The majestic Himalayas figure prominently not only in the topography of
India but in its history and mythology as well. The youngest mountain range
in the world, and yet the mightiest, the Himalayas are many things to many
people.
Mount Kailash
Mount
Kailash, which is believed to have been formed 30 million years ago when
Himalayas were in their early stage of formation, is one of the most revered
places in the Himalayas.
Spread out on the Tibetan plateau beside Mount Kailash is the giant lake of
shifting colours - Lake Mansarovar. Brahma, the creator, had a mind ('Man')
for the creation of a lake ('Sarovar'), hence its name. A
pilgrimage to Mount Kailash and a bath in the Mansarovar is believed to
bring about salvation (Moksha).
People have
been visiting Kailash - Mansarovar for centuries. Almost all the major
passes of Uttaranchal Himalayas lead to Kailash - Mansarovar. The important
ones in the Kumaon region are Lipulekh, Lampiya Dhura, Nuwe Dhura, Lowe
Dhura, Unta Dhura, Jayanti and Kungri Bingri. Since 1981, under the auspices
of the Indian ministry of external affairs and with the cooperation of the
Chinese government, Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam has been conducting trips to
Kailash - Mansarovar through the Lipulekh pass. The number of people allowed
visiting Kailash - Mansarovar is limited and it is hoped that in the near
future, more Indian pilgrims will be allowed to visit Western Tibet, the
region of sacred mountains and lakes.
Legends, Myths & Beliefs
It is because
of Kailash - Mansarovar, which is 865-kms from Delhi, that Kumaon is
sometimes called "Manaskhand". Many myths are associated with this
unusual mountain and lake. The Buddhists, the Jains and the Bonpas of Tibet
too, all revere this spot with great fervour and devotion. Therefore, it is
not surprising for a devotee to come across the worlds "Om Mani Padme
Hum" (Hail to the jewel (of Creation) in the Lotus) written on
stones and taken from Buddhist scriptures. The Bonpas make an anti-clockwise
pilgrimage around Mt. Kailash whereas the believers of the jain faith
specially visit astpaad near the southern face of kailash in the kailash
--mansarovar region.
Mansarovar Lake
The
circumference of Mansarovar is 88-km, its depth is 90m and total area is
320-sq-kms. The lake freezes in the winters and melts only in spring. It
looks unbelievably fascinating on moonlit nights when an ethereal ambience
pervades the atmosphere. The circumference of Rakshas Tal, also known as "Ravan
Kund", is 122-km. A 6-km long natural channel - "Gangachhu" -
connects Manas with Rakshas Tal.
