Mount Kailash & Lake Manasarovar

Mount Kailash, a world-renowned sacred mountain, and sacred Lake Manasarovar: base yourself in Darchen for the three-day kora, with views of Gurla Mandhata and Rakshastal.

Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar lie in the north of Burang County in Tibet's Ngari Prefecture, the core pilgrimage and travel destination of Ngari. Mount Kailash rises to 6,656 m and is revered as the center of the world by Tibetan Buddhism, Bon, Hinduism and Jainism. About 20 km to its south lies Lake Manasarovar, the "sacred lake." Just over a ridge to its west is the saltwater "ghost lake," Rakshastal (Lagngar Tso), and on the south shore of Manasarovar stands Gurla Mandhata (7,694 m), the highest peak in Ngari.

The base for lodging is Darchen (Tarchen), at the southern foot of the sacred mountain. The main activity is the outer kora: a clockwise circuit of about 56 km past the Tarboche prayer-flag pole, Chuku Gompa and Drira Puk Gompa, over the Drolma La pass at about 5,630 m, and down to Zutulpuk Gompa before returning to Darchen, usually taking 2–3 days. At the sacred lake, you can take the scenic-area shuttle around the lake to visit Jiu Gompa and Chugu Gompa, and stay in Jiu village for sunrise and stars. About 100 km to the south is the lower-altitude border town of Purang, where you can see Korjia Temple and Xianbolin Monastery, and about 55 km to the west are the Tirthapuri hot springs.

The best season is May–October, with June–September the most comfortable for temperatures. The Saga Dawa Festival in the fourth Tibetan month (May–June in the Gregorian calendar) draws the most pilgrims. 2026, the Tibetan Year of the Horse, is the sacred mountain's "birth year," so crowds and lodging prices will rise markedly. November to April is cold and snowy, and the Drolma La pass may be closed.

Getting there: fly in and out via Ngari Gunsa Airport (Shiquanhe) or Burang Airport, or drive about 1,100–1,200 km along the G219 from Lhasa or Shigatse; most people go by chartered car.

Notes: Burang is a border county, so you must arrange a border travel permit in advance. Darchen sits at about 4,600 m, so acclimatize for at least two nights before the kora. Bring warm clothing, a headlamp, trekking poles and common medicines. Respect religious customs: walk clockwise around the mountain and lake (Bon followers go counterclockwise), and do not wash in or throw trash into the sacred lake. Ticket and shuttle prices are as published through official channels such as "Le You Xizang."

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