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General Introduction

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra - A Journey of a Heaven......

 Om Namah Shivay Namah Om 

"The body was shivering as the limbs were trying hard not to go numb. Chilled air was finding some way to enter thru the six layers of clothing’s which WE had on US, rain drops were freezing OUR nose and OUR eyelids. No one dare to sit down to rest or the Chinese might send you back on medical grounds. There were around 70 including porters, Itbp personnels and yatris huddled up in a small waiting area for the Chinese to give yatris the green signal to cross over to their territory. Everyone including the porters, who come there almost every week, were getting frustrated at the situation. Was it the freezing temperatures coupled with cold winds, was it the lack of oxygen in the atmosphere, was it the unearthly hours that WE were there at or was it a mixture of all of the above?"

How one could pay homage to Holy Kailash Mansarovar in this birth alive, as WE have taught by Our Elders that good karma's will lead you to SHIV DHAM, after death.

Grown & brought up in DELHI - DUBAI with Religious ethics from My MOTHER, this is a journal about The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra which WE ( Me & My Mother ),were lucky to be a part of numerous times. The journey that started from Delhi finally finished back in Delhi. For most it’s more of an adventure trip than being a religious one but, for US its a Religious Trip to the Abode of Lord shiva- Holy Mt. Kailash, OUR love for hills, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, lakes etc etc made US to undertake this journey again & again.

A few important points before WE start off:-

INFORMATION

Whatever information WE give in this is whatever information WE have with US or whatever information WE have collected. WE will try OUR level best to give 100% authentic information but if some information is not correct, then it maybe an oversight. Also certain information may not be valid in the subsequent year.

 SECURITY

As this journey also involves traveling thru border areas of Our country to a “not so friendly” neighbor WE shall deliberately hold back some information as not to jeopardize the safety of Our nation. Though most of the stuff is available on the net these days but still WE are not comfortable in sharing something and WE won’t. WE know you guys will understand that and just search the net instead.

GPS DATA

WE have collected some co-ordinates all along the journey and WE have tried to plot it on google earth showing you guys the route WE traveled. Since at some places due to narrow valleys and heavy cloud cover there was no satellite reception hence the route may not be 100% correct, but it will at least give you some idea of the terrain and the elevation.

PHOTOS

Bulk of the photos are from OUR previous many years visits to the Holy Place from Our Canon, Nikon & Fuji film DSLR's with different kit lenses. Some photos are from P&S and the rest are from Our phone as well. Some photos are edited but most are just resized and cropped.

So here WE go!!

 As its like Home away from Home Or A Real Home and being many times to Kailash Mansarovar with My Mother, WE always wanted to visit the place again & again and with SHIVA's Blessings, luckily WE got an opportunity almost every year by the Ministry Of External affairs (MEA) organized trip to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra ( KMY ). All Shravan Poornima Batches.

MEA invites applications for KMY every year in Jan - March. You can keep an eye on their website for application forms and the terms and conditions. Forms have to be duly filled and sent to them before a certain date. Then a computerized selection takes place and yatris if selected by the computer are informed about the batch numbers via post. Results can also be checked on their website.

Previously every year there were 16 batches ( Till 2012 ) which leave for the yatra on precise dates from June 1st To September 24th. But, now there are 18 batches started from June 9th To September 9th.These are the months when the weather is most favorable. Each batch has a maximum number of 60 participants. Some applicants are put on waiting list (or RAC like in trains). There have been cases where WL No. 30 also has been cleared. So even if you are on waiting list it would be prudent to start preparing yourself for the trip as WL people are confirmed at the last minute. Yatris confirm their bookings by sending a DD of Rs5000/- in favour of Kumaon mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN).

MEA website has quite an exhaustive list of preparations to be done before the trip. Its wise to take a print out of it and keep it handy all the time. For US, it was pretty certain as to what all WE need so WE just kept it very simple. There are also some indemnity bonds to be signed and lots of undertakings to be done, so best is to do it before reaching Delhi

Excerising is one big part of preparation for this trip as this route involves a lot of stamina and also a lot of will power. Also there are 2 strict medical tests that are held en-route, so best is to know your body and its weaknesses beforehand and try to overcome it to avoid disappointment at final stages. Smokers should try and quit smoking. Those suffering from major illnesses of the lungs or the heart or any other are advised best not to undertake this journey. No reason WE believe there is nothing superior than your health. More about a yatri who had to be evacuated by a chopper due to HAPE later.

With all the preparations done and full of excitement WE reached Delhi as yatris are accommodated at Gujrati Samaj while in Delhi. ( till 2004 they were accommodated in Ashok Yatri Niwas, Delhi )

The itinerary ( 2012 onwards years ) was as follows:-

Day 1: Delhi- Medical tests at Delhi Heart and Lung Institute (DHLI) & Passport collection

Day 2: Delhi – Second medical test at Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the results

Day 3: Delhi – Briefing at MEA, Visa Collection, Foreign Exchange, KMVN payments

Day 4: Delhi to Almora by bus ( via kathgodam )

Day 5: Almora to Dharchula by bus

Day 6: Dharchula to Narayan Ashram By jeeps Narayan Ashram to Sirkha by foot/ pony

Day 7: Sirkha to Gala by foot

Day 8: Gala to Budhi by foot

Day 9: Budhi to Gunji

Day 10: Gunji Stay for high altitude medical

Day 11: Gunji to Nabhidhang

Day 12: Nabhidhang to Taklakot (Tibet)

Day 13: Taklakot Stay for immigration and foreign exchange

Day 14: Taklakote to Darchen by bus

 Day 15: Darchen To Derapukh (Kailash Parikrama) [ via Yam Dwar ]

Day 16: Derapukh to zomzerbu / zutulpukh (Kailash Parikrama)

Day17: Zomzerbu / zutulpukh to Darchen (Kailash Parikrama) To Trugho Gompa by bus ( on Mansarovar Banks)

Day 18: Trugho Gompa – holy dip & havan

Day 19: Trugho Gompa to Taklakote by bus (completing Mansarovar parikrama) [ via Zoravar Singh Samadhi Sthal ]

Day 20: Taklakote to Gunji

Day 21 Gunji to Budhi

Day 22: Budhi to Gala

Day 23: Gala to Sirkha to Dharchula

 Day 24: Dharchula to Jageshwar by bus

Day 25: Jageshwar to Delhi by Bus