Circumambulation (KORA) of Kailash : Kailash Pilgrimage

It is the goal of every pilgrim to kailash to walk at least once around the base of the sacred mounain. This act of circumambulation or kora in tibetan and parikrama in sanskrit, is considered to hold great powers of purification for the pilgrim. Some say that by completing the route just once, a person can purify the effects of all negative actions of the present lifetime. Of course, the degree of purification can be increased by further trips around the mountain, with the most merit accured to those who perform prostrains along the entire length of the circumambulation route.

Even if you do not plan to prostrate around the mountain, however it is still necessary to be properly equipped and prepared before undertaking the arduous trek around the mountain. A water proof and wind proof jacket, strong shoes, sleeping bags, ground sheet, tent, store, fuel, cooking pot, water bootle and sufficient food at least three days are essential. Rain, hail and even snow storms can be common, especially from june to september. It is generally not possible to complete the circuit before April or after october as the high Drolma pass is blocked by snow.

Although many hardy tibetans pilgrims complete the 51 km long  (32 miles) circumambulation route in one day, less robust pilgrims should definitely take a slower pace, as should visitors who wish to complete the scenic beauty and absorb the various subtle moods and ever changing atmoshphere of the mountain. Even if one walks fairly quickly, the circumambulation can easily be take two full days, with overnight stay at Dri- ra puk. (The tibetan one dayers leave ar 4 Am and arrive back at midnight.) A three day itinerary enables you to enjoy the trek relatively relaxed pace, with stopovers at Dri- rapuk and Zuntrul puk.

The route around mount kailash takes you past a number of small monasteries. Most of these were badly damaged or even destroyed during the cultural revolutin and were later rebuilt during the 1980's. Also along the route are sites connected with great saints and other figures of buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Bon. The landscape is strewn with footprints and handprints in the rock said to have been left there by meditation masters and buddhas, and many of the natural formations on and around kailash have come to be associated with the ritual implements and other attributes of such great beings.