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| Kailash Manas |
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| The Himalayas, the crown of the Indian peninsula has remained the cultural locus for its teeming millions. It is in the Himalayas, as the Skanda Purana records, where Lord Shiva lives, and there the mighty river Ganges fell from the foot of Lord Vishnu like “the slender thread of a lotus flowe |
| The myths descend down from Mount Kailash to the shores of Lake Mansarovar. It is said that Maharaja Mandhata has discovered the Lake. The legend goes: Mandhata had done penance on the shores of Mansarovar at the foot of the magnificent mountains named after him. According to the legend, there was a big mansion down below on its bottom. It is said to be the abode of the king of Nags – the serpent gods – and in the middle of the arc like surface of the lake once upon there stood a huge tree. Its fruits fell into the lake with the sound ‘Jam’; thus, the surrounding region came to be known as “Jambu-ling” or “Jambu-Dvipa” in the Hindu Puranas. |
| In some Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist works, Mansarovar is described as Anotatta or Anavatapta – the lake without heat and trouble. Buddhists believe that in its centre there is a tree, which bears fruits of celestial medicinal properties that may cure all known physical as well as mental ailments. |
| The human ideal of mount Meru rising from the descent of the seventh hell and rising to perforate through the loftiest of the heavens – the great mountain at the centre of the universe itself – comes to rest at Kailash. The Skanda Purana therefore acknowledges, “There are no mountains like the Himalayas, for in them are Kailash and Mansarovar”. |
| One myths goes that at the core of the Jambu, the landmass surrounding Lake Mansarovar, stood the glorious mountain of Meru with four colours and faces: white like a Brahmin, the priest, on its eastern surface; yellow like a Vaisya, the merchant, on the south; red like a Kshatriya, the warrior, on the north; black on its western side like a Shudra, the menial. |
| Today it stands as Mount Kailash: a rock pyramid 22,028 feet high. It embodies the age old concept of the ‘navel of the earth’, the ‘world pillar’, the ‘first of the mountains’, the ‘still point in the turning world’, ‘rooted in the seventh hell, piercing through to the highest heaven’. Consequently, the religious importance of Mount Kailash and its immediate hinterland of Lake Mansarovar is multifaceted. The region is venerated by all religions and ages in diferent ways. All the myths and legends surrounding the region at least prove one thing: the essential unity of all the religions. |
| Kailash and Manas Sarovar have been engraved in the fancy of Indian pilgrims as the Abode of God. Mahadeva resides in Kailash and it is the belief of the Buddhists also that great Buddha inhabits Kailash. Several Jain Tirthankars' (holy sages) favoured Kailash as an unfailing place to attain 'Nirvana' (eternal salvation or emancipation). So Kailash and Manas Sarovar have been regarded as the supreme place of pilgrimage to this Hindu-Jain-Buddhist trio. The long shut-up doors have recently been opened up to the Indian pilgrims. After long 20 yrs, in September 1981, a group of Indian pilgrims travelled Kailash and Manas Sarovar. Later on, every year, between June to September, 12 groups of pilgrims comprising not more than 35 persons in a group, start for the pilgrimage. |
| At present as Kailash and Manas Sarovar belong to the Chinese territory, some legal formalities and restrictions are to be followed for the pilgrimage. Passport is an incumbent for every eligible candidate which is issued by the Under Secretary (China), Ministry of External Affairs, South Block, New Delhi-110011. |
| Lipulekh Pass to Kailash-Manas Sarovar in 10 days, and then back to Lipulekh Pass on 21st day. Lipulekh Pass to Delhi in 9 days or on 30th day. |
| It is desirable for the Indian citizens to submit their applications by 30th April every year. Along with the application, a medical certificate from the Directorate of Health Service of the respective states of the applicants, with special mention of the fact that the applicant is physically able to climb a desolate mountain shrouded with snow upto 18700 ft. and walk a distance of 300 km, be submitted. Without a medical certificate no application is entertained. Applications should have the following information in detail e.g. name in full, father's name, permanent address, telephone No., date of birth, religion, passport No, place and time. "Pilgrimage to Kailash and Manas Sarovar" must be superscribed on the envelope. |
| Arrangement for carrying of luggage weighting upto 25 kg is done by UP Government Kumaoon Mondal Vikash Nigam in exchange of a sum of Rs 6000 inside Indian territory and the same in the Chinse territory is arranged by the Chinese Government at a sum of 500 US dollars. The approximate expenditure is Rs 27500. Other equipments available on hire on the way are- horse Rs 170 per day, porter Rs 70 per day and Dandi Rs 350 per day. Extra charges are to be paid for extra luggage. The films exposed inside Indian territory must be deposited to the Indian Check Post at Kalapani. |
| Both the starting and terminating point of the journey is Delhi. The tourists must reach Delhi 4 to 5 days prior to the start of the journey on their own. Two routes of the past remain closed now-a-days Bus goes to Tawaghat via Moradabad/ Barilly/ Tanakpur/ Lohaghat/ Pithoragarh/ Koushani and Dharchula. |
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