Saga Dawa Festival: Circumambulating Mount Kailash on Saga Dawa Festival
Tour Code:TF-06
Price: Contact us for price
Destination:Lhasa Gyantse, Shigatse, Mt. Kailash
The custom Mount kailash Kailash on Saga Dawa festivalKailash is actually Indian word and Tibetans used to called it Kangrenpoche or kangkartesi which means the recious jewel of snow. Why it is so called because during hot summer time, the snows around the surrounding mountains will meltout and it is only mount kailash that covers with snow for whole year. From the buddhist point of view, it is believe that Godess White Tara had first initiated the circumambulating circuit for the local Tibetan people because nobody at that time knows the circuit. That's why there is a pass with altitude of 5630m called Dolma-la pass which was termed after godess Tara (Dolma in Tibetan). The festival of Saga Dawa marks the enlightenment of Sakyamuni, and occurs on the full moon day of the fourth Tibetan month. Saga dawa is particularly popular time to visit mount kailash as Tibetan from every parts of Tibet gether in Darchen for the preparation of their circumambling around mount kailash. Tibetans believe that more the number of circulation around the kailash earns more merits in life.
What you can experience from this trip? -You can see hundreds of Tibetans gathering at Chorden karpo (white stupa). - Lamas chanting the prayers in traditional Tibetan style. - Erecting the slided vertical prayer flag once a year during Saga Dawa festival. - According to the local custom, there must be a Tibetan butcher to erect the vertical prayer flag so that it could erect well for the whole year.- Tibetans hang their prayer flags on the vertical prayer flag before it erected. - Lamas circulate around the erected vertical prayer flag by reciting special prayer. - hundreds of tourists and journalist from all over the world. - After finished the cermony, Tibetan peoples start to walk around the mount kailash.- Tibetans believe that, more the number of circulation around the mount kailash earns more merits in their life.
Day 1 Arrive in Lhasa.
Tour guide will pick you up from Lhasa gongkar airport or from Lhasa train station to your reserved hotel. You can relax in the hotel. If you have any doubt or question, you can ask help from you tour guide.
Day 2-3 full days Lhasa sightseeing
The first two days you are in Tibet will be put towards sightseeing inside Lhasa, to visit fabulous and typical Buddhist and historic sites, such as Potala Palace,Jokhang Temple,Barkhor street, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery.
In Potala palace, you can explore the grandest of this myriad chapels, its audience halls, the jeweled and Golden burial chortens (stupa Tombs) of past Dalai Lamas, and tremendous number of Buddhist frescoes, thangkas, combinations of mandala, figures of the Buddha.
You will visit 3 important monasteries in Lhasa, the first and foremost is Johkang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism, attracts pilgrims all over Tibetan Area, built during songtsen gonpo reign by princess wencheng of tang dynasty, 647 A.D. The other two Monasteries Sera and Drepung Monastery locate in suburb of Lhasa, are hosted by hundreds of Monks, learning, praying, studying, living there. The famous Monks debiting is held in the courtyard of Sera Monastery in the afternoon.
You will also explore the circular pilgrim route Barkhor street while traveling at Johkang Temple, to contact local folks here, and if possible purchase some traditional Tibetan artifacts, religious implements, antiques, books, Tibetan music instrument, Thangkas, and tradition tibetan clothes etc. Overnight at Lhasa.
Notice: the sequence of sightseeing will be based on the reservation of Potala Palace
Day 4 Lhasa-Gyantse
Driving towards Yamdrok-tso and Gyantse Kumbhum Monastery (300km) running through a black asphalt highway. From the top of Mt.Gangbala, you can see the fabulous shade of deep torquoise. Yamdrok-yutso is shaped like coiling scorpion with deep blue in colour. Then reached to Gyantse, visit Kubum Monastery which is 35m-high chorten (stupa) with its white layers trimmed with decorative stripes and its crown-like golden dome, is awe-inspiring. You can visit every chambers in the monastery. Overnight in Gyantse.
Day5 Gyantse/Shigatse/Sakya/Lhatse
Visiting the unique TashiLhunpo Monastery (90km), driving through black smooth tar road to Sakya, visit Sakya Monastery, The Sakya tradition is one of the four main Buddhist schools in Tibet. It was from here that the whole of Tibet was governed during the period of Sakya hegemony and even now there are buildings of historic importance to be seen here. Overnight in Lhatse.
Day 6 Lhatse/Saga
Today drive from Lhatse to Saga, pass several high plateau lakes, towns, herders tents and along the route with plateau mountain ranges. Overnight at Saga.
Day 7 Saga/Paryang
Taking another 255km drive from Saga to Paryang, you weave your way through small dusty town of Zhongba amidst enchanting panoramic views. Overnight at Paryang (Guest house, dorm bed).
Day 8: Paryang to MT.Kailash
The route is a pleasant about 4 hours' drive, passing through yellow steppe with snowcapped Himalayan peaks off to the south when the weather is clear. On the way you can see and experience the life of nomads and see the beatiful grass land of far west tibet. Magical mount Kailash comes into view approximately 90km after the Mayum-la just before the town of HOR QU. You could see Manasarovar Lake on the way to Kailash. You can relax around the lake shore and experience the natural beauty of the lake. In the summer time, flocks of swans will gather on the lake, bring grace and life to the area. You can also seen so many tibetans and hindus praying and circuling around the lake shore for the whole day.
Day 9: Entering into Darchen for your final preparation
The entry fee for mount kailash is 80Y per person and here you need to register your passsports, permits and the itinerary at the police station on west side of Darchen. Darchen is the starting and completion point for the general circuit of the sacred mountain. It is wise to spend at least a day acclimatising and making final preparations. Overnight in Darchen.
Day 10 Trek day one (outer ciruit), Darchen to Drirapuk 11KM
Traditionally a pilgrim undertakes 52 km trekking circuit around mount Kailash commencing at Darchen(4574m) and crossing the Dolma-la pass on the second day of the three day walk. Darchen is the starting and completion point for the general circuit of the sacred mount. A few kilometers after leaving Darchen, there is a valley where porters are waiting for their client. They will help the clients to take every necessary things on yaks and horses. After two hours, you will come upon a grassy plain with populated by nomads. There you can refresh yourself in nomadic tent by drinking some soft drinks there. For this turn in the valley, it is another two hours at least before reaching Drirapuk(4920m). You need to camp or can rest in monastery guest house made from cement with little bit good facilities than others in Drirapuk. Camping.
Day 11 Trek day two, Drirapuk to Dzultripyk 22KM
The second day is the hardest and most tough circuit with the Dolma-la pass lies 6.4km ahead but 762m above Drirapuk. The peak of Dolma-la pass is about 5630m above sea level, so it is better to set off early in the morning as the sun rays break over the ridges above. After taking a rest on the peak of Dolma-la pass, you will decending stair case brings you to Lhachu valley floor, about onehour from the pass. From here it is still four hours trekking to the day final destination with no shelters in between. It is better to walk on the rightside of the river and finally reached to Dzultripuk (miracle cave of milarepa). It is advised you to get there before than other groups because of limitted number of rooms available there in Dzultripuk. Take a good rest in the guest room and prepare for next mornings departure. Camping.
Day 12 Dzultripuk to Darchen 11KM
The tour guide will arrange your time and ask him/herto visit the caves and visit the tmple and shrines that has been built around Milarepa cave. The walk back to Darchen is easy and the exit from the valley can be reached within three short hours. At the ending point of valley, the driver will come to pick you and take you back to Darchen. Camping.
Day 13 Darchen back to Paryang
Day 14 Paryang to Saga
Day 15 Saga to Lhatse
Day 16 Lhatse to Lhasa
