How to Reach Kailash Manasarovar

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Pilgrims walking along a trail toward Mount Kailash in Tibet, with snow-capped peaks and rugged mountain terrain in the background
by Mr. Vishal Gogia 29th Aug, 2025

4 Ways to Reach Kailash Manasarovar: Which One is Right for You?

Kailash Mansarovar is a place that holds great spiritual importance for people of many religions. Located in the western region of Tibet, this mystical land is home to the sacred Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. For centuries, people have made the arduous journey to Kailash Mansarovar to seek spiritual enlightenment and experience a transformational journey, and they also do the Kailash Parikrama. The tallest mountain, Kailash, which rises to a height of 6,675 meters, is believed to be the sacred home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Since ancient times, pilgrims from many other religions have been drawn to the mountain because of its tremendous importance in Hinduism, Jainism and among Tibetans.

It is believed that Mount Kailash, the most revered mountain in the Himalayan range, originated 30 million years ago, during the early phases of the creation of the Himalayan ranges. Hindus regard it as the home of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. According to the Jains, Rishabhdev, who established their first set of laws at the beginning of time, found Nirvana atop Mount Kailash. Buddhists believe it is where Buddha Demchok resides, and for Bon devotees, it is the spiritual center of power.

The holy mountain and Lake Mansarovar are in Tibet, and the road from Uttarakhand is connected to India. Indian tourists can reach Mount Kailash from Lipulekh Pass in Kumaon. The Kailash pilgrimage and the sacred lake Mansarovar are managed exclusively by government agencies, including the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Pile of rocks with colorful Tibetan prayer flags in front of Mount Kailash, a sacred Himalayan peak in Tibet

Spirituality of Mount Kailash

It is said that Kailash Mansarovar has a powerful spiritual force. Many spiritual pilgrims believe traveling to Kailash Mansarovar will enable them to purge their past sins and reach spiritual enlightenment. Travelers are supposed to have a profound feeling of tranquility and a sense of oneness with the cosmos on the trek to Kailash Mansarovar, which is also considered a transforming experience.

One has to walk 53 kilometers to visit Mount Kailash, which is also known as the center of the universe in Hindu Puranas and Buddhist texts, Astpaad in Jain texts and Yungdruk Gu Tseg (nine-story swastika mountain) in Bonpa culture. Its highest point is Polmapass. Lake Mansarovar, about 30 km from Mount Kailash, is about 90 km.

Only in the spring does the lake begin to melt after freezing throughout the winter. The Dharchula, Tawaghat, Lipulekh Darma, and Johar valleys are the routes that one may take to go to Kailash-Mansarovar from Tanakpur or Kathgodam. Mount Kailash is approximately 100 kilometers away from the Lipulekh Pass. Pithoragarh-Tawaghat-Ghatiabagarh route continues as Dharchula-Lipulekh road. The route's altitude, which increases from 6,000 feet to 17,060 feet, lies between Ghatiabagarh and Lipulekh Pass.

The Pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar

It is a challenging trip to go to Kailash Mansarovar. Travelers must negotiate rough terrain and tough weather. Between May and September, when the weather is quite warm, is the ideal time to visit Kailash Mansarovar. One of the most common routes to see Kailash Mansarovar is to participate in the yearly pilgrimage known as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.

Travelers embark on the 52-kilometer Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in the little village of Darchen, which circles the revered Mount Kailash. Known for its rugged terrain and steep ascents and descents, the journey is among the most difficult in the world. Even though the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is hard for the weak-hearted, those who participate are rewarded with an unparalleled spiritual experience.

Ways to Reach Kailash Manasarovar

Mount Kailash covered in snow under a clear blue sky, located in the Himalayas of Tibet

Travel from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, is one of the most well-known and popular ways to reach Kailash Manasarovar. With a border crossing at Gyirong Port/Rasuwa Gadhi and flights from Tribhuvan International Airport to Lhasa Gonggar International Airport, Nepal, Tibet's nearest neighbor, is the only nation with direct access to Tibet. It is a popular route for many visitors to the sacred mountain because there are two primary ways to go to Ngari Prefecture.

Take a flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa, and then take a car or flight to Ngari-
There is no direct connection between Kailash by Kathmandu to Ngari Gunsa Airport, therefore, the shortest way to go to Kailash is by air. However, you must fly to Lhasa first and then change to a flight there. There are a few direct flights daily from Kathmandu to Lhasa, which take around 90 minutes and pass right over Mount Everest's peak on the way to Lhasa. However, travel on this Kailash Mansarovar route can be costly due to the high cost of flights, which start at more than $500 for an economy ticket. The connecting flight from Lhasa will take you to Shiquanhe's newly constructed Ngari Gunsa Airport. There is just one flight every day, departing from Lhasa at roughly seven in the morning, that goes to Gunsa. The flight to Ngari takes two hours and starts at about US$380. The biggest disadvantage is that you need more time to acclimate before arriving in Darchen, which increases your chances of experiencing sickness from altitude.

The option is to take the approximately three-day trip from Lhasa to Darchen. You will go on a journey from Lhasa, stopping overnight in Shigatse and Saga en route and arriving in Darchen in the afternoon of your third day out of Lhasa. The itinerary includes acclimatization and touring in the Tibetan capital before you depart. The journey from Lhasa to Darchen passes through breathtaking Himalayan vistas and imposing Tibetan landscapes. On the way, stops are made so you can delight in the spectacular scenery of the plateau, such as Yamdrok Lake, the Karola Glacier, the Gyantse Kumbum, and the Tashilhunpo Monastery.

From Kathmandu, take the road to Kailash through Gyirong Port-
Another way crosses the border at the now-famous Gyirong Port and leads you directly from Kathmandu overland to Kailash. However, it is advisable to acclimatize in Gyirong Town or at least one day after going from an extremely low altitude in Kathmandu to more than 2,700 meters in Gyirong Town. The trip takes two to three days, depending on how quickly you travel. Given that Darchen is located at an elevation of more than 4,500 meters, it is essential to acclimatize before continuing the journey to lower the chance of experiencing altitude sickness in the upper latitudes of Ngari Prefecture.

Once you've adjusted to Gyirong Town, you may continue via Gyirong County to the G219 National Road, which will take you straight to Darchen. Following a brief but beautiful drive from Gyirong, the route travels northwest to Saga County, where you will spend another night before continuing to Darchen the following morning. It takes 8 to 9 hours to go to the sacred mountain, but during that time, you pass through some of the most beautiful grasslands on the plateau, home to a wide variety of plateau animals and several lakes and mountains.

All permissions for travel to Tibet, including the Group Tourist Visa, Tibet Travel Permit, Alien's Travel Permit, Frontier Pass, and Restricted Areas Permit, are necessary for any visit to Mount Kailash. Even if you are not traveling overland, you still need it before leaving Nepal to enter Tibet from Kathmandu.

Travel from Lucknow by Helicopter to Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar

Kailash Mansarovar is most easily accessible from India via Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Passport holders from India can take a car from Lucknow to Nepalgunj to board a helicopter that departs from Kathmandu. This is the easiest way to reach Kailash Manasarovar.

Travel from Lhasa to Mt. Kailash and Manasarovar

A group of tourists posing on the rocky shore of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet with scenic mountains and cloudy sky in the background.

The road from Lhasa to Mount Kailash is one of Tibet's most exciting and spectacular, crossing almost the entire Tibetan landscape from east to west. As the most popular way to reach Kailash Manasarovar, about 90 per cent of all tourists and pilgrims come from Lhasa, following the Friendship Road G318 for part of the route.

Many journeys to Kailash also stop at Mount Everest on the route there, passing through Gyantse, Shigatse, and Saga to see the world's tallest mountain. Following the G219 via Saga to Darchen, the trail follows the same path as Kathmandu after reaching Everest. The same documentation and licenses are necessary and must be maintained before traveling outside Lhasa, just like the other routes to Kailash.

A smart approach to acclimate to the higher elevations in the Kailash region of Ngari is to begin in Lhasa, especially if you're taking the kora circuit around the revered mountain. To lower your chance of developing altitude sickness as you move higher, you will often spend a few days acclimating to the greater altitude of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. You can explore the city during this acclimation and visit the breathtaking attractions, like the Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace.

A direct flight takes about two hours from Lhasa to Gunsa Airport in Ngari. The cost of the flights, though, starts at about US$ 380 for an economy ticket that travels only one way. However, it significantly reduces travel time, which is helpful for individuals who desire to hike the Kora path but have restricted time.

Travel from Kashgar to Mt. Kailash and Manasarovar

Going south from Kashgar, in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Prefecture, is one of Tibet's most epic road trips and represents a journey of approximately 1,549 kilometers (962.5 miles). Crossing two peaks above 5,400 meters, the Xinjiang-Tibet Road is the highest globally. The road, which travels south from Kashgar (1,270m), passes through several Xinjiang counties, through the Quanshui Lake (5,137m), and then enters the disputed Aksai Chin region. After passing through Aksai Chin, the road continues south along the Bagong Co shoreline before crossing the 4,725-meter Mariom La Pass and entering Rutog County in Ngari Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The Sengge Zangbo River flows through Shiquanhe, the county capital of Gar County in Ngari Prefecture, which was once known as Gar Town. The trail continues south through Burang County before descending to Darchen, a tiny village located 4,575 meters above sea level and the beginning point of the Kailash Kora.

One of the concerns when walking this route is the rapid increase in altitude along the way. As the road passes through Kargilik County of Kashgar Prefecture, it maintains a relatively low elevation, gradually increasing as it goes south. However, once the road reaches the mountain, its altitude rises dramatically, from less than 1,500 meters on the plain to more than 3,100 meters in just 45 kilometers. There is a significant chance of getting altitude sickness with such a rapid elevation gain.

Booking flights to Mount Kailash from the Kashgar Airport in Xinjiang to the Ngari Gunsa Airport in Shiquanhe, Ngari Prefecture, is possible. Travel to the region is quicker and simpler since Darchen, the tiny village between Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar, is only one day's journey from the Gunsa Airport. The region of Darchen is at an elevation of 4,575 meters, which is an increase of more than 3,000 meters from the beginning point in Kashgar; thus, altitude is still a problem.

You must reserve a pre-arranged tour with a Tibetan tour provider if you plan the journey from Kashgar to Mount Kailash. Travelling alone in Tibet is prohibited; you have entered the Tibet Autonomous Region after passing through Aksai Chin. The Tibet Travel Permit, the Alien's Travel Permit, the Frontier Pass, and the Restricted Areas Permit are just a few of the authorizations you'll need to visit Mount Kailash. As compared to traveling from Lhasa, all of these permits must be obtained by us before you depart from Kashgar, and as the Tibet Travel Permit and Restricted Areas Permit take several weeks to acquire, you will need to schedule your tour well in advance of your vacation in Kashgar.

Conclusion

It might be challenging to decide which of the several ways to reach Kailash Manasarovar because they all offer incredible views and beautiful surroundings. But unless time is of concern, and you want to experience the most of it, then the most popular route for Kailash is to travel from Kathmandu, and the next option is to travel by helicopter to Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar by Lucknow. Not only is it the most accessible and affordable way to travel, but it also gives you a greater understanding of Tibetan culture and religion, spending more time in the inhabited and visited areas of the planet. Many of the most important sites. Into Tibetan Buddhism along the way. Once you reach Mount Kailash, you should know how and why Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus believe this mountain is the most sacred thing in the world. .

The conclusion is the same regardless of the path taken: Kailash Manasarovar is a place of tremendous spiritual importance. It is a place where the magnificence of nature and human devotion meet, luring adventurers and pilgrims alike to set off on a transforming journey. Whichever path one takes, the destination is the same – a sacred abode that inspires awe, introspection, and reverence for the divine forces that shape our world. Reaching Kailash Manasarovar is about more than simply the trip; it's about the spiritual awakening that occurs, which is evidence of the Himalayas' unwavering attraction and the enduring force of faith.