Kailash Mansarovar Facts: we bet you don’t know much about Lord Shiva’s home

The Stairway to Heaven — Mount Kailash is the most fascinating mountain range is the whole of Himalayas. As a matter of fact, Mount Kailash is 22,000 ft from the Tibetan Plateau, which is largely considered to be inaccessible. For Hindus and Buddhists, Mount Kailash is the physical symbol of Mount Meru. Every year thousands of tourist head to Kailash yatra in search of Heaven. This range has given science a run for its logic, Here are some of the most interesting, little-known facts about one of the world’s most sacred and mysterious mountain peak—Mount Kailash.

1. According to the Buddhist and Hindu scriptures, around the Mount Meru exist ancient monasteries and caves wherein the holy sages reside in their material and subtle bodies. These caves can be seen by only a few fortunate ones.

2. Every year, thousands of pilgrims enter Tibet for pilgrimage to the holy Mount Kailash. A few make it to the region and a very few manage to finish ‘Parikrama’ or circumambulating the sacred peak. As for climbing up the summit, some daring mountaineers have attempted to do so, but with no luck.

3. Trekking all the way up to the peak of Mount Kailash is held to be a forbidden act among Hindus for the fear of trespassing the sanity of the mountain and disturbing the divine Shiva energies that resides there.

As per Tibetan tale, a monk named Milarepa once ventured far enough to reach the top of Mount Meru. When he returned, he forewarned everyone to avoid bothering the God resting high up in the peak.

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4. Two beautiful lakes, namely Mansarovar and Rakshas Tal, are located at the base of Mount Kailash. Of the two, Mansarovar, which lies at an altitude of 14, 950 ft, is considered the highest freshwater body in the world.

5. While Mansarovar has a deep spiritual significance, Rakshas Tal was born of the intense activities performed by the Ravana to please Lord Shiva. The Rakshas Tal Lake is endowed with salty water and deprived of aquatic plant life and marine life.

6. Mount Kailash is believed to be the Axis Mundi aka the cosmic axis, world axis, world pillar, centre of the world, the world tree. It is the point where heaven meets earth. The Google Maps confirms for the validity of this fact.

7. True to its nature, the water of the holy Lake Mansarovar stays calm whether it is windy or not. Also, its next-door neighbour, Rakshas Tal stays more or less turbulent always.

8. Do not be surprised if you find your nails or hair grown by a few millimetres after returning from your Mount Meru trip. Tourists and pilgrims have discovered that the air of this ancient peak speeds up the process of ageing!

9. Once a group of climbers of Siberian origin reached ahead of a certain point and got immediately aged by a few decades. Shockingly, all of the trespassers died of old age a year after!

Though I have not taken this trip till date but it is in my top bucket list. A friend of mine is enthusiastic about it too. Hopefully I will make to this trip by next year.

Lets meet there and take the holy dip together at Kailash Mansarovar!