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The Inner and Outer Kora of Mount Kailash

Jul 12,2016 / by Kunga

Mount Kailash

Located in the far west of Tibet, Mount Kailash, Gang Rimpoche in Tibetan language, is one of the holiest mountains of the world, adored by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Bonpo. It is really worthy to take the Mt. kailash Kora tour, even you are not a pilgrim. Besides Mt. Kailash, there are other highlights for tourists and pilgrims, such as Lake Manasarovar and Guge Kingdom. Especially at evening, the beautiful scenery is very fascinating. When you pass the trails used by pilgrims though thousands of years, you may feel you are wandering in a long history and when you complete the Kora, your heart will be full of happiness and gratification.

It is said that the Buddha of Sakyamuni was born in the year of Horse, so there are many pilgrims coming here in 2014. And if you make the Mt. Kailash Kora on the date of April 15 of the Tibetan calendar, it is believed more merits and blessing will be received than other dates as this is the date of Sakyamuni’s Nirvana.

There are two routes for the Mt. Kailash Kora: Outer Kora and Inner Kora.
The Outer Kora is about 56km (about 49km excluding the road to the monasteries), taking 3 days with overnight staying at Diraphuk and Zuthulpuk. Some local Tibetans walk so fast that they can complete one single circlewithin one day. And there are also pilgrims prostrating themselves after each step that will use 3-4 weeks to complete one circle. On the trekking way, you may meet Bon pilgrims circling the route counter clockwise.

Day 1: Trek from Darchen to Drirapuk (22km, 12 hrs)
Day 2: Trek from Drirapuk to Dzultripuk (22km, 12 hours)
Day 3: Trek from Dzultripuk to Darchen (12km, 7hours)

The Inner Kora is a path leading directly into the south face of Mt. Kailash. The starting point of Inner Kailash Kora is also in Darchen. This inner kora is even harder than the outer kora.

Day 1: Trek from Darchen to Drirapuk
Day 2: Trek from Drirapuk to Darchen

As the condition is poor in Darchen and on trekking, tourists need to get prepared in advance in Lhasa or Shigatse, taking enough food such as cans, sausage, instant noodles, chocolates, drinked water, etc. And it is necessary to hire yaks, yakman or porters to secure smooth sightseeing on road.