The Center of the World: Pilgrimage to the Sacred Mount Kailash

The King of Mountains

1.Located in the northern part of Burang: County in the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpoche) stands as the main peak of the magnificent Gangdise Mountains,. Rising to an altitude of 6,656 meters, it is not the highest mountain in the region, but it is undoubtedly the most famous and spiritually significant,. In the Tibetan language, "Gang" means snow and "Rinpoche" means precious jewel, translating to "Precious Jewel of Snow",. The mountain is renowned for its unique, majestic appearance; its summit resembles a perfect pyramid with four symmetrical walls facing the cardinal directions, capped with eternal snow that gleams under the high-altitude sun,. A distinct vertical ice trough cuts through the horizontal rock layers on the southern face, naturally forming a Buddhist swastika symbol, adding to its mystical allure,.

The Center of the Universe

Mount Kailash holds a supreme position in the spiritual world, revered as the "Center of the World" by four major religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Bon, and Jainism,. For Hindus, it is the abode of Lord Shiva and a symbol of "Om". For Buddhists, it is the palace of Cakrasamvara (Demchok) and represents the center of the universe, Mount Meru,. It is believed that the mountain possesses immense spiritual power, and circumambulating it can wash away the sins of a lifetime,. Every year, thousands of pilgrims from Tibet, India, Nepal, and other parts of the world converge here to perform the sacred "Kora" (circumambulation), prostrating themselves on the rugged path in a display of profound devotion,.

The Sacred Kora

2.The pilgrimage path around Mount: Kailash is approximately 52 kilometers long and typically takes 2 to 3 days for tourists to complete on foot,. The route starts and ends at the small town of Darchen (Taqin) at the foot of the mountain,. The trek is physically demanding, reaching a high point at the Drolma La Pass (5,630 meters), where the air is thin and the weather unpredictable,. Along the way, trekkers pass ancient monasteries like Drirapuk and Zutulpuk, sacred sky burial sites, and the "Mirror of the King of Death," experiencing a journey that is both a physical challenge and a spiritual cleansing,. It is said that circumambulating the mountain 108 times leads to enlightenment, and doing so in the Year of the Horse is considered especially auspicious, equivalent to 13 circles in other years,.

Source of Great Rivers

Geographically and culturally, Mount Kailash is significant as the source of four major river systems that sustain billions of people in Asia. It is the origin of the Indus, Ganges (Karnali), Sutlej, and Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo) rivers,. These rivers are said to flow from the mouths of a lion, peacock, elephant, and horse in the cardinal directions around the mountain,. The region is also home to two famous lakes located south of the mountain: the holy Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yumtso) and the ghost Lake La'ang Tso (Lhanag Tso). Manasarovar is considered the consort of the mountain, representing light and purity, creating a perfect balance of yin and yang in this high-altitude sanctuary,.