To the Hindus, the Himalayas are central to their cosmology. The peaks are the petals of the Golden Lotus which lord Vishnu created as a first step in the formation of the universe. On one of these peaks - Mount Kailash, sits Shiva in a state of perpetual meditation, generating the spiritaul force that sustains the cosmos.
The ancient text, Rigveda has a mention of the Himalayas, their formation and sacredness. The most sacred peak in the Himalayan range, Mount Kailash, is said to have been formed 30 million years ago during the early stages of the formation of the Himalayan chain.
According to the Jains, at the dawn of history their first law giver, Rishabhdev attained Nirvana on Mount Kailash.
Mount Kailash is situated in Tibet where it is given the dignified title of 'Kang Rampoche' meaning 'Precious Jewel'. Near Mount Kailash, during the geological shift in the initial statges of the formation of the Himalayan mountain chain four rivers arose from the area, flowing in four different directions : the Indus flowed north, the Karnali south, the Yarlung Tsangpo flowed east and Sutlej travelled west.
People have been visiting Kailas - Mansarovar for centuries. Almost all the major passes of Uttarakhand lead to Kailas-Mansarovar. Because of the Indo-chinese border dispute, Indians were not allowed to visit Kailas - Mansarovar for nearly two decades. However, since 1981, under the auspices of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and with the cooperation of the Chinese Government, Kumaun Mandal Vikas Nigam has been conducting trips to Kailas- Mansarovar through the Lipulekh pass. Even though only a limited number of people are allowed to visit
Kailas - Mansarovar today, the very fact that the trips have been resumed raises hopes that, in the near future, more Indian pilgrims will be allowed to visit Western Tibet, the region of sacred mountains and lakes. It is because of Kailas - Mansarovar, which is 865 Kilomet. from Delhi, that Kumaon is sometimes called 'Manaskhand'. Many of our myths are associated with this unusual mountain and lake. The Buddhists, the Jains and the Bonpas ofTibet too, consider this abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati and the lake born from the mind of Brahma to be a sacred place.
The ancient text, Rigveda has a mention of the Himalayas, their formation and sacredness. The most sacred peak in the Himalayan range, Mount Kailash, is said to have been formed 30 million years ago during the early stages of the formation of the Himalayan chain.
According to the Jains, at the dawn of history their first law giver, Rishabhdev attained Nirvana on Mount Kailash.
Mount Kailash is situated in Tibet where it is given the dignified title of 'Kang Rampoche' meaning 'Precious Jewel'. Near Mount Kailash, during the geological shift in the initial statges of the formation of the Himalayan mountain chain four rivers arose from the area, flowing in four different directions : the Indus flowed north, the Karnali south, the Yarlung Tsangpo flowed east and Sutlej travelled west.
People have been visiting Kailas - Mansarovar for centuries. Almost all the major passes of Uttarakhand lead to Kailas-Mansarovar. Because of the Indo-chinese border dispute, Indians were not allowed to visit Kailas - Mansarovar for nearly two decades. However, since 1981, under the auspices of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and with the cooperation of the Chinese Government, Kumaun Mandal Vikas Nigam has been conducting trips to Kailas- Mansarovar through the Lipulekh pass. Even though only a limited number of people are allowed to visit
Kailas - Mansarovar today, the very fact that the trips have been resumed raises hopes that, in the near future, more Indian pilgrims will be allowed to visit Western Tibet, the region of sacred mountains and lakes. It is because of Kailas - Mansarovar, which is 865 Kilomet. from Delhi, that Kumaon is sometimes called 'Manaskhand'. Many of our myths are associated with this unusual mountain and lake. The Buddhists, the Jains and the Bonpas ofTibet too, consider this abode of Lord Shiva and Parvati and the lake born from the mind of Brahma to be a sacred place.
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