Holy Yatra to the Abode of Lord Shiva - 24

Back to Tokchen 

Darchen at dawn

Golden hued Lord's Darshan 

  

Closeup view of south face from Darchen  shrouded by clouds 

From Darchen only the top portion  of the south face of teh Lord is visible. This is a close up view highlighting the face of teh Lord. If you see intently you can visualize the  three  eyes brows and the mouth. 

Full view bereft of clouds

While travelling from Tokchen  also we got he full darshan of the Lord while going back also we got the darshan  in the reverse order. As we were leaving the Lord we have to turn back and see him with gratitude we did so and had a nice darshan. Clouds came and shrouded for some time and then it cleared  this seemed to us that the Lord was playing hide and seek game with us the ardent devotees of HIM. 

South face and the east face extension

Full view of south est face with extension and Ganesha

Magnificent view of the Lord

As we approached Tokchen on the banks of Manasarovar where the administrative building and the parking area is  situated. We get the panoramic view. One can see the changing colors of other mountains and pure white Kailsh Peak soaring above as if  King and queen are seated in their majestic throne. 

Now the east face also visible 

This was the first darshan of this yatra at the conclusion also we got the same wonderful darshan 

 Gurla Mandata ranges and Manasarovar

After  a very good darshan of almost all the faces of the Lord and the nice kora by some yatris we reached Tokchen. There we profusely thanked Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati for their benevolence in inviting us to their home and giving their graceful darshan. Only one thing we missed was Astapath and the closer view of the Lord from there. Our guides told that the Chinese Gove has banned  vehicles now and so it is not possible to go there.   Not knowing when one will another chance we stood there in silence and absorbed all the vibrations from the Lord. Time stood still for some time. Then we sang some hymns thanked the Lord and prostrated before Him. Left home bu the bus we travelled from friendship bridge.  

Administrative  building and parking space at Tokchen 

The lucky seven who completed the parikrama by the Grace of the Lord

Rendering holy Tamil hymns 

We travelled in the blue bus you see in the photo from Tokchen  circumbulating and having  Holy bath in   Manasarovar  reached Darchen stayed there and completed the parikrama and returned back from Darchen to Tokchen by the same bus. Nowadays only Tibetan Transport  company buses are allowed and other vehicles are parked here only.  With happiness we profusely thanked the Lord and Mother and started our journey back home. 

The holy yatra continues . . . . . .

Holy Yatra to the Abode of Lord Shiva -11

Gowri - Shankar Darshan 

View of Manasarovar lake from Tokchen  

Aftter some rest and X-ray scan we  started the  parikrama of Manasarovar by the luxury bus of Tibet Govt. The wather was sunny and it was a bright day and we had a wonderful darshan of Manasarovar and Rakshas Tal lakes. Also we were blessed with the  fine darshan of Gowri Shankar. Lord Shiva is Moubt Kailash and Manasarovar is Mother parvati. This darshan is called Gowri Shankar darshan 

Gowri Shankar darshan

Both the akes Manasarovar and Rakshas Tal are sitiated in between the two  mountain ranges  namely. Kailash ranges and  Gurla Mandata ranges. The snow that melts gets collected in these lakes. These two lakes are thw sources for 4 great rivers namely Indus, Brahmaputra, Karnali, and Mepsu which irrigate vast areas of Asian Continent. 

Mt. Kailash is considered as Shankar and Lake  Manasarovar is considered Mother Parvati the combination is calles as Gowri Shankar . We had a very good Gowri Shankar darshan  and here are some of those pictures. 

The beauty and hue of  Manasarovar changes minute by minute here are some of these pictures showing the different hues of  Manasarovar lake. 

Changing colors of Manasarovar 

Chanting the glory of Mother Gowri  we travelled along the shores of the Manasarovar ake towrds Zaidi where we have to stay for the night . As we approached Gurla mandata ranges the peaks of Gurla Mandata were visible in its full glory. 

The  changing colours of Manasarovar 

                                                       The birds in the lake

Gurla Mandata Ranges

The day was sunny and we had the nice darshan of Gowri-Shankar and also the different hues of the  Manasarovar and reched the opposite end of Kailash ie the feet of Gura Mandata where the driver stopped the vehicle for Holy bath in Manasarovar  

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

      

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 -9

Old Dongba to Manasarovar 

On the 6th day of the yatra we travelled from Old Drongpa to Manasarovar. Had the first darshan of the Lord and took the holy bath in Manasarovar. 

Designs on the mountains ( The left one resembles OM symbol)

Sand Dunes 

As the rainfall in this top  of the world is scanty, it is a mountain  desert  hence we can witness sand dunes all along the way as in  any desert along with snow covered peaks and lakes which are formed from the melting waters of snow.. 

Some of our group members 

In the background you see the snow covered peaks of Daulagiri ranges. 

To adjust time there were many halts on the way in one of there stops we were in front of the Daulagiri ranges these photos were taken there. 

The Highway in which we travelled this day

It was a long journey this day also we started from Old Dongba crossed Prayang which usede to a halting place earlier and travelled further. First Daulagiri ranges gave company to us. There were vast fields with little grass on the both sides and occasionally we saw herds of Sheep and Yaks grazing . There was hardly any human settlement.  

                                                                                A beautiful arch on the way       

               

A meadow 

Yak 



Grazing sheep 

Different shapes of snow covered peaks

On the route at a check post just before the entry into Kailash Manasarovar area,   the checking was very strict. It took about teo hours to clear that hurdle. Everyone's passport was also checked. As already mentioned  every check post is fitted with CCTV cameras for  survillience. In this particular check post they had set up a camouflaged tent  which is not visible easily and were watching the vehicle movement. After crossing the check post we had our lunch. 

Tiresome bus journey 

 After sometime the peaks of Gurla Mandata came into sight. immediately we realised that we are nearer to Manasarovar and were waiting for that moment. It arrived shortly. The driver stopped the vehicle at Tokchen and told have a nice darshan. Yes we had a nice first darshan of the Lord.  Please wait for the nest post to have that darshan. 

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