Kailash - Kang Rinpoche

A 1999 trip

The trek around Kailash is probably the best four day trek on the planet because of the outrageous desert-mountain scapes and rich cultural experiences. These pictures certainly don't do the place justice. (And I think that these are taken from two films out of fifteen).

For both Buddhists and Hindus the mountain is considered the most holy place, for Buddhists Kang Rinpoche is where good - Guru Rinpoche - won over evil - Shenrab of the Bon Po followers. For Hindus it is the centre of the world where 4 of the main rivers originate - the Karnali, the Indus, the Tsangpo-Bramaputra and the Sutlej. For both the kora (ie ritual circuit) around it is considered to cleanse the sins of a lifetime, so for spiritual reasons a pilgrimage is certainly worthwhile. The usual pilgrimage to the holy mountain also should include visiting Tirthapuri which in addition to a revered gompa has some hotsprings, a great chance to wash some of the grime off. Also traditionally pilgrims walk around the holy Lake Manasarovar, a 12 to 16 day trek. So now many people simply visit several places around it.

I undertook the pilgrimage with four crystal healers in April-May 1999. It was horribly windy for much of the journey and although we all faced individual challenges (I had problems with the Tibetan guide and with the visa) it was a wonderful trip.

Gurugem Gompa is a short drive or a days walk from Tirthapuri and was rarely visited by tourists.

Oh the colours! This is on the last days walk and experiencing is believing, there is such a variety in the terrain.