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Bhakti Yatra to Kailash Mansarovar
by Mathew Seenu Writer
Mount Kailash stands at over 21,000 feet above sea level in the Himalayan range. One of the holiest places in the world, it is a pilgrimage destination for a number of faiths. The snow-capped Mount Kailash is located in Tibet. The beautifully stunning Mansarovar Lake beside the mountain is the source to four large rivers of Asia.
About the Yatra
The holy pilgrimage to Mount Kailash or the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is taken up between the months of May and September every year. Mainly Hindus, Jains and Buddhists have high reverence for the shrine. Each faith has its own mythological connection to the mountain.
Only a few thousand pilgrims are allowed to make their trip to Mount Kailash each year. One can apply for registration with the Ministry of External Affairs or get in touch with many private tour agencies in Nepal and Tibet. Interested pilgrims need to pass a medical check-up at Delhi before the tour.
Several tour companies offer Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2017 packages. If you are planning on taking up the journey, you can browse through these packages before making a decision on how you want to travel. Before you go, here's some important information for you to keep in mind:
Routes for the Yatra:
The yatra can be undertaken through the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand or the Nathula Pass in Sikkim. The route through Uttarakhand is tougher and involves a lot of trekking. Senior citizens can opt for the route through Nathula Pass as it is motorable and much easier.
Things to Do During the Yatra:
Making the trip to Mount Kailash is packed full of adventure as it involves trekking up the Himalayan peaks. If you do undertake the yatra, then you will partake in a parikrama of the shrine as well as a holy dip in the sacred waters of the nearby Mansarover Lake.
For the parikrama, pilgrims circle the Kailash shrine clockwise or anti-clockwise. This can take up to 3 days if you're doing the parikrama on foot. If you like, you can choose to hire a yak or a pony for the parikrama.
Then, it's time to immerse yourself in the holy waters of the Mansarover Lake. Many Hindus believe that drinking the water from the lake will absolve them from all the sins committed over 100 lifetimes.
According to the Buddhists, this blue lake is the place where Maya conceived the revered Gautama Buddha. A number of monasteries can be found near the lake. You should take the time to visit the Chiu Monastery, which appears to have been carved out of the rocks on the steep hill on which it is found.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra 2017 will be underway in early June. Thousands of devotees will travel through the magnificent Himalayas to pay obeisance at the holy shrine of Kailash.
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About Mathew Seenu 
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27 connections, 1 recommendations, 81 honor points.Joined APSense since, May 19th, 2017, From Mumbai, India.
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