Kailash Mansarovar is one of the most holy pilgrimages. It has always had an aura of mystery and spirituality. Millions of people from all over the world come to this sacred place to try to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
However, there are general queries regarding Kailash Mansarovar: Where exactly is it located? Is Kailash Parvat in India or China? Was it part of India before 1962? In this article, we shall go through these queries in detail and thus give a clear idea of the geographical and historical background of Kailash Mansarovar.
What is Kailash Mansarovar?
Kailash Mansarovar represents a mountain and a lake, considered sacred in several religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. Mount Kailash, or Kailash Parvat, towering 6,638 meters or 21,778 feet in the Himalayas, is revered equally with Mansarovar Lake.
It lies in Tibet, which is part of China. Many people view the lake as the source of four major Asian rivers: the Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali. Thousands of pilgrims from India and elsewhere visit Kailash Mansarovar annually in pursuit of its religious and cultural significance.
Where is Kailash Mansarovar Located?
Many people are curious to know where Mount Kailash is located. Kailash Mansarovar is situated in Tibet, an autonomous region of China. Near the Nepalese border, the mountain is in the most remote southwestern Tibet. The topography is so unwieldy that it is not easy to access this region.
Though it lies in a geographical area falling under China's control, Kailash Mansarovar is of profound importance to the people of India and other countries because of its rich religious value.
The closest town to Kailash Mansarovar is Darchen, a small settlement in Tibet that serves as a base for pilgrims on a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash.
Is Kailash Parvat in India?
Although Mount Kailash holds great spiritual importance for Indians, it is not based in India. Mount Kailash is situated in Tibet, now part of China.
Traditionally, the area around Kailash Parvat has been very significant to India, with the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions considering this mountain holy. But following the 1962 Sino-Indian war, the region of Tibet fell into China's hands, and Kailash Mansarovar has ever since been under Chinese control.
Kailash is more culturally and religiously tied to India, though it is geographically and politically part of China.
Is Mansarovar in India or China?
The other important component of the Kailash Mansarovar complex, Mansarovar Lake, is also located in Tibet and under Chinese control. Most pilgrims travelling to the region attempt to visit both, crucial parts of their pilgrimage.
Like Mount Kailash, Mansarovar Lake is considered sacred by adherents of different religions, particularly Hindus, who believe that a dip in the holy waters washes away their sins.
For Indians, Mansarovar is a place of spiritual significance but falls under China's geographical boundary. There are different routes to Kailash Mansarovar; some routes pass through Nepal. Most travellers from India travel through Nepalese routes, which makes the region appear to be more attached to India, but as land, it is part of China.
Also, read about the Kailash Mansarovar Tour by Helicopter.
Was Kailash Mansarovar Part of India Before 1962?
Until 1962, Tibet enjoyed a peculiar status in terms of culture and political influence from India and China. During the early 20th century, Tibet existed autonomously under the Dalai Lama, sharing many more religious and cultural affinities with India.
The relationship between Tibet and India was cordial, and India treated Tibet as a buffer zone between India and China. Though Tibet was neither an official part of India nor China at that time, India's cultural and religious influence in that region can hardly be denied. Thousands of Indian pilgrims walked to Kailash Mansarovar, an important part of Indian religious life.
The situation continued to be dramatically different after the 1950s. In 1951, China asserted its control over Tibet, which led to major political changes in that part of the world.
In 1962, India and China engaged in a border war, after which Tibet-which included Kailash Mansarovar-came entirely under the control of China. Since then, it has been politically and administratively part of China, even though its spiritual importance to India and other countries remained.
Religious Importance of Kailash Mansarovar for Hindus
The mountain of Kailash is Lord Shiva's abode, one of Hinduism's three main gods. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva resides on top of Kailash Parvat, which they believe is the god's home with his consort, Parvati.
According to Hindu belief, any pilgrim who accomplishes the trek around the mountain is spiritually purified. Completing a circumambulation of Kailash is also considered to cleanse away sins and bring good fortune.
According to Hindu beliefs, Mansarovar Lake was created by Lord Brahma to purify souls. Bathing in the lake's waters brings salvation, and the lake is also believed to be the site of the first creation in Hindu mythology.
The Spiritual Significance of Kailash Mansarovar to the Buddhists
In Buddhism, too, Kailash is a sacred mountain. In fact, according to Tibetan Buddhists, Kailash is the abode of Demchok, a god of the highest bliss. To the Buddhists, too, the sacred mountain has been a focal point of pilgrimages, and it is believed that circumambulation around the mountain washes away the accumulated karma and restores peace.
The Accessibility of Kailash Mansarovar for Indian Pilgrims
There have been seasons when attempts have been made to keep Indian pilgrims' access to the Kailash Mansarovar Tour. In 1981, the Indian government negotiated with China a route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar.
Under this agreement, Indian citizens would travel to the region through Nepal, even though strict regulations and permits would be required.
The Chinese government allows very controlled access to this area, and pilgrims must undergo an exhausting process to obtain permits. In most cases, pilgrims have to apply for permits either from the Indian government or from licensed travel agencies that have a tie-up with China and organize pilgrimages.
Yet, despite the political vagaries, thousands of Indians still make pilgrimages to Kailash Mansarovar, with several tours and travel agencies offering excursions to the region. Most tours begin in India and transfer through Nepal before crossing the border into Tibet to reach the mountain and lake that bear the name Kailash Mansarovar.
How the Political Landscape Affects Pilgrims
Political tensions between India and China have sometimes made access to Kailash Mansarovar difficult. Diplomatic issues and a complex border situation have also disrupted travel arrangements.
However, many Indian pilgrims continued to pour into the region, and there were always strong reasons for this: their deep spiritual attachment to Kailash and Mansarovar.
Though Kailash Mansarovar currently falls under China's regime, it remains an effective sign of mutual heritage and spiritual dedication for numerous Indians.
