GANESH65
Active member
Some one forwarded the following message to me in Whats-app. Found interesting and useful, hence sharing. Thanks for the persons involved in the origin of the message and others who posted it to my whats-app account.
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Courtesy:Sri.Vishwanath Seshadri[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Dear Friend,[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]I write this mail to inform you that my wife, Lalitha, & I recently successfully completed (on 12/6/2016) the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra with the blessings of our Gurus Periayavas (past & present) of Kanchi Mutt; the positive & favourable grace of Lord Kailasanathar & family and the the good wishes of all our friends & relatives.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]I take the opportunity to pen a few lines to describe our experience and share our learning for future yatris to refer to while planning their own yatras. We had used the able guidance & support of M/s Shankar Treks based out of Bengaluru for the trip and we wholeheartedly endorse and recommend the tour operator for other yatris too (esp. from South India).[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The itinerary of the trip was as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Muktinath Darshan - Mumbai - Khatmandu - Pokhra - Jomsum & Muktinath - Pokhra - Khatmandu - I will give more details on Muktinath trip in a separate mail. A trip to holy Muktinath is a must-go for all travellers to Nepal and is helpful to acclimatise before the Kailash trip.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Manasarovar & Kailash Yatra - Khatmandu - Nepalgunj - Simikot - Hilsa - Taklakot - Darchen - Manasarovar - Kailash Yatra - Darchen - Taklakot - Hilsa - Simikot - Nepalgunj - Lucknow - Mumbai[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Due to the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, road routes were not fully functional / available and therefore, we had taken the air route. Most of the flights are in small aircraft / helicopter within Nepal and are very uncertain due to dependency on favourable weather conditions. Best time to fly is early in the day when the winds are still. From noon onwards, it becomes very windy (especially in the space between mountains), cloudy, rainy etc. making it almost impossible to fly. On many occasions, groups get stranded due to this and this can create havoc in their schedules.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Road travel also has hazards in form of traffic congestion, jams, landslides etc. as also a higher amount of time for travel along with accompanying issues like nausea, back pain etc. One also has to be aware of the risks of road travel in mountainous regions.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Preparation - It is best to have a reasonable amount of physical fitness for the tough Kailash yatra. One can practice brisk walking (8-10 kms a day for about 45 days), swimming (couple of hours each day for 45 days), horse-riding, diet (to achieve ideal weight), yoga for flexibility, pranayama for lung efficiency etc. I personally walked. However, be aware that no amount of activity can prepare you for the high altitude related circumstances. At the high altitude, one faces a variety of new issues (described below) and it can become very challenging. To a large extent, the blessings of one's Guru & grace of the Lord is critical for a successful yatra.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Methods of doing Parikrama - One can walk the approx. 45 kms around Holy Kailash or even avail the services of a Pony (approx cost Rs. 30000/- for the 3 day parikrama). If the back pack is not too heavy, one can carry it or avail the services of a porter (approx. cost Rs. 9000/- per bag for the 3 day trek). There is a compulsory 6 kms downhill trek to be done by everyone - Pony will not carry you in this stretch. So, please be prepared for it. Ideally carry very little personal belongings for the 3 day trek as described below. The lighter your luggage and you are, the easier it becomes to do the parikrama. This parikrama of 45 kms is called the outer parikrama. There is also a shorter & tougher inner parikrama which is available for only seasoned mountaineers and where one can see the holy mountain from much closer.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Health issues - The high altitude can cause a variety of health related issues. I describe a few of the common issues and this may not be an exhaustive list. Nausea, Headaches, Breathlessness, Cold & Cough, Nose bleeding, Sleeplessness or extreme sleepiness, Constipation, Indigestion, Dehydration, Disorientation are some things to be wary of and prepared for. Ideally, it is good to acclimatise well before embarking on this trek. Spend 2 days at Taklakot (high altitude) and 2 days at Darchen and you will be able to assess yourself whether you are physically ready for the trek. Our tour operator also tested each one personally for oxygen level, pulse, heart beat, blood pressure etc. to assess the condition. People who are unable to cope are advised to stay back at Darchen and be content with a darshan of the Holy Kailash from a distance. One is advised to have a medication of Diamox every day during acclimatisation and the trek. Also drink plenty of warm fluids (water, tea, coffee, hot drinks etc.) to keep the body hydrated and prepared.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were lucky to have a doctor in our group of yatris and she was available for any emergency. Luckily, by God's grace, our group did not have any major untoward incident or emergency.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Precautions - One should carry sufficient clothing for the trip. As bathing & washing clothes is not possible in many places, one should carry sufficient fresh clothes and enough plastic cover to keep soiled clothes. One should carry one set of thermals (top & bottom), sweaters (one full & one half), gloves (one cotton & one wool), monkey cap, muffler, woolen socks or alternatively two pair of cotton socks, optionally one woolen shawl, raincoat, sunglasses, good pair of trekking shoes and optionally one extra-light pair of rubber slippers. One should also carry medication for all known ailments and refer to 'Health Issues' above to prepare in terms of what medication to carry. Ideally, please have a list from the doctor which prescribes what medicine to be taken (& how much) for what kind of problems. Many of the tour operators provide some stuff like duffel bags, raincoats, caps etc. and it is useful to check this out and carry only balance stuff.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Food - During the yatra, normal food will be prepared by the Sherpas team. Early breakfast and a packed lunch will be provided to you. Packed lunch will compromise an apple, a sandwich / samosa / couple of puris and one soft drink tetrapack. Trekkers may carry a small quantity of other food like assorted dry fruits (not more than 50-100 gms per day), a bar of chocolate & a small biscuit packet. Please carry water (approx. 250 ml) in a sling bottle. Anything more than this will be excessive and a waste. Mostly, one would not have an appetite to eat ravenously during the trek. Also, at the high altitude, digestion is difficult and therefore one does not feel like eating much.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Packing - Clothes (T-shirts, jeans, track pants, undergarments, handkerchiefs, tissues ), footwear (shoes, socks & light slippers), sweaters, thermals, tissues, gloves (wool & cotton), monkey cap, vaseline, skin moisturiser, sunglasses, food in small sachets / pouches for yatra & bus rides (snacks, chocolates, chikki, dry fruits), sling water bottle, sling pouch, small flask, tooth brush, paste, scissors, knife, eating plate, spoon, bowl, plastic mug, plastic bags for soiled clothes, small diary & pen, mobile + power bank, international adaptor, camera & spare batteries, currency (Indian & Chinese), credit / debit card, puja books & materials, music gadget (optional), medicines (vicks, iodex, crocin & other medication for possible ailments), spare plastic bottles to carry water from Mansarovar, foldable aluminium walking stick... Please pack everything in carry bags alone (duffel bags & back packs - usually provided by the tour operator) and do not carry heavy suitcases or strolleys etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Mansarovar Trip[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]From Khatmandu, we took an hour long flight to Nepalgunj. This is situated at Nepal border near the Indian city of Lucknow. Nepalgunj is hot as it is in the plains. The airport is small and caters to very few passengers. We were put up at a nearby hotel (called Siddharth) which was an average hotel with a lawn and a small swimming pool. The rooms were decent and wifi was available as was a TV with mostly Indian channels. At the hotel, we saw people who missed the previous day flight due to bad weather and there was a shortage of rooms due to excessive tourists. Food was also a mad scramble in view of the rush.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The next day, we reduced our luggage somewhat and discarded some clothes etc. in a spare bag and left it in a room reserved for our group. We then left for the airport with our fingers crossed hoping for good weather so that we could fly towards the destination.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Fortunately, the weather was fine and we took a small flight (only 9 passengers) towards Simikot. Our group of 52 got accommodated in several sorties and we all finally landed at Simikot. This is a picturesque place in North Nepal surrounded by mountains. The flight took about 45 minutes. At the airport itself, we were transferred to helicopters after a short wait and took a 20 minute flight to Hilsa. Hilsa is in the border of Nepal & Tibet and is a very small town. As it is a transit point, not much arrangements are available here.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]From Hilsa, we had to walk across a rope bridge over a river and entered Tibet. There was a quick verification by the authorities with our permit and passports and we were allowed to board a bus to a place called Taklakot which is a 25 minute drive away. We were driven straight to the immigration center where no paperwork was done but our passports again checked along with a screening of our luggage. There was also a 5 second physical check using some instrument behind the ear.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were then moved to a hotel at Taklakot where we stayed for two nights for acclimatization. The hotel was impressive structure managed by the government. Rooms were decent but housekeeping was poor. Toilets were stinking and no warm water was available. There was TV in the room but all channels only beamed Chinese programmes. Wifi was available for only WhatsApp. All across Tibet, one needs an international adaptor to charge the phones. In some places, we could not get charging points also.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We did some shopping at Taklakot the next day for foldable walking sticks and some fruits, dry fruits etc. Although we wanted to buy chocolate bars, we didn't as they were all of Chinese make and we could not be sure whether they were veg or not. It is ideal to carry all food stuff from India to avoid such purchases at Tibet. Our food was prepared by our team of Sherpas which was pure veg and served with a lot of love & care by the team.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]After two nights of acclimatisation, we left for Manasarovar by bus.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The holy lake Manasarovar is reached by road and one can also do Parikrama of the lake by using a vehicle (bus / jeep). Enroute, you can have a stop over at the beautiful Rakshastal and take pictures. Ideal time to reach Mansarovar lake is around noon when the weather will be favourable for a quick dip. We were greeted by the elements with a light drizzle when we reached and our dip at the holy lake was colder due the rains & winds. The lake is huge and is as big as a Bengaluru city. The driver will guide you to a suitable place for the bath & pooja. The water was cold but not as cold as the water of Holy Ganges at Gangotri. Usually, the pooja is done immediately after the dip, but in our case, due to the rains & the winds, our pooja was postponed to evening.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]After the dip, we collected water from the holy lake to carry back with us. Some of us also collected pebbles from the lake as mementos to give to our relatives / friends.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We had a quick lunch at the lakeside and then drove over to the hotel which was situated close the shore. Hotels are usually only rooms with beds. Very basic. No toilets / washrooms, washbasins etc. Even if there is a toilet, it will be not very clean or maintained. Most of us (from Mansarovar till end of Parikrama) had to attend to natures calls outdoors in the open. The best time to attend nature's calls are either after sunset or early before sunrise as it will be dark at that time. In the evening, we went to the lakeside and did a Shiva pooja facing the holy Kailas mountain. It was quite an experience as it was very windy and cold and all of us huddled together with the pooja & abhishek happening at the center. All of us had carried the materials required for the pooja including honey, milk, vibhooti, bilva leaves etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The next morning, we left for Darchen. The drive took us about 2 hours. We checked into a hotel at Darchen. Rooms similar to Manasarovar - dormitory. Six / seven to a room. Slightly better common toilet but woefully few in comparison to the number of passengers. They also had a couple of bathrooms to have a bath. From the hotel at Darchen, we could get a good view Mount Kailas - South face. We stayed here one night to get further acclamatised.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The next morning, we took our small bags with only enough stuff for the trek and left our big bags at the hotel. The big bags were stored inside a truck. Couple of people were found to be not healthy & fit for the trek and they were advised to stay back at the hotel. Rest of us moved to the point from where the trek commences by bus. Lalitha and I packed just only small backpack between ourselves. It had the essentials for the 3 day trek - spare clothes (one set), toothbrush & paste, torch, power-bank, medicines, raincoats, flask, some food packets etc. It is better to be as light as possible.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]At the commencement point, we handed our backpack to our porter (Sherpa) who could speak Hindi and we set off. At first, we come to a small gateway called 'Yama Dwar' which we circumambulated and then set off slowly. Lalitha immediately had problems in breathing was making very slow progress. The trek by itself was not tough but the height and consequent low oxygen levels was making it look difficult. We slowly trudged our way. Many yatris who started after us overtook us and the people who were on horses were moving briskly.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were essentially walking between two rocky mountains which had hardly any vegetation. We saw a few dogs along the way. I also saw the sight of two dogs trying to hunt a few wild goats but were unsuccessful as the goats quickly moved into the rocky mountains where they had a good foothold but the dogs couldn't chase them there.. There was a fresh stream flowing by which was fed by the melting glaciers. Everything looked different & divine here. The mountains looked like they were alive, the clouds were unique and even the rocks on the path looked special. Many of the small pebbles had some inscriptions on them - I don't know whether they are natural or man made. I saw a small stone, about the size of a cricket ball, which had an 'Om' inscribed on it..[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Along the way we had the first darshan of the holy Kailas - The West face of the Lord. The West face is unique and one could see several special formations of the snow. I could see outlines of several Shiva Lings on the snow on the mountain face. My tour operator also pointed out the outline of Adi Shankara on the West face. On close inspection, one can also see several possible cave openings on the face of the mountain. They were rectangular in shape. I imagined that several Rishis might be having their abode there. At one spot, Lalitha looked dazed and disoriented and I didn't know what to do. Her blood pressure and oxygen levels seems to have plummeted. Fortunately, our tour operator Anand arrived there and gave her a can of 'Red Bull' and told her to sip it slowly. It seems to have worked and her condition improved.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]At one spot, Anand and I sat down and did Rudra-Abhishekam along with chanting of Sri Rudram. Abhishekam was done on a small Shiva lingam carried by Anand and we did it facing the Kailas mountain. It was a very fulfilling experience.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]After walking about 6-7 kms, we had a break at a roadside restaurant. We ate half an apple and had a fruit juice from a tetra pak that we were carrying. We also had some warm water from the restaurant. It is good to keep having warm water in that altitude. It keeps one hydrated.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We then set out to trek the remaining distance of about 8 kms. By around 4.30 pm we reached our destination - a hotel on the way. These are not real hotels but just lodgings where we could sleep on a bed. Each room has 6-8 beds and has decent warm blankets. The beds are not very clean and the sheets etc. may not be changed for many days but as we were very tired, we didn't care. Lalitha looked slightly better by the time we arrived and one lady, Saroja mami, in the group was kind enough to give her a quick rub on the temples & soles of feet with a balm which helped her greatly.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were served soup and dinner in our beds. Dinner was very light and we weren't feeling very hungry in that altitude. It snowed and rained that evening and we were worried about our next days trek. As the lights were switched off by 8 pm, we had to use torches for everything. Our tour guide did a quick check of our health to see whether we were fit for the next day's trip. Some 6 people in the group decided to go back for various reasons and they were sent back the next day.[/FONT]
continued.....
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Courtesy:Sri.Vishwanath Seshadri[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Dear Friend,[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]I write this mail to inform you that my wife, Lalitha, & I recently successfully completed (on 12/6/2016) the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra with the blessings of our Gurus Periayavas (past & present) of Kanchi Mutt; the positive & favourable grace of Lord Kailasanathar & family and the the good wishes of all our friends & relatives.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]I take the opportunity to pen a few lines to describe our experience and share our learning for future yatris to refer to while planning their own yatras. We had used the able guidance & support of M/s Shankar Treks based out of Bengaluru for the trip and we wholeheartedly endorse and recommend the tour operator for other yatris too (esp. from South India).[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The itinerary of the trip was as follows:[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Muktinath Darshan - Mumbai - Khatmandu - Pokhra - Jomsum & Muktinath - Pokhra - Khatmandu - I will give more details on Muktinath trip in a separate mail. A trip to holy Muktinath is a must-go for all travellers to Nepal and is helpful to acclimatise before the Kailash trip.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Manasarovar & Kailash Yatra - Khatmandu - Nepalgunj - Simikot - Hilsa - Taklakot - Darchen - Manasarovar - Kailash Yatra - Darchen - Taklakot - Hilsa - Simikot - Nepalgunj - Lucknow - Mumbai[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Due to the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, road routes were not fully functional / available and therefore, we had taken the air route. Most of the flights are in small aircraft / helicopter within Nepal and are very uncertain due to dependency on favourable weather conditions. Best time to fly is early in the day when the winds are still. From noon onwards, it becomes very windy (especially in the space between mountains), cloudy, rainy etc. making it almost impossible to fly. On many occasions, groups get stranded due to this and this can create havoc in their schedules.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Road travel also has hazards in form of traffic congestion, jams, landslides etc. as also a higher amount of time for travel along with accompanying issues like nausea, back pain etc. One also has to be aware of the risks of road travel in mountainous regions.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Preparation - It is best to have a reasonable amount of physical fitness for the tough Kailash yatra. One can practice brisk walking (8-10 kms a day for about 45 days), swimming (couple of hours each day for 45 days), horse-riding, diet (to achieve ideal weight), yoga for flexibility, pranayama for lung efficiency etc. I personally walked. However, be aware that no amount of activity can prepare you for the high altitude related circumstances. At the high altitude, one faces a variety of new issues (described below) and it can become very challenging. To a large extent, the blessings of one's Guru & grace of the Lord is critical for a successful yatra.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Methods of doing Parikrama - One can walk the approx. 45 kms around Holy Kailash or even avail the services of a Pony (approx cost Rs. 30000/- for the 3 day parikrama). If the back pack is not too heavy, one can carry it or avail the services of a porter (approx. cost Rs. 9000/- per bag for the 3 day trek). There is a compulsory 6 kms downhill trek to be done by everyone - Pony will not carry you in this stretch. So, please be prepared for it. Ideally carry very little personal belongings for the 3 day trek as described below. The lighter your luggage and you are, the easier it becomes to do the parikrama. This parikrama of 45 kms is called the outer parikrama. There is also a shorter & tougher inner parikrama which is available for only seasoned mountaineers and where one can see the holy mountain from much closer.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Health issues - The high altitude can cause a variety of health related issues. I describe a few of the common issues and this may not be an exhaustive list. Nausea, Headaches, Breathlessness, Cold & Cough, Nose bleeding, Sleeplessness or extreme sleepiness, Constipation, Indigestion, Dehydration, Disorientation are some things to be wary of and prepared for. Ideally, it is good to acclimatise well before embarking on this trek. Spend 2 days at Taklakot (high altitude) and 2 days at Darchen and you will be able to assess yourself whether you are physically ready for the trek. Our tour operator also tested each one personally for oxygen level, pulse, heart beat, blood pressure etc. to assess the condition. People who are unable to cope are advised to stay back at Darchen and be content with a darshan of the Holy Kailash from a distance. One is advised to have a medication of Diamox every day during acclimatisation and the trek. Also drink plenty of warm fluids (water, tea, coffee, hot drinks etc.) to keep the body hydrated and prepared.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were lucky to have a doctor in our group of yatris and she was available for any emergency. Luckily, by God's grace, our group did not have any major untoward incident or emergency.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Precautions - One should carry sufficient clothing for the trip. As bathing & washing clothes is not possible in many places, one should carry sufficient fresh clothes and enough plastic cover to keep soiled clothes. One should carry one set of thermals (top & bottom), sweaters (one full & one half), gloves (one cotton & one wool), monkey cap, muffler, woolen socks or alternatively two pair of cotton socks, optionally one woolen shawl, raincoat, sunglasses, good pair of trekking shoes and optionally one extra-light pair of rubber slippers. One should also carry medication for all known ailments and refer to 'Health Issues' above to prepare in terms of what medication to carry. Ideally, please have a list from the doctor which prescribes what medicine to be taken (& how much) for what kind of problems. Many of the tour operators provide some stuff like duffel bags, raincoats, caps etc. and it is useful to check this out and carry only balance stuff.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Food - During the yatra, normal food will be prepared by the Sherpas team. Early breakfast and a packed lunch will be provided to you. Packed lunch will compromise an apple, a sandwich / samosa / couple of puris and one soft drink tetrapack. Trekkers may carry a small quantity of other food like assorted dry fruits (not more than 50-100 gms per day), a bar of chocolate & a small biscuit packet. Please carry water (approx. 250 ml) in a sling bottle. Anything more than this will be excessive and a waste. Mostly, one would not have an appetite to eat ravenously during the trek. Also, at the high altitude, digestion is difficult and therefore one does not feel like eating much.
[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Packing - Clothes (T-shirts, jeans, track pants, undergarments, handkerchiefs, tissues ), footwear (shoes, socks & light slippers), sweaters, thermals, tissues, gloves (wool & cotton), monkey cap, vaseline, skin moisturiser, sunglasses, food in small sachets / pouches for yatra & bus rides (snacks, chocolates, chikki, dry fruits), sling water bottle, sling pouch, small flask, tooth brush, paste, scissors, knife, eating plate, spoon, bowl, plastic mug, plastic bags for soiled clothes, small diary & pen, mobile + power bank, international adaptor, camera & spare batteries, currency (Indian & Chinese), credit / debit card, puja books & materials, music gadget (optional), medicines (vicks, iodex, crocin & other medication for possible ailments), spare plastic bottles to carry water from Mansarovar, foldable aluminium walking stick... Please pack everything in carry bags alone (duffel bags & back packs - usually provided by the tour operator) and do not carry heavy suitcases or strolleys etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Mansarovar Trip[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]From Khatmandu, we took an hour long flight to Nepalgunj. This is situated at Nepal border near the Indian city of Lucknow. Nepalgunj is hot as it is in the plains. The airport is small and caters to very few passengers. We were put up at a nearby hotel (called Siddharth) which was an average hotel with a lawn and a small swimming pool. The rooms were decent and wifi was available as was a TV with mostly Indian channels. At the hotel, we saw people who missed the previous day flight due to bad weather and there was a shortage of rooms due to excessive tourists. Food was also a mad scramble in view of the rush.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The next day, we reduced our luggage somewhat and discarded some clothes etc. in a spare bag and left it in a room reserved for our group. We then left for the airport with our fingers crossed hoping for good weather so that we could fly towards the destination.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Fortunately, the weather was fine and we took a small flight (only 9 passengers) towards Simikot. Our group of 52 got accommodated in several sorties and we all finally landed at Simikot. This is a picturesque place in North Nepal surrounded by mountains. The flight took about 45 minutes. At the airport itself, we were transferred to helicopters after a short wait and took a 20 minute flight to Hilsa. Hilsa is in the border of Nepal & Tibet and is a very small town. As it is a transit point, not much arrangements are available here.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]From Hilsa, we had to walk across a rope bridge over a river and entered Tibet. There was a quick verification by the authorities with our permit and passports and we were allowed to board a bus to a place called Taklakot which is a 25 minute drive away. We were driven straight to the immigration center where no paperwork was done but our passports again checked along with a screening of our luggage. There was also a 5 second physical check using some instrument behind the ear.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were then moved to a hotel at Taklakot where we stayed for two nights for acclimatization. The hotel was impressive structure managed by the government. Rooms were decent but housekeeping was poor. Toilets were stinking and no warm water was available. There was TV in the room but all channels only beamed Chinese programmes. Wifi was available for only WhatsApp. All across Tibet, one needs an international adaptor to charge the phones. In some places, we could not get charging points also.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We did some shopping at Taklakot the next day for foldable walking sticks and some fruits, dry fruits etc. Although we wanted to buy chocolate bars, we didn't as they were all of Chinese make and we could not be sure whether they were veg or not. It is ideal to carry all food stuff from India to avoid such purchases at Tibet. Our food was prepared by our team of Sherpas which was pure veg and served with a lot of love & care by the team.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]After two nights of acclimatisation, we left for Manasarovar by bus.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The holy lake Manasarovar is reached by road and one can also do Parikrama of the lake by using a vehicle (bus / jeep). Enroute, you can have a stop over at the beautiful Rakshastal and take pictures. Ideal time to reach Mansarovar lake is around noon when the weather will be favourable for a quick dip. We were greeted by the elements with a light drizzle when we reached and our dip at the holy lake was colder due the rains & winds. The lake is huge and is as big as a Bengaluru city. The driver will guide you to a suitable place for the bath & pooja. The water was cold but not as cold as the water of Holy Ganges at Gangotri. Usually, the pooja is done immediately after the dip, but in our case, due to the rains & the winds, our pooja was postponed to evening.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]After the dip, we collected water from the holy lake to carry back with us. Some of us also collected pebbles from the lake as mementos to give to our relatives / friends.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We had a quick lunch at the lakeside and then drove over to the hotel which was situated close the shore. Hotels are usually only rooms with beds. Very basic. No toilets / washrooms, washbasins etc. Even if there is a toilet, it will be not very clean or maintained. Most of us (from Mansarovar till end of Parikrama) had to attend to natures calls outdoors in the open. The best time to attend nature's calls are either after sunset or early before sunrise as it will be dark at that time. In the evening, we went to the lakeside and did a Shiva pooja facing the holy Kailas mountain. It was quite an experience as it was very windy and cold and all of us huddled together with the pooja & abhishek happening at the center. All of us had carried the materials required for the pooja including honey, milk, vibhooti, bilva leaves etc.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The next morning, we left for Darchen. The drive took us about 2 hours. We checked into a hotel at Darchen. Rooms similar to Manasarovar - dormitory. Six / seven to a room. Slightly better common toilet but woefully few in comparison to the number of passengers. They also had a couple of bathrooms to have a bath. From the hotel at Darchen, we could get a good view Mount Kailas - South face. We stayed here one night to get further acclamatised.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]The next morning, we took our small bags with only enough stuff for the trek and left our big bags at the hotel. The big bags were stored inside a truck. Couple of people were found to be not healthy & fit for the trek and they were advised to stay back at the hotel. Rest of us moved to the point from where the trek commences by bus. Lalitha and I packed just only small backpack between ourselves. It had the essentials for the 3 day trek - spare clothes (one set), toothbrush & paste, torch, power-bank, medicines, raincoats, flask, some food packets etc. It is better to be as light as possible.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]At the commencement point, we handed our backpack to our porter (Sherpa) who could speak Hindi and we set off. At first, we come to a small gateway called 'Yama Dwar' which we circumambulated and then set off slowly. Lalitha immediately had problems in breathing was making very slow progress. The trek by itself was not tough but the height and consequent low oxygen levels was making it look difficult. We slowly trudged our way. Many yatris who started after us overtook us and the people who were on horses were moving briskly.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were essentially walking between two rocky mountains which had hardly any vegetation. We saw a few dogs along the way. I also saw the sight of two dogs trying to hunt a few wild goats but were unsuccessful as the goats quickly moved into the rocky mountains where they had a good foothold but the dogs couldn't chase them there.. There was a fresh stream flowing by which was fed by the melting glaciers. Everything looked different & divine here. The mountains looked like they were alive, the clouds were unique and even the rocks on the path looked special. Many of the small pebbles had some inscriptions on them - I don't know whether they are natural or man made. I saw a small stone, about the size of a cricket ball, which had an 'Om' inscribed on it..[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]Along the way we had the first darshan of the holy Kailas - The West face of the Lord. The West face is unique and one could see several special formations of the snow. I could see outlines of several Shiva Lings on the snow on the mountain face. My tour operator also pointed out the outline of Adi Shankara on the West face. On close inspection, one can also see several possible cave openings on the face of the mountain. They were rectangular in shape. I imagined that several Rishis might be having their abode there. At one spot, Lalitha looked dazed and disoriented and I didn't know what to do. Her blood pressure and oxygen levels seems to have plummeted. Fortunately, our tour operator Anand arrived there and gave her a can of 'Red Bull' and told her to sip it slowly. It seems to have worked and her condition improved.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]At one spot, Anand and I sat down and did Rudra-Abhishekam along with chanting of Sri Rudram. Abhishekam was done on a small Shiva lingam carried by Anand and we did it facing the Kailas mountain. It was a very fulfilling experience.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]After walking about 6-7 kms, we had a break at a roadside restaurant. We ate half an apple and had a fruit juice from a tetra pak that we were carrying. We also had some warm water from the restaurant. It is good to keep having warm water in that altitude. It keeps one hydrated.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We then set out to trek the remaining distance of about 8 kms. By around 4.30 pm we reached our destination - a hotel on the way. These are not real hotels but just lodgings where we could sleep on a bed. Each room has 6-8 beds and has decent warm blankets. The beds are not very clean and the sheets etc. may not be changed for many days but as we were very tired, we didn't care. Lalitha looked slightly better by the time we arrived and one lady, Saroja mami, in the group was kind enough to give her a quick rub on the temples & soles of feet with a balm which helped her greatly.[/FONT]
[FONT=wf_segoe-ui_normal]We were served soup and dinner in our beds. Dinner was very light and we weren't feeling very hungry in that altitude. It snowed and rained that evening and we were worried about our next days trek. As the lights were switched off by 8 pm, we had to use torches for everything. Our tour guide did a quick check of our health to see whether we were fit for the next day's trip. Some 6 people in the group decided to go back for various reasons and they were sent back the next day.[/FONT]
continued.....