| Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is one of the famous holy | | | | May and June in several batches, leaving for Mount |
| pilgrimage of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Mount Kailash | | | | Kailash one by one. |
| is famous as the abode of Lord Shiva and is situated | | | | Medical and physical fitness of the individual is the most |
| amid picturesque landscape at an altitude of 6,740 | | | | important requirement of the pilgrimage. Before getting |
| meters above sea level. It is located entirely in Tibet's | | | | the permission for the pilgrimage, the individual has to |
| boundary in Western Tibet and is also a source of the | | | | clear a medical test so as to ensure safe trekking to |
| four rivers namely Sutlej, Indus, Brahamaputra and | | | | almost 20,000 feet above sea level. Then comes the |
| Karnali. | | | | completion of Visa and foreign exchange formalities. |
| It is said that a water stream flows into a nearby lake | | | | For the one month long Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, |
| from Mount Kailsah, from where these four rivers | | | | Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) makes all the |
| originate. The river originating from the Lion Mouth | | | | arrangements for pilgrims upto Lipu Lekh Pass. From |
| moves to North direction, from Horse Mouth to the | | | | Lipu Lekh Pass onwards Chinese authorities take the |
| East, from Peacock Mouth to the South and from | | | | control of all the arrangements for the pilgrimage. |
| Elephant Mouth to the West direction. | | | | Attractions in and around Mount Kailash |
| Legends and Beliefs | | | | Gauri Kund |
| Himalayas, which means 'abode of snow', has been | | | | Gauri Kund, which is a large lake, is situated at a short |
| considered as the dwelling of Gods since very ancient | | | | distance from Mount Kailash near Dolma Pass. It is |
| period. Its mention can also be found in several ancient | | | | believed that a holy dip in the waters of Gauri Kund |
| texts like Vedas, Purans, Ramayana and Mahabharata. | | | | vanquish all languor. |
| Mount Kailash is regarded by Hindus as mythical Mount | | | | Mansarovar Lake |
| Meru, the space around which revolves the whole | | | | Mansarovar lake is one of the highest and beautiful |
| creation of God. | | | | lakes of the world. It is situated at a distance of 30 km |
| Mount Kailash is regarded as Kang Rinpoche, precious | | | | away from Mount Kailash. It has a circumference of |
| snow mountain, by Buddhists. Buddhists have a belief | | | | 88 km and with a depth of 90 meters, it covers a total |
| that Queen Maya, who was Buddha's mother, was | | | | area of 30 sq km. The lake gets freezed in the |
| brought by the Gods to this place and washed her | | | | winters because of the extreme cold climate and |
| before giving birth to Buddha. | | | | melts only in the summer season. Mansarovar Lake is |
| Jains consider Mount Kailash as mount Ashtapada. It is | | | | believed to have been created by Lord Brahma. The |
| said that Rishabhdev, founder of Jainism, attained | | | | Turquoise water of the Mansarovar lake is believed to |
| spiritual liberation at this place. Bonpos, the followers of | | | | possess healing properties and wash away sins of |
| old-Buddhist beliefs of Tibet, it is the nine story | | | | lifetime. |
| Swastika Mountain, the soul of entire region. | | | | Rakshash Tal |
| About Pilgrimage | | | | Situated at an elevation of 14,900 feet, Rakshash Tal is |
| Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is conducted by Kumaon | | | | at a distance of around 10 km from Mansarovar Lake. |
| Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) in Uttarakhand with the | | | | Rakshash Tal is a fresh water lake, which is around |
| association of Ministry of External Affairs. Every year | | | | 150 feet deep with crystal clear waters melted from |
| around 1000 pilgrims are selected among thousands of | | | | snow. It is one of the highest fresh water lakes in the |
| applications submitted to Ministry of External Affairs. | | | | world. |
| The pilgrimage is generally conducted in the months of | | | | |