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This topic comprises 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5
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Author
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Topic: Ian goes to India
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Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler
Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 05-16-2004 03:08 PM
My trip to India has changed. The Chinese Government screwed up my friend's plans for an earlier trek so she wanted to do this trek while I was there. I was resistant at first but I got over it. I had to change my plane reservations and as a result I lost my business class seat on the way over. I have to leave a week earlier than before which impacts my "get in to shape" program a bit.
The new Itinerary is to land in Mumbai and spend 5-days there. Then we fly to Katmandu, Nepal and spend a couple of days touring that city. Then we embark on a 20-day trek. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif) ![[Cool]](cool.gif) We visit Nepal, Tibet, China, and back to Nepal. Then we fly down to New Delhi and spend a week there before I return home. All in all I'll be gone a month.
This is the trek I am going on:
Mt. Kailash
"an exotic, cultural & scenic adventure through Nepal’s most remote region to Mt.Kailash"
Trek Grade: moderate / adventurous
In Tibet: 10 / 11 days.
Overall Trip: 20 / 21 days.
Highlights: on the wild far north west of Nepal, less frequented region, dramatic scenery, traditional villages, untouched by modern civilization, on the least accessible route to the holiest Mt.Kailash and the pristine sacred holy Lake Manasorover, view of Mt.Kailash from different angle (south-west-north & east).
Introduction:
Mount Kailash, situated within Tibet to the Northern part of the Himalaya. It is the spiritual center for four great religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain religion and the pre-Buddhist animistic religion - the Bonpo. And strangely enough, four major rivers i.e. the Karnali, Sutlej, Indus and the longest one - Brahmaputra, originate from near Kailash Mountain. For the Tibetans it is a particularly special place, the poet saint, Milarepa, spent several years here meditating in a cave. For the Hindus Mount Kailash is the earthly manifestation of their spiritual center of the universe, ‘world pillar’ around which all else revolves, its roots in the lowest hell and its summit kissing the heavens and on top lives their most revered God Shiva. The governments of Nepal and China reached an accord 3 years ago, that allowed the first treks across the border between the two countries. While it had been a route for Nepalese pilgrims for years, the foreign trekkers were never allowed to trek from Nepal to Tibet.
Mt. Kailash 6,714m / 22,028ft is situated to the north of the Himalayan barrier, wholly within Tibet. It is the perfect mountain with awesome beauty, with four great faces, the eastern face is believed to be crystal, the western ruby, the southern sapphire and the northern gold. It is the spiritual center for four great religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, the Jain religion and the pre-Buddhist animistic religion-Bonpo. To Tibetans it is known as Ghang Rimpoche(Precious Jewel of Snow) and they see it as the naval of the world. It is said that a stream from the mountain pours into a nearby lake and from here rivers flow in the four cardinal directions. The river of the Lion Mouth to the North, the River of the Horse Mouth to the East, the River of the Peacock Mouth to the south and the River of the Elephant Mouth to the West. It is really fascinating to know that, the four major river system of the Indian Sub-Continent orginate near Kailash, the Indus, the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), the Karnali and the Sutlej. Tibetans believe that it is the residence of Demchog, a fierce looking tantric deity who lives there with his consort, Dorje Phagmo. From the early days up till now for the Tibetans and Buddhism it is more than a holy place, as their great poet, tantric saint Milarepa spent several years meditating in cave around the Mt. Kailash area.
For the Hindus...their spiritual center of the universe, described as a fantastic ‘world pillar’ 84,000 miles high, around which all else revolves, its root in the lowest hell and its summit reaching the heaven and the abode of their revered God Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati.
For the pre-ancient religion Bon, it is the site where its founder Shanrab is said to have descended from heaven and it was formerly the spiritual center of Zhang Zung, the ancient Bon Empire that once included all western Tibet. Bon people circumambulate this holy mountain in an anti-clockwise manner, unlike the other religion does it clockwise.
Over the centuries, pilgrims from all corners of the world, have constantly journeyed immense distances to achieve enlightenment or cleanse themselves from sins, braving enormous distances, particularly harsh weather.
HUMLA-Nepal’s Wild West:
Humla was once part of the great Malla Empire administrated from Sinja near Jumla. Until 1787 this empire extended as far as to Purang (Taklakot) and the ‘Lost’ great villages of Toling (Zanda) and Tsaparang located in a remote south western Tibet, and to the north of Nanda Devi and Kamet Himal. Taklakot is an extraordinary melting pot with traders and merchants from the nearby countries, Indian, Chinese, Tibetan and Muslim traders from Kashgar, Nepalese entrepreneurs trading wool, salt and Indian goods along with Chinese Government officials and a huge army contingent.
In Humla the traditional salt/grain trade with Tibet continues as it has for centuries. This trade has ceased in most of Nepal, because of the import of Indian salt and the other reason is that China has eliminated many border trading posts in remote regions.
THE NGARI-in Tibet:
Kailash and Manasarover are in the Ngari region of Tibet, perhaps the most inaccessible place on earth. This region is mostly populated by Dokpas, nomads who herd sheep, goats and yaks on these arid desolate plains, Most Dokpas do not have houses and they wander endlessly across the vast Tibetan windswept plains, living in yak hair tents. Ngari is the last frontier of Tibet: On this trip, after leaving Kathmandu and other cities enroute you feel as if you had suddenly transported back in the past even early than Marco-Polo times.
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