The Holy Water of Kawagebo: A Pilgrimage to the Yubeng Sacred Waterfall

The Heart of the Pilgrimage

1.Located in Yubeng: Village, Deqin County, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the Sacred Waterfall (Shenpu) is not just a natural wonder but the spiritual culmination of the pilgrimage to Meili Snow Mountain. Situated at the foot of Kawagebo, the highest peak of the Meili range (6,740 meters) and one of the most sacred mountains in Tibetan Buddhism, the waterfall is believed to be the holy water bestowed by the mountain god to cleanse the sins of sentient beings and ward off disasters,. For centuries, pilgrims from Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan have traveled thousands of miles to perform the "kora" (circumambulation) here, believing that bathing under the waterfall can wash away the spiritual dirt of a lifetime and bring peace and happiness.

A Masterpiece of Ice and Water

The waterfall originates from the melting ice and snow of the Kawagebo Peak. The water cascades down from a sheer cliff at an altitude of approximately 3,800 meters, creating a spectacular vertical drop. The flow of the waterfall varies with the seasons: in the quiet of winter, it freezes into a majestic, towering ice waterfall, hanging like a silver curtain against the dark rock, glistening with a solemn brilliance under the sun. In late spring and summer, as the glaciers melt, the water volume increases, crashing down with a thunderous roar. On sunny days, the mist created by the falling water often refracts the sunlight into stunning rainbows, a phenomenon locals regard as extremely auspicious.

The Journey Through the Sacred Forest

2.The hike to the Sacred: Waterfall starts from Lower Yubeng Village and is a journey of approximately 5 to 6 kilometers with an elevation gain of about 600 meters. The trail winds through primitive forests filled with towering spruce and fir trees, where the air is pure and the environment is untouched. Along the way, hikers pass through "forests" of prayer flags and piles of Mani stones, left by countless believers as testaments to their devotion. The path also crosses the "Lianhuasheng (Padmasambhava) Practice Cave," a small retreat under the waterfall cliff where the great master is said to have meditated, adding another layer of religious significance to the landscape.

A Test of Faith and Nature

Arriving at the foot of the waterfall is a visceral experience. The sheer scale of the snowy peaks above and the roaring water below creates a sense of awe. Tibetan pilgrims, regardless of the freezing temperature, often run three times clockwise under the waterfall to receive the "holy baptism". According to local legend, the waterfall has a spiritual nature; it pours generously over those with kind hearts but may stop or drift away from those with evil intent. Whether you participate in the ritual or simply stand witness to the devotion of others against the backdrop of the magnificent snow mountains, a visit to the Yubeng Sacred Waterfall is a profound encounter with the raw power of nature and the enduring strength of faith.