Kailash Love: Transformative Steps Around the Sacred Mountain

May 6, 2025

Some places you choose to visit. Others summon you—quietly, completely, without explanation.

The Himalayas were never on my travel list. I hadn’t researched it, planned for it, or dreamt of its high-altitude embrace. But I guess they were always the deepest desire of a force beyond me, waiting patiently for the right time. One day, it whispered through a silence I hadn’t fully understood then. That whisper became a call. And that call… became a pilgrimage.

In May 2024, I embarked on a sacred journey unlike any other: a 16-day pilgrimage to complete a 52-meter circuit around the mystical Mount Kailash, the holiest unclimbed peak on earth, during the auspicious Saga Dawa period. I traveled across the vast landscapes of Tibet, tracing ancient paths walked by sages and seekers for millennia. I carried with me a longing for a deeper connection—with myself, with the divine, and with life.

Heaven and Earth

Known as the cosmic axis connecting heaven and earth, Mount Kailash is part of the remote Trans-Himalayan region of western Tibet. Unlike Everest’s fame for conquest, Kailash’s power lies in its mystical aura. A peak untouched by ego or a climb to its summit. Revered in Hinduism and other religions, it is considered the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, a special site of unparalleled energy.

The pilgrimage route around Mount Kailash, called the kora, is a 52-kilometer trek through high-altitude terrain, including the famous Dolma La Pass at 5590 meters. Even though it is surrounded by pristine landscapes, the path is harsh, the altitude punishing. However the real climb of the inner transformation is immeasurable, as it is believed to erase the sins of a lifetime when one completes the kora.

Call of Mountain

Throughout the years, I faced trials in every sphere—health, relationships, career—where hope and strength felt like a distant concept. I kept giving, hoping, trying.

After a trip to India in 2023, a voice within me said, "Go to Kailash." Something within me knew—this mountain wanted me home, to comfort me. They say Lord Shiva calls you to Kailash when you are ready. And when that call comes, resistance dissolves and one must go no matter what.

I'm definitely not a trekker. I didn't even prepare for this trek. But I was determined to fulfill the universe's wish, and that was enough. And somehow this trip was made possible for me, against all odds. I found Tibet Vista company and signed up for a 16-day tour across Tibet.

Spiritual Prelude

With the guidance of Tibet Vista, our journey unfolded like an ancient story—each chapter revealing something profound. Every stop introduced us to the land’s spiritual essence. We began in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, a city surrounded by deep rooted traditions and devotion. I was in awe as we explored the following:

Potala Palace, where history's crown stood still among sacred halls
Jokhang Monastery, where prayers burned eternally like butter lamps
Sera Monastery, where knowledge is acquired by Tibetan monks who engaged in debates
Everest Base Camp (north one on the Tibet side), where tales of human endurance and nature's untamed grandeur were found

On our journey towards Kailash, our bus glided through winding roads that were veins of wisdom stretching through the heart of Tibet.

These moments were more than travel hotspots—they were planting seeds of something big yet to come. Tibet began to prepare me—not for a trek, but for a transformation.

Onset of Transformation

And then came the long-awaited moment. Mount Kailash stood before us—draped in snow yet commanding in presence. The Saga Dawa festival brought color and joy, a Tibetan celebration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. Drums echoed through the valley. Prayer flags fluttered like disco balls. Mantras rose to clear blue skies, into the heavens.

The kora began at Yam Dwar, known as the 'Gate of Death', where one must leave their egotistic attachments behind. When I touched the bell, I knew that I could no longer look back in my life. The past had now vanished, and a rebirth had started.

The high-altitude trails were brutal, not only physically but emotionally. My nose was running nonstop. I stopped every 10 minutes, gasping for breath. I was the slowest one in the group. I was frustrated. My mouth was full of cold sores due to intense stress. At one point, I cried for 15 minutes straight, praying to the universe because I was afraid I wouldn’t make it.

Then, grace arrived in multiple ways. A young couple from our tour stayed by my side, and helped me in raising my energy to new heights. Without knowing me, local Tibetans rescued me by offering their hands and kindness. A nurse in the group gave me glucose, which was pivotal for my trekking.

In those acts of compassion, I began to ascend—not just the mountain, but my own limitations. And, the mountain was peeling away everything in my mind that was false, such as self-doubt. Then, something inside me broke open—not in despair, but in realization. I can do this. I was doing this. All it took were my noble intentions, and more importantly, my pure heart.

Touch of Divine

Motivated to have the rare opportunity to touch the mountain, I hiked up for 4 hours through snow-covered, rugged terrain. Despite the freezing weather and my aching body, I reached the base of Mount Kailash.

There, I placed my palms on the sacred mountain, feeling the pulse of eternity. In that moment, time disappeared, leaving a stillness that whispered ancient truths. Kailash was happy to see me, as I was too. And I knew I was extraordinarily blessed.

Touching Kailash is said to bring profound transformation, elevating one's spiritual state. I felt energy surging through me—divine and healing. I felt weightless, almost like flying, on my way back to the guesthouse. Something had shifted inside me forever. I had become part of this mountain and with those few people who had come here before me.

Profound Realization

This was the hardest day: 22 km of rocky, icy trail and a climb to Dolma La Pass, the highest point of the kora at 5590 meters. The air grew thinner, the cold stung deep, and the slopes stretched my limits.

When I reached the summit, I saw thousands of colorful prayer flags, dancing in the wind. I sensed the answering of the wishes and vows found in each of these flags. Later on, I glimpsed Gauri Kund, the Lake of Compassion symbolizing protection and purity, shining like a pearl of the earth.

We walked not as tourists, but as seekers. Some walked for redemption, while others for release. I wasn’t just walking a path—I was walking through lifetimes of karmas and letting go other things that no longer served me. Every step afterwards became lighter, as I turned my exhaustion into surrender. Each breath slowly became a beautiful chant. At that moment, I was not just a woman on a trek—I was someone connecting to a version of me that I haven't met yet.

Completion's Celebration

On the final day of the kora, I walked as if in a trance, absorbing the panoramic views of natural beauty that encompassed the Kailash. I waved happily at yaks, wearing bells with meditative sounds. I also saw people prostrating their way around the entire kora—an act of faith I deeply admired and respected.

When we returned to the village of Darchen, someone pointed out a street sign bearing my name. I was stunned. At that moment, I felt Kailash itself was celebrating me with a victory trophy, saying, “Well done. Welcome home.”

Mirror of the Soul

Before heading back to Lhasa, we made a stop at Lake Manasarovar, the highest freshwater lake in the world, believed to cleanse lifetimes of karma. It reflected the sky so perfectly, I couldn’t tell where earth ended and heaven began. As I dipped my feet into its icy waters, something special stirred within me. Perhaps, I was going through more purification, leaving me as a clean slate.

Power of Pilgrim Fellowship

Though this was an inward journey, I wasn’t alone. With locals and friends from the tour, we weaved a bond that will last forever. These people I met—their compassion, courage, and vulnerability—became part of my transformation, my village. We shared:

Meals and stories under wide Tibetan skies
Joy of laughter and tears of struggle
Spiritual revelations and uplifting devotion

They cared for me like family when I was weak. In those human connections, I discovered that spirituality wasn’t just solitude—it was shared humanity to help reveal our true selves.

Gifts of Kailash

Sixteen days. Countless awakenings. This trip was the most humbling, life-altering experience of my life. The raw beauty of Tibet, the endless challenges of the Kailash kora, and the camaraderie with fellow trekkers from around the world. I went seeking answers and aid. I came back with newfound appreciation for the divine power of nature and the human spirit.

Kailash is not a destination. It is a teacher, a mirror, a portal.

Upon completion of the tour, Kailash immediately removed everything that was not right for me—unnecessary concerns, old painful narratives, layers of illusions. And in return, it gave me something greater. Clarity. Creative inspiration. New doors have opened for me.

Every couple of months since this trip, several tears of joy have slipped out quietly, unnoticed, from the depth of my soul that is too grateful for the everything Kailash has done for me, and will continue to do for me in the future.

I pray that this post flickers inspiration for you to do the impossible. You are meant to awaken. And to those feeling the call for something, such as a special mountain, I say: don't question it, just go. Let it strip you bare. Let it bless you immensely. Let your pure soul meet you there. Let its love be carried into every breath of your being.

Because in the end, Kailash doesn’t just welcome you—it transforms you. 🏔️💙

For more info on this tour that I did: https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-tour/kailash-saga-dawa-festival-tour.html

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