 ft along the Shivatal and Ganesh Kunda. Then continued down the steep downhill admiring Gauri Kunda and onto Zuthulpuk for the night stay.All along in the Parikrama we continually witnessed magic and mesmerizing beauty of Mount Kailash from its South, West and North faces. Last day we walked halfway to Darchen and then continued to Lake Mansarovar for the night to witness the radiance of full moon on the lake. We feel blessed for completing this yatra and will cherish the memories for rest of our life.
I would like to thank Bashidev and his team members Raj, Bikash & cook Leila and the rest for this successful yatra!
Ramesh/Nila
California
USA
