Mt. Kailash and the Lake Manasarovar

Satellite photo shows both lakes, the Manasarovar lake on the right and the Rakshastal lake on the left side. The Holy Kailash mountain is located just a few kilometers on the north-eastern side. (Photo from Wikepedia site)

Stopover in an restaurant tent on the way to the Manasarovar lake and a lovely Mastiff dog at the foreground.

Tibetan kiddies in front of a public bus, going to Xigazê written also Shigatse.

All peaks of the mountains are much closer to see than the other side from Nepal. Tibetan plateau is already at an altitude of 4000 m or more, in Nepal is a big foreland in front of the high peaks.

Yaks, are a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region and the Tibetan Plateau. In addition to a large domestic population, there is a small, vulnerable wild yak population.

Along the highway to the Manasarovar lake. At the background we could see the Gongzhucuo lake (Konggyo Tso) often mistaken as the Manasarovar lake. (We met a lori which carried a broken down BMW X3 on the bed, too much high tech! In case of a break down no Chinese mechanical workers can repair BMW cars.)

Very curious young girls, some protected with scarves against dust and wind.

The Konggyo Tso (Tso = lake) is a good opportunity for a last stop for a little walk. Many thousand carved mani stones just lie around every where.

We feel getting more and more closer to the Holy place of the Mount Kailash and Manasarovar lake. Some walls are more than 100 meters long.

Along the paths of regions under the influence of Tibetan Buddhism the traveller is often confronted with Mani walls. These stone structures are a compilation of exquisitely carved stone tablets, most with the inscription "Om Mani Padme Hum" which translates to "Hail to the jewel in the lotus". These walls should be passed or circumvented from the left side, the clockwise direction in which the earth and the universe revolve, according to Buddhist doctrine.

The clouds more and more vanishes into a blue sky.

Every pilgrim stops for a meditation break and builds up a small stone pyramid.

The first view to the Kailash peak is an amazing experience for ever body. This place is covered with hundreds of small stone pyramids and donation prayer flags.

First view at the Lake Manasarovar and the mountain range in background with the Nemo Nanyi peak (Gurla Mandhata) (7728 m).

This majestic mountain original called Gurla Mandhata or Memo Nanyi.

At the background the mountain range, the border to Nepal, and the Mt. Nemo Nanyi (Gurla Mandhata).

View from the lake side of Manasarovar.

Some devout pilgrims take bath in the Holy Manasarovar which has a temperature of only 4 degrees C.