Mount Kailash | Gang Rinpoche

Mount Kailash, which is known as Gang Rinpoche or the Precious Jewel of Snows in Tibetan, is considered by Buddhists to be the abode of the deity Chakrasamvara and by Hindu to be The Heaven of Shiva. The Jainism and Bon are also considered Mount Kailash as a holy mountain. This most sacred mountain in many traditions is located at 1300km western of Lhasa at the border of China and Nepal and it rises at an elevation of 6714m / 22027ft above sea level.

There is ancient story that made Mt Kailash more scared and greater. It’s said that Atisha, the Bengali sage, traveled to Tibet to spread Buddhism and went through this region. when he arrived at the foot of the mountain, He heard the sounds of Buddhist instruments such as bells and drums traveled from the top of this holy mountain and he felt he was blessed and he knew that his teaching of Buddhism in Tibet will be successful. This story is kept by the locals and If you are a fortunate pilgrim, you will hear the same sounds that Atisha heard in 10^th Century.

The great Tibetan poet-saint Milarepa lived in a cave on Mt Kailash. One day, he got a challenge from a young man named Naro Bonchung, a faithful follower of Bon religion who is equipped with supernatural power and high status. The challenge from him is one who reaches the top of the mountain would be the master of the sacred mountain. Naro Bonchung made all effort that he can do to climb the mountain, on the contrary, Milarepo was clam and reached the top while Naro Bonchung was still climbing. When Naro Bonchung finally arrived at the summit, discovering Milarepa had already been meditating, and he was so discouraged.

On his way  down from Mount Kailash, he played a black magic to crack the mountain which can be seen today and this crack is never covered by snow. After his failure, Naro Bonchuang admited the Milarepa’s greatness and let Milarepa to be his mentor or he became Buddhist since then. Milarepa’s victory over Bonchung made great influential in the region and help grew the status of Buddhism in Mt Kailash region. 

The general length of Mt Kailash kora is 52km, starting at Darchen and passing the Dolma La pass(5,630m) on the second day of three- days trekking. There are many stories and representatives of peaks along the trekking routes. You can see Tara, Rigsum Gompo or Protectors of 3 realms, Horse head of Ling Gesar.etc. You will also see the caved based monasteries such as Tragu Monastery on the left of mountain slop on the first day, Dirapuk(Yak court cave) where you stay overnight on the first trekking day, Zutrulpuk where you overnight second trekking day.

Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to Kailash to fulfill their kora dream and hope to be blessed.  Especially, making a circumambulation in the year of horse because Milarepa defeated non-Buddhist challengers in the year of horse. It’s believed that a kora undertaken in horse year is equal to 12 conventional koras of the Mount Kailash. 

It is said that if one does 108 circumambulations, one will reach enlightenment. The great Tibetan poet-saint Milarepa once declared, “There is no place more powerful for practice, more blessed, or more marvelous than this. May all pilgrims and practitioners be welcome!”