View allAll Photos Tagged KailashYatra
Whats the point in finding these ranges at all? Whats the point in naming these timeless shafts of vacuous air, after all? They are such a source of sleepless-nights and recurring wanderings. I wasn't interested in these death-less towers per se, but even i don't know how, wandering up through this spacious empire, that we call the Himalaya, i found my temple in the stark grandeur of these mighty peaks.
Its a great thrill though not entirely as great as walking on these mountains. But its as good an enlightenment to know them for myself first and then disseminate what nature reveals to me. Tolkien has somewhere remarked " “Little by little, one travels far”. Even though afar, seeing and knowing them ranges, is by far a grand invitation to us all.
Well, now the oft recondite;
The Mighty Kinner Kailash Range guards the S-E territory of Himachal Pradesh and more or less forms one of the sentinels from TIbet further east. The Range is inclined NW-SE, even though the fact is obscured from many and most documentations of the range as pictured from Rekongpeo and Kalpa in Kinnaur District. Basking in the territory close to the Southern extensions of the Zanskar Range, the Kinner Kailash Range should be recognized as the South-Easternmost extensions of Great Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh. The Range feeds two tributaries of Sutlej, viz. Tirung (Tidong) from its N-E face and Baspa (of Sangla valley) from its S-W face, besides feeding the mighty Sutlej itself from the N-W face visible here.
Besides the Kinner Kailash and Jorkanden seen here, two mighty towers Phawrarang 6349m (not to be confused with Phabrang of Lahul) and Rangrik Rang 6553m crown the range, as it further moves S-E into Baspa Valley (aka Sangla Valley-beyond right frame).
The Kinner Kailash Parikrama circumambulates the range in a clockwise manner passing N-E through Lambar, Charang, Lalanti, Charang Pass (5240m) and then to Chitkul on the S-W base of the Range. The Auspicious Kinner Kailash Shivling rises above Ribba village on left banks of Sutlej and is approachable from Tangling vill. as well. It lies just on the ridge connecting Chokas Rang and Kinner Kailash Peak.
Most said, i leave it to the viewer to not judge the image by its quality which is poor by any standards, but to pay heed to the transcript along with and recognize what great is lesser known to us. I've marked the peaks for a fresh perspective, which the image offers.
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© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
The Holy Kinner Kailash Shivling in District Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh is a site of much veneration.
The holy Shivling is situated on the Kinner Kailash Range at an altitude of nearly 4700-4800m; which houses crowns of the like of Kinner Kailash (6050m), Jorkanden (6473m), Sarong (6020m), Raldang (5493m) as visible from Kalpa. The Kinner Kailash Range essentially recognised as the Eastern-most extension of the Great Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh, further extends eastwards & southwards in Kinnaur.
Each year in the monsoon season pilgrims throng to take blessings from Shiva at this holy sight, where the mountain adjacent to the Holy Shivling (Mt. Kinner Kailash 6050m) is known all over as the Winter Abode of Lord Shiva.
The route to the Shivling on the Kinner Kailash Range can be approached via Tangling village on the left bank of Satluj. However another route also leads to base camp through Ribba village.
The route to the top is pure ascent. In 7-8 hours from Tangling village one can reach the base camp for an early climb next morning.
Moving above 4000m the next day through a stiff boulder filled terrain, it should normally take 4.5 hrs to reach the Holy Shivling from base camp. We reached RekongPeo by night; after 17 hrs trek and 30 mins journey by car on the second day from base camp. This makes the Kinner Kailash Shivling Trek quite an arduous affair, but after all its only the power of faith that may move the mountain.
Power is Faith, Faith Power.
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© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
PS: Here's another magnificent view of the Shivling www.flickr.com/photos/annyatoma/7657038184/in/photostream
Fields of flowers at Kunsha. Kunsha is the Gaddi herdsmen camp and no locals put their tents here. Its a vast field of aromatic herbs, wildflowers and pure streams. Only nature's true companion would deserve such a reservation, who else better than the Gaddi herdsmen !
Shot enroute Shrikhand Mahadev
Southern Kullu (Outer Seraj).
PS: As we walked on towards the base camp Bheemdwaar, the sunset got close-by and to welcome it there seemed no harm in stopping for tea at Kunsha. I must have been eager to get off my backpack, that i messed up with the DOF here. Its off the mark, but i guess the gradation of green & yellow in foreground obscures the fact in first look.
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© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
The Mighty Kailas Manimahesh..Unscaled, Unscalable, Mysterious, Mystical, Mythical, The Home of Lord Shiva.
I have seen many mountains, but there ain't none as The Holy Mount Kailas.
Hail Shiva !!!
(View of the North face of Manimahesh Kailash El. 5656m fromKugti Pass@ EL. 5040m)
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© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Panoramic view of Kartikeyan personified as a peak at Shrikhand Mahadev.
In this shot:
Unnamed Peak 6248m
South Parbati Peak 6127m
Both south Parbati valley
© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Marked above is the traditional route to Shrikhand Mahadev located in Distt. Kullu HP, India at the southernmost tip of GHNP. The journey starts from Jaon village which can be approached via a geepable unmetalled from Bagipul on the Nirmand-Aani road. Thereafter its a journey of faith.
The last camp is Bheemdwaar, which has been marked here . After Bheemdwaar its a tortuous gradient that leads via ParvatiBagh and NainSarovar to the top (both marked here). Nainsarovar is a moriaine-dammed lake beyond which the track leads through ridges on rock and glaciers to the top at approx 5200m above MSL. This shot was taken in December 2010 from NH-22.
PS - Kindly roll mouse to see the route. Click image to view full-screen (the sacred shrine is visible on the top)
© Anshul Soni, All Rights Reserved.
This image is NOT available for use on websites, blogs or any other media without the explicit written permission of the photographer.
Smaller one is Kali river; it is natural border between India & Nepal in these parts. In the pic., left part is in India, right part is in Nepal.
Myth is that before "swargarohan", pandavs rested for some days in this kuthi in Kuti village (Kuti comes from "kuthi"). Myth has that if you remove anything , any stone from this kuthi and don't replace it, you will die from diarrhea or other diseases within the night. Told to us by local tales dictionary and old KMVN hand in these parts, Mr. Kedar Singh Kutial (Kutial - from Kuti village).
The presence of ITBP is like that of a long lost friend in the wilderness; they are as happy to see you as you seeing them. They are constant guardians of our border (along with SSB in Nepal border) in these remote areas, facing tremendous hardships, away from families and helping people like us. Hats off to these real heroes of India!!
Yam Dwar
A trip to Kailash-Manasarovar is packed with a number of attractions of high religious significance. Among other religious sites that you can view in this region, Yam Dwar is an important one. Meaning 'Gateway of the God of Death', Yam Dwar attracts a large number of pilgrims every year.
If you are planning a trip to Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, don't forget to include a visit to Yam Dwar.
Location
Yam Dwar is located in Tarboche, which is only a few kilometres from Darchen in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. If you are in Darchen, you can reach Yam Dwar in just a couple of minutes.
Religious Significance
The entire Mount Kailash region is so sacred that anything that's associated with it becomes sacred too. Every stone in and around Mount Kailash is treated with utmost respect. Remember, this is where you can feel the divine presence in the truest sense of the word. And Yam Dwar too is of extreme religious significance because it is considered to be the gateway of Yam, the God of Death.
Yam Dwar is the place from where you'll enter the abode of Lord Shiva. Tarboche, where Yam Dwar is located, is the starting point for the parikrama around Mount Kailash, which is the home of Lord Shiva.
If you plan to visit Mount Kailash, you must pass through Yam Dwar. Such is the religious significance of this place.
According to Hindu mythology, Yama is the lord of death. It is Yama who is responsible for bringing mortal souls in his home. First, Yama takes account of all your good and bad deeds. And then he releases you for the ultimate cosmic journey onward. It is believed that the actual entrance through this gate is possible only when you have detached your soul from the mortal world.
Tibetans hold Taborche in high regard because this is from where you start for Mount Kailash. That's why a new flagpole is erected at Taborche annually. Every year, Tibetans replace the old flagpole with a new, decorated one. All of this happens in the form of a ceremony on the full moon day. During this ceremony, Tibetans walk in circles around the flagpole in a clockwise direction. The entire celebration is a feast for the eyes as it includes ritual play of music of different kinds. Tibetans use horns, conches and drums to add joy and mirth to this celebration.
The flagpole ceremony is a must-watch for everyone – tourists, Tibetans and pilgrims from outside. During the ceremony, the flagpole has to be erected perfectly upright. If it isn't, it will not bring good for Tibetans.
Nearby Tourist Attractions
If you keep moving while in the Kailash region, you'll come across multiple sites of religious importance – one after another.
Since Darchen is located closeby, you can always make a visit to Ashtapd, a holy site for pilgrims. If you wish to take a closer look at Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva, you should definitely visit Ashtpad. From here, you can view the south face of Mount Kailash from a very close distance.
A visit to the tiny, remote village of Darchen is also a rich experience. In this village, you can not only meet with locals but also see how Tibetans live in the mountains. There are a lot of sights and sounds to amaze you. The road to the village passes through mountains, boulders, valleys and streams. If you love photography, you'll certainly enjoy a photo shoot here.
Climate
The area in which Yam Dwar is located remains pleasant during the summer months. That's why, it's recommended that you plan your trip between the months of May and August. Always keep in mind that winter in this region is chilly, from December until April. You can also visit this pilgrimage site during the monsoons as there is only little amount of rainfall during this period.
How to Reach
First, you need to get to the town of Shiquanhe or (Ali) and from there you can catch a bus or hire a taxi service to reach Darchen. From Darchen, Yam Dwar in Taborche is only 30 minutes away.
Ngari Gunsa is the nearest airport from Tarboche or Darchen.
Accommodation
Plan your stay in the village of Darchen which has a couple of guesthouses with basic facilities. If you are an adventure lover, you can also choose to camp in and around Darchen. A lot of camping ground is available.