Is Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Safe? Safety Tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a journey everybody wants to go on. This is a dream of a lifetime for every devotee. Then comes the big question: What are the Safety Tips for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?

The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra can be safer if the experiential Safety Tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra are properly followed. Good High Altitude Safety Precautions for Kailash can save you from any damage and make your yatra meaningful. Remember, you are walking at a high altitude, and do not try to act over smart, neglecting the Kailash Parvat Yatra Safety Precautions.

Mount Kailash lies in the Tibetan Plateau of Mainland China. The region is remote, the weather is harsh, and one needs to trek to extreme heights. There are certain rules to be strictly followed during your Kailash Mansarovar yatra. Yet, thousands of pilgrims complete the Kailash kora every year. All they dream of is to touch the rock of the holy mountain and call themselves Kailashi.

Here are some of the important, well-collected, tested, and useful safety tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, from real yatris. This blog will explore advice from medical experts and local guides that will help you stay safe on your Kailash Mansarovar journey.

Before You Go: Health Checkup

Health is wealth. Do not ignore your health. No one should. Kailash is not just an ordinary trek. The Kailash Kora takes you to an altitude of more than 5500 m in the Zhumala Pass. Due to the height of the Dolma la pass, there is thin air, creating pressure in the heart and lungs to take in more oxygen.

Before packing your bag, go and meet your doctor. Ask them for a full health check. Brief your doctor about your plan to undertake the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and inform him about the height and terrain you will be traveling through for 14 days. Let them monitor your heart, lungs, level of blood sugar, blood pressure, and other health conditions.

Also, mention if you have any heart condition, serious asthma, or uncontrolled blood pressure. Some conditions just don’t go well with such an altitude. No devotion is worth risking life. Please take it seriously.

Ask them if you can use Diamox (Acetazolamide) to help the body adapt to high altitude. Ask for a written prescription. The Chinese military, as well as your Chinese agency, might ask it.

Make a habit of walking daily, jogging, or swimming if you can, at least two or three months before planning your Kailash yatra. You must feel light while walking. Also, ask for some safety tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Choose a Reliable Tour Operator

You can’t just wake up and say, “Let’s go to Kailash Yatra today!” like your normal trip to Manali or to Goa. There are borders, army checkpoints, permits, visas, and tests of your patience. You need to apply via a registered company in Nepal. The visa and other permits will be processed by your tour manager.

Pick one with experience and reliability, like Awesome Holidays Nepal. Do not just seek an agent with cheaper rates. Check their review and ask how they will act in an emergency. Also, check if the guide has completed first aid training.

A good guide knows when to push forward and when to rest. They can sense your health issues even before you complain. The guide will also remind you of some safety tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra time and again. Do not just fall for the false promises. If they offer you a shortcut to enter or save some bucks, just avoid them.

Carry Your Papers, Documents, and Permits.

During the kora, always carry your passport, Chinese group visa, Tibet travel permit, Yatra medical clearance, and copies of each. Keep one copy in your bag and one in your pocket. Also, keep a copy of them in your email or phone.

Missing a single paper can sometimes delay the process for the whole group. Also, keep the changes of Chinese Yuan in your pocket. Nepali or Indian currency won’t work there.

Acclimatize to the Height and the Mountain Air

Now, about the altitude. When you cross 3500 meters, the air gets thinner, and the oxygen drops in the air. Your breath goes shorter. You may get headaches, disturbed sleep, and have an appetite. That’s the symptom of Altitude Sickness.

Headache, nausea, tiredness, and sometimes dizziness are the primary symptoms. If you ignore them, it might result in serious cases of HAPE or HACE.

How to prevent altitude sickness?

• Walk at a steady pace, don’t rush, and push slowly.
• Drink plenty of warm water.
• Get enough sleep
• Eat light but rich in carbohydrates.
• Do not consume alcohol or smoke.
• If the condition worsens, get immediate help.
• Keep a close relationship with your guide.
• Acclimatize in Kerung and Darchen.
• Let your body adjust gently to thin air.

How to Prepare for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Physically

Kailash Kora is about 54 kilometers in total, which you need to complete in 3 days. The terrain is rocky, uneven, and cold winds slapping your face. So, your physical and mental fitness helps a lot for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Safety.

• Before some months of journey, start basic training for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Safety.
• Walk in the morning or do a light jog.
• Practice breathing exercises such as pranayama.
• Stretching for legs, back, and shoulders.
• Go to some hills for a short hike.

You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be steady. Trekking 10 to 15 km a day above 5000 m is not a joke.

Respect Local Culture and Faith

Mount Kailash is the center of the universe for many faiths. It is the abode for Lord Shiva, the meditation axis of Milarepa, Padmasambhava, and the spiritual axis for Jains and Bonpo. One must respect each other’s faith and religion. Behave toward everyone with respect and love.

Do not shout near temples, monasteries, or at Lake Mansarovar. Always ask for permission to take photographs, especially of monasteries, locals, or monks. Always make a clockwise move around temples and religious monuments.  Show respect to monks, bowing your head or speaking softly in such sensitive areas.

Pilgrims are not allowed to open their shoes and dip their legs in the Mansarovar lake, nor to take a bath. This is also an important Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Safety tip.

Pack Light but Pack Smart

There are some shops on the way, but with limited supply. So, pack wisely. You need to carry on surviving till the completion of the Kora.

• Thermal inner layers, fleece, down jacket.
  • Woolen socks, gloves, scarf, warm cap, hat.
  • Waterproof windbreakers, trekking shoes.
• The UV rays are extreme, which burn your skin more quickly than you think. Use high SPF (50+) sunscreen, anti-UV sunglasses, lip balm, and also cover your face when the wind hits.

Here is a complete guide to let you know the top things to carry for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Food and Drinks

Pack some energy bars, nuts, and dried fruits. Sipping water time and again will keep your blood flowing and help to keep you safe from dehydration. Do not let yourself get dehydrated. It is another silent killer at higher altitudes.

Consuming oily or heavy food will increase your metabolism and just drag you down. Simple garlic soups, plain rice, and vegetables will help more.

You can hire a yak or porter to help you carry your bags. But still, it will cost more.

Yaks carrying loads in Kailash Mansarovar Yatra

Stay with Your Group, Never Wander Alone

मैं अकेला ही चला था जानिब-ए-मंज़िल मगर

लोग साथ आते गए और कारवाँ बनता गया

You will not be alone on the trek. You will have many companions from India, Nepal, and Tibet. Always walk with your group and do not wander alone. Always get in sight of your guide and team members. One wrong turn and you will be missed.

If you feel uncomfortable, immediately talk to your guide. Crossing the Zumala Pass after 5 PM is restricted.

Follow All Local Rules and Restrictions

You are in mainland China. Always follow the rules and regulations of the area. There are cameras everywhere, and you are being observed by the security military. Do not fly any drones, nor take photographs of military zones. Also, do not try to cross the restricted lines to go near the mountain. If caught, you will be in a greater problem.

Always listen to the safety tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra from your guide. The local Tibetan guides are well known of the changing policy in the area. Meat, alcohol, or cigarettes are strictly prohibited. Also, do not talk or carry political material about Tibet. The Chinese Government does not like that. A small violation of the regulations will cancel your visa, I mean of the whole group. Can there be any greater tips for your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Safety than this?

Be Responsible

The Kailash and Mansarovar is sacred and fragile lands. It is the responsibility of everyone to keep it clean and pure. Bring your litter and waste back with you.

Please do not write any name or mark on the sacred stones. These carry religious and spiritual significance for the locals. The real blessing comes when you leave the place cleaner than you found.

Final Thoughts

Is the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra safe? Yes, it is, but only when you respect it. The mountain and thin air will test your endurance, and you can win only when you prepare well. Listen to the rhythm of your body, obey the rules and regulations.

Remember, you are on a sacred pilgrimage, not on a luxury holiday. Walk wisely, walk gently, and let the journey protect you as much as you protect yourself.

If you follow these safety tips for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, your Kailash Mansarovar Yatra will not only be safe but also one of the most soul-touching experiences of your life.