subject: Kailash Manasarovar – The holiest Hindu place in the world [print this page] Kailash Manasarovar The holiest Hindu place in the world
Mount Kailash in Tibet is known as the abode of Lord Shiva and there are hundreds of pilgrims who visit the site every year between the months of March and August. Manasarovar is a fresh water lake near Mount Kailash and it is believed that gods from the sky comes to take bath in this holy lake. This lake is one of the few lakes that have natural waves such as the sea. It takes about 4 days to reach Mount Kailash from the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. You proceed to your destination in land cruisers. The roads are not made of concrete and they are quite raw. However there is an option of going by helicopter as well (if weather permits) and in this case your journey gets shortened by a few days.
The terrain along the way changes colors frequently and you will be amazed by the splendid beauty. There are lodges and guest houses to stay and from every guest house you can see the sacred peak as soon as you come out of your room. Many people also do a 3 day circumambulation of the sacred peak. Doing this ritual washes you of all the sins. You can also take a one minute dip in the holy Manasarovar lake. The water is ice cold and hence you should not stay in it for long. There are several travel agents through which you can join the trip. The package includes transportation, staying and meals ex Kathmandu.
Another lake worth a mention is the demon's lake. It is said that demons like Ravana used to meditate besides this lake and hence the name Demon's Lake. No one takes a bath in this lake and the water is salty in contrast to Manasarovar which has fresh water. People say that Manasarovar depicts good like the Sun and it is round in shape. Demon's lake is compared to the moon as it is in the shape of a crescent and depicts evil.
The journey to Mount Kailash and back by the road transport lasts for about 15 days. 4 days each are spent in going to and coming from Kailash. 1 day is used for relaxation and taking a dip in the lake. One day is spent in taking a circumambulation of the Manasarovar lake by land cruiser. The sight of the lake with its blue waters is very beautiful and so is the landscape around the lake. It is simply breathtaking. Kailash is not only regarded as the holiest pilgrimage site by the Hindus but also by the Jain community and the Buddhists. The Tibetans regard Mount Kailash as the navel of the earth. The Buddhist believe it to be the abode of their lord Samvara while Jains regard it as holy because their Lord Rishaba achieved enlightenment here. The Buddhists and the Hindus take the 3 days track around the mountain clockwise while the followers of Bon religion do it anti clockwise.
It was this trip to Kailash Manasarovar that changed Kunal Vahalia's life forever. It is one of the holiest places on earth for Hindus and it was only after this trip that he decided to start his own travel agency called Namaste City Tour that specializes in conducting various kinds of Mumbai tours.
