2014 Mt. Kailash Tour in Tibet - Year of the Horse
The year 2014 is the year of the Wood Horse according to the Tibetan lunar calendar that the grand pilgrimage will take place at Mount Kailash where is located in western Tibet.
Here in Himalaya, Mt. Kailash is considered as a scared place of enlightenment associated with Sakyamuni, and also a power point for offering energy and inspiration. Occurring once every 12 years of the astrological cycle, the year of horse is believed to magnify the energy and possibility for transformation. Among the numerous holy mountains in Tibet, Mount Kailash is regarded as the most sacred mountain in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Bon alike. The custom of circumambulating Mt. Kailash is thought to be a very holy activity that can purify one’s sins and brings good fortune. In Tibetan pilgrimage practice, it is said that a single circumambulation (kora) of Mount Kailash once during the Year of the Horse is spiritually equivalent to making 13 koras and doubled merits in other years that may attract many pilgrims and tourists to travel there to get the special bless.
There are two routes for pilgrimage that the external route encompasses the Mt. Kailash while the internal route circumambulates the south peak of Mt. Kailash. Traditionally, Tibetans Buddhist believerskora the external route for 13 circuits and thereafter continue circumambulating the internal route. Buddhists and Hindus circle Mt. Kailash in a clockwise direction, whereas followers of Bon and Jainism go counter clockwise. The approximate distance of the kora route is about 57 kilometers with the altitude from 4,800 meters to 5,723 meters. Tibetans complete the circuit within one long day on feet, starting before dawn, and finishing after nightfall. But for some devout pilgrims, they complete the circuit by making repeated prostrations that takes much longer time about 20 days to one month.
Most of the travelers also do the Kora during their Kailash tour, which takes 2-3 days on foot or by horse trek. Most favorable time for Mt. Kailash trek is 3 days that starts at the small village of Tarchen, where you stretch the sacred trek through barren land, lush green valleys, across some mystical monasteries and caves, as well as the mighty view of Mt. Kailash and pristine blue lakes.