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Kailash-Manas Sarovar Yatra Series-2
Lake Manas Sarovar
could be approached by more than two routes. It is located in the
Tibet Autonomous Region that is generally considered an occupied
territory of China. Geographically, the lake is situated on the
rugged Tibetan plateau which is a territory of China now.
We had booked 13 days
yatra starting from Kathmandu, Nepal. One can reach the lake by road.
So, it would not be a problem to reach Lake Manas Sarovar. The lake
is connected by a smooth tar road on the Chinese side. It is called
the Araniko Highway.
We took flights to
Delhi and from Delhi to Kathmandu. Kathmandu is the base destination.
The route we took was this: from Kathmandu to Kodari (Border), Kodari
to Nyalam, Nyalam to Dongba, Dongba to Manas Sarovar. We stayed in
Kodari, Nyalam and Dongba on the way to the lake. We had to cross
the border between Nepal and China occupied Tibet (Tibet Autonomous
Region) at Kadori which is located at about 115 km from Kathmandu.
Once after reaching
Kathmandu the pilgrims will have to travel in a bus provided by the
travel agency. Till the Chinese border we traveled in a Nepali
travel bus and after crossing the border the Chinese guides arranged
our transportation. That means the bus which carried us till the
border will go back to Kathmandu and will come again the day when we
return from the yatra.
The next step to be
achieved after arriving at Manas Sarovar is the three day Kailash
Parikraman. This is a tough job to be accomplished on foot about
which I will write later.
Preparation:
The destination is
located in the Tibetan Plateau which is known for unpredictable
climate conditions. On the way to Manas Sarovar and in the three day
Kailash Parikrama period be prepared for unexpected rains, sudden
variations in temperature and heavy wind. More than that, the
location is situated at high altitude. One needs to get acclimatized
in those extreme climatic conditions.
The main difficulty is
to manage ‘altitude sicknesses. Acute head ache, loss of appetite,
nausea and fever may trouble you any time. Do carry a medicine kit
along with you.
Do carry enough cloths
to keep yourself warm. Dress up in layers. Wear thermals first. Then,
wear your normal dress; it could be either salvar or jeans. Over
that, wear a winter jacket (either a woolen sweater or a jacket). The
outer layer should be a down jacket. Depending on the climate, you
would be asked to take off warm cloths if it is hot.
A pair of leather (or
woolen) gloves, 6 pair socks, winter cap, muffler, raincoat, torch,
dry fruits, flask, a walking stick, sunglass, lotions, sports shoes
with good grip are necessary things. You may buy these things in
Kathmandu or in Nyalam. Go through a medical check up to assure that
you are fit to take up trekking at high altitudes. A medical
certificate is a must.
You are required to
get a Chinese Visa and for that you need to have a valid passport. If
you go through a private travel agency, then, the group Visa will be
done by the travels people. Carry Chinese currency as much as you
require and remember notes of rupees 500 will not be accepted in
Nepal.
Start doing physical
exercise (brisk walking or yoga) at least a month prior to the yatra.
Take care as not to catch cold during that period that would make you
vulnerable to adverse climate. Successful completion of the Yatra
solely depends upon your health and will power.
Hear the experience
straight from the horse’s mouth! I will start the narrative in the
next episode.
[To be continued…]
Tag :
Pilgrimage,
A visit to Trimbakeshwara, Nashik Part-1
I am not
a travel buff. Most of my expeditions are of recreational kind, and
family oriented trips. Love to sit and sip in a couch at a corner of
my sweet home and I do travel through my mind, and try to reach
across all depths of my inner world!
Kids do
not listen. As and when they declare their holiday schedule, it has
been mandatory for us to look out for various travel destinations.
This year we were at Nashik during Deepawali vacations. The
pilgrimage city Nashik is located in Maharashtra on the banks of
Godavari River. It is at about 180 km away from my home town
Aurangabad; about three and half hours drive in a taxi.
However,
we decided to travel by train. We took the morning Jan Shatabdi
express from Aurangabad that leaves at 6 ‘O’ clock and reaches
Nashik at about 8.45 am. We
had already booked rooms to avoid last minute anxiety and had hired a
taxi for travelling around the city. We were there for only two days,
next evening were back to Aurangabad by the evening train.
Nashik
is gearing up for Maha Kumbhamela to be held in 2015. Everywhere in
the city, we could hear the buzz about forthcoming Kumbhamela. A 13
km long flyover bridge has been built to control the major traffic.
Maha Kumbhamela is a huge congregation of devotees to be held at
river banks for a ritual bath.
Image credit :Prajna ls |
People
belonging to all sects and traditions (not necessarily Hindus) gather
at river banks for a bathing ritual that would be fixed according to
Hindu calendar. This congregation takes place once in twelve years or
once in six years. Kumbhamelas are held at four places in India:
Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik and Ujjain. It is a kind of ritualistic
Yatra in Indian traditions.
Nashik
is one of those cities in India that houses a ‘Jyotirlinga’. The
‘Jyotirlinga’ lies inside an ancient temple. There are twelve
‘Jyotirlingas of Shiva’ in India and one among them is located in
Trimbakeshwar near Nashik city. This is situated at the foothills of
Brahmagiri where Godavari River originates.
As
we had already decided, we moved towards Trimbakeshwar directly from
the railway station. The temple is located at 40 km distance from
Nashik city. If you visit the temple during hot seasons, say for
instance during festivals or holidays, you will have to stand in a
long queue for the Darshan. Since it was a holiday season, we had to
wait for about two and half hours to get the darshan.
It
is an ancient temple built by a Peshwa King. Visitors are not allowed
to take photos. We were moved by the beautiful stone carvings on the
outer portion of the temple. There was huge crowd that day, so people
were pushing us for quick ‘darshan’ of the deity. The ‘lingam’
is said to be invisible there. Actually, what we see as lingam is a
hollow.
Trimbakeswar
is best known for performing ancestral rituals of Hindus. We see
people performing various other kinds of rituals also, especially the
Naga Bali Puja. We dipped our legs and sprinkled the water on
ourselves in ‘Kushavartha’, that is the pond from where Godavari
River takes its further course.
It
is such a beautiful place that we wished to stay there for some more
time. One can visit the place all through the day, so a visit during
evenings or in the early mornings would be more pleasant I feel. We
returned to Nashik thinking about spending an evening at the temple
to enjoy the sunset.
Tag :
Pilgrimage,
Kailash-Manas Sarovar Yatra Series-1
Kailash–Manas
Sarovar Yatra is one of the toughest
spiritual yatras of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist traditions. The author
of this write up has been one of those fortunate pilgrims to
accomplish the three day Kailash Parikrama
successfully. So, in this series of articles, she would be sharing
her experience. She would make an attempt to perceive the
significance of this particular yatra.
The
present series would introduce the destination by providing useful
information and tips concerning the yatra. This series of articles is
based on the Kailash Yatra 2013.
I begin
by introducing the concept called ‘Yatra’
itself. It can roughly be translated as ‘pilgrimage’, but, a
‘Yatra’ for an Indian has wider implications. It is not just
visiting the holy places and sites.
In fact,
in Indian way of living a particular term called ‘Yatra’ is used
for making a journey. Yatra means journey and it also means a
particular kind of procession or gathering at some specific places at
some specific time. Roughly, you could term it as ‘pilgrimage’
but no rituals are mandatory in Indian pilgrimages. Yatra is a
ritual. A metaphor. A spiritual journey.
A
yatra can be done by visiting ancient holy cities, birth places of
deities, temples, rivers, lakes and mountains. These kinds of Yatras
are usually known as ‘Teertha Yatras’ that means the journey to
holy locations. It is a kind of ritual to be performed.
Hindus
perform rituals at river banks for their ancestors. However, India
consists of various other traditions also. So, ‘Yatras’ are done
by devotees following other than Hindu traditions. Char Dham Yatra,
Kailas Manas Sarovar Yatra, Amarnath Yatra, Shaktipeeth Yatra,
Jyotirling Yatra, Kashi-Rameshwar Yatra…India consists of
innumerable ‘Yatra’ locations.
Sometimes
at river confluences rituals would be held, and devotes throng at the
confluences in huge numbers. This kind of gathering at river banks is
called ‘Mela’ and a journey to participate in such Melas is also
a part of Yatra tradition. Kumbha Mela and Maha Kumbha Melas are two
well known ‘Melas’ in India conducted at river banks.
Most
of you must have heard of the Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Puri, Orissa.
This unique kind of Yatra is held every year by celebrating a
ritualistic journey of the deity. This is a celebration by pulling
the Temple Chariot on which the deity will be placed. These
ritualistic Yatras will be held in many other places of India.
Kailash-Manas
Sarovar Yatra is considered the ultimate among all yatras in India.
One needs to be fit both mentally and physically to ‘perform’
this yatra. I have deliberately used the word ‘perform’ since I
see this yatra as a kind of ‘ritual’ to be performed.
It
was by chance I joined the yatra. Usually the Ministry of External
Affairs conducts this tour every year. But, this year due to the
havoc created by Monsoon rains in the Uttarakhand region the
Government had cancelled the yatra. However, we went by a private
tourist agency named Nirmala Travels. This travel agency located in
Bangalore has tied up with a Nepali travel agency named Shrestha
Travels.
In
the next post you would know about the route
map of Kailash Yatra
and about the things
to carry for Kailash Manas Sarovar Yatra!
[To be continued…]
Tag :
Pilgrimage,