Kailash Manasarovar Tour by Helicopter
Ex-Kathmandu – 11 days
Ex-Lucknow – 09 days
For many travelers, Tibet has a special appeal. This is particularly true of the remote south-western corner where the great curve of the Himalaya swings northwards tilting the Tibetan plateau towards the heavens. Here in isolation, is a solitary mountain and two azure lakes that have been a focus for human interest since earliest times.
Hindus regard Mt. Kailas as the earthly manifestation of Mt Meru, their spiritual centre of the universe. It is also known as a “world pillar,” 84,000 miles high around which all else revolves. On the summit sits Lord Shiva who shares this lofty peak with his consort Parvati, daughter of Himalaya. Below, Manasarovar floats in the shadow of holy Kailas as the lake formed in the mind of God. It was created to show the omnipotence of Brahma’s mind (Manas). To bathe in the lake and to drink its waters is to be delivered to the paradise of Brahma and to cleanse the sins of a hundred lifetimes. Lying as they do beneath the symbolic temple of Kailas, Manasarovar and Raksas Tal represent the water tanks present at the entrance to every Hindu temple. The round shape of the former is like the sun and the curved outline of Raksas Tal symbolizes the moon. These ideas are expressed in the names of the two lakes, Manasarovar being associated with ‘light’ and Rakshas Tal meaning the ‘lake of the demons’. To Hindus Manasarovar symbolizes the receptive, female aspect of creation, the yoni; while Mt Kailas symbolizes the active male aspect, the lingam. In 1948 some of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were ceremonially scattered on the holy lake.
For the Jains, Kailas is acclaimed as the site where their first prophet achieved enlightenment.
The area is also the land of origin of the pre-Buddhist Bon-pos and the site where their founder Shenrab descended from heaven. It is the spiritual centre of the ancient Bon empire which once included all of western Tibet. Mt Kailas is their soul mountain. They also call it ‘nine-storey Swastika Mountain’, thus describing the mountain’s prominent markings and recalling that the swastika is an ancient Asian symbol for ??. When a Buddhist revival embraced this area from Ladakh in the tenth century it absorbed many Bon traditions. The Bon-pa also circumambulate Mt Kailas but in their traditional anti-clockwise manner, opposite to Buddhists and Hindus.
Mt Kailash is known to the Tibetans as Kang Rimpoche, ‘Precious Jewel of the Snow.’ Like the Hindus, Tibetan Buddhists recognize Mt Kailas as the manifestation of Mt Meru, the ‘navel of the world,’ rising ‘like the handle of a mill-stone’ into the heavens. It is said that from the slopes of Mt Meru a stream flows into Manasarovar and from this lake four mythical rivers flow in the four cardinal directions to the ocean. These rivers are now associated with the four major rivers originating near here; the Indus, Tsangpo, Karnali and Sutlej.
Manasarovar, to, Tibetans know as Mapham Tso, the ‘Unconquerable Lake’. The name records a magical contest between the Tibetan poet and mystic Milarepa, and the Bon priest Naro Bhun Chon which occurred here in the tenth century. Their tussles are marked in numerous sites around the region. In any language it is the holiest most famous lake in Asia. For Tibetans, Mt Kailas is the mythical palace of Demchok, the powerful Tibetan tutelary deity who ‘tears asunder the elephant-hide of ignorance’ and his consort Dorjee Phagmo. The two symbolize compassion and wisdom, making Kailas and Manasarovar the perfect complement: father and mother of the earth.
Out-lined tour itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu. Our Representative will meet you & transfer to Hotel. Overnight Hotel.
Day 2: AM: Sightseeing Tour and Fly to Nepalgunj from kathmandu. OR Arrival in Lucknow & transfer to Nepalgunj. Overnight Hotel Sneha.
Day 3: Early morning fly to Simikot by Fixed Wing and complete immigration formality. Overnight Sunvalley Resort.
Day 4: Early morning fly to Hilsa by Helicopter. From Hilsa trek to Sher and drive to Taklakot (3400 m.). Purang Guesthouse
Day 5: Rest day in Purang for acclimatization. Purang Guesthouse
Day 6: Drive, Purang to Lake Manasarovar (Chiu Gompa – 4550 m.). Paramartha Guesthouse
Day 7: Drive, Lake Manasarovar to Yam Dwar via Darchen (4664 m.) then trek to Deraphuk (4920 m). Overnight Camp
Day 8: Trek over Dolma-La (5600 m.) then continue to Zutrul phuk (4780 m). Overnight Camp
Day 9: Finish parikrama near Darchen then drive back to Sher, finish immigration and walkdown to Hilsa. Overnight Camp.
Day 10: Early morning, Helicopter flight to Simikot and then fixed wing flight to Nepalgunj. Same day transfer to Lucknow. OR Fly to Kathmandu, Overnight Hotel.
Day 11: Departure.
Group Departure Tour Cost:
Ex-Kathmandu (10nights/11days): INR. 165,000/- per person (nett)
Ex-Lucknow (08nights/09days) : INR. 145,000/- per person (nett)
Supplement for NRI’s ( INR. 12,500/- per person)
Single Room Supplement (Nepal): (INR. 3,000/- per person)
Service Includes:
1. Arrival departure transfer in Kathmandu.
2. Two nights accommodation (3 star) in Kathmandu on full board basis (twin sharing)
3. Sightseeing tour in Kathmandu.
4. Flight tickets Kathmandu-Nepalgunj-Kathmandu.
2. Pick up from Lucknow & drop to Lucknow by private transfer
3. Hotel Sneha to Airport transfer in Nepalgunj
4. Nepalgunj to Hilsa & back to Nepalgunj by Helicopter
4. Domestic airport taxes
5. Tibet group visa and travel/trekking permits
6. Guesthouse accommodation in Tibet except in Parikrama (trekking part)
7. All meals in Tibet (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
8. Transportation in Tibet in 4WD Land Cruiser (4 passengers in one Land Cruiser)
9. English speaking Tibetan guide
10. Necessary supporting crew (Cook, Sherpas, tour Manager from Nepal)
11. All necessary camping equipments for Parikrama
12. Yaks & Yak men during the Parikrama (circumambulation) around Mt. Kailash
13. Gamow bag (pressure bag) and oxygen for emergency use
14. Medical kit bag
15. Humla region restricted area permit & royalties
16. Porter cost in Hilsa (while going and coming back)
17. All applicable taxes & service charges.
Service Excludes:
1. Riding Horse or Yak during the Parikrama
2. A visit to Khojarnath temple
3. Your travel insurance
4. Rescue and evacuation service
5. Personal expenses
6. Bottled drinks
7. Tip for guide & driver
8. Any additional cost due to natural calamity and unforeseen circumstances.
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Over the centuries pilgrims have constantly been braving their way to Mt. Kailash in order to attain spiritual enlightenment despite the harsh weather and frequent bandits attack in the gone days. The journey/yatra itself burns out the sins collected in one’s lifetime. You won’t be surprised to find yourself a renewed person after your journey of a lifetime. A drop of water from beautiful and serene Lake Manasarovar sets you free from our poisonous world. The Lake lies 30 km further from Mt. Kailash and is the source of four great rivers in Asia: the Indus, the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), Karnali and the Sutlej.
A good option for travellers with little time, this tour – one of our most popular – takes advantage of the so-called ‘Friendship Highway’ between the two capital cities. Highlights en route are Sukya, the largest monastery in Tibet; Shigatse, Tibet’s second largest city; Tashilungpo Monastery, the seat of Panchen Lama; Shalu Monastery; Gyantse (Tibet’s ancient trading hub) and the beautiful Turquoise Lake, Yamdruk Tso, which is Tibet’s largest freshwater lake.
