The Ultimate Travel Guide and Tips of Mount Kailash Kora

Gang Rinpoche (known as Mount Kailash), a world-class religious monument, stands in Ngari prefecture, Tibet. The Indus, Ganges, and Yarlung Zangbo Rivers all originated here and there is a profound impact on the entire South Asia. Gang Rinpoche / Kailash and Mapang Yongcuo / Mansaovar are also called "the sect of a thousand mountains and the source of ten thousand waters".

Mount Kailash, with its unique majestic demeanor, is jointly regarded by Hinduism, Jainism, Tibetan Buddhism and Bon as the greatest holy site in their faith. Every year, believers from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibetan areas come here to worship. Different sects differ in their practice methods and rituals, but they have condensed into the same most primitive and simple form: trekking.

Mount Kailash

Kailash Kora: why need to trek around Mount Kailash?

In Hinduism: Before the Indians had accurate written records, they regarded Gang Rinpoche as the center of the world and believed that Gang Rinpoche was the ultimate place of their souls. At the same time, Hinduism also believes that Shiva and his wife live on Mount Kailash.

Ancient Jainism: In the Jainism, another major religion in India, Gang Rinpoche is known as the highest mountain. According to legend, this is the place where their founder, Res Haba Nassar, was liberated, so it is also considered to be the only way for believers to get liberation.

Tibetan Buddhism: In the legend of Tibetan Buddhism, Gang Rinpoche is also the center of the world, and is the most extraordinary place built in the world of Buddhism. In addition, many Buddhist monks and great virtues have practiced here, which adds infinite power to this sacred mountain.

Bon: The Bon believers that Gang Rinpoche is the mysterious soul of the entire Tibetan area, the "Nine-story Wanzi Mountain".

Kailash Kora Guide

Kailash Kora, for the Sublimation of the Soul

In Tibet, the biggest wish of a Buddhist in his life is to go on a pilgrimage tour to Mount Kailash. They believe that one circle around Mt. Kailash can wash away the sins of a lifetime; ten circles can avoid the suffering of hell in 500 rebirths; those who trek a hundred circles can ascend to heaven and become a Buddha. In the Tibetan calendar year of the horse that Shakyamuni was born, one circle around the mountain can increase one round of twelve times the merits, which is equivalent to the 13 circle of a common year.

The believers walk or kowtow to make a circle around Mount Kailash, which usually lasts 1-3 days. For ordinary people, going to Gang Rinpoche may be a physical and psychological challenge. But the peace in the soul that is finally harvested will let you know that everything is worth it.

Before Kailash Kora, Important Things to Know

Gang Rinpoche has an average elevation of 3,900 meters, but going on trekking around Mount Kailash, it is necessary to conquer the Dolma la Pass, the highest of which is 5630 meters above sea level. This means that ordinary tourists do high-intensity actions at high altitudes, so if you have friends with strong altitude sickness in Lhasa, it is best not to engage in this dangerous exercise.

If you have a strong altitude sickness during Kailash trek, it is also recommended to interrupt the Kailash trekking journey and take care of your own body. There were tourists who bury themselves here because of altitude sickness during the Kailash kora tour journey every year, so they do what they can and don’t need to be aggressive. When you feel that you have reached the limit, you should take a break or end your Kailash kora journey ahead of time. This limit can only be grasped by yourself.

Of course, high altitude sickness is not a scourge. For most travelers to Tibet, the program of Mount Kailash kora can still be completed.

Tips:
The best months to trek around Kailash: May, June, September, October are also OK; it is not advisable to arrange Kailash trekking journey in winter, as it will snow there and the trekking road will be closed.
Entrance ticket of Mount Kailash: 150RMB/person;
Ticket address: It is sold at the entrance of tourist center of Darchen Town;
Documents required: Aliens’ Travel Permit for foreigners; Border Permit for domestic guests, which must be applied for in Lhasa before trevelling to Ngari.

Local Hotel during Kailash kore

Recommended local accommodations in Darchen:
Burang Shenshan Shengdi Youth Hostel or Sanxia Hotel: clean and cost-effective, 100-200RMB per day per person.
Zhuanshan Inn in Burang Baga Township: also good, suitable for young people to go, and the boss is pretty good.
Himalaya Gang Rinpoche Hotel is considered to be the best accommodation in Ngari, and its price is higher, but it will be very comfortable.
In short, there are quite a lot of accommodations in Darchen, and the basic environment is not bad, better than the accommodation during Kailash kora.

Mount Kailash Kora Route

Route map (inner circle + outer circle detailed version, currently the inner circle is not open to foreign guests);

Inner Circle and Outer Circle of Kailash Kora

1. Route of the Outer Circle around Kailash:

The entire outer circle route is 52 kilometers from the starting point or the entrance place and 56 kilometers from Darchen town and back.

There are sightseeing cars from the entrance to the starting point and the end point of the trekking route, and they will pick up and drop off at the 4 kilometers of the mountain road (the first 4 kilometers and the end 4 kilometers), and the one-way is 60RMB per person. If you worried that you would not be able to complete the Kailash trek journey, you can consider to take the sightseeing car to save your energy. Please consult the tourist center for details.

Tips:
For the believers of the local Yongzhong Bon in Ngari, trekking around the sacred Kailash need to walk counterclockwise, while for Tibetan Buddhism believers, they need to walk clockwise. Both parties live in harmony and move forward for their own beliefs.

1) Strong Physical Power Route: One Day Trek around Mt. Kailash

5:00AM - Depart from Darchen
12:00AM - Arrive at Dirapuk Monastery
16:00PM - Climb to the Dolma la Pass, the highest altitude of the trip (5630M, the most physical test at this time)
22:00PM - Arrive at Darchen

2) Normal Physical Power Route: Two Days Trek around Mt. Kailash

Day 1: Darchen - Dirapuk Monastery / Zhire Monastery (about 22 kilometers, 6-10 hours)
9:00 AM - Departure after breakfast;
10:00AM - Arrive at the top of the hillside to enjoy the colorful prayer flags;
11:00AM - Descend the hillside to reach the two-legged pagoda;
12:00AM - rests at Qugu Temple and drinks sweet tea.

Walk along the Laqu River for about 3-4 hours to reach the Jeripu Temple, stay at the Shishapangma Hotel, watch the north wall of Mount Kailash, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the sunset. Starry sky lovers can take pictures of beautiful Galaxy here at night (Accommodation: ranging from 60-150RMB).

Day 2: Dirapuk Monastery / Zhire Monastery - Darchen (about 34 kilometers, 9-14 hours)
5:00AM - Depart from Zhire Monstery (this section has a large altitude span and slope and is difficult to climb);
10:00AM - Arrive at the highest point of Dolma la Pass;
12:00AM - Arrive at the tent rest point, where you can rest and have lunch;
14:00-15:00PM  - Arrive at the second tent resting place, where you can rest for afternoon tea;
19:00-20:00PM  - Descend back to Darchen.

3) Comfortable Trekking Version: Three days Trek around Mt. Kailash

Day 1: Darchen - Zhire Temple (about 22 kilometers)

Day 2: Zhire Temple - Tent accommodation near Zultulpuk Monastery (about 18 kilometers)
8:00AM - Departure
12:00AM - Arrive at Dolmala Pass
14:00PM - Arrive at Budongdiding, you can rest
16:00PM - Arrive at the tea house
18:00 PM - Arrive at the tent accommodation near Zultulpuk Monastery
(This accommodation is by the river, refreshing, beautiful scenery, very suitable for shooting starry sky)

Day 3: Zultulpuk Monastery - Darchen (about 14 kilometers)
You can walk back slowly on the last day, and the schedule is not in hurry.

Notes for Outer Kora Route of Kailash

1) Pack as light as possible when doing Mt. Kailash kora journey.

2) The porter price: 630RMB/circle, and the horseman is 1710RMB/circle. They are only responsible for the uphill road. For details, please ask the tourist center.

3) Rock falls frequently in the section from Zhire Temple to Dolma la Pass. Beware of danger! If it rains or snows, bring a warm baby to prepare for occasional use. Plastic raincoats can also be provided. Umbrellas are useless.

4) When you are about to the Budongdiding, remember to go down the main road on the left, and don't walk alone the small road down the mountain! It is very difficult to walk and the stones are loose, which is very dangerous!

5) If you are in a big group, it is recommended to prepare an intercom because the signal in the mountains is not good. If the difference in physical strength causes the gap to widen, there may be a loss of connection.

2. Route of the Inner Circle around Kailash:

Few people can handle the inner circle route around Mt. Kailash at present, because there is a certain degree of danger. If you are non-outdoor sportsmen, please consider it as appropriate. The inner circle kora route covers the Selong Temple and Jiangzha Temple marked on the map. If you believe in your stamina and want to challenge further, you can try the inner circle around Mt. Kailash. You can take a car if you are exhausted.

1) One Day Inner Trek around Kailash

The inner kora route goes upstream from the valley on the north side of Darhen to Jiangzha Temple. From Jiangzha Temple over the west side of the hillside, you can reach Selong Temple.

If you walk from Selong Temple and bypass Mount Yinjietuo, you will arrive at the thirteen golden pagodas of Drikung Kagyu Sect at the foot of Mount Gang Rinpoche. However, for most travellers with average physical strength, it is enough to go under the cliff. This is also the place where ordinary Tibetan women worship. There is a towing rope connected by the believers with Hada on the cliff. Trekkers can climb up along the Hada without slipping and falling down. But rock climbing is an extremely physically demanding sport, so choose carefully.

Walk back. That is the inner kora of Mount Kailash.

Notes for Inner Kora Route of Kailash

1) Beware of falling rocks

There is a saying among the local Kailash kora believers that if you don't do the outer circle 13 times and go to the inner circle firstly, you will be killed by falling rocks on the mountain. In fact, because there are a lot of rocks in the inner circle and there is a possibility of rubble falling. Therefore, before going to do the inner circle of Kailash kora, you must have superb psychological quality and extraordinary physical strength.

2) Do not go alone

It is best to do the inner circle kora together with the Tibetan believers, because there is almost no obvious road in the inner circle. If there is no one with you, it is very easy to get lost.

3) Do not feed wild animals

If you are lucky, you will encounter marmots which is also called Himalayan marmots and is one of the cute local creatures. But in order to prevent wild animals from relying on human feeding behavior, please do not feed them.

Kailash Kora Route

Must-see Attractions after Kailash Kora

1. Darchen Town

At the starting point of Kailash Kora, the sacred lake Mansaovar and the Namunani Peak are on the side of the sacred lake can be seen in the distance. At dusk, whether it is cloudy or sunny, the scenery of the sacred lake and snow-capped mountains will special clear, as if right in front of you, You can enter it with one step.

Darchen is like a loving mother. Those who came from afar first took a rest in her warm and broad chest, and then set off from the mother’s caring and gaze, embarking on a difficult and even dangerous journey to the mountain. After trekking around Mount Kailash, you came back here, dusted off the body, and sorted out the souls baptized by the gods.

 2. Lotus Temple

It is about 9 kilometers west from Darchen, passing through Zhaburi Hot Springs, to the Lianhuasheng / Lotus Temple.

There is a saying among the locals: "trek around Gang Rinpoche but not to Lotus Temple is equivalent to not trek around Gang Rinpoche." Only after trekking around Mt. Kailash, coming here for another circle, it is considered as "consummation". There is an interesting legend: there is a hole in the stone outside the Lianhuasheng Temple. You can use the "lottery" method to test your afterlife. You close your eyes and take out two small stones from the hole. If they are all white, you will live a good life in the next life; if one black and one white, the destiny is stable; if they are all black, the next life will be hard. It is recommended to trek around Kailash again to alleviate the sins.

On the back mountain of the temple, there are much beautiful, mysterious and religious colored soils. Pilgrims eat some soil here to avoid the suffering of hell and can be reborn as soon as possible.

To explore the essence of Kailash kora and experience the most magnificent scenery, you still have to start your Kailash kora journey on your own. This life of a person is a journey from birth to death, so it is also a pilgrimage in the world. I hope you have the opportunity to travel to Ali, come to Gang Rinpoche and feel the power of Kailash kora.

Preparation before Kailash Kora

1. Border Pass Permit and Aliens’Travel Permit

Traveling to the Ngari area requires a border pass permit for Chinese or Aliens’ Travel Permit for international travelers, otherwise it is not allowed to pass. There are two specific methods:

① Apply at the public security bureau where one’s household registration is located. The methods and procedures required for each city are different. For some cities, you only need to bring your ID card. Some cities require not only a one-inch photo, but also a certificate from your unit. Call the local public security bureau directly to inquire about the details.

② Apply in Tibet or Shigatse. Generally, the owner of travel agencies, youth hostels and inns that receive tourists can help, but the agency charges 50-200 yuan per person. It can be obtained within 1 day. Some require original ID cards. Some require you to handle it in person. But in Lhasa, all the border pass permits for the team are processed. Generally, 4 travelers (or more than 4 people) share the same border pass permit, so it will be very troublesome if you want to travel alone. For international travelers to Ngari, they need apply for Aliens’ Travel Permit. The tour guide of your travel agencies will help to apply for it. You will not worry how to apply for Aliens’ Travel Permit.

2. Equipment

Tibetans still need equipment for worship, such as hand boards, leather aprons, bedding, and military cloth shoes. Tourists are not as strong as Tibetans, and they need to equip themselves with professional outdoor equipment. Let's take a look at what equipment is needed for entry-level hiking.

1) Clothing

Although the climate in Ali is pleasant from June to September, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large. You need to prepare a two-piece jacket made of waterproof and moisture-permeable fabrics. During the day, you can wear a single-layer jacket for sun protection, and at night you can wear two pieces together to keep warm and windproof.

The weather in the plateau changes quickly, and hiking pants that are both wear-resistant, breathable and waterproof are also necessary. It is recommended not to wear fleece pants. Although it is appropriate to wear in the morning and evening, it will be very hot to wear them under the sun during the trekking time.

In addition to choosing shoes with good grip for hiking shoes, you must choose shoes one size larger than your own feet, because many people's feet will swell after a day of hiking, and it will be very painful if the shoes are squeezed on long-distance hiking.

In addition, a pair of comfortable cotton socks is also essential.

2) Trekking poles

Need use one trekking pole for each hand and both together. The correct use of trekking poles will make you seem to have 4 legs, usually around 100 yuan for one, or you can borrow them from the innkeeper in Darchen town. They are all experts on trekking and will teach you how to use trekking poles correctly. When choosing trekking poles, as long as the handle feels good, and it is firm and stable. Trekking poles will play a very important role in crossing the Dolma la Pass and going downhill from the rocky mountain.

3) Backpack

Prepare backpack according to the number of days on trekking. A lightweight backpack within 30L is enough for one day kora around Kailash. Travellers who plan to trek for two days will spend the night at Zhire Temple, flashlight/headlight, folding chair, sleeping bag, wash bag, shoes and socks are needed to bring , so you need a larger backpack, but no larger than 50L. In addition to the backpack, it is recommended to prepare a waist bag, so that it is convenient to put some things that you need to access at any time, such as mobile phones, sunscreen, etc.

4) Sleeping bag

The material of the sleeping bag is mainly divided into fleece, cotton sleeping bag and down sleeping bag. From June to September, the down sleeping bag suitable for weather of 5-10 degrees is the first choice, followed by the cotton sleeping bag, which only serves as a dirt barrier. Due to the limited conditions of the two base camps, Zhire Temple and Zuchu Temple, it is recommended to bring your own sleeping bags. The fleece sleeping bag can be used to spread on the bed because it is easy to clean. In addition, using a feather or cotton sleeping bag is foolproof.

5) Kettle

The double-layer sports bottle is light and heat-preserving, and it is the first choice. It can be filled with butter tea when you have resting at the replenishment point on the way.

6) Flashlight/headlight

For two days Kailash kora journey, you can prepare a flashlight. In Darchen and in Zhire Temple, you can use it to go out at night. For a day Kailash kora journey, you need to walk from 4 in the morning to 10 in the night. It is best to prepare headlights and free your hands.

7) Others

① Sun protection: sun cream + long-sleeved clothes + gloves + sun hat

Prolonged exposure to the sun without any cloud cover may leave you tanned. Be sure to isolate yourself from the sun from head to toe. Starting from 09:30, you need to wear sunscreen above SPF50 almost every hour. Although the magic headscarf has good sun protection effects, it is not conducive to smooth breathing. It is very uncomfortable to cover the nose and mouth in a plateau environment, so a comprehensive sunscreen multi-purpose quick-drying hat is very necessary. It is recommended that in Tibet, as long as you are not riding, you must use magic headscarves and prepare all-round sun protection hat.

Long sleeves and trousers are a must, and even your hands holding the trekking pole should wear sunscreen gloves.

Sports sunglasses must be worn, especially on the snow slopes when not from June to September. Without the protection of sunglasses, it is easy to cause snow blindness.

② Energy supply

There are 3-7 replenishment points on the way or Kailash kora (mostly opened by the local Tibetans in Baga Township. There are as many as 7 replenishment points in summer, and it is  reduced to 2-3 after October). There are fixed sales of butter tea (15 yuan, about 3 pounds), mineral water, Red Bull (8-10 yuan), instant noodles (10 yuan). So you can bring less water when you start, and bring your own snacks such as chocolate, marathon energy bars, and beef jerky.

Tibetans not only bring liquid glucose when trekking around Mount Kailash, but also buy a Nepalese candy similar to rock sugar at the mountain shop to replenish their physical strength. They encountered each other on the way, especially when they were resting at the Dolma la Pass. We will share with each other, and we can also prepare some, and have contacts.

③ Drugs

Essential: ibuprofen sustained-release capsules (for high altitude low-grade fever and headache), glucose oral solution (for supplement physical strength), multivitamins, motion sickness medicine, quick-acting heart-relief pills and other emergency medicines;

Optional: American ginseng lozenges and other medicines that help relieve fatigue, Yunnan Baiyao, Fengyoujing, band-aids, eye drops, cotton wool, gauze, bandages and other external medicines.

Note: Although medicine is important, it is very hard to do Kailash kora. Some travellers are overly nervous before trekking around Mount Kailash and bring a lot of unnecessary medicines. In fact, they can prepare according to their own needs and pack as light as possible.

④ Digital equipment

Take as little as possible. As long as you are not a professional photographer, the hard work of climbing is enough to offset your desire for photography. If you can't shoot good works, it will become a burden on your hike.

Conclusion

Whether doing Mount Kailash kora or making pilgrimages, it is a very common thing in Tibet. It just like that the movie "Kang Rinpoche" tells, the life of a pilgrim is simple and comfortable. You can do whatever you want without asking why.

Come for Tibet trekking, because every time you travel to Mount Kailash, it symbolizes a rebirth. It takes 52 kilometers and 48 hours to complete the fourth place in China’s top ten classic trekking routes. Get a new life.