Like every year, the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra is being organized by the Government
of India, Ministry of External Affairs starting end May/early June to September
2008. The pilgrimage or 'Yatra' is open to all Indian citizens above18 years
of age who wish to proceed to Kailash and Manasarovar for religious purposes.
About Mount Kailash
The holy Mount Kailash is situated in the western Tibetan plateau in the northernmost
region of the
Himalayas. Also referred to as Mount Meru and Kang Rinpoche, or
snow jewel, Mount Kailash is a 22,028 ft high peak known for being the abode
of
Shiva. Hindus perform a 'parikrama' or walk around the 32-mile circumference
of Mount Kailash, an act that is believed to wipe away all sins. Four holy rivers
originate from Mount Kailash:
the Indus, the Brahamputra, the Karnali and the
Sutlej.
About Mansarovar Lake
Travel 18 miles southeast of Kailash, and you arrive at the placid blue circular
Lake Mansarovar, also known as Tso Rinpoche or 'precious lake' in Tibetan. Bathing
in the freezing cold water of the lake which is said to contain miraculous powers
is considered to be of massive spiritual benefit.
About the Yatra
The duration of the Yatra is 26 days. In addition, Yatris will need to spend
4 days in New Delhi to obtain visas, undergo a comprehensive medical examination
and complete other formalities. This year, 16 batches each consisting of a maximum
of 60 pilgrims will take part in the Yatra. The first batch is expected to depart
from New Delhi in the last week of May/first week of June and continue till
the end of September 2008.
Cost of Travel
Applicants should ensure that they possess an Indian Passport. The cost of the
Yatra will include Rs. 19,250 to be paid to Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN),
Rs. 1,950 to be paid to ITBP for medical examination / tests at Delhi, and US$
700 to be paid to the Chinese side, besides additional expenditure on equipment,
clothing, food, baggage, ponies, etc.
An Arduous Yatra
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation has recognized the Kailash Manasarovar
Yatra as a trekking expedition with an element of life risk involved. The Yatra
is extremely arduous - much more than Vaishnodevi or
Amarnath Yatra, and involves
trekking at altitudes as high as 19,500 feet, under hostile conditions, in extreme
cold and on rugged terrain, and may prove hazardous for those who are not physically
fit.
Fitness Test a Must
Applicants should be physically healthy, medically fit and are required to undergo
a comprehensive medical examination in New Delhi. A second medical test to ascertain
reactions to altitude trekking is done at Gunji, after 6 days of the Yatra,
at a height of 3500 meters.
How to Apply
Complete applications in the prescribed format should be sent to Under Secretary
(EA) Room No. 255-A, South Block, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi-110011
latest by Monday, March 17, 2008. The selection of Yatris will be done by Ministry
of External Affairs through a computer-generated random gender-balanced selection
process.
For further details on the Yatra, please visit the official website of Kumaon
Mandal Vikas Nigam.
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