» 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.
