» Mansarovar Track :
Nepalgunj - Semikot - Tuling- Kermi- Yangar- Tumkot – Nara La Pass
- Taklakot – Manasarovar – Derachan - Deraphuk – Mt.
Kailash.
» The Yatra :
Nepalgunj (Nepal): Nepalgunj is the first point of Mansarovar
Yatra. Located in Banke District of Nepal - Behri Zone. The nearest
Indian Border is 8kms from here. In Nepalgunj there is a beautiful
temple of Shiva. Here the Lord Shiva a moustache, which makes it a
Temple of its own kind. Nepalgunj is the place from where you begun the
Mansarovar Journey. From here you can take a flight to Semikot which
takes approx. 1hr. If you drive to Semikot from Nepalgunj, then it takes
3 and 1/2 hrs.
Semikot : Semilkot is a very small village in Nepal and works as
a Halt in Mansarovar Yatra. From here one has to trek to Tuling which
takes another 3-4 hrs.
Tuling : You will reach Tuling by afternoon where you can have
lunch and dinner. Resting here is the best thing to do. Early morning
get up for a 5-6 hrs trekking to Kermi.
Kermi : Yet another small village with no listing of Schools and
other general places, yet it has the best view around. With lush
greenery and the river flowing by, its the best place for camping. Rest
here as much as you can for the next days trekking.
Yangar : A beautiful small town of Nepal, Yangar has a number of
Hotels, Chemist Shops, Stores, Fast and Packed foods and entertainment
facilities. Its the place where you can refurbish your depleting stocks
for further travel. Its a long way from here, so its better to pile up
as much as you can walk with. At a height of 3040mts, its a place for
night rest. With Good Hotel facilities, its more appropriate to stay in
Hotel rather than camping. After breakfast be ready for a 9 Hr trekking
to Tumkot.
Tumkot : For the Tumkot Valley one has to climb the route to
Yalbang. Taking the trek of Tooth Paling Monastery on reaches Yankhar.
From here, 3 Hrs more of trekking to Karnali from where one reaches
Muchu Village. From Muchu take the trail straight down to the Tumkot
Town. Taking breaks at the mentioned place you reach the valley. Keep
your bags here, lit a campfire near the river Tumkot , have your dinner
and take rest for the next day. If you need to meet the Doctor ( Apart
from the accompanying Dr.). Tumkot is the best place.
Nara La Pass : After the Breakfast take the path crossing the
Yari Village. This is the place where you leave Nepal and enter Tibet.
Your Passport has to be shown here for further Travel/ Yatra. Yari is
the last Nepal Village. From here you walk towards the Nara La Pass
which is the Border between Nepal and Tibet. Nara La Pass is at a height
of 4325 mts from sea level. On reaching Nara La Pass, you will find a
number of prayer flags and Monasteries here. You can see one of the
Monasteries, if you wish so. There is also a beautiful river flowing
down. It takes another 3-4 hrs to cross Nara La Pass.
From Nara La Pass you move on to Taklakot via Karnail which takes an
approximate of 7-8 hrs by bus/ Jeep. Its better to take the vehicle than
trekking as the road is good and also because, there are rough terrains
from here to Taklakot. You will be passing through the Village called
Sher.
Taklakot (Tibet) :
Taklakot is a pretty big town with good facilities. After having your
lunch, visit the Tibetan Market and shop for food and other things. You
can also move around the Trans Himalayan Trade Route by Jeep. See this
route simply for its natural beauty. You can also visit the Thegu Gompa
built inside the camp. Climb a hill top and you will be able to see the
entire Taklakot from there.
After this refreshing change, be ready to see what you have been
walking for. The next destination is Mansarovar Lake!
This is also
the last place where you will see the human beings, animals, birds or
any other kind of Living Form Except yourself !
Mansarovar Lake : There are two ways of reaching Mansarover Lake
either by foot or by Bus/ Jeep. Bus ride will take 3 - 4 hrs while the
walk will take the entire day. The Bus will pass through beautiful lakes
- Rakshas Lake ( Demons Lake ) and the Mansarovar. The bus will pass
through Chiu Gompa, situated by the side of the river Mansarovar.. Chiu
Gompa is also the place of rest of Guru Padma Sambhava. Usually all the
camps are situated near Chiru Gompa.
The beauty of the Mansarovar lake is relentless, boundless and
speechless. No words, no definition can explain this. The sky you see
here cannot be seen anywhere else and the waters are so pure that you
can see the Patal or the world inside the water with your own eyes.
However, there are no boats to take you inside the Mansarovar and
Swimming is not permitted. Some people turn back from here and other
move on further. The route from here, takes you on a very rough terrain
which has to be covered by foot. Oxygen is less from here and the
weather conditions are as unpredictable as human nature.
Darechan : The Parikrama of Mt. Kailash begins from Darchen. You
can stay in the Darchen which provides only the basic facilities.
Usually a room is given to the yatris with Stove. One has to prepare
their own food. A stove and the Room is provided by the Chinese
Authorities.
Darechan is also the last place for making ISD Calls.
The Bus from Mansarovar will cover the first 10kms. After these 10kms
one has to trek. The English speaking Tibetan Guide will follow you from
here. One can also take Yaks for further distance, but mostly people
prefer to trek to Mt. Kailash.
Deraphuk and Mt. Everest : The 48 kms of Parikrama of Mt.
Kailash begins from Barkha Plains. Deraphuk is 14 kms from Darechen. The
last place you will reach by bus/ truck is Yamdwar - Door of Yama. After
trekking another 10 kms, one reaches the La Chu Valley or The Valley of
Gods. Along the way. you can see the magnificent rocks with Buddhist
inscriptions on them. Here, you set onfoot on a trail of 18,600 ft -
pass which is supposed to be guarded by Tibetan Goddess called Dolma.
From here you will reach a place which has stretch strewn clothes lying
around. This place is called the Shiv Sthal where the Yama, God of Death
Tests you. Here Blizzards are known to strike without warning. As you
descend the Dolma Pass you reach the Gauri Kund, a place where the wife
of Lord Shiva is supposed to take Bath, very early morning each day. If
you wish to take water from Gauri Kund, then you should ask the Yak
Handlers to go down. Do not go down yourself, as the path is rigid and
not friendly with everyone.
If the time permits then you can also visit Ashtapad ( South face of
Mt. Kailash). The route is beautiful and the Mt. Kailash looks the most
beautiful from here. This ends the Parikrama of Mt. Kailash and from
here you have to take the rough and flat route back to Deraphuk.
