Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes: Must Know for Every Shiva Devotee

Are you searching for the Kailash Mansarovar darshan Routes, yet wondering how to find one? Then you are in the right place!

Every year, thousands of pilgrims from all around the world make their successful journey to the sacred Kailash Mansarovar. Being the sacred abode of lord Shiva, this yatra is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage destinations.

Mount Kailash, the center of the Universe, is believed to be inhabited by Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and their two son, Lord Ganesh and Kartikeya. Kailash Mansarovar is sacred to four religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Bon, and Jainism.

This blog will guide you through every detail regarding the different routes to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Continue reading for the Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes described below.

Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes

Mount Kailash, the towering peak of the remote Tibetan Himalaya, is located at an elevation of 6,638 meters (21,778 feet). Kailash is sacred to four major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon.

Two different lakes, Mansarovar and Rakshastal, lie at the base of Mount Kailash. Mansarovar is a freshwater lake and is believed to have been created by the Gods, while Rakshastal is an evil twin of the former; it is a saltwater lake, the Lake of Demons.

For Hindus, Mount Kailash is a source of power and transformation and the abode of Lord Shiva. They believe Lord Shiva is the lord of lords, and fulfills the wishes of not only humans but also of other Gods and demons. Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes include the Kora around Mount Kailash and taking a holy bath in Mansarovar Lake.

For Buddhists, it is the spiritual center of the Universe, the cosmic axis, or Mount Meru. Jains believed it as a place of ultimate enlightenment where their first Tirthankara, Rishabh deva, gained liberation. Bons considered it the seat of all spiritual power and the starting point of their religious teachings.

Different Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes

Kailash Mansarovar Darshan is a deeply spiritual journey that allows pilgrims to visit Mount Kailash, followed by an exploration of the holy Mansarovar Lake. A Shiva devotee can explore this divine land in the following ways:

Routes from Nepal

The Shiva devotee can do the Kailash Mansarovar journey from Nepal. They can choose the by-road route or the quicker helicopter Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes, depending on their travel and budget choices. You must show your Chinese visa and special permits, such as a Chinese group visa, a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP), and the Alien’s Travel Permit (ATP) for restricted areas. Our company, Awesome Holidays Nepal, offers quite an affordable package which costs USD 3,060 per person.

Overland through the Kyirong (Gyirong) Border

The Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes by Kyirong (Gyirong) border are the most affordable and traditional. You will get the view of sheep and yaks grazing in the green land. The trip starts and ends in Kathmandu, and it will take 14 to 18 days. You can choose any mode of transportation, like a Jeep, a Van, Bus, depending upon your budget for Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes. You need to cross the border of Nepal and China, named Kyirong (Gyirong).

You will be completing the journey following the route:

1. Collecting Visa in Kathmandu

Since you will need to collect all necessary travel permits and visas for crossing the Chinese border, we will spend a few days in Kathmandu. Here, we will explore religious places like Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and popular areas like Thamel, Ason, and so on. All necessary permits and visas are prepared during the initial days.

2. Travel to Kyirong and Acclimatization

The slow drive with a mountainous view will take you to Kyirong (Gyirong), Tibet. Here, we will spend a night for acclimatization, which is necessary for our bodies to adapt to a higher altitude.

3. Travel to Saga

We will take a bus to Saga. It takes 5 to 6 hours to get there. Here, we will have your second acclimatization.

4. Holy Bath in Lake Mansarovar

The journey starts with a usual bus ride, and the beautiful Lake Peiku Tso will join you on the way. A unique feature of Lake Peiku Tso is that it can store more heat than shallower lakes for much of the year. After a few hours, we will reach Lake Mansarovar, where you can take a holy bath and perform rituals.

5. Drive to Darchen

The journey continues until we reach Darchen. Then, we will stay in the base camp for the Kailash Parikrama, also known as Kora.

6. Kailash Kora

The next morning, you will be heading to Kailash Parikrama, which lasts for three days. You will pass the highest point of the trek, Dolma La Pass. Return to Kathmandu.

Helicopter Route via Simikot-Hilsa

Do you know that the Kailash Mansarovar by helicopter Darshan is the most convenient and comfortable route? If you want to travel without compromising comfort in a short period of time, then donot forget to book our package of the Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes via helicopter. The luxurious packages to Kailash will cost USD 6,000. There is no direct flight from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash.

It is the fastest way to get Chinese border from Nepal. The Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Route is advertised as the shortest route and involves multiple flights and helicopter rides. The trip gets completed within 9 to 12 days. We will be travelling via helicopter, scheduled flights, and then renting a tourist vehicle in Tibet. The Hilsa (Nepal) to Purang/Taklakot(Tibet) border needs to be crossed during this route. As most of the distance will be covered in flights, it requires less trekking.

The details regarding the Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes are described below:

1.Fly to Nepalgunj 

At first, we will fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj after preparing all the visas and permits. The flight duration is approximately 50 minutes.

2. Fly to Simikot

On the second day, we will fly to Simikot, and the duration of the flight is 1 hour. Simikot is a remote Himalayan town in Nepal.

3. Fly to Hilsa

The next day, we will board the 15-minute thrilling helicopter flights from Simikot to Hilsa. If you are a nature enthusiast and we have trekking options available to Hilsa. The trekking option adds an extra 5 to 6 days to your journey. We will visit places like Dharapori, Kermi, Yalbang, Tumkot, and Yari, followed by passing the Nara La Pass.

4. Acclimatization in Taklakot

We have to cross the border from Hilsa into Tibet, and then the further journey will be under the guidance of a Tibetan guide. When we reach Taklakot(Purang), we will take a rest for acclimatization.

5. Perform Rituals in Lake Mansarovar

We will drive to Lake Mansarovar, where you can perform rituals/pooja or take a holy bath near the lake. After stopping for a few hours, we will head to Darchen.

6. Kailash Parikrama

Similarly, we will spend 3 to 4 days on Kailash Parikrama, which starts from Yamadwar, to Dirapur, over the Dolma La pass to Zutulpuk. Then, we will head back to Darchen as the trip’s first half gets completed. Then, we will return to Taklakot/Purang, where we will fly in a helicopter to Simikot. We will fly to Nepalgunj, followed by Kathmandu.

Helicopter Route via Lhasa

The helicopter route to Lhasa allows you to take a deeper view of Lhasa’s customs and traditions. The Mount Kailash Mansarovar routes from Lhasa involve the following steps:

1. Fly Directly to Lhasa

Direct flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport (LXA) offer a mesmerizing view of the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. The flight is 1.5 hours long.

2. Fly to Ngari

We will board a domestic Chinese flight to Ngari Gunsa Airport (NGQ), which takes about 2 hours. It allows you to enjoy the mesmerising views of the Tibetan Plateau. We will drive for 4 to 5 hours on a paved road and will finally reach Lake Mansarovar.

3. Drive to Darchen

After that, we will drive for 5 to 6 hours to Darchen. Darchen is the base camp for Mount Kailash, which offers the Kailash Parikrama route. We will head back to Kathmandu the same way.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Limi Lapcha Valley

Limi Lapcha Valley is located in the far western region of Nepal. The most secluded and remote area is in the Humla district, which offers a direct path to Mount Kailash.

1.Fly to Nepalgunj

Take a flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. You can reach Simikot via direct flight or by taking a jeep or bus. Simikot is the entry point of the Limi Valley, where pilgrims will spend a night for acclimatization.

2. Drive to Limi Valley

The next day, a 5 to 6-hour off-road drive takes you to Limi Valley, an isolated beauty, with snow-capped peaks, lush green meadows, and villages deeply steeped in Tibetan culture. Takchi is one of the villages of the Limi Valley, where we will take a rest.

3. Drive to Lake Mansarovar

The journey for the day begins towards the Lapcha Pass. Lapcha Pass is located at an altitude of 4,900 meters and is the highest point of the journey. Then, the journey to Lake Mansarovar and Mount Kailash continues.

Routes from India

The Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes from India are managed by an Indian travel agency. It is suitable for those pilgrims who are from India. Different routes from India to Mount Kailash are detailed below:

Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Via Lipulekh Pass

It is one of the most important historic and spiritual routes to Mount Kailash. The trip starts from Delhi itinerary and is managed under the Ministry of External Affairs in association with Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN). Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes through Lipu Lekh is an attractive and most challenging route that takes 15 to 20 days.

1. Gather at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs

At first, the travelers will join the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, where necessary arrangement and orientation is done.

2. Travel to Uttarakhand and Acclimatization

The journey starts from Delhi in a bus/jeep and will continue until we reach Kathgodam in Uttarakhand. After a short break, we will head towards Dharchula. It is a beautiful city in the Kumaon region, which is perfect for acclimatization.

3. Travel to Gunji and Acclimatization

The next morning, we will travel to Gunji after having breakfast. Here, we will have our second acclimatization, where medical check-ups will be done.

4. Lipulekh Pass to Kailash Mansarovar

Today, we will head to Kailash Mansarovar by crossing the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China, known as Lipulekh Pass. It lies at an altitude of 3500 meters. We will enter Tibet officially and travel to Mansarovar Lake, followed by Mount Kailash.

Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Via NathuLa Pass in Sikkim

Nathu La Pass is located in Sikkim and is a less strenuous and more approachable route. The motorable tracks make it favorable for those people who want to avoid the trekking parts. Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes through Nathu La are perfect for those who live in Sikkim.

1. Gather and Fly to Bagdogra

Take a flight from Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, to Bagdogra Airport with the necessary permits and visa. Within 2.5 hours, we will reach Bagdogra. Travel Visas and licenses are usually managed by travel and tour operators authorized by the Indian Government for Tibet.

2. Drive to Gangtok and cross Nathu La Pass

After collecting your luggage from the airport, we will head to the capital of Sikkim, Gangtok, by bus. Continue the roadway until you reach Nathu La Pass, which connects Sikkim with the Chinese Tibet Autonomous Region. Nathu La Pass is at a height of 4,309 meters approximately.

3. Drive to Kailash Mansarovar

Drive continuously on the road from the border to visit Lake Mansarovar, followed by Mount Kailash.

Lipulekh vs Nathu La Kailash Routes

It takes 22 to 25 days from Lipulekh while you can within 21 days from Nathu La Pass to reach Mount Kailash. Physically, Lipulekh is more challenging, but Nathu La is considered moderate. Lipulekh Pass lies at an altitude of 5,334 m (17,500 ft), but the Nathu La Pass is at 4,310 m (14,140 ft).

The budget rate is higher and favors senior citizens for Nathu La, as compared to Lipulekh Pass, and it is perfect for physically fit citizens.

Kailash Mansarovar Routes through Leh Ladakh

Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Routes from Leh Ladakh are not officially operated. The visitors will reach Kailash Mansarovar within two days from Leh Ladakh, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council has also advocated for its opening. Similarly, the eastern side of Leh Ladakh is also affected by the route, and the construction of this route will undoubtedly boost the economy of Leh Ladakh.

Kailash Mansarovar Yatra by Lhasa

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This Kailash Mansarovar Darshan Route is perfect for the Tibetan citizen; if you live outside Tibet, your journey first starts by booking a flight from your country of residence to Lhasa.

1.Fly to Lhasa

At first, book a flight ticket to Lhasa. Get the required documents and Visas to Tibet with the help of your applied agencies. We will be acclimatizing in Lhasa. You can visit historical and cultural sites like the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple.

2. Drive to Shigatse

The journey from Lhasa to Shigatse takes a 6 to 7-hour drive. Shigatse is the second-largest city in Tibet, is popular as the former seat of the Panchen Lama. Panchen Lama was known for architecture such as the Maitreya Chapel with a 26-meter statue of the Future Buddha, and the Tomb of the Fourth Panchen Lama.

3. Kailash Mansarovar Darshan

From Shigatse, the journey to Saga begins. It covers a distance of 450 km and can be travelled within 8 hours. We will explore the Tibetan people and geography during our stay.

Then, we head toward Mansarovar Lake and Mount Kailash.

Closing Thoughts

The spiritual journey to Kailash Mansarovar depends on what type of travel experience you want to have, whether it’s a luxury or budget-friendly one. If you have enough time and you want to experience trekking, you can choose the overland routes. Those with a limited time period and spending money are no problem; the aerial mode of travel in a helicopter will be the best idea.

Whichever route you choose, once you reach there, the beauty of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar will make you forget all your lifetime struggles and hardships.  Different modes of route offer different experiences, so take a chance to witness this beauty.