Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on his first visit to China, announced that the second route for the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra will become operational next month, which allows more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage. “The Nathu La route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar will become operational in June. I want to thank China for that,” the Prime Minister said in his address after signing 24 agreements between India and China.
The only route through Lipulekh Pass was badly damaged due to the floods in the Uttarakhand in 2013. The route through Nathu La Pass can facilitate comfortable travel for Indian pilgrims by buses, especially for elderly Indian citizens, though conditions in the Himalayan region with less oxygen levels still pose a challenge. The second route Nathu La pass is 4,000 metres above sea level and will allow more Indians to undertake the pilgrimage. The new route will enable the pilgrims to drive all along, travelling from Gangtok in Sikkim to Shigatse in Tibet, from where they can take vans and buses and proceed through the existing road to Mansarovar and Kailash directly.
Mount Kailash is a peak in the Kailash Range, which forms the part of the Transhimalaya in Tibet. It lies near the source of some of the longest rivers in Asia, the Indus River, the Sutlej River, the Brahmaputra River and the Karnali River. It is considered as the most sacred place for four religions, Bön, Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.
Hindus believe Mt. Kailash to be the abode of Lord Shiva, the holy centre of the earth and the manifestation of heaven itself. Tibetan Buddhists profess that Kailash is the home of the Buddha Demchok who symbolizes supreme harmony. The Tibetan religion of ‘Bon’ believes Mount Kailash as their spiritual seat of power. In Jainism, Kailash is referred to as Mount Ashtapada, which is the place where Rishabhadeva attained freedom from the cycle of life and rebirth.
Kailash Mansarovar journey is a life-changing experience for the few thousands of pilgrims who undertake it every year, teaching them a sense of self like nothing else can. For a pilgrimage to this isolated, timeless, breathtaking and fascinating spiritual spot is like a journey within oneself.
Pilgrims of several religions believe that circumambulating the Mount Kailash on foot is a holy ritual that will bring good fortune. The peregrination is made in a clockwise direction by Hindus and Buddhists. Followers of the Jain and Bonpo religions circumambulate the mountain in an anti clockwise direction. The path around Mount Kailash is 52 km long.
Chinese President Xi Jinping had promised the opening of the new route for the Yatra to Modi, during his maiden visit to New Delhi and the two sides had agreed to work closely to ensure smooth commencement of the pilgrimage through the new route. Modi made a strong pitch for the second route during his first meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit.
By Premji
