Mount Kailash – Sacred Peak of Tibet & the Ultimate Pilgrimage Destination

Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpoche) – Sacred Peak of Tibet · Center of Four Faiths · The King of Holy Mountains
Mount Kailash, also known as Gang Rinpoche in Tibetan and traditionally identified as Mount Sumeru, is located in Pulan County, Ngari Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Standing at 6,656 meters above sea level, it is the main peak of the Gangdise Mountain Range and one of the Four Great Sacred Mountains in Tibetan Buddhism.

Regarded by Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Bon (Yungdrung Bon), and Jainism as the spiritual center of the world, Mount Kailash, together with Lake Manasarovar to its south, is revered as the sacred mountain-lake duo — a holy destination for pilgrims across faiths and nations. Despite not being the tallest peak in the area, its symmetrical, pyramid-like shape, eternal snowcap, and the way it reflects light make it a uniquely divine presence on the Tibetan Plateau.

According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, Mount Kailash is Mount Sumeru, the cosmic mountain at the center of the universe. Even before Buddhism, during the ancient Zhangzhung civilization and the time of Yungdrung Bon, Kailash was called the “Nine-Stacked Swastika Mountain” and was believed to be the dwelling place of 360 Bon deities.

The mountain is also the source of four major rivers in Asia:The Lion Spring River (Indus)、The Peacock River (Karnali)、The Horse River (Brahmaputra)、The Elephant River (Sutlej).

Surrounding Mount Kailash are five historic monasteries, which together form the spiritual framework of the Mount Kailash kora (pilgrimage circuit):Darchen Monastery – the starting point of the pilgrimage、Drirapuk Monastery、Dzutulpuk Monastery、Zhongzha Monastery、Serlung Monastery.

These monasteries are rich in legends and religious art, featuring ancient sculptures, murals, and carvings — preserving centuries of Tibetan spiritual heritage.

Mount Kailash is not just a physical mountain but a spiritual beacon — a symbol of faith, eternity, and cosmic harmony, drawing pilgrims, seekers, and explorers from all over the world.

Mount Kailash – The Spiritual Center of the World · Abode of Shiva · Sacred and Unclimbed Peak
To Indians, this majestic mountain is known as Mount Kailash and is believed to be the spiritual center of the world. In Hinduism, it is said that Lord Shiva, the most powerful and highest-ranking deity among the Trimurti (three principal gods), resides here. Both the Indus and Ganges Rivers, two of India’s most sacred rivers, originate in this region. It is thus no surprise that large numbers of Indian pilgrims can be seen circumambulating Mount Kailash each year.

Perhaps due to its divine status as the “center of the world,” no one has ever successfully climbed Mount Kailash, making it one of the last unclimbed sacred peaks on Earth. Its mystical aura remains untouchable, protected by faith and reverence.

Holy Land for Masters – A Shared Pilgrimage Site for Four Great Religions
In Tibetan, Mount Kailash means “the Mountain of the Gods,” while in Sanskrit, it is interpreted as “Shiva’s paradise”—the mythical heaven of the gods in Hindu cosmology. Historically, many renowned spiritual masters from China and beyond have come here to meditate and teach the Dharma. For centuries, the mountain has served as a sacred center shared by four major faiths: Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Jainism, and the Bon religion.

To countless believers from China, India, and Nepal, Kailash is a spiritual destination of deep devotion and aspiration.

In Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, Mount Kailash is revered as the Palace of Chakrasamvara, with the surrounding peaks and rivers forming parts of a sacred mandala rich in Tantric symbolism and cosmic geometry.

A Mountain Blessed by the Buddha – The Footprints of the Enlightened One
Mount Kailash is also believed to be blessed by many Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and great masters. According to legend, Shakyamuni Buddha crafted three statues while turning the Dharma wheel, dedicating one each to the celestial, subterranean, and human realms.

When the demon king Gonpo Bung attempted to bring the human-realm statue back to Mount Kailash, he could not find a proper seat for it. He then tried to carry it using magical powers. At that moment, the Buddha and 500 Arhats flew to the mountain and left their footprints on a rock known as the “Basin of the 500 Arhats”, or the Upper Mandala, on the southern face of Kailash. Additionally, they left one footprint on each corner of the mountain, known as the “Four Nails of Immovability,” making it impossible for the demon king to take the statue away.

Even today, visitors to the rear side of Mount Kailash can still see rope-like impressions said to be left by the demon king, as well as the Buddha’s sacred footprints surrounding them.

Mount Kailash Kora: Best Time & Trekking Guide
The best time for the Mount Kailash pilgrimage is May-June and September-October. Take our tour vehicle to Darchen (Taqin), rest overnight, and start the kora the next day. The full route is 57km, recommended to complete in 2 days:

Day 1: Ticket Checkpoint → Prayer Flag Square → Chuku Monastery → Drirapuk → Zutulpuk Monastery → Sky Burial Site

Day 2: Sky Burial Site → Dolma La Pass (5,630m) → Boudhanath Stupa → Tea House → Dzongzhu Monastery → Zongdu → Checkpoint

Key Tips:

Extreme altitude: Entire trek above 4,600m, peaking at 5,600m. Acclimatization is critical.

Save emergency contacts; turn back if unwell.

Test your endurance with high-altitude hikes before attempting Kailash.