INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
INSIDE HIMALAYAS | NEPAL | TIBET | BHUTAN
which is actively used by practitioners of
Nyingmapa tantras. Guru Rinpoche also
spent time here.
Yak skull along prayer flags at Lake Manasarovar. Photo: Tashi Sherpa.
and streams, their herds of sheep, yak and goats scattered across the
high pastures. The end of the trek brings you to Samye. On the banks
of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra), this is Tibet’s oldest monastery
and one of its most beautiful. Moderate-strenuous
Tsurphu Trek (3-4 days)
This trek to the north of Lhasa offers a great mix of small villages, great
and tiny monasteries, uninhabited valleys and high passes. On arrival
at Tsurphu you can set off on your trek immediately after visiting the
monastery or camp here and take an afternoon hike to the nearby
mountain where there are many meditation caves. En route you pass
a small village, highland pastures with herds of yak and sheep, high
grassland valleys, and cross small streams to the 5,300m Lasar-la (pass)
where countless colorful prayer flags wave in the wind by the nunnery
at Dorjeling. Moderate
Day hikes
An alternative to a full scale trek are day hikes, of which there are a
number of options around Lhasa including:
Drip Valley: Explore the life-style of rural Tibet on this day-hike through
the farming villages of the Drip Valley. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, visit
their small monastery and be invited into local homes to share butter
tea, yoghurt and perhaps barley beer.
Pabonka - Ani Gompa: This is a full day hike along the ridges north
of Lhasa (average altitude 4,160m). Pabonka, one of Lhasa’s oldest
monasteries, is the start point. It is then a steepish climb to Tashi
Choling and on to Chupsang nunnery. Pass hermitages and small
monasteries with stunning views over Lhasa.
Chimphu: Add a day in Samye and make a day hike to Chimphu. This
is a complex of cave hermitages approx 13 kilometers from Samye
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www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel | 2016
Mount Kailash trek
By far the greatest trekking option in Tibet
is to Mount Kailash, the holy mountain
that stands at the center of the Buddhist,
Hindu, Bon and Jain universes. The earthly
manifestation of Mount Meru, it is the focus
of journeys to western Tibet. The giant
snow-topped pyramid of Kailash stands
apart and distinct from those around it,
dominating the landscape. Along with
Lake Manasarovar it was the heart of
ancient Zhangzhung and soul-mountain
of the pre-Buddhist Bonpo. To the Bon it
is called Yungdrung Gu Tse (Nine-Storey
Swastika Mountain) and is the place where
their legendary founder, Tongpa Shenrab
descended from heaven to earth. In the
11th century however Naro Bonchung ‘lost’
both Kailash and Lake Manasarovar to
Milarepa in a contest of magical powers.
To complete a kora (circumambulation)
is the goal of every Tibetan; a single kora
cleans the sins of a lifetime whilst 108
guarantee enlightenment. Kailash is also
the geographical watershed of South
Asia, here its great rivers are born - the
Indus, the Sutlej, the Yarlung Tsangpo
(Brahmaputra) and the Karnali /Ganges. At
its foot lies the most venerated of Tibet’s
lakes, Manasarovar, believed by Hindu’s to
have been formed in the mind of Brahma.
Generally tour groups make the 52
kilometer kora (circumambulation) in
two and a half days, overnighting at the
monastery guesthouses of Diraphuk and
Zhutrul Phuk. These accommodations
are very basic, but you are usually too
tired to care too much. Kailash is within
the capabilities of any basically healthy
person and great fitness is not required,
but is tough due to the altitude. The
second day is the longest and toughest,
crossing the Drolma pass at 5,630m.
Join-in group departures for Kailash are
offered throughout the year.
Tents pitched at Lake Manasarovar. Photo: Tashi Sherpa.
It is also possible to make a kora
(circumambulation) of Lake Manasarovar.
The circuit of the lake is just over 100
kilometers and it is reasonably flat,
although still at over 4,600m. Taking 4 to 5
days, you can overnight in the monastery
guest houses along the way or camp.
Everest Base Camp, North Face
Often enquired about is the trek to Everest
Base Camp (EBC). North Base Camp (the
Tibet rather than Nepal side) is accessible
by road and the trek route is within sight
of the shortcut that many vehicles use
between EBC and Lao Tingri, hence it
invariably disappoints people.
Shrine and pilgrims at Asthapath above Darchen, Tibet. Photo: Tashi Sherpa.
www.insidehimalayas.com | By Royal Mountain Travel | 2016
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