Holy Yatra to the Abode of Lord Shiva -10

THE FIRST DARSHAN OF THE LORD

At the sight of the Gurla Mandata peaks  we were  very much excited and were waiting for that moment  when we will have the first darshan of the Lord. 

Within some minutes the driver stopped the vehicle at a place called Tokchen and told here is Kailash.  We had the wonderful darshan of the Lord. There was no  cloud cover and  the view  was breathtaking. We had the view of the south and east faces of the Lord we were mesmerized by the  view. 

The first darshan of the Lord 

See how  perpetual snow covered  Holy  Kailash peak Lords over the sorrounding mountain ranges  as if the Lord and Mother are sitting on their majestic throne and    saving their children

Everybody was in an excited state at the darshan of the Lord. We prostrated and prayed to the Lord in their own way. The purpose for which everyone undertook the yatra got fulfilled that day. Time stoos still and we assimilated the fine darshan that the compassionate Lord  Shiva gave that day. 

Offering  prayers to the Lord

During the 2012 yatra we saw that a building was shaping at Tokchen in  2014 a glass panelled  majestic building  was there, but there were also many changes at this place which seves as the entry point for Manasarovar and Kailash.

  

The excellent darshan of  Lord shiva 

The main change we noticed here is both the Manasarovar and Kailash region is fully now in the control of the army. All along the way there were checkposts here at Tokchen we were asked to leave the bus in which we were travelling and were transferred to a  luxury bus of the Tibet Govt. 

The majestic building at Tokchen and the luxury bus 

The building serves as a resting point and also as a museum of sorts in which one can learn many things about  Kailash and Manasarovar. Particularly one panel depicting both RakshasTal and Manasrovar and the routes of  Outer Parikrama, Inner Parikrama  and Nandi Parikrama was very informative. It also containes an emergency no which one can contact for any assistance. Ambulances and military vehicles are ubiquitous all along the route. These are all improvements but the control is also there.  

After the prayer and some rest we started our parikrama of Manasrovar by the luxury bus of the Tibet Govt. at the entry point all our luggage were scanned by  X-ray machine.  

The building on the shores of Manasarovar

The interior of the building

 the panel  detailing the details of Kailash and the twin lakes

Rest before the  start of parikrama

The luxury buses

Thus the first darshan of the Lord was fantastic please wait to know how the remaining parts of the yatra unfolded. 

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

      

Holy Yatra to the Abode of Lord Shiva - 6

Stay at Thathopani

Due to landslide and subsequent trekking to cross the landslide the group stayed for the night at the bordertown og Tathopani. This place is named so because of the hot water springs there and is famous for bungy jumping. Because of this unscheduled stay at Thathopani the yatra got delayed by a day .

Step Irrigation all along the way 

With great difficulty alla of us crossed the landslide and reached Barabishe and had our lunch there. Later we travelled by bus to the border town of Kodari. The scars of the massive landslide was visible throughput the journey.  We saw many damaged buildings. Bote Kosi river was flowing  with muddy water indicating that still it is raining. In between we saw a lot of waterfalls. The road was damaged and we proceeded slowly. On both sides we saw  step irrigation being carried out where ever it is possible. all the houses had stocks of maize corns.  

A  beautiful waterfall

Sherpas from this organization lead us into Tibet

Normally the tour operators from India have tie-up with some tour operator in Nepal and the members of this tour operator normally lead the yatri's into Tibet ans take care of the Food, accommodation and all the needs of the yatris. Normally they take the help of a Chinese guide also  for smooth passage int China.  The Sherpas form The Trekkers Society Pvt Ltd lead us in this yatra.

                        

 Himalayan Eco Resorts    

                                                  

 A High rise Hotel

The five floor high rise Resort was situated on the banks of the Bote Kosi River . There were regular rooms and cottages . To reach  the river  which was flowing down below there were steps .  The sound of the flowing river was a lullaby for us in the night. 

On the banks of  Bote Kosi River  

Comfortable rooms

Fully manicured grass meadows and cottages

Shri. Kumaraswamy who sang the Holy hymns with rhythm

Evening prayer in progress

We had decided that prayer meetings will be held in the morning and evening  but it started to rain when we started assembling for the prayer then all of us prayed to the Lord to stop the rain for sometime, by His grace the rain stopped for sometime and we completed the prayer after which rain started again. 

Morning Prayer

Our group 

Bote Kosi River view

Unlike Kathmandu, Thathopani was cold and was less crowded. The cold was a precursor to the days to come. We were all provided with overcoat by Sherpas and also we converted Indian currency to yuan here. 

With the Sherpas of Himalayan Trekkers Association 

Ready for crossing the border

Distribution of presents to Local children

Playful local children

After a nice unscheduled  one night stay at Thathopani we crossed into China through Friendship bridge. This time the passage was smooth. Our Chinese guide and three buses and were waiting for us. As suddenly Chinese Govt ordered that only 18 passengers are allowed in a bus we needed 3 buses otherwise we could have travelled in 2 buses. it cost each yatri an extra cost of U.S$ 300( Rs 18000).  We were provided packed lunch at Zangmu and the Chinese policemen joined us here. Then we drove  straight to Nylam. It was raining heavily. The mountains were refreshing with thick green canopy and we saw a number of waterfalls in between. Here in Nylam we were accomodated in  Nylam Tourist Inn .

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

Holy Yatra to the Abode of Lord Shiva - 3

  KAILASH   MANASAROVAR YATRA  2014

Kathmandu Tour - 1

Pasupathinath temple, Guhyeshwari temple

Entrance of  Pasupathinath temple

 Majestic  Brass Nandi facing Lord Shiva

On the first day of the yatra for acclimatization the yatris normally stay at Kathmandu (1400 mt). Normally the day is spent by visiting temples in Kathmandu. The tour operator took us to Pasupathinath temple the most popular Shiva temple and Guhyeshwari temple a Sakthi  Peetam and Budh Neelkant temple on the outskirts of Kathmandu. 

Pasupathinath teple is reveres as kasi of Nepal. Some believe that Lord Shiva leaves Kailash during winter and resides in Pasupathinath  during that time.  To know more about this temple  visit

Pasupathinath Temple

Intricately carved wooden window 

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Pigeons  outside the temple complex

The bridge across Bagmati River

Monkeys frolicking on the banks of the Bagmati River 

The entrance of Guhyeshwari temple

 To know more about this temple  visit

Guhyeshwari Temple

The temple is situated on the banks of sacred Bagmati River

Vermillion

Our group in front of Guhyeshwari temple

 The yatra continues . . . . . .