Adi Kailash and Om Parvat

Adi Kailash is an ancient holy place in the Uttarakhand Himalayan Ranges, similar to Mount Kailash in Tibet. This abode of Lord Shiva in this remote area is worth to have a darshan. According to the Hindu mythology, creator of the world Lord Shiva resides on Mount Kailash.

There are seven Kailash Yatras to the places associated with Lord Shiva as per the Hindu scriptures. The main is Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is known as one of the toughest religious pilgrimage centers in the world.

Other five Kailash Yatras in India include three in Himachal Pradesh. They are Manimahesh Kailash of Chamba district, Kinnaur Kailash of Kinnaur district and Shrikhand Kailash on the border of Shimla Manali districts.

Two other Kailash Yatras in Indian region are Aadi Kailash or Chhota Kailash in Pithoragarh district and Shri Kailash, near Gangotri in Uttaranchal State.

Not many know that the seventh Kailash Yatra is in Sri Lanka known as Southern Kailash in Katragama. The Kailash of South is the home of Kartikeya, the elder son of Lord Shiva.

Government of India organises piligrimage tours to Greater Kailash in association with the China government.

Adi Kailash lies on the route to Greater Kailash near the Sino-Indo border. Majority of the trek is along the Kali river, which is natural India-Nepal border. Om Parvat marks the tri-junction point, point where borders of Tibet, Nepal and India meet.

Adi Kailash and Om Parvat trek is one of the best known trek in Kumaon region of Uttaranchal. Himalayas have spiritual value attached to them; this is the trek which has some spiritual as well as adventure flavour.

Somebody has said so beautifully about it:

"To understand its form, one must move around it; to experience its moods, one must see it at sunrise and sunset, at noon and at mid-night, in sun and in rain in all other season, He who can see the mountain like this, comes near to the life of the mountain a life that is as intense and varied as that of a human being."

Mt. Adi-Kailash - popularly known as Chhota-Kailash, is in indian territory, close to the Indian tibetan border. It is an area of great natural beauty, peace and sovereignty. Men and women, tired by the incessant roar of urban life, will find here a healing quietude conducive to liking inward and discouraging with one's innerself.

During Adi-Kailash Yatra, you will come across the mighty splendour of the snow peaks of Annapurna, the gushing Kali river, thick Forest, Narayan Ashram full of wild flowers and rare variation of fruits and number of water falls.At the very foot of Mt. Kailash is Gauri Kund, whose water reflect the mountain itself.

The local folk, called Bhotias, have much to say about there land. The villege Kutti, is named after Kunti, the mother of Pandavas. The great saga vyas lived here for a long time and wrote many books. The bhotias have preserved their heritage assiduously and are always ready to show glimpses of it through their dance and music.

Om Parvat
Its miracle of nature, the shape of valley & peaks forms natural OM. One can see white (snow) OM on black background. No hypothesis, no assumption, no approximation & no imagination is required to visualize Aum. Its so clear that in Aug -Sept month even dot (bindi) on the crescent is also clearly visible.

Entire trek is along Indo-Nepal border. Dharchula to Tawathat is one hour jeep journey (19 km). At Tawaghat there is sangam of two rivers namely Dhauli Ganga & Kali Gandki. Although Kali Gandki which is called so because of its black color is not worshiped to the extent of Ganga or Yamuna but big black stones (shila) of the river are believed to be very holy & used for carving idol of god & goddess. There is a proof that Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj acquired shilas from Kali Gandki for idol of Pratapgad's Bhavani Devi.

Trek starts from place called Tawaghat. Tawaghat can be reached from Delhi via Kathgodam-Pitthoragh-and Dharchula by road. The trek route is as follows
Tawaght - Pangu - Sosa - Narayan Aashram - Sirkha - Samry- Simkhola - Gala - Malapa - Budhi - Chiya Lekh - Gunji.

The route from Guni is Kala pani - Nabidhang (Om Parvat). One can come back on same route and from Gunji one reaches Adi Kailash through Kutti and Jollingkong. There exists a circuit route from Jollingkong to Tawaghat through high altitude Sinla pass. This route follows Jollingkong - Shinla pass - Darma valley - Bidang - Baun -Bauling -Twaghat.

Sample iternary:
Day 1. Delhi - Kathgodam.

Day 2. Kathgodam - Pitthoragarh: This is a long travel by road along the curving mountain roads.

Day 3. Pitthoragarh - Dharchula - Tawaghat: One has to procure inner line permits from District Magistrate office at Dharchula against character certificate or passport. The office is closed on Sunday, so plan accordingly. Jeep could be taken from Dharchula to Tawaghat.

Day 4: Pangu-Narayan Ashram: An architecture masterpiece amongst some good gardens and thrilling mountain views is Narayan Ashram.

Day 5: Narayan Ashram to Sirkha

Day 6: Sirkha - Gala: Gala is the first camp for Greater Kailash trip.

Day 7: Gala to Budhi: A long descent and then gentle climb would lead you to this beautiful village. Malpa is the place where entire village was vanished in a landslide few years back. PWD guesthouse is the only place left here.
Day 8: Buddhi to Gunji: From Buddhi one has to climb the Chiyalekh top. This would be the first time where your inner line permits would be checked by Indo-Tibet Border Police(ITBP). Gunji is at 10625 feet. Acclimatization at Gunji would be needed.
Day 9: Gunji to Kalapani: As altitude increase, one can slowly proceed to Kalapani, place where Kali river is said to originate. Kalapani is at the same altitude as Gunji around 11850 feet.
Day 10: Kalapani to Nabidhang: This is the last camp at the border of India-China border and one can camp near ITBP camp. From Nabidhang(13800 feet) one get view of Om Parvat. For this you must be blessed by mother Nature for clear weather.
Day 10: Nabidhang to Gunji: Descent could be done much faster and one can reach directly to Gunji.
Day 11: Gunji to Kutti: Kutti (11880 feet) is the last village on this route along the border. The place is named after name of Panadav mother Kunti.
Day 12-13: Kutti to Jollingkong: A long ascent would lead you to Jollingkong(15550 feet). This place is ITBP cmp with KMVN rest house. Here you get view of Adi Kailash mountain and Parvati Sarovar (lake). One can camp here for additional day to acclimatize before crossing the Sinla pass.
Day 14: Jollingkong -Bidang: The climb would start very early in the morning to cross the pass by morning. The pass is at altitude of 18500 feet and is often a technical climb when the season had experienced heavy snowfall. ITBP inspects the route before allowing anyone to cross the route. While descent to Bidang(14500 feet) is very steep with rock falling most of the time. Care, preperation is must for crossing the pass. If one doesnt cross the pass, one has to trace the path back and reach Tawaghat within 4-5 days avoiding Narayan Ashram.
Day 15: Bidang to Baun: This valley is less inhabitated and one has to camp at almost all places.
Day 16: Baun -Duktu-Son-Balling
Day 17: Balling- Nagling-Sela-Baulling
Day 18: Baulling-Sobala-Tawaghat
Day 19: Tawaghat-Dharchula-Pitthoragarh
Day 20: Pitthoragah - Nanital
Day 22: Nanital - Kathgodam - Delhi