Top Things to Carry for The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage of a lifetime to the most divine site; there is no second opinion on that. Beyond devotion, this journey is also a challenging trek that requires good preparation. There are several things to carry for the Kailash Mansarovar yatra, and it requires a good knowledge of trekking to manage them.

Every year, pilgrims from various parts of the world come to this rocky and remote landscape to experience the spiritual atmosphere surrounding Mount Kailash. However, weather conditions can often deteriorate, making it challenging to navigate the terrain. Being an area at a higher elevation surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the temperature can go low, and the chances of disaster are equally high.

In such instances, having the proper clothing, pre-packed food, medicines, and other essentials comes in handy to help you tackle a possible problematic situation. Let’s review the blog to determine what items to pack for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, ensuring a successful trip and an easy return.

Top Things to Carry for The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Essential Clothing

It is well known that the weather in high-altitude areas like Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake is highly unpredictable. Even in a favorable trekking season, such as the months of fall, the temperature can vary significantly with each elevation gain or change in time of day. From bright sunny days to cold freezing nights, you can often see a rapid drop in temperature. In such cases, a proper clothing layer can only help you keep warm and prevent from catching altitude sickness. If required you can remove the outer layer to maintain your body temperature.

Here’s how you can layer you clothing while trekking to Kailash Mansarovar:

Base Layer

Carry thermal tops and bottoms made of synthetic fabrics or wool to wear underneath your clothing. Since the body temperature can fluctuate severely at high altitudes, specifically during evenings and mornings. Layering properly helps you to retain the heat and keep the body temperature constant throughout the trek. You can also add a middle layer of fleece jacket or wool sweater to trap your body heat and keep yourself warm.

Outer Layer

A windproof and waterproof outer layer of clothing is necessary to shield your body from the constantly shifting weather, sudden drizzles, and cold winds. It’s better to wear a jacket with hood, zippered trekking trousers, and add an additional layer of down jacket for your own protection. The waterproof trekking pants dry out quickly and help you stay comfortable while being physically exhausted on trek.

Rain Gears

You also need to have rain gears to protect yourself from sudden drizzles and wetness of snow. A rain jacket or a light water-resistant poncho also works right for tackling these situations.

Appropriate Footwear

Since the Kailash Mansarovar yatra takes you through muddy, rough, and rocky terrains, the comfort of your feet is an ultimate requirement. You need to have a pair of proper trekking boots with a good ankle support and built with waterproof fabric. Not only does the good footwear support your feet while trekking but also prevents slippage on muddy roads and ensures your safety.

It is also a good idea to carry a pair of extra slippers to wear it on campsite to relax your feet after long treks. A pair of breathable and comforting socks is also necessary to keep your feet warm and prevent blisters .

Sleeping Essentials

Your trekking agency does provide sleeping essentials on request but its better to carry your sleeping bags and sleeping liner for your own comfort. It is necessary to have a high-quality sleeping bag that can withstand colder temperatures ranging from -10 degree Celsius to -15 degree Celsius for a quality sleep on high altitudes. These are even more compulsory near the lakes of Kailash region, where temperature drops sharply after sunset.

Additionally, carry a sleeping liner for additional comfort and warmth. It also ensures the cleanliness of your sleeping bag as these are washable and light to carry. For enhanced comfort, it is a good idea to carry your own travel pillow, especially to rest your neck while on the lengthier road routes.

Health and Safety Essentials

Being a high elevation destination on a remote location, the Kailash Mansarovar region doesn’t have proper healthcare facilities. Thus, it is necessary to carry these essentials medical things with you to tackle difficult situations on the trek. Carry all your medications for five days extra than what’s planned in your itinerary.

You also need to carry a proper first-aid kit and altitude sickness medicines to protect yourself from extreme temperature as you ascend above 3000 meters. It is also a good idea to carry water-filtration tablets to clean water in case of emergencies.

Here’s what your health kit should look like:

• Diamox (Acetazolamide)
• Band-aids, Antiseptic cream, Bandages, Painkillers, and Blister care unit
• Potable Water-filter, Water purifying tablets
• Oral rehydration powder

 Snacks to Go

Even though meals are included in your trekking plan, you can carry your food to snack on while trekking on longer routes. You can carry dry nuts, dried fruits, and protein bars to snack on whenever you are hungry or while trekking. Instant noodles that can be cooked just by pouring hot water and are light to carry is also a good snack option to carry.

Gadgets and Accessories

The electricity facility is limited on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Thus, its preferrable to carry gadgets like headlamps, torches along with spare batteries and power bank to charge your gadgets. Besides, the power sockets in teahouses might not be fit to charge your devices like mobile phone and camera. Thus, it is smart move to carry a universal travel adapter with you.

If you are someone who is passionate about photography, carry extra storage or hard drives with you on the trek.

Important Documents

The Kailash Mansarovar yatra takes you across the borders of Nepal, India and Tibet. Thus, you need to carry your IDs, Visas, and Passport along with you for going on this trek. Your passport needs to have a validity above 6 months, few passport sized photographs, and Chinese Visa along with Tibet Travel permit for this trek.

You also need to have a travel insurance to cover the high-altitude evacuation in case of emergencies. It is also preferrable to carry local currency, i.e. Chinese Yuan and Nepali rupees as ATM is limited and exchanging cash on trekking trail isn’t possible.

Spiritual Necessities

Since the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a holy pilgrimage, travelers also need to carry personal prayer items. You can carry incense sticks, holy books, prayer beads, and metal pots to carry the water of the holy Mansarovar lake to take home.