My 2019 Mount Kailash Trip

It has been nearly 15 years since I was at Mount Kailash during the year 2005 as a Tour Guide.

To find out travel update changes around Mount Kailash and also to get the blessings from the precious mountain Kailash so, during mid-September of the year 2019, I have started my journey to Mount Kailash.

I want to say that it was the best trip of my recent years. 

Detail of my 2019 Journey to the Mount Kailash

September 23rd: Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhatse - Namring - Saga 

My friends and I have started the journey in the morning on the 23rd of September year 2019, from Lhasa. 

We travel quite fast this time; we have driven from Lhasa to Saga in one day.   I would recommend Travelers to go slower since it is quite a lot of hours in the vehicle and also the altitude changes from 3700 meters to nearly 4400 meters.

We have driven 280km from Lhasa to Shigatse via the northern friendship highway passing a few towns like Choshul, Nyemo, and  Rinpung.  From Shigatse airport, there is a highway to Shigatse with a driving duration of 40km. 

From Shigatse, we traveled 150km to Lhatse town for lunch. We will pass by Namring town with two beautiful lakes on the way to Saga town. 

Photo: Beautiful snow on the way from Namring to Saga 

We arrived quite late at the Saga town. The first checkpoint town towards Mount Kailash. Saga town has become much more extensive, with many good hotels and restaurants. 

September 24th: Saga - Drongpa - Paryang - Mayumla Pass - Lake Manasarovar - Darchen 

After breakfast, we traveled from Saga town to Darchen town via passing a few above-named towns on the way.

Paryang town has become much more extensive with many good restaurants and larger shops. 

We did the vehicle kora around Lake Manasarovar. The view of Mount Kailash from the different angles of the lakes was amazing. 

Photo: View of Mount Kailash from Lake Manasarovar 

We arrived late afternoon at Darchen town. They were many good hotels, including the youth hostel and a 3-star hotel, namely the Himalaya hotel with the Spa nearby. 

September 25th: Darchen - Dirapuk monastery ( Day one kora trek ) (21km)

We started the trek around 6:30 in the morning when it was quite dark, and we can see the beautiful stars. We reached the Tarchen Saga Dawa festival prayer flag area around sunrise time. 

We were so fortunate to have the best weather on Mount Kailash without any single cloud. 

On the way, I have met a single female Traveler from Xi an. She was exhausted and almost planning to give up the trek. I chatted with her and told her that I could help her to finish the kora, so we walked together. I carry her bag and pull her slowly with my right hand. It made my trip special since at least I can create a few more good karmas as a bonus in the holy pilgrimage trek. 

Photo: Single female Traveler I have met on the way

We reached the Dirapuk monastery area in the late afternoon. There is around 21km from Darchen to Dirapuk monastery. We stayed in small tent accommodation. They were two good hotels with electricity and a bathroom inside during summer. 

I climbed the nearby mountain to have a better view and sunset of Mount Kailash. 

September 26th: Dirapuk monastery - Tutrola pass - Digpala pass - Drolmala pass - Zutrulpuk monastery ( Day two kora trek ) (18km) 

We started around early morning before the sunrise. Day two was all climbing up until the summit of Drolmala pass. There were two tea houses near the Digpala pass for hot tea or instant noodle soup. 

The view was terrific near the Digpala pass since sunrise was on the summit of Mount Kailash, making the golden mountain color. 

Photo: Golden Mount Kailash can be seen at the back 

We arrived afternoon at the summit of Drolmala pass. The altitude of the Drolmala pass is the highest on the whole trip at an elevation of 5600 meters. 

After hiking down from the Drolmala pass, we can see a beautiful green color lake known as Drolma Tso lake.  We have seen many Tibetan devotees prostrating on the way, even on the hard sloping rock, and that is the beauties of Buddhism. I listened to one of the pilgrim prostrators prayer, and he was chanting may all beings be happy. It was beautiful. May they enlighten asap. 

Photo: Tibetan pilgrims doing kora prostration around Mount Kailash 

At the bottom of the Drolmala pass, there were three tea tents for food and drinks, including fried rice and noodles. 

After finishing the hard part of the trek, when we were nearly arriving at the Zutrulpuk monastery, it was snowing as a blessing of flowers from the sky.

Zutrulpuk monastery lies in the middle of the mountain. There is an excellent hotel below. We stayed at the monastery guest house: no private bathroom, no shower, and no electricity. I am quite sure the hotel below has the voltage and the private bathroom in summer. 

From Zutrulpuk, there is a vehicle route to Darchen. I highly recommend Travelers to trek to Darchen in case if you are not very tired since its a lifetime journey with only 14km to Darchen town. 

There is a cozy meditation cave of great Tibetan Yogi Jetsun Milarepa at the Zutrulpuk monastery. 

September 27th:  Zutrulpuk monastery - Darchen town ( Day three kora trek ) (14km) 

Today is the last and the easiest trek day. After breakfast, we trek towards Darchen town.  On the way, we pass by the few holy sites of previous great masters, including handprints and footprints on the stone. 

I have shared the video of the whole kora, which is around nearly one hour. Travelers can check below.

We arrived around the afternoon at Darchen town. We celebrated our holy journey by hugging each other.

Conclusion

Mount Kailash is known as the center of our world. It is the palace of Buddha Chakrasamvara ( Korlo Demchok ) in Tibetan. Important holy mountain in the Bon religion of Tibetans. Also known as the palace of god Shiva in the Hindusim. Jains also take the mountain as the holy site.

Traveling to Mount Kailash is a lifetime journey for Travelers. After the trek of 52km in three days, my body feels lighter and happier since I have this feeling that I have eliminated some evil karmas. 

The best months to travel to Mount Kailash are mid-April to mid-October. September is a great month to go to Mount Kailash with great sunny weather most of the time. 

Thank you for reading my article on my trip to Mount Kailash during the year 2019 September.  

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