Ashtapad Tirtha

Mount Kailash is surrounded by many sacred sites and locations. One among them is Ashtapad Tirtha, which is the revered pilgrimage site for Jains. According to the Jain holy book, the first Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva Bhagwan, had attained Nirvana (Salvation) at Ashtapad. Hence, Ashtapad Tirth is a greatly celebrated and most sacred site for Jain pilgrims. The name Ashtapad refers to “Eight Steps”. This can refer to the chain of eight peaks in the area or the steps to be taken to reach leading to the memorial temple built at the site. These eight steps are considered to be the gateway to enlightenment and Moksha. Let’s discuss more about the location and significance of Ashtapad Tirtha.

About Ashtapad Tirtha

Ashtapad Tirtha is located in the Himalayan region near the sacred Mount Kailash at an elevation of 4900 metres. The inner Mount Kailash Kora is needed to reach this site. It is known as the holiest of holy Jain sites. However, today this peak is inaccessible to pilgrims. Some even claim that the exact location of Ashtapad Mountain has not been discovered yet.

Significance of Ashtapad Tirtha

The first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha, is the most important figure in Jainism. He was the founder of Jainism. Bhagwan RIshabhdeva attained Nirvana or Moksha (Salvation) at Ashtapad. After this, the son of Bhagwan Rishabhdeva, Chakravarti King Bharat, established a palace at the site. This palace was made of crystals and gemstones to treat it as a memorial to his father’s Nirvana.

But you should know that the darshan of Ashtapad Tirtha is not allowed after the fatal accident that occurred in 2013, when a rockfall killed several pilgrims. After this incident, the Chinese Authorities have banned direct access to this pilgrimage site. One can have a view of the Ashtapad Mountain from afar during the Inner Mount Kailash Parikrama.