Summer is the time when all spiritual journeys in Uttarakhand get underway. Though the Char Dham Yatra is the most well-known, there are others which are also of great significance and attract many pilgrims from across the country and the world.
Besides the Hemkund Sahib Yatra, which used to begin on June 1 every year (this year it began on May 25), there are the challenging and exciting Kailash Mansarovar Yatra that passes through Uttarakhand and the pilgrimage to Chhota Kailash, two extremely special and unique spiritual/religious events in the hill State’s calendar annual of events.
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra takes place from June to September while Chhota Kailash or “Adi Kailash” yatra is undertaken between July and September.
About 865 kilometres from Delhi, Kailash Mansarovar, according to the Puranas, is identified as the centre of the universe. Mount Kailash (6,690 metres) is believed to be the abode of lord Shiva and Parvati while the vast lake (Mansarovar) near it is believed to have been created by Brahma.
Mount Kailash and lake Mansarovar are in Tibet. The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra passes through the Kumaon hills and moves to Tibet after crossing lipulekh Pass.
The itinerary for this challenging yatra, which passes through Uttarakhand, is announced by the Union Ministry of External Affairs.
The belief is that any person who bathes in the sacred water of Mansarovar goes to the “Paradise of Brahma” after death. lake Mansarovar is located at a height of 4,530 metres and has a circumference of 90 kilometres, a depth of 90 metres and an area of 320 square kilometres.
In Uttarakhand, the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police look after the pilgrims. Nabhidhang is the last camp in Kumaon, 9 kilometres from Kalapani. After an 8-km walk from Nabhidhang, pilgrims reach lipulekh Pass (at 5334 metres) and then enter Tibet. The yatra ends around September.
The duration of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is 29 days for each batch while for Adi Kailash Yatra, it is 19 days. The perpetual snowclad peak of holy Kailash is a spotless design of nature’s art, of an overpowering beauty. Many a pilgrim is drawn again and again to undertake the yatra.
While pilgrims are on their way to Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet, other pilgrims are headed for “Chotta Kailash” in Kumaon which is an equally thrilling and picturesque yatra. Adi Kailash, popularly known as Chhota Kailash, is a mountain close to the Indo-Tibetan border and is in an area of great natural beauty and immense peace in Pithoragarh district.
Every year, pilgrims from various parts of the country undertake this yatra with the help of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam.
During the Adi-Kailash Yatra, pilgrims come across the mighty splendour of the snow peaks of Annapurna, the gushing Kali River, thick Forests and the famous “Narayan Ashram”, which has a variety of wild flowers and fruits and awesome waterfalls.
The local people at Chotta Kailash are the Bhotias. There is a village nearby named after Kunti, the mother of Pandavas.
In this region of exciting treks, people not only walk along a large portion of the challenging Kailash-Mansarovar route, but also get to know the social and cultural life of the people living in the Chaudans, Byans and Darma valleys.
The base camp for the yatra is at Kathgodam where assistance and guidance from KMVN is available. After reaching Dharchula, the pilgrimage takes people through Gala, Bundi, Gunji, Kalapani and Nabhidhang. Parvati Sarovar, Om Parvat, Parvati Mukut and Pandav Parvat are also part of this interesting yatra.
Mt Adi-Kailash is an area of great natural beauty and peace. Thousands of Hindu devotees and adventurous mountain trekkers partake in the annual Adi-Kailash Yatra to have a glimpse of the formation of the Sanskrit letter ‘IJ’ (om or aum) on the Om Parvat. Mount Adi Kailash, also known as Baba Kailash, is one of the abodes of lord Shiva in the Himalayas.
Mount Adi Kailash and Om Parvat are at an attitude of 2,000 to 14,000 feet and are located in Pithoragarh District of Uttarakhand. Another major attraction during the pilgrimage is the Parvati Sarovar (Tal) or Parvati lake or Gauri Kund at the foot of Adi Kailash. The waters of gaurikund reflect the mountain.
It is believed that the great sage, Ved Vyas, lived here for a long time and wrote many books.