{"id":1776,"date":"2019-06-22T16:57:41","date_gmt":"2019-06-22T14:57:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hallofernweh.de\/?p=1776"},"modified":"2024-02-10T21:02:13","modified_gmt":"2024-02-10T20:02:13","slug":"trekking-kailash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/en\/trekking-kailash\/","title":{"rendered":"Trekking around the Mount Kailash"},"content":{"rendered":"

China, Tibet.<\/strong> Three days trekking around the Kailash on the most difficult and highest pilgrim path in the world. Together with countless believing Tibetans and Indians we set off on the full moon day of the Saga-Dawa festival. We all had the goal to circle the holy mountain. With it we did not only want to erase our sins of the present life (would be too beautiful) but above all we wanted to experience the colourful world of Buddhism. That means prayer flags, decorated horses and yaks as well as Tibetans in traditional costumes. Prayer drums and prayer chains, incense offerings and small blessings fly through the air. The atmosphere on the pilgrim path is unique. Young and old mix, Tibetans and tourists run together and each meets the other with friendliness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my following article you will learn all kinds of interesting facts for your own Kora around the holy mountain. In addition to some useful recommendations for your packing list, I'll give you a few tips on how best to prepare for the dreaded pass at 5,630 m altitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Table of Contents and Quick Navigation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Saga-Dawa - Buddha's Birthday, Day of Enlightenment and Day of Death<\/a><\/strong>
Kailash - Tibet's holy Mountain and Throne of the Gods<\/a><\/strong>
Kora around the Kailash<\/a><\/strong>
The most difficult Pilgrimage Route in the World<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Three Days Trekking around Kailash<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Starting Point Darchen<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>First Stage: From Darchen to Dira-Puk Monastery<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Tarboche<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Second Stage: from Dira-Puk Monastery to Zutul-Puk Monastery<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Ascent to the Dr\u00f6lma-La Pass<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Descent from Dr\u00f6lma-La Pass<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Third Stage: from Zutul-Puk Monastery back to Darchen<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Accommodation<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Getting there<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Preparing for the Altitude<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Altitude Training<\/strong><\/a>
<\/strong>Packing List<\/strong><\/a>
Epilog<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saga-Dawa - Buddha's Birthday, Day of Enlightenment and Day of Death <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Saga-Dawa is the most important religious festival in Tibet. During this time every year a whole month is celebrated. Usually this takes place in June and especially on the full moon day. More precisely, not only one special event is honored on this day, but three: Buddha's birthday, the day of his death and the day of his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ceremonies on the full moon day at Mount Kailash are undoubtedly the highlight of the Saga Dawa. But the festival is not only celebrated around the holy mountain. Also in other places believers put up butter lamps, beautify the monasteries and temples or produce sand mandalas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kailash - Tibet's holy Mountain and Throne of the Gods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Kailash (Tibetan: Kang Rinpoche - Snow Jewel) is a snow-covered pyramid-shaped mountain rising from the Tibetan plateau. Its summit at 6,714 m has never been climbed before. When the Chinese government offered Reinholt Messner an ascent in the 80s, he refused. For the summit of the throne of the gods - as the mountain is also called in Tibet - is a religious taboo. Hindus and Buddhists as well as followers of the ancient Tibetan Bon and Jain religions worship it. Due to its special form and location, which identify the Kailash as Mount Meru, it is one of the most important spiritual places and forms the cosmogony's world mountain in the centre of the universe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Every year about 25,000 pilgrims come to Darchen to walk the Kora around the holy mountain, i.e. to circumnavigate the mountain once. Because the journey to Kailash is for Tibetans like the Hajj to Mecca is for Muslims. Once in a lifetime every believer should have completed the pilgrimage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kora around the Kailash <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Saga-Dawa feast is a time to do meritorious things and show generosity. On this occasion many believers come to the Kailash to walk the Kora around the holy mountain. A Kora stands for one revolution of the wheel of life from birth to death. And whoever walks the Kora once around the holy mountain Kailash erases all the sins of his present life. In addition, twelve orbits erase the sins of earlier lives. Those who finally walk the Kora 108 times come directly to paradise (Nirvana). The number 108 is a holy number in Buddhism. Especially believing Tibetans circle the Kailash in a series of prostrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blessings with the Windhorse are thrown into the air by believers at the throw-down points.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The most difficult Pilgrimage Route in the World <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 53 km long pilgrim's path around Kailash runs at an altitude of 4,650 to 5,630 metres. Due to its altitude, it is the most difficult pilgrimage route in the world. Not all of them make the circumnavigation, many have to turn back due to acute altitude sickness. Nevertheless, the altitude is not the only thing that makes trekking around the holy mountain a challenge. Especially steep ascents and descents with icy spots, gravel or mud require some skill on the second day of the Kora. Furthermore you should plan a weather change with storm and snowfall when choosing your equipment. Even in midsummer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kora around the Kailash is usually divided into three stages and walked clockwise. Only the followers of the old B\u00f6n faith circle the Kailash counterclockwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n