Adi Kailash is one of the five sacred mountains, known as Panch Kailash, which are considered the abode of Lord Shiva. If you are planning for the Adi Kailash Trek, then here is an essential guide for you to plan your trek, including all the information related to planning the Trek, documents required, and the popular route for the Adi Kailash pilgrimage.
Perched at an altitude of 5945 meters, Adi Kailash is known as one of lord Shiva's five sacred abodes—Panch Kailash. Adi Kailash is also known as Chhota or Little Kailash. It is considered the mirror of the mighty Mount Kailash in Tibet. And, just like Kailash Mansarovar, pilgrims undertake the Adi Kailash trek. It is one of the most popular pilgrimages for Hindu devotees. The sojourn provides a spiritual and soul-evoking travel experience to pilgrims. Among the Panch Kailash, Adi Kailash is considered the second most sacred peak that lets the pilgrims feel the divine presence of Lord Shiva in this serene environment.
Adi Kailash Yatra is one of the famous pilgrimages, starting from the Dharchula base camp in Uttarakhand. This spiritual trek begins in May and June and remains closed during the monsoon season. It restarts from September to November. Pilgrims from every corner of the country embark on this mystical sojourn. This expedition is the best spiritual travel experience that no one should ever miss. It is one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in India, and equally beautiful to witness. During the trek, you stay in camps in the most stunning locations like Dharchula, Pithoragarh, Bundi, Gunji, and others. Adi Kailash and Om Parvat yatra provide pilgrims with inner peace and the power of self-purification. Also, while visiting this sacred place, you will witness Gauri Kund and Parvati Sarovar. The Adi Kailash is of great historical and mythological significance, which we have already discussed in another blog.
In this blog, we will discuss the type of preparations needed for the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra. But before that, let’s see some of the most important things about the Adi Kailash trek and pilgrimage:
The popular Hindu pilgrimage destination and one of the five abodes of Lord Shiva, Adi Kailash and Om Parvat, is well-connected with major cities of Uttarakhand state. Dharchula is known as the gateway to the Adi Kailash Trek. It is the point where you will be provided the Inner Line Permit for the Adi Kailash Yatra by the SDM. This permit is crucial because you will be traveling through the Indo-Nepal border.
The trek’s starting point is Tawaghat in Dharchula in Uttarakhand, with breathtaking views of the bountiful Mother Nature. After this, pilgrims go through the route of Pangu, Sirkha, Budhi, Nabhi, Nampha, Kutti, Jyollingkong, Nabidhang, Om Parvat, and Kala Paani.
Next to Adi Kailash, Om Parvat is one of the most sacred destinations of the Adi Kailash Yatra. The mountain got its name because of the natural rock formation that resembles the sacred symbol of ‘Om’ (ॐ). This natural rock formation is covered with snow, which is truly awe-inspiring and attractive to pilgrims and trekkers alike. According to folklore, there are a total of 8 mountains like this. However, Om Parvat is currently the only one visible and confirmed, and is accessible to pilgrims. Om Parvat is approximately 40 km from Adi Kailash. The trek will take approximately 8-10 hours. Well, Om Parvat is also a part of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. It can be seen from the Nabhidhang camp.
Devotees who cannot undertake the trek can opt for the Adi Kailash Yatra by helicopter. Many tour operators offer Adi Kailash tour packages with this option. This is one of the best ways to have a panoramic view of the two iconic mountains—Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. Moreover, this makes your journey comfortable and smooth. You can avoid dangerous routes, save your time & energy, and get a scenic aerial view of the snow-capped mountain peaks. Besides, it is perfect for elderly people, making it easier for them to do the parikrama.
Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Yatra is one of the best alternatives to the mighty Mount Kailash and Mansarovar yatra. Pilgrims go through a scenic route where they get to witness the snow-capped mountains and sacred sites. This provides an enriching experience to the devotees. The trek duration will be approximately 150-200 kilometres. The route offers pilgrims diverse landscapes that provide a unique experience. The most popular route for the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat trek is through Dharchula. The trek takes 10-15 days to complete. Besides, it requires some permits and documents, for which you must plan and prepare in advance.
Let’s see how to prepare for the sacred Adi Kailash Pilgrimage:
The foremost thing is to carefully plan your route to the Adi Kailash Yatra. You must know the starting point of your yatra. Most pilgrims start their journey from Delhi or Kathgodam. From there, you will reach Dharchula, the base camp of Adi Kailash Yatra. During your route, you will stop by some stunning destinations like Pithoragarh, Gunji, and Nabi. Apart from making a chart of the route, consider the transportation modes. The recently developed road network of Jolingkong and Nebidhang lets you drive. Both are the crucial stops in the yatra. Jolingkhong is the last stop for vehicles, and Nebidhang is the stop for Om Parvat.
You should know the criteria of the Adi Kailash trek before you plan to embark on this spiritual journey. The first criterion is your age, and the second is your health. People from 7 years to 70 years are allowed to participate in the sacred trek, but only if they are mentally and physically prepared. Just like Mount Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Adi Kailash Yatra also takes place at a high altitude and in rocky terrains. Hence, it is important to be physically fit to trek in such challenging terrain. You will have to go through a medical check-up to check your physical fitness. You will only be eligible to participate when you submit the medical certificate claiming that you are physically fit to undertake this physically challenging trek.
It’s time to get yourself engaged in regular exercise to boost your stamina. The trekker must walk or jog 5 km in 40 minutes. This can only be achieved with practice. So, engage in regular exercise. Preparation for high-altitude trekking should be a holistic approach, including your mental health and physical strength. So, along with strength training to prepare your body, do yoga and prepare your mind.
You should be aware of the common signs and symptoms of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) so that you can take necessary precautions. The journey of Adi Kailash takes place at a high altitude. You must understand the problems of altitude mountain sickness. It is important to be at a place like this before you start your trek. You can spend a few days in Dharchula or other mountain areas to get acclimatized. AMS can impact people of any age. For this, trekkers are recommended to use the proven strategy of the ‘climb high, sleep low’ principle, which helps in ascending to the high-altitude destinations safely.
Adi Kailash is in the Himalayan region, where the weather is unpredictable. You must be ready for any type of weather. It could be too cold, so pack all the essentials like layered clothing. Begin with thermal innerwear. Carry a jacket, muffler, gloves, woollen caps, and trekking shoes. You will get accommodations and camps to stay in, still, we recommend carrying a sleeping bag or mat for added comfort. Apart from this, you must pack a first-aid kit, medication, a water bottle, dry fruits, and personal hygiene items.
Here are the other mandatory things to pack during the Adi Kailash Trek:
You will need an Inner Line Permit from the SDM of Dharchula to embark on the sacred Adi Kailash Yatra. You will have to submit a medical certificate claiming that you are medically fit for the trek. Besides, you must carry the legal documents, like ID proofs, passport, passport-sized photos, Aadhar card, etc., throughout the journey.
One of the most important things you must do to embark on this mystical journey is to get the permits and submit the documents. Every document plays a crucial role in ensuring a safe and regulated journey. Here are the most common and important documents you need for the Adi Kailash Yatra
You know what documents are required for the permits, now let’s see the steps to get the Adi Kailash Yatra permit:
Since Adi Kailash Yatra takes place at a high altitude, the trekkers must be physically and mentally fit. So, it is important to go through proper medical check-ups to ensure they are fit for this physically challenging trek.
Your preparation must include a good amount of cardio exercise to improve your mobility. Start doing aerobics, swimming, and running. These exercises help you with the maximum volume of oxygen your body can use. This is helpful in high altitude trek as there will be less oxygen as you ascend.
If you have planned to go on the Adi Kailash Yatra trek, then start keeping yourself hydrated from today itself. Due to less humidity in the mountain region, your sweat evaporates quickly. Another reason is the effect of mountain sickness. This dehydrates your body, which can lead to more symptoms of mountain sickness. Hence, you must prepare your body for that by drinking enough water.
During the trek, you must keep all your documents and the Adi Kailash Yatra permit handy. This ensures a smooth check-in process, providing essential information during emergencies, etc. Also, use a transparent plastic cover to keep your documents safe and put it in the inner pocket of the back of your backpack. This keeps the documents safe from getting wet.
Adi Kailash is one of the most revered Hindu pilgrimage destinations. Earlier, people used to trek for approximately 250 km, but with the new route to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, the Adi Kailash trek has become easier.
Here is the route map of Adi Kailash Yatra and the destinations pilgrims will cover during this spiritual yatra to take eternal blessings of the Almighty.
Kathgodam — Pithoragarh— Dharchula — Gunji/ Napalchu — Jyolingkong (Adi Kailash Parvat) — Gunji/ Napalchu — Nabidhang (Om Parvat) — Nabi/ Gunji/ Budhi — Dharchula — Didihat/ Chaukori — Bhimtal/ Kathgodam.
Every trek is challenging, especially when doing it at a high altitude. The Adi Kailash trek is one of the popular pilgrimages that devotees of Lord Shiva undertake. Adi Kailash is considered the second most important peak of the famous Panch Kailash travel circuit after the mighty Mount Kailash. The yatra needs some preparation and planning because it is one of the physically challenging pilgrimages in India. While planning, you must include the challenges you will face during the trek so that you can make adequate preparations for them. Be it preparing yourself physically or mentally, it is essential to know everything about the Adi Kailash Yatra:
The Adi Kailash and Om Parvat Trek is not only limited to the darshan of these mighty mountains and seeking eternal blessings, but there are a lot of other things to do as well. Here are a few important things that every trekker or pilgrim must do and experience during their Adi Kailash Yatra.
The once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many is to have darshan of Adi Kailash and Om Parvat. Immerse yourself in the spiritual retreat of these sacred mountains. Take as many pictures as you want. Experience spirituality in the lap of the Himalayas. Pilgrims can bow down at the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati. Approximately 40 km away from the Chhota Kailash, Om Parvat is an important pilgrimage destination. This mountain is naturally formed in ‘Om’ shape which makes it of great spiritual significance.
The Adi Kailash Yatra route lets you experience the charming beauty of the Himalayas. You will see idyllic icy glaciers, scenic landscapes, snow-capped mountain peaks, tranquil rivers, and jade valleys. You will be mesmerized by the natural beauty of the Adi Kailash and Om Parvat.
There are many temples and ashrams near Adi Kailash that make your journey spiritual and picturesque. Here are the temples you must visit during the Adi Kailash trek:
At the foothills of Chhota Kailash, you will see two glacial lakes called Gauri Kund and Parvati Sarovar. These two lakes are of great spiritual significance. Pilgrims take a holy dip at the Parvati Sarovar to wash away their sins and take blessings of Goddess Parvati. Devotees even take the water back to their homes. However, no one is allowed to dip in Gauri Kund.
Even if you are not a meditation person, you would just love to do so at this place. There’s nothing that could beat the charm of the Himalayas. You will be lost in the natural beauty of the region. What else could be more rejuvenating than meditating in the lap of nature in the Himalayas after a challenging trek? Sit next to the serene lake with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and meditate.
Apart from the spiritual reasons, the enticing peak of Chhota Kailash or Adi Kailash attracts trekkers from all around the world for its glory. During this mystical sojourn of Adi Kailash and Om Parvat, you will face many challenges to trek on rugged terrain and be mesmerized by the scenic landscapes based on the selected tour itinerary. Follow the tips we shared above to prepare for the Adi Kailash Trek and pilgrimage to experience divine beauty.
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