Saturday, November 15, 2014

Holy Yatra to the Abode of Lord Shiva - 2

                                        KAILASH   MANASAROVAR YATRA  2014
                                           
The hotel where we were accomodated


Kalish Manasarovar yatra is a high altitude trekking expedition. In high altitudes (above 3000m)  the air pressure and oxygen level in the atmosphere  is less. Also the weather is very fickle so one has to understand that one has to be physically fit without any major ailment to complete the yatra. Also minimum of three layers of  woolen clothing with monkey caps, gloves and socks is mandatory.   Proper acclimatization  only make the yatra comfortable. It's really a test of one's endurance. 

As Kailash is situated in Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Indian nationals need Chinese visa and special in-line permit to visit Kailash.  Also the Chinese Govt. issues only group visas ( paper) and does not stamp in the passports.  So one has to travel in a group only. 




                                                      A nice painting in the Hotel
                                         ( View of Annapurna Ranges with fishtail peak)


Model of  Pasupatinath Temple at the Hotel


There are two routes available for Indian nationals the first one is sponsored by External affairs Ministry.  The yatris travel nearer to  Indo-Nepal border and enter into Tibet by crossing Lipulekh Pass. The duration is 25 days for yatra and medical examination at Delhi. As only 18 batches of 60 yatris are allowed through this route the selection is by randomized computer selection among the applicants. Normally advertisement appears in  leading Newspapaers in the month of December and one have apply before 10th March.  As one have to trek for about 200 Kms one has to be physically fit so much importance is given to medical examination. 


 Mr & Mrs Chinnapappaiah 

The author 

Janarthan couple ready to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast

The other route is through Nepal.Many private tour operators  arrange for the yatra in association with tour operators based in Nepal. The yatris travel to Kathmandu, capital of Nepal and cross into  Tibet through the friendship bridge located at Kodari and then travel by Land Cruisers or buses  up to Darchen the base camp for Kailash parikrama.  The duration of the yatra is 13 days, but the cost will be more.  The main problem is acclimatization as the yatris travel without proper rest. Many physically unfit persons travel through this route and suffer from High altitude sickness.   


Kumaswamy expert in singing 12 Thirumurai with tune 


 Dhanalakshmi - Ramesh - Anandavalli 

Many yatris may be in a dilemma as to travel by which route? On  both the routes there are advantages and disadvantages overall as on today because of shorter duration and travel  upto Darchen by bus,  the  yatra can be done as per their convenience   and less distance of trekking the Nepal route scores over Indian route. As  almost  the  full journey inside Tibet is high altitude and  from Manasarovar the travel is common to  both the  routes one have to be physically fit. 


Kathmandu Tour
 some of my fellow yatris.

Latha

Latha - Balasubramanian couple


The journey from zanghmu the border town on the Tibet side back to Zangmu is as follows Nylam,  Saga, Tangbo and Hore on the shores of Manasarovar. For proper acclimatisation teh journey is an  extended  one . The whole itinerary was as follows:

Day 1 ( 04/09/2014): Travel from Chennai to Delhi, long wait and travel to kathmandu and stay at Kathmandu.

Day 2:   Tour of Kathmandu rest day for acclimatization.

Day 3: Kathmandu to Kodari partly by bus and part by trek to cross land slide. Stay at Tathopani. Normally  the yatris cross into Tibet and travel upto Nylam and stay there because of landslide we were delayed and stayed at Tathopani, because of this the yatra was delayed  by a day. 

Day 4: Kodari to Nylam and stay at Nylam.

Day 5: Stay at Nylam for acclimatization and  trekking practice.  

 The Route map of the yatra from Kathmandu


Day 6: Naylam to Old Drongpa by bus:  In between crossed Lalung la Pass (5500 M), Brahmaputra River , Saga town and stay at Old Drongpa.

 Day 7: Old Drongpa to Manasarovar. Had the first darshan of teh Lord, had a bath in Holy Manasarovar and stayed at Chiu on the shores of Manasarovar. 

Day 8:  Performed yagna at the shores of Manasarovar and travelled to Darchen and stay at Darchen( The base camp for Kailash  Parikrama) 

Day 9:  First day of parikrama.  Trek from Yamdwar to Deraphuk had the darshan of west face and North face of the Lord and stay at Deraphuk. 

Day 10: Second day of Parikrama. had the darshan of Mother Parvati ar Dolma and Her bathing ghat Gowri Kund trekked upto Zhuthulpuk and stayed there.

Day 11: Third day of parikrama a easy day of 6 Km trek reached Darchen. Travel by bus to Old Drangpa and stay there. 

Day 12: Travel from Old Drangpa to Nylam in between enjoyed the beauty of  Shi-Sha Pangma snow covered peaks, Paiku-Tso lake. 

Day 13 (16/09/2014):  Naylam to Kodari some yatris left to Kathmandu by Helicopter and others by bus and trek and reached Kathmandu and stay there.  

Day 14: Some yatris left for their home. Most of us proceeded to Muktinath yatra from Kathmandu. 




Elangovan - Kumarasamy





- Ramakrishnan

Revathi - Kalavathi 


Chinnapappaiah couple
V. Sekar -  Shriram


 Janarthanam couple
T.Sekar -  Venkatraman


The accommodation was spacious neat and comfortable. The hotel  also served  south Indian food. The location of the Hotel nearer to Pasupathinath temple was an added advantage. many of us just walked to the temple and had the darshan of Lord Pasupatinath. 


Morning prayer at Hotel 

One of our co-yatri Shri.Kumarasawamy was expert in singing  the 12 Thirumurais (The shaiva hymns) with proper tune. So along with him the group regularly  sang the hymns in the morning and evening  and prayed to Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati for a nice darshan and a trouble free  circumambulation ( Parikrama). 


The full  group of  devotees 


                                                                                                                                                                The yatra continues . . . . . . . . . 

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